In this blog
- Pride of Table Tennis Awards
- South West Squad Training Camps
- Pre-League Training Programme by Kennet Vale
- One Big Community – Video Premier
- Upcoming Courses – Umpire L1 and Coach L1 Courses
Pride of Table Tennis
My highlight of the year so far has been reading the nominations for the Pride of Table Tennis Awards. Each nomination has been thoughtfully and warmly written by each nominator, full of inspirational stories. Here are details of some of our special people and organisations from across the South West.
South West – Tees Sport Coach of the Year
Nick Davidson of Bristol Table Tennis Academy and Cheltenham Table Tennis Club
Bounce Club of the Year
- Plymouth Joola Table Tennis Club is the South West Bounce Club of the Year (progressing to the National awards).
Further nominees for Club of the Year
St Austell Table Tennis Club
coudathlete Volunteer of the Year
Craig Mehew of St Austell Table Tennis Club is South West cloudathlete Volunteer of the Year
Further nominees for cloudathlete Volunteer of the Year
- Keith Anthony of Child Okeford Table Tennis
- Kelly Plumb of Bridge Table Tennis Club and West Cornwall League
- Richard Ramsden of Kennet Vale Table Tennis Club and Devises League
- Stephen Longmoor of Weston Table Tennis Community
Nominated for the National Awards
School of the Year
- St Just Primary School
League of the Year
- Stroud and District Table Tennis League
Levelling the Table Award
- Craig Mehew and St Austell Table Tennis Club
Partner of the Year
- MENCAP – Active Communities Project
Thank you to Chris Price – South West Local Organising Group Chair person and Cliff Jordan Local Organising Group Member who took on the role of shortlisting for the South West.
I look forward to seeing those through to the national Pride of Table Tennis awards in Nottingham in mid March.
You are all superstars.
Upcoming South West Training Camps
Building on the success of the first session in Portishead in November, the next dates are 2nd March in Plymouth and the 15th March in Portishead, with a 3rd date 11th May in Cornwall.
Players can be nominated by their counties to attend the days which are led by Nick Davidson.
Pre-League Training Programme by Kennet Vale TTC
One of the reasons Richard Ramsden was nominated for Volunteer of the Year was this innovative and effective programme which built the skills and confidence of novice players to join the league for the first time. As a result of the programme and a weekly women’s session 7 women joined the league forming the only all women team.
Richard and the club have kindly shared the programme so that it can be delivered across the South West.
One Big Community Video Premier – St Austell Table Tennis Club
Phase 1 of the project is drawing to a close. You can check out the video which captures the impact of the project.
Upcoming Courses
Umpire Level 1 Award – 7th June, 2025
Organised in partnership with Somerset Table Tennis Association
For further details and to sign up https://www.tabletennisengland.co.uk/officials/umpire/
Level 1 Coach Awards
As an interim measure while the new Coaching Strategy is being developed, two level 1 Coach Awards are being organised this spring.
Dates are TBC within the week
Venues are Nailsworth Phoenix, Gloucestershire and Cornwall Table Tennis Centre.
If there is enough interest we will organise a further course to the ‘south east’ of the area.
Get in touch
If you have any questions, are interested in courses or would like to highlight a project that you are proud of, please get in touch. Contact Amanda Leonard – Area Manager (South West)