Community Table Tennis

North Ayrshire TTC alongside active schools, community groups and local primary schools have been setting up blocks of table tennis coaching for people young and old to get involved in table tennis and try it out.

Since the start of 2019, we have delivered more than 20 tables plus the essential bats, nets and balls to various schools, church halls, community centres and venues to give as many people the opportunity to get active and try out table tennis.

Our team of coaches and volunteers have delivered hundreds of hours of coaching to various groups of beginners and have put their newly gained qualifications to great use and gained valuable coaching experience. Teaching them the basics of table tennis, the scoring system and showing them how its played properly.

St Cuthberts Church Hall, St Peters Primary, St Anthonys Primary, West Kilbride Primary, West Kilbride Community Centre, St Matthews Academy, Ardrossan Academy, Mayfield Primary, Garnock Campus, Blacklands Primary, Dalry Campus, Kilwinning Sports Club.

North Ayrshire Continue National League Dominance

North Ayrshire Continue National League Dominance.

North Ayrshire have again won Division One of the Scottish National League; their 6^thtitle in 8 seasons. They did so with two clear cut wins on the final day, taking the title by a highly convincing margin of 5 points over the runners up Murrayfield A and 3^rdplaced South Ayrshire. All 5 divisions of the newly expanded league were in action on Saturday (9^thFebruary) with play taking place across the 19 tables at Bell’s Sports Centre, Perth.

Division 1 Action.

The clash between South Ayrshire A and North Ayrshire A produced a highly competitive match. The battle of the left-handers saw Zak Wilson and Dylan Curry fight it out over 4 high quality sets- with the South Ayrshire player eventually winning 3-1. Two Aberdeen based players Colin Dalgleish and Dylan Curry produced an intriguing match. A fault serve at 9-10 didn’t help Curry’s cause but a lovely sweeping backhand return help him clinch the 3rd before Dalgleish closed it out 11-5 in the 4^thwith some crunching winners.

Though the match eventually finished 6-0, Yao Tang (Drumchapel A’s key player) ensured that was not plain sailing for North Ayrshire A as she took their number one Colin Dalgleish to 5 sets in an engaging match of clashing styles. Yao Tang also had a good tussle with Zak Wilson whose spectacular around the net winner was a highlight of the match and one of the highlights of the day. Two wins for Yao Tang and a good win for Zaid Khalid against Martin Johnson secured a vital draw for their side (vs North Ayrshire B) as they did just enough to finish above North Ayrshire B (for whom Ethan Chapman picked up 2 wins) and avoid relegation.

For Dumfries, Keir Morton overcame a slow start against Gordon Muir (0-7 down in the first), to win and contribute to his team’s 4- 2 victory over Murrayfield B. For Murrayfield B Faye Leggett was the clear star, producing a good win against Dylan de Silva and also taking Danny Bajwa to five sets before his big sweeping strokes on both wings helped him take the final set. Leggett also produced a good win against Ethan Chapman of North Ayrshire B and performed creditably in losing out narrowly to Andy Macpherson, as North Ayrshire B won 5-1.

A boring win?

North Ayrshire’s player-coach Chris Main rejected the idea that winning the National League had become boring, it had been a real challenge: this is ‘the season where the depth has been the greatest with strong teams throughout the top division’. While ‘in previous years the division was a bit weaker at the bottom’ this has changed. (North Ayrshire’s B team relegation backs this up-they were a highly competitive outfit and can consider themselves unfortunate to drop back down to Division 2). Even the 5-1 and 6-0 victories that North Ayrshire A gained on the final day against South Ayrshire and Drumchapel were full of tight individual matches- ‘the scorelines may look easy but they were absolutely not easy matches, with plenty of 5 and 4 setters…every single match with played this year has been super tough’.

Main picked out the contribution of Zac Wilson who had been ‘excellent’ throughout the season; he had really fitted well into the club and had been ‘a great signing’. Martin Johnson had, Main believed, also made an important contribution in winning three of his four matches when he came in to cover an absent Colin Dalgleish.  Main praised the efforts of Dalgleish (now in his seventh season with North Ayrshire) for his vital contribution to the club’s National League successes. His game has ‘now reached an excellent level’ and he is now producing ‘big big wins’ such as his recent success against Danny Reed in the British League: ‘he’s been taking two or three big scalps every season for the past few years’ and had again maintained a 100% record in the Scottish National League. Main himself went through the season undefeated and felt that he was ‘still playing decently’ and still enjoyed competing (alongside his coaching).

Winning the top division gives his club another chance of competing in the ETTU Cup and it again he’s hoping that the club can attract enough sponsorship to the club in order to bid to host matches as they did before so successfully in 2015.

Main believes that ‘because the ETTU know it went well last time…it gives us a decent chance of hosting again’.

Success at Scottish Schools Final

Six North Ayrshire players: Martin Johnson, Jamie Johnson, Nathan Hogg, Naomi Provan, Jess Hogg & Holly McNamara brushed past top opposition from all over the country to qualify to represent Scotland at the British School Championships.

The players will travel with the Scotland team to Guernsey in June to compete in the championships, where the top players from Scotland, Ireland, England, Wales, Isle of Man & Guernsey play in team event and singles event.

Billy Main, club chairman commented ‘ To get 3 Scottish School Champions in the same year, and to get 6 players from North Ayrshire TT into the Scottish team for the 2nd year in a row shows the quality of the players at our club. It’s a reward to the players, coaches and parents who put in a lot of time, funding and effort travelling all over the country competing. Well done to Holly, Jess, Naomi, Nathan, Martin & Jamie, and also a well done to Chad Duncan, Martin Krus who narrowly lost out and competed brilliantly at Scottish schools final’

Girls Picture – Jess Hogg (Largs Academy), Holly McNamara (Ardrossan Academy) , Naomi Provan (arran high school)  

Job Advert : Community Coach

North Ayrshire Table Tennis Club invites applications for two new coaching posts within the club. As we increase the number of sessions on offer within North Ayrshire, we require two community table tennis coaches to meet the demand.

The role will be part time with flexible hours, starting Oct 2018. The aim is to develop table tennis around North Ayrshire, increase participation, organise coaching in schools and sporting facilities and assist coaches at club sessions / competitions.

– Increase participation numbers – via new facilities

– Promote and raise awareness of the club.

– Target key hard to reach groups including older adults, girls, kids from disadvantaged areas and  the disabled.

– Create new satellite clubs and an outreach service to the area.

– Work closely with school teachers and active schools professionals to ensure a successful implementation of new classes.

– Personal Development : gain qualifications and experience in all areas of our sport

Applications to be made by 5pm Friday 5th October. Please send CV and and outline of how you would achieve the outcomes to info@northayrshirettc.co.uk.  Futher details available from Billy Main, info@northayrshirettc.co.uk // 07979806571.

North Ayrshire Open – Results

Thanks to all the players and clubs that supported this years North Ayrshire Open, a brilliant turnout with over 110 players competing in the first national competition of the 2018 – 2019 season. Please see below the results of each event with pictures included, on our facebook page you can see live stream of junior boys final, more pictures and knockout round results. Also check our twitter timeline for updates from the weekends play, @northayrshirett .

Thanks to the Sponsors of our event : NA Venture Trust, KA Leisure, Stanley Morrison Trust, Access Scaffold Ltd, Freshii, Bribar TT

Also check our twitter timeline for updates from the weekends play, @northayrshirett .

North Ayrshire Open – Saturday RESULTS

North Ayrshire Open – Sunday RESULTS

North Ayrshire Open – Groups & Schedule

Saturday
NA Open Senior Groups – North Ayrshire Open – Saturday

Sunday
NA Open Junior Groups – North Ayrshire Open – Sunday

Knockout sheets to follow. Junior Doubles to be drawn on the day.

Saturday
9am – Registration
9.30am – Open Doubles
10.15am – Mens Groups
11.30 – Womens Singles
12.30 – Open Band 2 / 3
Open Band 1 and Over 55s to follow

Sunday
9am – Registration
9.30 am – Open Junior Doubles
10.15am – Junior Boys, Minor Boys, Minor Girls
11.15 – Cadet Girls
12.00 – Cadet Boys
Junior Girls to go on after Cadet Girls

Canteen will be open all day selling filled rolls, coffee / tea and drinks. Live streaming of table 1 and 2 will be online on our Facebook page. Follow our twitter page @northayrshirett for live updates throughout the 2 days. Any questions relating to draw or schedule please email info@northayrshirettc.co.uk. Post code for St Matthews Academy is ka21 5nt

Funding Boost : NAVT

North Ayrshire Table Tennis Club is celebrating a major funding boost they hope will see the sport’s popularity soar across the region.

The group will receive almost £30,000 over the next three years after securing money from North Ayrshire Ventures Trust (NAVT).

This grant programme was developed to enable voluntary, community and

social enterprises in North Ayrshire to explore new opportunities to help them grow in size and improve long-term sustainability.

And the table tennis club are sure this investment will help them smash into parts of North Ayrshire they have yet to reach.

The group’s organiser Billy Main said: “We’ve been running for 15 years now and it’s turned into a bit of a monster. It’s just grown and grown and this funding from NAVT will really help us become sustainable and help us achieve what we want to achieve.

“We started up in a small hut with one table and basically wanted to get as many people as possible into the sport.

“We moved to St Matthews, with 16 tables, and now there are clubs in Arran and West Kilbride which are all under the auspices of North Ayrshire Table Tennis Club. When the Portal opened we ran sessions there and due to the popularity, Irvine Table Tennis Club was set up and now it is a fully constituted club in its own right.

“But we haven’t really touched Largs, Garnock Valley and other areas, so we want to get into all the areas in North Ayrshire and grow the game. We’ve had funding previously from Sportscotland and recently acquired 20 tables which will enable us to get the sport into schools, community centres and other centres in North Ayrshire. There is a real appetite for the game and we now have an opportunity to grow it.

“This money will allow us to put together a three-year plan. We hope to appoint a development officer and increase our coaching team to meet the challenge ahead.

“Ideally we’d like lots of different franchise clubs – all linked to North Ayrshire Table Tennis Club – across the region.”

The group has produced a number of Scottish Champions – including Billy’s sons Chris and Richard – and have won the Scottish National League five years out of the last eight years, and are the current Scottish Champions.

They have been competing in the British Premier League for the past two years and hopefully will have a place again this season in the top league in the UK where the top eight clubs in the country compete on a home and away basis.

The highlight was when they staged the European Cup at St Matthew’s two years ago.

Billy added: “We’ve had some great times and have worked closely with the Council. They have provided plenty of support. We are now really grateful for this North Ayrshire Ventures Trust funding. It will really help us move forward with our long-term plans.”

Richard Yule, Table Tennis Scotland`s Chief Operating Officer, welcomed this significant investment from NAVT. “The North Ayrshire Club is a brilliant example of how table tennis can be a force for good in a local community, providing opportunities for all ages and abilities to interact, get active and enjoy our great sport. Congratulations to Billy Main, his sons, Chris and Richard, and his superb team of volunteers who continue to drive the club onwards and upwards!”

Councillor Louise McPhater, Cabinet Member for Communities, added: “North Ayrshire Ventures Trust has supported many local groups and organisations and we’re delighted that North Ayrshire Table Tennis Club has benefited from funding.

“They have some really bold and ambitious plans and we’re delighted to be supporting them as they move forward. Sport and being active is hugely important to us. It’s great to see that the club are engaging with people from all ages and backgrounds and growing the sport in North Ayrshire.”

If you would like to apply for NAVT funding, please email infonavt@north-ayrshire.gov.uk

North Ayrshire Open : Entry Form

North Ayrshire Open will take place on September 1st & 2nd at our club venue St Matthews Academy, Saltcoats. On Saturday 1st September will be Senior events such as Mens & Womens Singles, Banded Events & Over 55s. On Sunday 2nd September will be all the Junior Events, from u11s to u18 boys and girls.

There will be a minimum of £1000 worth of prizes up for grabs including cash prizes and vouchers. The entry form can be found below with full information.

We welcome all players of all standards and ages to enter, with each player permitted to enter 2 singles and doubles per day, guaranteeing 8 matches. We hope this year’s event will be as successful as it has been previously and would be delighted to see all clubs and regions support this year’s North Ayrshire Open.

Sat: Mens & Womens Singles, Open Doubles Over 55’s, Standing Disability & Banded Events

Sun: Juniors, U11s to U18s plus Junior Doubles

North Ayrshire Open 2018 – Entry Form

Promotion to WoS Division 1

Congrats to our top team in West of Scotland Senior League for successfully gaining promotion to Division 1. The team of Jill Taylor, Ian Macpherson & Jamie Johnson beat Uddingston TTC 5-2 in the play off to secure promotion to the top teir of the WoS Senior League.

Full league team and results available – WoS Division 2 league table

Well done to Ian, Jill and Jamie on a great season and also winning the Divisional Cup.