Bury St Edmunds

About the Club

History:

Table Tennis had been declining in Bury St. Edmunds for a number of years mainly due to the lack of premises, this led to an ageing Table Tennis population with very few youngsters coming into the game.

In November 1998 a committee was formed and in liaison with the Local Authority St. Edmundsbury District Council and The English Table Tennis Regional Development Officer the Club evolved. Premises were found and grants helped us obtain 4 tables. We held our first session on 4th of February 1999 in what must have been the most grandiose table tennis hall in the country with old masters on the wall and the lighting supplied by huge chandeliers. However it was soon evident that to accommodate the number of potential members we needed more space. We moved to our present less palatial but more suitable site at The County Upper School at the end of February 1999.

We were successful in obtaining further grants and now own a total of 11 tables, surrounds and a practice robot.

The club has continued to attract members and we now have a good mixture of juniors, league players, social players of all ages both men and women. New members are always welcome.

In November 2000 we were accepted on the English Table Tennis Association's Premier Club programme.

In July 2001 the Club was runner up in the Eastern Region Premier Club of the year awards.

In January 2002 we also started holding sessions at Culford School Sports Centre and Westley Middle School.

Awards:

Bury St. Edmunds Table Tennis Club has been rewarded for its success in the 3 years since it was formed. This year it was runner up in the Eastern Region in the English Table Tennis Association Premier Club of the year competition. Members of the club went to the National Sports Centre at Lilleshall to receive their award from Steen Hansen the English National Coach.

The club has also recently received a further award from lottery funds. This has been used to enable the club to carry out coaching at local schools as well as to help with the training of potential coaches. It also provided some new tables for use at Culford Sports Centre where coaching sessions are held on a Tuesday evening.

This season the club has entered 9 teams in the Bury St. Edmunds Senior League. A success in the local league has been the introduction of a new two-man team league, which is ideal for introducing promising juniors into senior competition.

Officials:

CHAIRMAN - Peter Fordham

SECRETARY - position open

TREASURER - John Waters

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY & WEBMASTER - Michael Hatcher

COMMITTEE MEMBERS - Janet Hobley, Tim Jolly and Paul Seabrook.

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