South Ayrshire Table Tennis Club Juniors Newsletter As the season comes to a close, time to sum up what has

s been achieved and where we plan to go in the 2013-14 season. West of Scotland Junior League: This was the first year for all of our players at any competitive league level. SATTC entered a team into both the second and third divisions of the West of Scotland Junior League. The Div 2 team of Charlie Boom and Keiran Kidd finished 7th out of 9 and would have finished two places higher but for conceding their last match due to unavailability. They both competed well, were never outclassed and with a little more luck at times, would have done even better. Averages (including doubles matches): P W L
Charlie Boom Kieran Kidd South Ayrshire A South Ayrshire A 16 16 9 7 7 9 56% 44%

In Div 3, Ross Dewar was undefeated in singles play and lost just one doubles match. Frazer Dempsey did not play in all the matches, but he too was undefeated. Scott Kennedy played a solid role too. The team finished runners up, losing just one match. Averages (including doubles matches): P W L
Ross Dewar Frazer Dempsey Scott Kennedy South Ayrshire B South Ayrshire B South Ayrshire B 17 8 11 16 8 6 1 0 5 94% 100% 55%

Ayrshire Junior League: The club entered three teams into the first ever Ayrshire Junior League. This was a good opportunity to blood even more juniors into competitive play. Two teams were entered into Div 1 with mixed results. Unfortunately, again player unavailability cost us matches and we therefore decided to withdraw one of these teams from the league. In Div 2, the opening day saw the team of Jack Meddings and John Kelly win all of their matches. Jacks unorthodox style - foxing all of his opponents - and wee John winning half of his matches on his very first day of competitive play at any level. The league is on-going at this time and the 2nd Div team has since added Cameron Steele and Scott Kennedy to its ranks. The team has lost only one match throughout the season and is well set for a first or second place finish. Individual competitions: Two of the clubs most experienced players Charlie Boom and Ross Dewar have been very active this season and their level of play has risen proportionately. Three juniors Charlie, Frazer and Keiran entered the first of six tournaments open to Scottish Cadet (under 15) boys. After the first tournament (Assessment 1), Charlie was rated number 16 nationally in his age-group. Frazer and Keiran finished inside the top 30 players. However, all three opted out of the remaining events and consequently are rated numbers 36, 42 & 43 respectively at the end of the season. Ross Dewar missed the opening two ranking events. His performances and the experience he has gained in the last four competitions were invaluable. He is currently rated number 25 in Scotland and but for those two missed events, would be inside the top 20. Ayrshire Grading: held at Geisland School Gym in Beith. The initial grading was to determine which players should play in which division of the new Ayrshire Junior League. There has since been a second grading day. All of the boys mentioned above in the Ayrshire junior League section participated. In the second event, both Kris McMillan and Jordan Graham entered. Both acquitted themselves very well in which was for them their first ever taste of competition and the first time they had played against players from other clubs. (A commendable point to note here is that at the second event, three of our players defeated Rebecca Melrose who is ranked number 4 in her age group in Scotland. Well done, Ross, Cameron and John Kelly). Inter League: the annual Inter League team competition at Inverclyde, is the biggest team event in Scotland and where all of the best players in the country turn out for their respective leagues. The entire Ayrshire Cadet Team (under 15s) came from one club; South Ayrshire TTC. Well done Charlie boom, Keiran Kidd and Ross Dewar. Schools events: Both Charlie Boom and Ross Dewar played in the Ayrshire Senior Schools Championships. Both players finished in the top 3 for Ayrshire and qualified for the National Schools Championships in Perth. Very well done to both.

Coaching: Jim Dewar and Paul Hunter trained for and passed the UKCC Level 1 Table Tennis course in Glasgow. The club has now tripled its number of qualified coaches. This bodes well for the future of the club and the development of our players. Again, very well done to both. During the Easter break, the club, Jim & Ross Dewar and Roy Claxton provided coaching and taster sessions to Ayrshire schools. This will be repeated during the summer break and indeed when possible (and through liaison with Ayrshire Active Schools) throughout the coming year. There are three taster sessions booked for schools in S. Ayrshire before the summer holidays. West of Scotland Regional Coaching: Charlie Boom and Ross Dewar were selected to attend Elite Squad coaching at Drumchapel on several weekends throughout the season. Scott Kennedy was selected for and attended the Intermediate Squad. Next season, we intend to put forward more players for selection. (Please note the paragraph on transport below.) Club Junior Championship: Originally arranged for early May, then postponed due to school commitments. The Junior Championship was held on 16th May. Unfortunately, another school commitment that was again unannounced until after the date was set, meant that several players could not attend. However, a great feast of table tennis was held at Cathcart Street with the following results: Junior Singles Winner: John Kelly Runner Up: Cameron Steele Plate Winner: Jordan Graham Runner Up: Kris McMillan Many thanks to Paul Hunter and the Abbotsford Hotel for kindly supplying the food and drinks on the night and to LA Bowl for providing the trophies and prizes. The Future: Season 2012-13 was our first competitive season and we can be pleased at what all of the juniors have achieved both individually and as part of the clubs numerous teams. Just as important is the massive improvement in all of the junior members. We will continue to emphasise that the junior club is NOT a youth club. It is a table tennis club, where twice a week for 2 hours or so, the juniors come to work, learn, sweat and most of all - enjoy playing the game while continuing to improve. So we now have the foundations of a strong junior section. We will undoubtedly lose a member here-and there. But these will be replaced by new ones. Its a continuous cycle. This coming year is an important exam year for some. The priority for you guys is your EXAMS. Manage your playing to fit in around your studies. You can always come back to playing table tennis regularly when they are over. We will hopefully enter two teams into the West of Scotland Junior League again next season and the same number into the Ayrshire Junior League. This season, the club paid for team entry fees to the leagues to help encourage players to enter. All players however paid their own individual affiliation fees to both Table Tennis Scotland (TTS) and the West of Scotland Junior League. Next season, cost of entry will be paid by the players as it will show a commitment to play. Competitions (Team): West of Scotland Junior League: Held at Drumchapel High School on 4 Sundays throughout the season. Ayrshire Junior League: held at Geisland School, Beith on 4 Sundays throughout the season.

Competitions (Individual): National Assessments: For Juniors (U 18), Cadets (U15) & minors (U13). 2 events for each held at a variety of venues. In these events the players play all day in a series of round robins, and receive ranking points accordingly. Open Tournaments: West of Scotland Open, National Junior Championships (Scottish Open), North of Scotland Open, Dynasty Open. These events also attract National ranking points based on performance. It is important for the players development that they enter as many competitions as they can. Fees: SATTC basic Junior Membership: (From 1st September)

15

TTS Junior Affiliation (Compulsory to play in any individual or team event in Scotland): West of Scotland Junior League (per player): Ayrshire Junior League (per player): Individual competitions and open tournaments:

11 15 15 Fees on entry forms.

(Short comment: Compared to 60+ for a school day-trip to Alton Towers, great value) Transport - Please digest this paragraph as it is very important: The club will arrange and pay for transport to all Junior league matches, with the team coaches doing the driving. However, for Junior individual events, assessments and elite coaching, there is no guarantee that transport will be provided. It is therefore up to parents to liaise with each other with regard to getting junior players to the venues. This is an important ingredient to individuals entering competitions, gaining vital competitive experience and fulfilling potential. This year, the burden has been borne by a limited few. The coaches and just one of the parents. We would appreciate a commitment from more parents to offer to help out at least once throughout the season. After all, this is not for the benefit of the coaches, who are willingly giving up several weekends a year to take the juniors all over the country to play. It is for the benefit of your kids and their participation in the sport. Summary: Great season for our juniors with even more to come next season. The foundation is there and now we can build an even better structure. Plans are afoot to obtain individual sponsorship for those juniors deemed deserving of it. Nothing is guaranteed as yet, but hopefully it can be achieved. Thanks to the players for their hard work. It has paid off with all of you. Thanks to the parents for their continued support for the players and consequently the club. They cant achieve their full potential without your backing. Finally, thanks indeed to those senior members who continue to dedicate much of their table time to giving one-on-one practise to our junior members. Roy Claxton Jim Dewar Paul Hunter SATTC Coaching Team