Northern Region League

[Jose]

Hi! About 15(?) years ago we used to have good club team competitions for men and women in the Northern Region. This followed the introduction of the Women in Table tennis campaign where the women played enjoyable competitions at a central venue. These events helped to generate good co-operation and friendly relations between players in the the area.

There were changes in the way that Sport England was organised regionally and these competitions faded out. Currently there are regional competitions for youngsters in the National Junior League, but nothing for seniors.

Do you think there would be interest in re establishing Regional Leagues for men and women in the North East organised by the Northern Region Committee? With better club venues now, such events may be easier to run than they were when sports centres had to be booked and tables had to be delivered.

Any comments ? Any volunteers to help organise? Any sponsors ?

[MickM]

I played in Regional Competitions a few years ago, with many great memories (not that i'm old now) but yes the Regionals had a good "feel" and also a good level of competition for the senior players. The whole problem as said in previous post is that volunteers are few and far between, this could be for many reasons with work plus other commitments such as different sports.

The sponsors i feel will not return or look at sponsorship until the sport is brought into the limelight more than it is at present, TV being the best media form there is today. Many will remember as i do when the world championships were held here with massive interest generated afterwards with children and parents playing virtually non-stop! The comparison can be made with Rugby when GB won the world cup the momentum was lost therefore people joining the sport have dwindled rapidly.

We as players have a job to not only play but to promote the sport to it's fullest potential from word of mouth to displays and volunteers. The volunteer issue is one i feel has changed with so many ex vollunteers being scared of the litigation which inevitably follows when running either senior or junior events, obviously another issue but nevertheless one which is often talked about.

Yes we need Regional back.

[Firepower]

Although i now live in the West of the Country i do believe in "Regional" developement which as a progressive way foward would mean the return of Regional team competitions for men and women, at either county or as i remember town level.

The vollunteer situation is exagerated by many factors, some of which have been mentioned above but the major cause (which may offend some) is the fact parents and partners have so much going on either choose not to or are far to busy to be bothered in such things.

The fact remains Regional is in my opinion sadly missed by many players if the truth is known.

I will watch this thread with interest.

[Powerhouse]

Hi! About 15(?) years ago we used to have good club team competitions for men and women in the Northern Region. This followed the introduction of the Women in Table tennis campaign where the women played enjoyable competitions at a central venue. These events helped to generate good co-operation and friendly relations between players in the the area.

There were changes in the way that Sport England was organised regionally and these competitions faded out. Currently there are regional competitions for youngsters in the National Junior League, but nothing for seniors.

Do you think there would be interest in re establishing Regional Leagues for men and women in the North East organised by the Northern Region Committee? With better club venues now, such events may be easier to run than they were when sports centres had to be booked and tables had to be delivered.

Any comments ? Any volunteers to help organise? Any sponsors ?


The Regional demise is one of a few reasons the local scene has shrank, with many leagues not bringing new and younger players.
There is a plus to having better venues as some were or still less than adaquate, this leads to the big question should central venues be used and if this was to happen would we lose the local venues never to be regained, its a big question, having played in central venues i quite like it but see reasons not to commit to this.

[Jose]

The Northern Region Committee at its meeting in Sunderland last night agreed that it would be a good idea to re start the Northern Region leagues for men and women but they require some firm proposals.

http://www.tabletennistalk.co.uk/forum/images/icons/wave.gifOK then, we need more indications of interest in participating, presumably by club teams from the Northern Region, preferences for composition of teams, format of play, dates, venues,volunteers to organize, etc. I can say that Ormesby would be happy to host, provided that we covered the running costs for the day.

Please discuss with your friends, club, league, county association so that we can get some firm ideas.

Cheers!

[Spongebob!]

Wahey!!! Sounds great - I'd be definately be interested - it used to be a great league and being local its less hassle, i.e., travelling time etc. Local also added to the competitiveness too (freindly banter) and good friendships too!

I'm sure me, Dave Robson, Tony Gelder, Goddy and other local (Sunderland-ish) lads would be interested too.

Sponge!

[DaveR]

Deffinitely ..............will talk soon about it. Nice one Jose the ball rolls and things get moving...............

[TS]

Can't wait to play you lot again.

[DaveR]

:happy:keep it rollin !

soon soon:happy:

[Jose]

Have just found the entry forms for the Women's and Men's Northern Region League, probably one of the last times the competition was held at Eston Leisure Centre in Middlesbrough on Sunday, 10th November 1996. Can anyone remember any meetings after this ? Now we have to encourage our County representatives to get this league moving again at the next Northern Region meeting.OK?

[DaveR]

When is the next regional meeting Jose ?

Ps i remember the Eston competition well.

[Kev]

I'd just like to add my support to this idea. I'm a bit young to have played in the regional league the last time it was held but I would certainly be up for playing in it this time. That is, if I'm deemed good enough!:fcb:

[DaveR]

Hey your the young version !

All the support is good the regionals were a great idea just got left in the dark along the way through venues and organisation

[Blocking Ace]

To confirm earlier query, there were no Regional events held after the Middlesbrough 1996 one.

I entered a team in the last three, which i believe were held at Newton Aycliffe, Seaburn, and Middlesbrough.

Memory is not as good as it used to be --- but it's still good.

[Mr Wilko]

what a good idea this is, the best players from northern regions playing each other!!! we all know how competitive we are up north!!!!

the idea of playing the likes of marsden,smith,meads,goddy,robba,gelder,thorpe,blak e and all the others would make a great day!!!!

[Spongebob!]

what a good idea this is, the best players from northern regions playing each other!!! we all know how competitive we are up north!!!!

the idea of playing the likes of marsden,smith,meads,goddy,robba,gelder,thorpe,blak e and all the others would make a great day!!!!

Agreed - although I'd probably end up bottom!!! :resent:

[Mr Wilko]

Agreed - although I'd probably end up bottom!!! :resent:

you would still do your best though????
http://www.tabletennistalk.co.uk/forum/images/icons/pingbat.gif

[Spongebob!]

you would still do your best though????
http://www.tabletennistalk.co.uk/forum/images/icons/pingbat.gif

You didn't have to agree with me...!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd just have to beat FCB (after feeding him some pies and a box of Time Outs!!!) :happy:

[Mr Wilko]

You didn't have to agree with me...!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd just have to beat FCB (after feeding him some pies and a box of Time Outs!!!) :happy:


quality !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DaveR]

Im with Wilko on this one, but the Regional thing can be worked country wide or is it still on the go elsewhere in the country ?

I actually loved the Regional set up and im assuming others did too.

Is there a Regional set up in other parts of the UK

[Jose]

There are Regional committees in all parts of the country. Have asked the question whether there are still other Regional leagues operating. I do know that the original Regional League set up was the Northern Region Women's League which was very successful (sponsored by Newboulds, the pie people!) and this then expanded to include the Men's events.

[Jose]

Back to the Regional League topic: The Northern Region committee met last week. Generally there is interest in starting the Northern Region League again, but apparently there needs to be more discussion with the counties, leagues and clubs involved, with another discussion planned for the next NR meeting. They are also looking for an Organiser for the League - anyone interested in taking on this task ? If so, please contact your NR representative.

[DaveR]

Just a quickie Jose im interested if i can get some information etc.

ps i think this is a winner if we can move this onwards, ive had loads of north feedback if things can be moved next meeting.

[Robstar]

yeah this would be a good idea as in the northumberland/sunderland league u play the same opposition year in almost i remember travelling to play hartlepool tams in the summer league and playing durham inter league for stanley years ago different faces different places

[JKC]

How far North is Northern?

[Kev]

The Northern region is Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland.

[JKC]

No use to me then.

[DaveR]

I would assume there are Regional things elsewhere?

Is there nothing in your area at all JKC, surely the area would do well with something of this nature as would most Counties etc. Young players would deffinitely get some benefit given they need anything in the way of training and competition experience which any regional event would give them aswell as a mens event.

[JKC]

Don't think there is anything active for the senior age group at the moment. There is the Yorkshire league for Vets where many local leagues have a number of teams but I am 5 years away from that at the moment.

[DaveR]

Its rediculous but realistic as there are very few who will ever put any time into something without reward, which i appreciate but vollunteers are so thin on the ground nowadys to organise things its difficult to move anything forward these days.

[Mr Wilko]

but once one does the initial work more will follow!!!!

[TS]

Is there any news on the proposed Regional League?

[DaveR]

Nothing as yet but im going to talk to our chairman when he returns from holiday to try and get things on the move..............although the words need to put into action.

I will push this and see if the senior competition can be brought back into play, as Jose has said previously there is a junior / cadet set up so why not bring the senior back?

[The Windmill]

I see in a news letter from Aubrey Drapkin of the Nothumberland league that he is asking for teams interested in playing in the above mentioned league.....does anyone know if the interest is there if this league is about to be reformed ????

[DaveR]

The Northern Regional League is one of the topics to be discussed at the next General Council meeting (if it hasnt been already) but this is something i as a few others seem to be very keen on re-forming since it was successful at the time and for many years. Its format of two man teams was and is still a good format with as many form each area being ok, with a few central venues to be arranged.

The news is probably better from Jose as she was looking into it.

I will ask about this asap.

[Mr Wilko]

what news letter windy as i am interested but have not seen this letter, do you need to contact him to say who is interested etc as i think the north east would have a big interest and would be a brilliant idea if it can be sorted i am sure local business's would sponsor!!!!

[Jose]

Hi! I have spoken to Colin Davison, the Chairman of the Northern Region Committee. Apparently there has not been any feedback about starting the Northern Region Leagues again from County representatives to the Regional Committee so far.

I have agreed with Colin that I will try to find some volunteers who are prepared to organise and run the Northern Region League and then we can set up a meeting with the Northern Region committee to get things going again.

Just to give you some further information on how the leagues were organised in the 199o's:

Some items from the Regulations: A team will consist of up to 4 players from a club, any two of whom may play singles in any match and any two of whom may play the doubles. A club may enter more than one team. A match consists of 2 singles, doubles and 2 more singles. Play will take place on a league basis at a central venue subject to entries. Teams will be placed in divisions according to standards. The entry fee was £4 per player.

Following is a press release that I issued on 13 November 1996:

"The Northern Region Table Tennis League, which attracted a total of 33 men's and ladies teams from all parts of the Northern Region, was played at Eston Leisure Centre in Middlesbrough on Sunday, 10 November.

Following group play, the main winners in the Men's division were Durham Juniors represented by John Crawford and Richard Johnson, who beat Ormesby B represented by John Lawton and Stephen Uppal, by the score of 3 matches to 2, the match being won by Johnson over Lawton in the final game of the final set by 22-20 (those were the days!)
Ormesby Girls, 12 year old Stacy Brown and 10 year old Jane Herriott, did well to win the Women's event, wining all their matches in the division and showing great promise for the future. Both girls live in Billingham, Stacey attending Northfield School while Jane attends Priors Mill.

Teams from Barrow in Cumbria, Dumfries in Scotland, Cramlington, Newcastle, Sunderland, Darlington as well as Stockton and Middlesbrough, took part in the event which was sponsored by Barclaycard and Newboulds with great assistance from Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council."

One of the great things about the Northern Region League was that people in the Northern Region got to know each other more and it was a very friendly, although competitive, competition.

Now we need about 4 - 6 people to volunteer to organise another event. We need to attend a meeting to review the Regulations, fees, prizes etc for the leagues, decide on venues,seek sponsorship, promote the event throughout the Northern Region, get entry forms out, take entries in, set up the competitions, and run the competitions on the day, etc.

Ormesby would be ideal for one venue but we would need to pay the rental fee as we would for any other venue and entry fees would need to reflect this. At Ormesby we will look at suitable dates and perhaps others could look into alternative suitable venues and dates.

OK... so now do I have some volunteers who will help to get the Northern Regional Leagues for Men and Women off the ground again ??? Could you check with people at your clubs and see who might be interested. We would need a Referee and some Umpires too as well as organisers.

I look forward to the response.
Jose

[DaveR]

Thanks for the information Jose ....... prompt as usual !

I will be in touch with our Chairman as we spoke about this on Friday. The 6 volunteers surely can be arranged by the guys interested so lets get things moving you lot !

Ill mail some players also.

Hopefully others will follow suit with some movement soon.

[The Windmill]

I have spoken to the people involved with my club, Birtley TTC and we will definitely enter a team if the league gets off the ground. I would also be prepared to help with the organisation in some capacity.....I will be speaking to Aubrey Drapkin about this topic tonight at Cramlington TTC's club night.

[Mr Wilko]

i think the reason for not any feedback is that teams/players are not being informed by this, i am sure i could get a team of 4 together for this event.

keep us posted Jose as you are a good and prompt source, cheers