The League was established in 1964. It is our aim to operate under the rules of the English Table Tennis Association "to promote Table Tennis at all levels for recreation and competition." We consider that we have been successful in this and there are currently 17 teams and more than 80 players registered to play in our two divisions.
From late September through the winter to April, our weekly league matches, four cup events, and an end of season Tournament all provide competitive table tennis games in a friendly and sociable environment. New players and teams are actively encouraged and it doesn't matter how well, or otherwise, you play nor how young or old you are, you're sure to find something to enjoy in the North Norfolk League.
Following last year’s successful inaugural match between the Dereham and North Norfolk Table Tennis Leagues which revived Inter-League table tennis in the area after an absence of three decades, the Hansells Trophy has grown significantly with six more Leagues joining the fold to make sure every major League in the area is represented. This year theNorwich, Wymondham, Kings Lynn, Great Yarmouth, Fakenham and Diss Leagues are battling it out alongside Dereham andNorth Norfolkand with all eight Leagues randomly drawn into a knockout format, it was somewhat ironic that the two Leagues from last year were drawn against each other in the first round. This timeNorth Norfolkwere drawn at home and hosted Dereham at North Walsham Sports Centre. The Challenge was in effect three matches in one as three players from each of the two League’s respective first and second divisions and their junior ranks battled against each other with the results from each table combined to determine which League would progress to the semi-final.
The first division table sawNorth Norfolk’s John Batchford, Andy Beane and Tom Baldock-Yaxley host Dereham’s Howard Lupton, Steve Barrett and Wayne Lubbock. The opener saw Batchford come back from two sets down to lead Lupton 9-3 inthe fifth. Lupton won the next five points and then saved two-match points at 8-10 before having a chance of his own at 11-10, but Batchford came through 14-12 on his fourth match-point. Dereham were always in control of the next three battles as they won each in straight – the only glimmer of hope came when Beane strung some cracking shots together to set up a set-point in the second against Lupton. That was saved by a winning serve from the Dereham player – before Beane served into the net at 10-10 as Lupton won 11-8, 12-10, 11-9. Batchford had a couple of chances to draw level at a set a piece with Lubbock but the Dereham player took his fifth opportunity to take a two sets lead. However Batchford once again held his nerve, did not give his opponent pace and made another terrific comeback to win in five. The next encounter also went the distance as Barrett won a very fast counter-hitting battle against Baldock-Yaxley.Lubbockbeat Beane in straight before a 6-1 lead in the decider was enough for Lupton to win a patchy five-setter against Baldock-Yaxley. And it was a 4-0 lead in the fifth and very good hitting in the concluding set that saw Barrett to a win in five over Batchford – denying theNorth Norfolkplayer a triple comeback as he had been once again two sets down in the contest.
The second division table, like the first, finished up 7-2 inDereham’s favour. HereNorth Norfolk’s team of John Welsh, Chris Gould and Rhodri Oliver were up against Dereham’s line-up of David Appleby, Paul Baudinet and Simon Denton. The two wins forNorth Norfolkwere both settled in four sets as Gould and Oliver beat Baudinet andDentonrespectively. Oliver went down in five to Baudinet, Welsh took a set fromDentonbut the remaining five battles that included an Appleby maximum were won by Dereham in straight. On the next table,North Norfolk’s juniors Joe Kirkup, James Morton and Stuart Hook hosted Dereham’s junior team of Matt Leggett and Phil and Matt Denton. Kirkup took a point for the hosts by winning the opener in straight against Leggett, with the Dereham player recovering from a set down to beat Morton in four. A couple of missed serves arrived at the cruellest time for Hook – one long off the table at match-point up 11-10 inthe fifth against Leggett and another into the net at match-point down 11-12 to hand away victory on the Dereham player’s second chance. BothDentonbrothers were impressive for Dereham with neither dropping a set. Phil Denton beat Kirkup 12-10, 12-10, 11-9 and edged out Hook 14-12 inthe third. That meant an 8-1 win for Dereham on this table and a 22-5 overall victory.
FIRST DIVISION
John Batchford bt Howard Lupton 9-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4, 14-12
Andy Beane lost to Steve Barrett 5-11, 6-11, 2-11
Tom Baldock-Yaxley lost to Wayne Lubbock 7-11, 3-11, 3-11
Andy Beane lost to Howard Lupton 8-11, 10-12, 9-11
John Batchford bt Wayne Lubbock 5-11, 14-16, 11-4, 11-9, 11-8.
Tom Baldock-Yaxley lost to Steve Barrett 7-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 8-11
Andy Beane lost to Wayne Lubbock 8-11, 6-11, 7-11
Tom Baldock-Yaxley lost to Howard Lupton 7-11, 11-6, 1-11, 11-5, 4-11
John Batchford lost to Steve Barrett 6-11, 6-11, 11-5, 11-9, 2-11
North Norfolk lost to Dereham 2-7
SECOND DIVISION
John Welsh lost to David Appleby 5-11, 6-11, 6-11
Chris Gould bt Paul Baudinet 11-7, 6-11, 11-8, 11-3
Rhodri Oliver bt Simon Denton 11-6, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7
Chris Gould lost to David Appleby 0-11, 9-11, 6-11
John Welsh lost to Simon Denton 9-11, 11-8, 7-11, 8-11
Rhodri Oliver lost to Paul Baudinet 13-11, 3-11, 11-8, 6-11, 5-11
Chris Gould lost to Simon Denton 7-11, 8-11, 7-11
Rhodri Oliver lost to David Appleby 8-11, 5-11, 6-11
John Welsh lost to Paul Baudinet 10-12, 7-11, 8-11
North Norfolk lost to Dereham 2-7
JUNIORS
Joe Kirkup bt Matt Leggett 11-1, 11-2, 11-8
James Morton lost to Phil Denton 2-11, 2-11, 3-11
Stuart Hook lost to Matt Denton 1-11, 5-11, 6-11
James Morton lost to Matt Leggett 12-10, 6-11, 6-11, 3-11
Joe Kirkup lost to Matt Denton 7-11, 9-11, 5-11
Stuart Hook lost to Phil Denton 6-11, 7-11, 12-14
James Morton lost to Matt Denton 2-11, 8-11, 2-11
Stuart Hook lost to Matt Leggett 5-11, 12-10, 12-10, 7-11, 11-13
Joe Kirkup lost to Phil Denton 10-12, 10-12, 9-11.
North Norfolk lost to Dereham 1-8
OVERALL - NORTH NORFOLK LOST TO DEREHAM 5-22
Full report on the challenge match will appear here at the weekend.
HANDICAP DOUBLES CUP FIRST ROUND DRAW
Preliminary Round – Barracudas v Gresham School to be played w/c 28th January.
NWSCA V NWSCC
CROSSCOURTS V POACHERS
DROPSHOTS V SPECIALS
OUTLAWS V GOBLINS
AYLSHAM METHODISTS V PIRATES
GRESHAM’S/BARRACUDAS V NWSCB
NWSCE V BACKHANDERS
NWSCD V SHARKS
Matches to be played w/c 4th February.
HANDICAP SINGLES CUP FIRST ROUND DRAW
Preliminary Round – Crosscourts v Dropshots to be played w/c 28th January.
NWSCC V NWSCB
POACHERS V BACKHANDERS
SPECIALS V NWSCA
CROSSCOURTS/DROPSHOTS V AYLSHAM METHODISTS
BARRACUDAS V SHARKS
NWSCE V GRESHAMSCHOOL
NWSCD V GOBLINS
OUTLAWS V PIRATES
Matches to be played w/c 11th February.
it is with great pleasure that we can announce that Mary has been elected as President of The NORFOLK COUNTY TABLE TENNIS ASSOCIATION----- WELL DONE MARY FROM US ALL !!!
North Norfolk's coastline is famous for its beautiful landscapes and the abundance of wildlife that inhabits them. Year round these priceless resources draw many thousands of visitors and holiday makers into our area. Local people and businesses gain enormous economic benefits as a consequence. It must surely follow that those of us that live here have a vested interest in ensuring that the mosaic of marshes, beaches, reed beds, and sand dunes that make up this area of outstanding natural beauty are preserved. In my opinion we should be thankful that organisations such as the Norfolk Wildlife Trust work tirelessly to protect areas such as this on our behalf. The trust are amongst our newest sponsors and they have recently launched a £1 Million appeal to purchase a parcel of land adjoining their Cley Marshes Nature Reserve. Their aim is to bring another area of this our natural heritage under their protection. Like the NNTTL they are financially dependent on their fund raising activities. They have supported us through their sponsorship, can we support them ??.
For more information about the appeal and how to make a donation, no matter how small, follow the links on our sponsors page.
