Annual Report 12/13 - The English Table Tennis Association

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extremely passionate about the
JBL and was ever-present at the
event. It was clearly one of his
favourite competitions. A number
of the JBL committee asked that
Keith be remembered at the JBL
for his dedication, loyalty and
enthusiasm for the competition.
That request was put to ETTA
for approval and it was agreed
that a perpetual shield should
be awarded to each of the Boys
and Girls Team of the Weekend.
It was a real pleasure and delight
to all concerned to see Keith’s
wife, Rosemary, attend the final
weekend in February to present
the shields for the first time.
4.16.4 Currently we are experiencing
some issues relating to venues
for the new season for JBL.
The issues are complicated but
revolve around a very popular
venue which has covenants on
the number of non-tennis events
which can be held there, plus
additional bookings by VETTS
and ESTTA, etc. It is hoped to
finalise venues shortly and advise
all organisers of them. The Events
Department apologizes to the
organisers and volunteers affected
by this issue and thanks them for
their patience and understanding.
4.17 Bribar Women’s British League
(WBL)
4.17.1 2012/13 began the Women’s
British League’s 25th year, having
begun its journey during the
1988/9 season. The first event
was held at the Meadowside
Leisure Centre in Burton-on-Trent
on 15th/16th April 1989. It has
grown from strength to strength
over 25 very successful years and
continues to do so.
4.17.2 The league caters for females of
all ages and provides an excellent
springboard for younger players
to gain valuable experience from a
variety of standards and styles.
4.17.3 2012/13 saw 34 teams enter. The
first three divisions were run on
the 6-team format and Divisions
3 and 4 on the 8-team format as
per WBL Regulation 4.3.
4.17.4 There was a full complement of
umpires. A welcome addition from
the Press and Publicity team was
up-to-date coverage throughout
the weekend, with interviews,
reports, Twitter and more. Up to
the minute online results came
from Malcolm Macfarlane.
4.17.5 Crystal prizes were awarded to
Player of the Weekend, Louis
Peake of St Andrews TTC, and
Team of the Weekend, Ormesby.
4.17.6 The first weekend was efficiently
run by WBL Organiser John
Hardcastle, Assistant Peter
Bradley and Referee Gill Smith
along with umpires, Joyce
Stephenson, Margaret Calver and
other volunteers who helped make
the weekend a success.
4.17.7 The sponsors were Bribar and our
thanks are extended to them for
their continued support.
4.17.8 PinkPong members, in between
playing, raised £160 over the
weekend for this worthy cause
– a charity set up to ‘increase
awareness of cancer for everyone,
and to raise money for different
cancer charities and foundations,
and even communities’.
4.17.9 In December we heard the very
sad news that John Hardcastle
had died. John will be sadly
missed by everyone who ever
knew him. In addition to being
Organiser of the WBL for the past
five years, John undertook many
umpiring duties at national and
local events, with assisting at
the Paralympics in London 2012
being the icing on the cake. He
was a cheerful and very popular
gentleman, always pleasant and
would go out of his way to help
anyone.
4.17.10 Referee Gill Smith saw the need
to “keep the show on the road”
and in addition to her Referee
duties, without hesitation and
with the utmost efficiency, began
the immense task of collating
information for the 2012/13
final weekend, whilst delicately
communicating with John’s family.
With Gill ‘on task’ it wasn’t long
before everything was back on
track.
4.17.11 In January Gill passed on the
newly organised dossier of
information onto the incoming
WBL Organiser Dot Macfarlane,
and continued to support her to
achieve a smooth transition.
4.17.12 The final weekend was held at The
Dome, Doncaster, on 16th/17th
February 2013. Accommodation
was at the Holiday Inn Doncaster.
The WBL have received excellent
service over more than ten years
from both these facilities.
4.17.13 At the beginning of the WBL final
weekend, an honourable applause
instead of a minute’s silence
was held to recognise John’s
outstanding contribution to the
Women’s British League.
4.17.14 Again the full quota of umpires
were available, the Press and
Publicity team continued to
provide interviews, reports and
Twitter coverage throughout