Our History and Future Plans 

 

First Stage

Aim: To promote table tennis for juniors in Market Rasen.   In the Autumn of 2005/6 we started a small group called "Market Rasen Jun. Table Tennis Club" in Rase Park in the Market Rasen Cricket & Football Club Pavilion.

MEMBERSHIP

The age group was 7-10yr. olds. We had 7/8 junior boys and girls - we invited to a 5 week taster course.They stayed on following this until April 2006.We were staffed with qualified ETTA coaches. We used 3 old tables (on permanent loan) from the Grimsby & Cleethorpes Dist. League.

Second Stage 

We needed larger premises to continue so we approached De-Aston School.   The aim now was to form a secondary school age group and form a club.    We would teach table tennis from the local junior schools through to Yr.11 at the senior school using the school gymnasium. The club would provide all the equipment necessary and qualified coaches. The AIM would be to enter teams in schools events in Lincolnshire. We were welcomed by the Head of P.E. Rick Freeman together with Nick Chilvers, the Manager of the Leisure Centre and were encouraged to start a club.

In September 2006 we formed the club "Market Rasen Junior Table Tennis Club". A constitution was written, an account was opened with Lloyds Bank, we encouraged the young students to buy club shirts and every Wednesday we invited all school age groups boys/girls to receive coaching in table tennis. Primary and Secondary school youngsters are welcome after school 3.45pm-5.45pm in the school gymnasium. 

By popular demand we have for the last 4 seasons provided a local "family/community adult session on Thursdays, juniors are also welcome to come and practice, again in the gymnasium between 8.00pm-10.00pm. (52 weeks a year). This is very successful.   We changed our constitution to incorporate adult members to join the club.

 OUR CURRENT POSITION IS AS FOLLOWS:

We are a well-established club, recognised nationally. A Premier Club at Participation level to clubmark criteria within the remit of the English Table Tennis Association our governing body . We have maintained our membership and have over 40 names on the register. All our coaching staff are insured, qualified CRBd, have up-to-date Child Protection and First Aid this is all voluntary. We have always had good coverage in the local press.   Our own 3 monthly newsletter, headed paper and website  www.marketrasentabletennisclub.com   We have a 5 year contract for equipment to Butterfly Tee Sports.   We have been successfully awarded an Award for All and smaller Sports Relief award to enable us to buy 10 tables a Robot and other necessary equipment.

We now rely on regular attendance of students and Community sessions to maintain the club as venue fees are paid solely by the club. We have an advertising poster and we regularly attend local Fairs at senior schools in Caistor and Louth we also had a marquee at the Lincoln Fair last summer.

Our juniors enter individual National tournaments. We run 2 league teams for both adults and juniors in the Lincoln League. Our juniors attend training days in Grimsby, Gainsborough and Market Rasen in the holidays. We have run both National Cadet and National Junior Leagues at De-Aston Sports Centre. We invited teams from Scunthorpe/Skegness/Grantham/ Ancaster/ Gainsborough, Belchford and Lincoln and our own teams from Market Rasen. 

We also have 1 Junior British League team, Market Rasen Racers, who compete at Aldersley Leisure Centre in Wolverhampton over 2 weekends in the National team competition. This is a prestigious National League and we are very proud to participate in this. We have 2 Veteran National teams men's and ladies - both are in the British League Premier Division.   Many of our juniors are in the Junior England ratings list from U'11s to U'18s. Some are now County ranked and currently playing for Junior and Cadet Lincolnshire County teams. No fewer than 6 of our juniors are currently in the East Midlands Regional Squads. We have hosted an "Invitation 2-a-side" competition - with the top Lincolnshire County senior players participating.   We have also held a Veteran County match at De-Aston - Lincolnshire v. Warwickshire.   We are now regularly running County training sessions at De Aston Sports Centre in which no fewer than 30 players from different parts of Lincolnshire are invited to attend.

AIMS FOR THE FUTURE  

On the Junior front:  Although the club is a fairly small one, the openings for those who become enthusiastic are many -  school team matches, National team events run through the winter months, local tournaments etc. and as their standard improves they will be encouraged to play in local League play; finally County representation.  We have our coaching session on Wednesdays, after school hours, during term time.

De-Aston School has now taken the sport of Table Tennis on to their Curriculum which has been very rewarding especially with the numbers of pupils wanting to play (more in the winter months it being a winter sport), although a few juniors play all year round which is very encouraging.The latest news is that one of the pupils has expressed an interest in becoming a UKCC Level 1 coach in table tennis.

As you can see from the above in the few years this club has been in existence it has made great strides forward and there is plenty of room for expansion. The few coaches have many loyal parents who are always willing to lend a hand for the foreseeable future. We have had tremendous success as the young people improve in standard. Our members are very competitive and their enthusiasm for competition is amazing.They deserve their success.

 COMMUNITY CLUB: We encourage the better juniors to join this adult session for extra practice.  This group gathers every Thursday evening in De-Aston Sports Centre.  Our players come from not only Market Rasen, but surrounding villages and a number of newly formed clubs in the Wolds area. We always welcome their visits.

I must say that some 6 years ago when we started this club from scratch our aim was to get a team into the Junior British League.   We have achieved this some 3 years ago but now I feel we are not only established in that League but keeping the club alive for the Community as a whole in Market Rasen. 

Both adults and juniors play in local senior leagues and because the school have taken on board this sport there is  opportunity to enjoy competition in a different sport at school level - to date things are working well for us - long may it continue.

 

NEXT SEASON: We shall be entering 3 teams in the local league of Lincoln playing at the Crusaders as our home venue.  Two in Division 1 and one in Division 2. All are playing members .

Also we have Lesley Keast playing in the Premier Division of the National Womens British League. We have 3 teams in the National Veterans British League (these are our Associate members).  A Men's and Ladies team in the Premier Division and the 3rd in Division 2 of the Ladies competition - all under the Market Rasen banner.

Good luck to everyone!!!!

 

SYLVIA TYLER

General Secretary

May 2013  

 

Following are MRTTC's Policies and Plans

 

http://www.marketrasentabletennisclub.com/MRhistory.DOC

http://www.marketrasentabletennisclub.com/MRclubcharges.doc

http://www.marketrasentabletennisclub.com/codeofconduct1.DOC

http://www.marketrasentabletennisclub.com/MRPartnership Links.doc

http://www.marketrasentabletennisclub.com/Opportunities 2008.DOC

http://www.marketrasentabletennisclub.com/MRdevelopment 2007.DOC