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CURTAIN RISES ON NEW SEASON For the first time ever BVTTC has a massive 16 teams in the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League for the forthcoming season that opens on Monday 13 September. Making the Club the largest in the League, accounting for around 20% of the players and teams in the League. 13 of the teams will play in the main league and 3 in the introductory league, CLICK. Half of these teams are juniors, an incredible achievement and great tribute to the junior coaching programme the Club operate. But what are the chances of the teams? here's a quick run through and maybe a prediction or two. The A Team were demoted from Division 1 at the end of last season, but Neil, Waseem and Peter look far too good for Div 2. However they have few substitutes of quality to call with the B team being in the same division. So any absences could cause a problem. But I wouldn't be surprised to see them spring straight back up to the 1st. The B Team are also in Division 2. In Adrian and Julie they have proven players of quality, but consistency could be a problem. Div 2 is historically very competitive, and there will be no easy games. Expect to see this team struggle, unless Adrian is in the side every week. The C & D Teams are both placed in Division 3. In Duncan Elloy the C Team have a strong No.1, but for both sides the rest are much of a muchness. The newly promoted D team could struggle at first as they find their feet, but captain Gareth should inspire and in what could be a very close run division they may just spring a few surprises. Don't expect either to win a medal this year. It will be enough if they both keep clear of the drop zone. Mike Johnston leads an all new Division 4 line-up in the E Team. He is joined by Bob Francis and Ryan Pitt both moving up divisions. They look as if they could struggle, but Mike is playing well. Quality substitutes may be an issue, but if they could find one then they have a fair chance of survival and of pulling off the odd surprise. Teams F & G are placed in Division 5. And here you have two teams in contrast. David Gatheral leads the steady more experienced F side. The newly acquired Peter Sun will be making his debut, and the availability of the rock solid Mike Robinson could be crucial. But with no obvious No.1 a mid table place is the best that they can hope for. The G team by contrast gives an opportunity at a higher level to 3 flamboyant youngsters in Steve Clift, Martyn Chattey and Laura Pyman who are joined by Ian Austin returning to competitive play after something of a break. They certainly have the talent, but can they turn it into results? It's going to be tough. It's likely the G Team will struggle at first, but providing they stick to their shots, learn some discipline and engage their brains the second half of the season could see them making good progress. Division 6 features 6 Baddow Village teams! H through to M, four of them junior teams two coming into the League for the first time. With just 4 other teams in the division 'derby's are almost certain most weeks! I would expect the seasoned campaigners of the H Team, led by veteran Fred Henwood, to fare best. Their vast experience ought to be enough to slow the youngsters down. But kids learn quick - or at least we hope they do! The J Team featuring Rykki Vansertima, Haydn Upson, Sam Pitt and Phil Twite, look to have improved significantly having had 1 seasons experience in the League and might just be an outsider in the title race. The L team introduce Mike Pitt for his frist full season and Jacqui Smith for her first taste of league play. The experience of team captain Diane Pitt and the improving Eric Clift should be enough to secure a mid table position. What will be interesting is to see how the two 'rookie' teams get on. Bradley Hudgell, Richard Napper, Shaun & Mark Hurrell all played in CLICK last season but move up to the big stage this year. All are fast improving. They are joined by newcomer Todd Eaden. They make up the M Team, their task will be to keep away from the bottom. The newly formed I Team of Hannah Pitt, Matthew Skeoch and Adam Pitt are the youngest team in the League. They will struggle at first, but if they can keep their heads, learn quickly, and keep their emotions in check they could just spring a surprise or two. And that just leaves the senior teens. The K team led by Tom Miles. All four boys, Tom, brother Ed, Rob Able and John Mutch have the ability to pick up points but they may just find that in a very competitive division they have not improved enough. We shall have to see. With so many Baddow teams in one division it would not be surprising to find that one of them ends up at the bottom. But will one end up at the top ... if anyone can it's the J Team! The Club introduces three brand new teams to the introductory competition CLICK this season. It looks as if CLICK could be a quite divided division this year, with one or two very strong sides who, one has to say, have players who really ought to have gone up into the League this year. They look far too strong for this level. So expect all 3 teams to struggle. The N team of Alex Stone, Andrew Orme and Alex Gill look best equipped. But realistically the best position they can hope for is 4th. The O Team features an all girls line up, with Kath & Claire Austin (Mother and daughter), Rebecca Steed, Bethany Hudgell and Rebecca Skeoch. It's going to be really tough for them. They are barely ready for competitive play. Providing they keep their spirits up and just enjoy the experience they should learn a lot, and who knows should be well placed for next season. And finally the O team of Ben Steed, Tom Lee, Matthew Davis and Aled Upson. All playing their first season also. Ben should make a good No.1 and hopefully that will be enough to see them in a reasonable mid-table spot. let's wait and see. Good luck to all teams. Do let us know how you actually get on! |