News Archive - June 2011
Craig Calls Out to the Next Generation
On Sunday 10th July Craig Bryant, ETTA Regional Coach, is running a South-East Regional Assessment Day at The Triangle in Burgess Hill (The address can be found here: http://www.freedom-leisure.co.uk/centres.asp?section=240)
Any players that are under 15 for the 2011 / 2012 season should come along, as the regional staff are looking for players of all ages (from 7 - 15). The day will consist of some training drills in the morning, followed by some match play in the afternoon.
Craig commented, “There won’t be too much coaching going on as we’ll be looking at players’ technique, attitude and other attributes. The day is not a case of the best players get into the squad, we’re looking for potential, players who possess the will to win and who are willing to work hard. So come along and show us what you’ve got.”
Players’ coaches are also welcome to attend it is helpful to get their views on the players and to meet different coaches in the region as well.
If you are planning on attending this day then please email Craig Bryant on cbryant@etta.co.uk with your name, date of birth, address and contact details. Coaches can also email Craig if they are sending players.
Y-Centre Set for Sportivate TT 
Horsham District Council have been successful with a Sportivate funding application to run table tennis programme for residents of the Horsham Y Centre in the autumn term.
A pilot session in the spring indicated the potential popularity of table tennis at the centre which led to the bid and the leaving of two tables there for casual play.
It's hoped that eight sessions of coached provision will lead to some good players emerging from the centre and linking to nearby Horsham Table Tennis Club.
Sportivate is a Sport England funding programme administered by Active Sussex and designed to get more 14-25 year olds active.
Forthcoming Opportunities for Sussex's Disabled TT Players
Horsham Leisure Link, Horsham District Council's sports development team, is staging two multisport events for disabled people in the coming weeks that both include table tennis and are open to a Sussex audience.
On Tuesday 12th July an Ability Counts Day will invite disabled adults to participate in a range of sports and arts activities at Southwater Leisure Centre. Table tennis a key feature of the programme with a coached session running 9.30-11am. Click here for the information leaflet.
On Sunday 2nd October the Sussex Reaching Higher Games will invite disabled youngsters to compete in a range of sports, including table tennis in the afternoon in two age categories (U13 and U18). It will also offer a range of come-and-try-it sports and arts activities for the less competitively minded, including siblings. Click here for the information and booking leaflet.
Helshan and Lois Represent England
Helshan Weerasinghe and Lois Peake played for England at the weekend in the Cadet Six Nations event at Dusseldorf making sure there was a strong Sussex representation in the squad.
For a full report see the article on the ETTA website
Pink Pong Table Tennis Charity Event 
Craig Bryant is organising a Pink Pong (www.pinkpong.co.uk) table tennis charity event to raise money for breast cancer research on Sunday 31st July at K2 Leisure Centre, Crawley. The event will involve a number of different aspects.
There will be a team competition running, which will consist of teams of two competing for prizes. There will also be a robot table, with a competition involved (50p per go), the winner of the competition getting a signed Paul Drinkhall shirt. Parents and the general public are also welcome as there will be spare tables, plus a mini table for people to have a go on.
Regional Coach Craig commented, "Pink Pong a great charity so please bring your wallets with you. On the day, there will be donations buckets and whilst there won’t be any charge to have a knock on the spare tables but a donation of any sort would be greatly appreciated." 
There will be a maximum of 24 teams to enter for the team tournament, which will make 8 groups of 3 teams, with 2 teams going through to the main draw (last 16). The team event will be done on a first come first serve basis, so get your entries in quickly.
For further information and an entry form click here
Drunknmunky Sponsor Ping Duo 
Two of the Brighton City TTC crazy gang, David Pringuer and Paul Bergin, are developing an interesting sponsorship relationship with a company called Drunknmunky.
David has led the way, supported by his father Nick, in securing a deal for himself based around his range of table tennis, trampolining, freestyle football and parkour skills. The deal will see him receive a supply of Drunknmunky clothing. His best friend Paul, who is equally multi-talented, has also been invited to get involved so there's every hope that he will also be signed up soon.
Dad Nick commented, "This only happened due to myself contacting Drunknmunky asking for a raffle prize in aid of raising funds and getting to go to the Olympics 2012. Check out our facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brighton-United-Kingdom/Brighton-Table-Tennis-Club/144307125640828. They replied that they could do something with this and wanted to know if we could send videos and pics of them wearing the clothes. So I sent some old videos of David mucking about and a deal ensued!"
Drunknmunky is a skating/streetwear brand from California but with offices in London that sponsor parkour specialists, free runners and other trendy activities. They have just added table tennis to their list. Their website - www.drunknmunky.eu - has links lots of videos of different 'cool' kids performing stunts and tricks in their clothing.
Take a minute to watch the lads in action at these two links:
http://www.drunknmunky.co.uk/news/view/table-tennis-anyone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =TOT9vdT2Oxk&feature=related
Brighton City leader Tim Holtam commented, "The company has offered T-shirts, shorts and footwear in exchange for some home made videos of them doing tricks and messing around. Just the sort of rebranding opportunity ping pong needs. Division 2 of the Brighton League will not know what's hit them!"
The spiel on the company’s website reads:
Drunknmunky is an ancient form of kung fu style fighting practiced by shaolin monks. The monks had to pass 9 different tests to show strength of mind and body; for each level, they were awarded a sacred dot, burnt into their forehead. In the last and most difficult test the novice would have to demonstrate mastery of DRUNKNMUNKY, showing control and strength of mind and body. You will see the 9 dots on all our garments, representing the Shaolin monk's beliefs and ideologies Drunknmunky
Our Californian founders drew upon their own oriental heritage and took inspiration from the monk's beliefs. The two young founders lived and grew up through 1990's California, they noticed how the "super brands" were shaping peoples clothes, style and attitude. They created a brand with it's own identity. Individuality, strength and independence are the Drunknmunky ideologies, we embody the spirit of the Shaolin monks and believe in individuals who aren't afraid to be who they are.
Individuality is a gift, Drunknmunky is our lifestyle. Set the trend, join us at www.drunknmunky.eu. “
Yes it’s deep. Perhaps too deep for the average TT exponent. But hats off to the lads for showing such initiative and to the company for adding table tennis into their range of happening sports.
Elite Centre to Spend Summer at the Triangle 
The Sussex Junior Elite Centre has temporarily moved venue to the Triangle Leisure Centre in Burgess Hill for the summer term.
The sojourn started last night with the programme's latest matchplay assessment session that involved the coaches making notes on the players' progress whilst they were playing under tournament conditions.
