TO ALL CLUB SECRETARIES

CIRCULAR NO 2– 2007/2008

1. For the benefit of those who may not have heard, I have to advise that the world of table tennis suffered a grievous blow on 30th June with the passing of our former President and Life Member, Eric Hill.

Eric’s contribution to table tennis locally and nationally over the last sixty years was immense, and he was honoured nationally some years ago by being made a Vice-President of the ETTA.

As many of you know, in recent years Eric devoted a huge amount of time, in conjunction with Jeremy White, towards the Holy Grail of a table tennis centre for Bradford. At this time it seems such a shame that his efforts did not bear fruit, otherwise we might well have had a building which could have borne his name.

2. The Special General Meeting prior to the 2007/8 winter season will be held at the West Bradford Golf Club, Chellow Grange Road, Haworth Road, Bradford on Monday 10th September 2007, commencing at 7:30pm. Secretaries are reminded that a representative from each club is required to attend and that Rule 23 will be applied. Can I also remind you that full player registration details and fees, individual player registration forms and any outstanding fines must be with the Treasurer prior to the meeting.

3. At this stage it looks as though there will be around the same number of teams as last season, possibly one extra, and the format is therefore likely to be the same as last season, with matches commencing on September 24th.

4. Please note two proposals for rule amendments submitted by the Management Committee for consideration at the SGM as follows:

Rule 23 Line 3 - Delete ‘£10’
Substitute with ‘£20’

This would have the effect of increasing the fine for failing to be represented at the AGM or SGM.

Challenge Cup and Trophy Competitions – Rule 7
Delete from ‘the Match Secretary’ (line 1) to ‘playing strength change’ (line 4)
Replace with:

‘The Match Secretary shall allocate a handicap to each player based on the previous season’s playing average and the division competed in. The Match Secretary will have the right to allocate an arbitrary handicap for any new player, and to amend any allocated handicap during the season, based on performance to date during that season.’

The effect of the above would be to change the handicap for the Tony Theobald Trophy from a team-based system to a player-based system.

Please bring your copy of this circular with you to the meeting, as further copies will not be available on the night.

5. Some very prior notice in connection with the Closed Championships, which next year will be held at GGS on Sunday, 30th March 2008. Support for the 2007 event was very poor, to the point where it is in danger of being totally unviable. We really do need your support from club level in order to keep this event going. Obviously I will send out a reminder at the turn of the year, but please do give this issue some serious thought in the meantime.

6. Be aware that there has been a significant development in the rules regarding the use of glue.

With immediate effect, ITTF/ETTA advises all players to cease using glues containing volatile components, and approval of all glues is withdrawn. ITTF will ultimately publish a list of glues free of volatile components (VC’s), and will continually update this. From 1st January 2008 (junior events) and 1st September 2008 (all other events), a ‘zero tolerance’ method of testing will be introduced by ITTF, and any player whose racket is found to contain any trace of VC’s will be disqualified from any ITTF event, and reported to his/her association for possible further disciplinary action.

In the longer term there will be no glues available from manufacturers containing VC’s, but it could, of course, be several years before current supplies are exhausted, particularly at local level. Your association does, however, seek your co-operation in helping to remove VC’s from the local scene as soon as is reasonably practicable.

R S Breen
General Secretary
21/8/2007