Stigaboy's New Year Table Tennis Video (2011) Aged 7 3/4
He isn’t a super hero, but self-styled ‘Stigaboy’ is shaping up to be England’s next table tennis child prodigy and possible future champion. The 7-year-old son of James Brown (no, not the “Godfather of Soul”, but he of luminous trainer fame) is improving fast and I’ll definitely be following his progress through his YouTube videos.
Good luck Stigaboy!
Lexi (my girlfriend) & Chief Elf Rory (my nephew)
Firstly, I hope everyone had a nice illness free Christmas and New Year (for those abroad, there are a lot of nasty flu varieties circulating around these parts). Personally, I had a very enjoyable Christmas with family and spent a ‘chilled’ New Years with some good friends. My spare time was largely spent relaxing with my girlfriend and thinking about our new baby whom is baking away (i.e. lots of pram shopping). So, all in all, a very nice break.
Now the festive holiday is over, it is back to reality and January is shaping up to be a very busy month for Barrow TTC and its players. So far, it is looking something like this:
- Jan 16th – British League Division 2 North (Halton Table Tennis Centre, Widnes, WA8 7DZ)
- Jan 18th to Jan 22nd – Slovenian Open (Gavin Rumgay & Darius Knight playing)
- Jan 22nd – Training Camp for kids (tbc)
- Jan 23rd – British League Premier Division (Halton Table Tennis Centre, Widnes, WA8 7DZ)
- Jan 26th to Jan 30th – English Open (Paul Drinkhall, Gavin Rumgay & Darius Knight playing)
Michael Bublé plays Table Tennis with Paul Drinkhall & Darius Knight
Prior to flying out to the Commonwealth Games a couple of months ago, Paul Drinkhall and Darius Knight had the pleasure of meeting Michael Bublé. Or maybe that should be Michael Bublé had the pleasure of meeting (and playing against) Paul and Darius as Bublé told a spellbound Sheffield audience, “Today I had one of the coolest days of my life”.
Paul Drinkhall Celebrating
Prior to Paul Drinkhall and Darius Knight joining Barrow TTC I had little interest in following the England team. Now I have an association with the players, I love it. Watching England vs. India at the Commonwealths was intense and seeing Paul’s dramatic comeback against Sharath Kamal Achanta was something special.
During that match, in my eyes, Paul demonstrated unbelievable fight, visible for all to see as he punched the air in triumph. However, for some other England fans this demonstration was a little too much. What do you think? (leave your comments below)
Comment published by a British League player:
“Having said this, I feel I must comment on the atrocious behaviour of our no 1 ranked player, whose antics at the end of each point by shouting, raising a fist in the air and often parading around in what I can at best only describe as ungentlemanly behaviour, in my view, serves to bring the game into ridicule & disrepute.”
“I detest this sort of behaviour, as everyone else that I have spoken to, agrees with as well and goodness knows what sort of example this sets for other aspiring young players we are trying to attract to our sport.”
“I believe that the umpires should stamp out such intolerable, provocative behaviour/bad sportsmanship, as this should not feature in table tennis as I know it.”
Sometimes, you think you know someone. Then bang! Out of the blue they pull something out from their history which takes you by surprise. Well, this could be one of those instances.
Check out the picture below and tell me which person is a current Barrow TTC player and who that player is.
Who is the BarrowTTC player?
I really enjoyed last weekend for a number of reasons, but there is one highlight that really stands out.
It isn’t that Barrow II retained their 100% record beating division leaders Chesterfield in the process. It isn’t that it was so good to see so many of the first team present supporting the second team. It isn’t even laughing, as Denis Neale got so wound-up when Duncan Crawford suggested Bradley Billington had beaten Jan-Ove Waldner. Lastly, it isn’t how well Graham Coupe played against Peter Morgan on the Sunday afternoon. Infact, it wasn’t even a table tennis match. Though it did involve Sheffield player Peter Morgan.
Kane Chuck Mathews
Saturday night we all stayed over at Darius Knight’s and what a nice night it was too. Darius’ next door neighbour also came to join us, Barrow TTC fan Kane Chuck Mathews.
It was only a matter of time before the PS3 came out. With Peter Morgan boasting a 3-year unbeaten FIFA spell, the gauntlet was laid. It was Kane that took up the challenge.
Whilst Pete enjoyed most of the possession, he simply couldn’t convert in the last third. Kane on the other hand possessed unpredictable flashes of brilliance, which were deadly. So deadly, they ended Pete’s 3-year FIFA unbeaten spell in the most entertaining of fashion. It was brilliant, compelling on the edge of the seat stuff and my highlight of the weekend.
Happy days and massive thanks to Darius for putting us up.
Relaxing at Darius' (from left to right: Steve Dixon, Peter Morgan, Darius Knight, Jonathan Crawford)
Denis Neale
It was Division 2 North of the British League last weekend and in attendance was Barrow TTC Coach Denis Neale. Now, for those that don’t know Denis, he is a passionate (mature) man that is always correct. It is his passion and strong beliefs that make him fun to wind-up every now and then.
Anyways, whenever I see Denis, he always asks whether I know when the next $100,000 hardbat tournament is going to be in Las Vegas. As far as I knew, last years event was struggling to get sponsors and wasn’t happening.
This weekend however, Denis had the answers. Apparently the hardbat tournament had been modified to a sandpaper bat tournament and is once again going to be held in Las Vegas. At first, I thought someone was winding him up and suggested that this might be the case. Denis insisted it was genuine and that he was in the process of entering.
Well, the first thing I have done this lunchtime is check out whether this $100,000 sandpaper bat tournament is genuine. Guess what, it is!
UPDATE: Barrow Table Tennis Club’s Paul Drinkhall will be playing the 2011 World Championship of Ping Pong on February 7-8th, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
World Championship Of Ping Pong
“Allow me to introduce you to the new premier table tennis organization, the World Championship of Ping Pong (WCPP). We are officially accepting applications for the 2011 World Championship of Ping Pong on February 7-8th, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The top sixteen professional players will be selected to represent their respective countries and will compete in the ‘Classic’, a single elimination round robin tournament with one ultimate champion. The second day’s competition features the ‘Marco Polo Cup’, a team event pitting the eight World players against the eight Asian players.
We are proud to partner with FoxSportsNet and Matchroom Sport, as we will offer the first global broadcast of the WCPP with eight original hours, premiering in April, 2011. The programs will be viewable in over 810 million homes worldwide on Fox Sports Net in the USA, Eurosport in Europe, CCTV in China, and ESPN Star TV throughout Asia, to name a few.
The WCPP aims to revitalize the sport of table tennis with the introduction of our unique sand paper racquets. Racquets will be distributed to you via mail before the tournament starts. Since the racquet is the first of its kind you will have an equal opportunity to train and play.
Pearl Theatre of the Palms Casino Resort
The World Championship of Ping Pong will take place on February 7th and 8th, 2011, in Las Vegas at the Pearl Theatre of the Palms Casino Resort. Here, the world’s top table tennis players from around the world will be showcased as you compete for over $100,000 dollars in total cash prizes. Every player will be awarded a minimum of $1,500 for attending, free round trip airfare, hotel accommodations, as well as a daily stipend for food and leisure spending.
Back in time I wore a cap whilst playing in the British League. It seems to have given me some sort of notoriety and Tony Meredith (British League Referee) referred to it as my d*ckhead cap.
Barrow II (from left to right: Graham Coupe, Jonathan Crawford, Tom Smith, Scott Crawford, Tristran Swan)
Well, this season the cap has been laid it to rest. This hasn’t come without a couple of consequences though. One is that people no longer recognise me and the second is a new pre British League weekend ritual. I now get my haircut the week before a British League weekend (the length of time between British League weekends is such that my hair grows to a length it gets in my eyes whilst playing). I know, the latter consequence is very tragic indeed.
I got my haircut today, which means only one thing. Yes, it is time to dust down my bat and kick into British League Division 2 North action with Barrow II as we battle for promotion. In fact, this weekend is going to be massive as we face up to league leaders Chesterfield.
Come on Barrow boys, we can do it!
Denis Neale (Barrow TTC Coach) & Paul Drinkhall (Barrow TTC No. 1)
Coming away from the last British League Premier Division weekend, there are three things that stand out in my mind:
- How much I had underestimated Ormesby, DHS Greenhouse Progress and Fusion. These teams played tremendously, in particular Jason Sugrue and Sule Olaleye, and our matches were as competitive and intense as our first match against Drumchapel Glasgow. Indeed, on the day, I think our scores against DHS Greenhouse Progress and Fusion flattered us.
- How much Darius Knight has improved. I have yet to see him tested, but his comfortable win over Gareth Herbert who is in tremendous form is testament to how well Darius is playing at the moment.
- That Barrow really is the best team to play for in the British League. I don’t think there is a team with our camaraderie and to see every game well supported, whether it is a match clincher or the last match when everything has been decided is brilliant. Not only that, but everyone gets on so well off the table and it is brilliant to see the players families all involved.
Barrow I Team Meal at
King Du Noodle Bar, Harlow
For those that haven’t witnessed a British League Premier weekend, I would go as far as saying last weekend was way better and way more exciting than last season’s English Open finals (during which my girlfriend knitted a scarf as I fell asleep next to her).
There have been rumours going into this British League weekend that we (Barrow TTC) have signed a new player. One rumour even suggests a top Chinese player that plays in Sweden. I can categorically state, “Barrow TTC have not signed any new players going into the second British League weekend”.
We are aware that there is a good chance that Drumchapel Glasgow may have signed another player. We too could sign someone. Indeed, if it wasn’t for a fixture clash we would be debuting a new number 1 on Sunday.
When re-analysing the situation (after finding out about the fixture clash), we felt that signing a new player would only be buying guaranteed success and would be detrimental to the team (at this moment in time). The team felt they had started out together and that it was important they won the British League together as a team and earned the honour of being champions.
