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.

The Barrow first team has developed a phrase. In fact, you might have even heard it on some of our videos; it goes something like this, “GEESE”.

At the last British League weekend, at the end of a team talk everyone even got in a huddle and gave the geese sign (making your arm and hand look like a goose face and neck) and shouted “GEESE” – me included. Now, I don’t know why I joined in with this ritual (had to really given everyone else was), as I don’t have a clue what it means. I don’t know whether at anytime in my life I have been goosed or geesed, indeed, I don’t know whether I have been doing the goosing or the geesing!

I have consulted the urban dictionary, but this doesn’t seem to offer any obvious clues. So, can someone please help me and tell me what “GEESE” means?

This weekend, Barrow I will be making the long journey south to Old Harlow to play the second of four weekends that constitute the British League Premier division season.

Barrow I currently top the table with four wins from four, including an important 5-3 victory over reigning champions Drumchapel Glasgow.

Barrow I’s opening Saturday fixture is not only tough, but has an interesting twist. It comes in the form of an experienced team from a northeast club co-founded by Barrow TTC coach Denis Neale in 1957, Ormesby. This is the team that Neale won the European Club cup with in 1972, the only English team to ever do so. After that, Barrow I face London club DHS Greenhouse Progress.

Sunday’s aperitif comes in the form of a match-up between Barrow I and Fusion, the team Barrow were promoted with after last season’s play-offs. It is then time for the main course, the British League crunch match of the decade, the return fixture against Drumchapel Glasgow.

Speaking about the weekend and the Drumchapel Glasgow fixture in particular, Barrow Team Manager Tristran Swan commented,

“Only Drumchapel Glasgow concerns me. Barrow and Drumchapel are a class apart from the other teams in the division. Saying that, we can’t afford to go easy as a loss against Drumchapel will bring all the other results into play.”

“The Drumchapel game is massive. The players know it and they know what is at stake. A win will make us very strong favourites for the title. A draw will put us in a perilous position, as we can’t guarantee that our top players will always be available. For me, a loss will be a disaster as I don’t believe we can beat Drumchapel on game difference.”

“There will be a few key games (in the match against Drumchapel). Assuming they have the same squad, the match between Gavin (Rumgay) and Ryan Jenkins is hugely important as are the matches involving our number 4 player (player to be announced).”

Barrow I from: Paul Drinkhall, Gavin Rumgay, Darius Knight, Sebastian Laux, Bradley Evans, Jonathan Crawford, Scott Crawford

I started all a gusto, peaked way too early and then plummeted off a cliff. I can only apologise as I let my new blog turn into a stale stagnant bog. I simply got caught up in all kinds of things table tennis. Table tennis is infectious, addictive and will take over your life. In fact, it should come with a health warning on the packet!

So, for a quick catch-up. The Barrow ‘dream team’ turned into reality and I can only imagine the disappointment on the faces of certain other team members as our stars walked into the hall the first British League weekend. What a weekend it was too!

The weekend started on a high as Barrow TTC ended reigning champions Drumchapel Glasgow’s two year winning spell. It was tight, tighter than I expected, but the guys got the job done and the rest of the weekend was plain sailing (see the Barrow TTC YouTube Channel for the match videos). Indeed, one thing that became quickly apparent is the big gulf that exists between Drumchapel and us, and the rest of the British League Premier Division teams. We (Drumchapel and Barrow) have set the bar and I only hope the rest have the hunger and desire to catch-up and compete.

Away from the British League, Barrow TTC’s Paul Drinkhall, Darius Knight and Gavin Rumgay competed at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India. Paul, Darius and the rest of the England team enjoyed a
successful games walking away with a well deserved silver medal in the men’s team event (what a game between Paul and Achanta Sharath Kamal in the team semi-final match between England and India). Paul also came away with a bronze in the mixed doubles with partner Joanna Parker.

So, that is a quick round-up of what has happened. This leads into the question, what do we have to look forward to? Only the second British League Premier Division weekend and the British League crunch match of the decade between Barrow TTC and Drumchapel Glasgow. It is going to be massive!

British League Premier Division First Weekend Table

British League Premier Division Results

British League Premier Division Barrow Player Averages

British League Division 2 North First Weekend Table

British League Division 2 North Results

British League Division 2 North Barrow Player Averages

The Barrow TTC team (Jakov Krivić, Bradley Evans, Jonathan Crawford, Tristran Swan, Scott Crawford and Steve Dixon) that won promotion to the British League Premier Division last season has been nominated for the Barrow Borough Sports Council open age sports team of the year award.

Barrow TTC are up against Furness Cricket Club, Barrow AFC and Furness Scratch Golf Team.

Barrow TTC promotion winning player Scott Crawford has also been nominated for the Barrow Borough Sports Council sportsperson of the year for his performances last season which included gold and bronze medal wins at the Schools International.

Scott will be up against Brett McDermott (Rugby League) and Sonja Foster (Multi-Sports).

The winners will be announced at the Barrow Borough Sports Council Annual Sports Awards, Friday 19th November at Barrow Town Hall.

Congratulations to Barrow TTC players Paul Drinkhall and Darius Knight on winning silver in the Commonwealth Games men’s team event alongside England team mates Andrew Baggaley, Liam Pitchford and Danny Reed.

Also, congratulations to Paul Drinkhall on winning bronze in the Commonwealth Games mixed double’s with on and off court partner Joanna Parker.

Paul Drinkhall talks about his men’s singles Commonwealth Games performance and exit to Singapore’s Yang Zi (World Ranked 64) in the quarter-finals on BBC Radio Cumbria.

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