Schools benefit from old Jersey Table Tennis Association tables

The Jersey Table Tennis Association has acquired 18 new table tennis tables thanks to funding from the One Foundation and ESC. The Jersey Table Tennis Association required the new tables for hosting the International Primary and Secondary Schools’ tournaments being held in the Island in 2014 and 2017 respectively and the Senior Six Nations in 2016 as well as the general training, development, schools’ use and league and other tournament matches as well as general community use. The tables will also be used in the NatWest Island Games which will be held in Jersey in 2015.

All schools in the Island were contacted and given the opportunity to bid for the 13 old tables which have been at the Geoff Reed Table Tennis Centre since 1997. The tables are in good condition and they have only been replaced as they no longer meet the specification for competitions and are no longer adequate for use by the disabled community particularly wheelchair players. All of the successful schools actively demonstrated that the tables would be used on a regular basis in a structured environment.  The Jersey Table Tennis Association Development Officer Craig Gascoyne said: “We will be continuing to visit the schools to further promote the use of the tables and we hope this will increase participation rates for table tennis on the Island.”

“I also hope that the extra tables in Schools will increase involvement and encourage many more children to experience the fun of playing table tennis. Hopefully, some of these youngsters will then join our popular development squad sessions at the Table Tennis Centre in FB Fields.”

The Jersey Table Tennis Association is also keen to establish ‘Ping’ tournaments in St. Helier. This initiative will see table tennis tables placed in an outdoor area in town at lunchtime.  The general public are encouraged to come and have a go at the sport and coaches will be on hand to give demonstrations and basic training.  Further information on this scheme will be advertised in the media over the summer months.

The schools that have received tables are – Samares, St Clement’s, JCG Prep, Rouge Bouillion, Haute Vallee, Bel Royal, St Peter’s and La Moye.

Chris Band, President of the Jersey Table Tennis Association said, ‘Our Association is absolutely thrilled to receive these new tables. It is a win, win situation for everyone with the schools getting some badly needed extra equipment to satisfy the growth of our sport amongst the youngsters, the Jersey Table Tennis Association can now host major events bringing large numbers of visitors to the Island and the general community have more opportunity to play the sport with more tables available for use.’

Katie Griffiths, Commercial Director of the One Foundation said; ‘We are delighted to be supporting the Jersey Table Tennis Association with purchasing new equipment for their centre and forthcoming competitions. The Jersey Table Tennis Association committee and members work very hard at promoting Table Tennis in the Island and we hope that by distributing the tables to local schools that this will encourage more young people to the sport.’

Notes to the Editor:

The primary objectives of the One Foundation are:

• To raise additional funding that would not otherwise go into the charitable system including clubs, associations and non profit making organisations.
• Assist in raising the profile and awareness of ‘giving’ in the Island.
• Provide an efficient and professionally operated vehicle to primarily assist individuals to make donations in the area of Education, Sport and Culture.
• Assist in providing a funding platform for Jersey ‘stars’ of the future.  Turning aspiration into reality.

The council of members for the One Foundation consists of: Ben Cooke, Kevin Lemasney, Derek De La Haye, Steve Jacobs, Rod McLoughlin and Wendy Hurford.  All of these members are actively involved in the local community and collectively identified the need for a charitable foundation which would benefit education, sport, community and culture in Jersey.

Tags: Education Sport & Culture, Jersey Table Tennis Association, One Foundation

Category: Community, Sport