End of an Era at Chelsea Academy
A New Year Message from West London Ping
Jon Kaufmann – 1st January 2018Table tennis in the West London region is set for some exciting developments in the coming months of the New Year. First up is the imminent arrival of the Greenhouse Table Tennis Centre in Marylebone, in Central London. Under the tried and tested coaching and management team of Jason Sugrue and Daniel Basterfield, the long awaited centre should prove to be an important addition to the table tennis scene in West London.
Although principally for the use of students involved in the Greenhouse Schools project, the beneficial knock on effect for table tennis should be considerable. We wish them well.
Meanwhile, the Moberley Table Tennis Club, currently based at the Charing Cross Hospital on the Fulham palace Road, is going from strength to strength. Both junior and senior teams are making a real impression on the tournament circuit and there is a real possibility that the club may soon be able to relocate back to it original venue at the rebuilt Moberley Leisure Centre in Maida Vale. But wherever this club ends up plying its trade, it seems certain to become, under its enthusiastic management team, a major force in West London table tennis.
New on the table tennis scene are the London Foxes, an exciting group of current and former Fox Primary students who have been training hard under the professional guidance of former Yugoslav international, Natasha Moura. Featuring Federica and Francesco Bonato, The Di Giammarino twins, Marco and Arianna, and the former gold medallis ESTTA Primary school champions, Nadia, Rose, Valentina, Louise and Colette. Through hard work and enthusiasm, this group of players looks set to make a significant impression on the national table tennis scene in 2018.
Once again we are proud to acknowledge the magnificent achievements of the London Academy Table Tennis Club – the parent club of the rapidly expanding London Table Tennis Academy. Having long dominated the national junior table tennis world, the club is now evolving into a major force in British senior table tennis. The Academy presents teams right across the spectrum of Table Tennis England events and their ability to produce internationally ranked players is phenomenal.
Starting on the 20th January, the London Academy will again host the National Junior League where over 150 players from across London and the South Of England do battle for honour across eight divisions. Of those 150 players, a massive contingent of over sixty players will come from the West London Ping community programme. This growing partnership between the London Academy and West London Ping looks set to become a major feature of junior table tennis in the Capital.
Finally, another big thank you to the growing list of West London Ping partners, supporters and sponsors. This year looks set to see a new important link up with Top Spin Sports (more details to follow) to add to our existing sponsors at EPIC Sports/RBKC, the Chelsea Big Local and the City Living Charity. A big thank you also to the Chelsea Academy and the Ashburnham, Barnes and William Hogarth Primary Schools. Your continued support is invaluable.