Pam Butcher honoured by special invitation

Pam Butcher, her dedication rewarded (Photo: courtesy of Paul Stimpson, Table Tennis England) Winner of the Women’s Singles Over 85 category at the 2016 World Veteran Championships in Alicante; unfortunately, a broken arm means that England’s Pam Butcher will miss this year’s European Veteran Championships to be staged in Halmstad, Sweden from Monday 26th June to Saturday 1st July. However, she does have an engagement to which to look forward, a visit to Buckingham Palace. Pam Butcher has received the MBE (Member of the British Empire) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List announced on Saturday 17th June. She received news of the accolade a few weeks ago but the honours list was only made public today; the award being made for services to table

Curtain for Czech duo to close in Las Vegas?

Present for the occasion (left to right) Jaroslav Stanek, Pavel Spacek, Miroslav Bindac, Eliska Furstova-Krejcova, Milan Orlowski and Lumir Ruzha (Photo: courtesy of Jaroslav Stanek) by Jaroslav Stanek Staged recently in Prague, the traditional Annual Meeting of the Czech Republic section of the Swaythling Club International possesed a festive atmosphere; the members celebrated the 50th anniversary of the organisation’s foundation. Furthermore, the 90th birthdays of two illustrious members, Eliska Furstova-Krejcova and Lumir Ruzha were marked. They are both still active players and take part regulary in senior tournaments, not only in our country, but also abroad. Both competed in the recent 2017 European Veteran Championships in Helsingborg from which they returned with medals. Lumir won Men‘s Doubles Over 85 years gold, Eliska Women’s Doubles

Play concludes in Helsingborg

Cécile Ozer (left) the women's singles over 40 winner is congratulated by (right) Ronald Kramer, President of the European Table Tennis Union (Photo: courtesy of Organising Committee) by Ian Marshall, ITTF Editor Titles to their name in previous years, Germany’s Marianne Blasberg and the Czech Republic’s Miroslav Cecava, alongside Denmark’s Claus Pedersen added to their collection of titles on Saturday 1st July. On the concluding day of play at the 2017 European Veteran Championships in Helsingborg, Sweden, all enjoyed success. Marianne Blasberg won the women’s singles over 80 years category, whilst also partnering colleague Erika Brüggen to runners up spot in the over 80 women’s doubles. The success means that she is the owner of no less than nine women’s singles titles at the European

Camaraderie shines through in Helsingborg

Petra Sörling, the President of the Swedish Table Tennis Association (far right) with colleagues clearly in the Helsingborg spirit (Photo: courtesy of Max Ansbro) by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor Two days of play completed on the evening of Tuesday 27th June at the 2017 World Veteran Championships in the west coast Swedish city of Helsingborg; several notable names have graced the arena. The name of Slovenia’s Edvard Vecko immediately attracts the attention. He competed in the first ever European Veteran Championships in 1995 in Vienna and, when representing the country once known as Yugoslavia, was a bronze medallist in the 1969 World Championships in Munich. Likewise, the names of Austria’s Ding Yi and Germany’s Wifried Lieck are present alongside Poland’s Leszek Kucharski and

Hungarian Swaythling Club meets in Budapest

Robert Szentgyörgyi with a copy of the Swaythling Club News, the photo on the cover is Eva Koczian (Photo: courtesy of Robert Szentgyörgyi) by Ian Marshall, Editor Welcomed by Robert Szentgyörgyi, the secretary, members of the Hungarian Swaythling Club met at the House of Sports recently in Budapest on Wednesday 24th May. Notably, David Paar, the newly elected Secretary-General of the Hungarian Table Tennis Association, attended. A one minute silence in memory of members Zoltan Bubonyi and Peter Temes, who both passed away recently, was observed; both had represented Hungary at the highest level. ”We are glad the many of our members are going to attend the Veteran European Championship held this year in Helsinbörg, Sweden. We wish them best of luck.” Robert Szentgyörgyi Most pertinently,

European Veteran Championships in safe hands

Petra Sörling, President of Organising Committee, but possibly also a player in Helsingborg (Photo: Richard Kalocsai)by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications EditorA total of 2,090 participants from 37 countries will play an estimated 7,500 matches on 87 competition tables, a total of 32 titles at stake; that is the task that faces Petra Sörling, the President of the Swedish Table Tennis Association and her army of good and faithful for the forthcoming 2017 European Veteran Championships. Furthermore, add husbands, wives, friends, officials et al and no doubt the 3,000 attendance mark will be passed with the very greatest of ease. Staged in Helsingborg on the south west Swedish coast, proceedings for the 12th edition of the ever popular tournament will commence on Monday

Inovation, Singaporean veteran tournament

The most senior partnership on duty Lim Tow Cheng (left) 74 years old and (right) Mok Wing Cheong, 81 years of age; they represented Team Kingdom P. P. Sports (Photo: courtesy of Singapore TTA) by Ian Marshall, Editor Promoting health through sport for those of more senior years organised by the Singapore Table Tennis Association in conjunction with the Toa Payoh East-Novena Community Club a team tournament for veterans was held on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th June. A total of 15 teams participated, the oldest participant being 81 year old, Mok Wing Cheong. Overall play took place in three age group categories; the competition being innovative and rather different from the norm. Results achieved contributed to the overall team effort. Three Men’s Doubles events

Eberhard Schöler recognised in Düsseldorf

The presentation in Düsseldorf (left to right) Hans Wilhelm Gäb, Ebby Schöler, Michael Geiger and Heike Ahlert (Photo: Rémy Gros) by Ian Marshall, Editor Silver medallist in the Men’s Singles event at the World Championships in Munich in 1969, the nearest any German player has ever come to lifting high the St Bride Vase; Eberhard Schöler was recognised for his contribution to the sport of table tennis at the recently concluded Liebherr 2017 World Championships. On the evening of Saturday 3rd June, in his home city of Düsseldorf, he received the award of Honorary Captain of the German Team. Present for the occasion, the first time the award has been made, was Michael Geiger, President of the German Table Tennis Association, alongside Heike Ahlert,

A challenge but Helsingborg possesses experience

The state-of-the-art venue in Helsingborg (Photo: courtesy of Max Ansbro) by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor Travel plans being finalised, over 2,000 players will descend on the Swedish city of Helsingborg for the 2017 European Veteran Championships; furthermore, a notable number will be from the host nation, more the 340 Swedes have registered for the week-long event. Play commences on Monday 26th June and concludes on Saturday 1st July. It will be a hectic week; some no doubt still making last minute travel plans; however there is no doubt the Helsingborg is ready. Certainly, Petra Sörling, President of the Swedish Table Tennis Association and Anders Karlsson, the Project Manager of the 2017 European Veteran Championships are most confident that the city located on the country’s

Hungary mourns Zoltan Bubonyi and Peter Temes

Peter Temes (1944 - 2017) sadly missed (Photo: courtesy of Hungarian TTA) by Ian Marshall, Editor It is with great sadness that the recent deaths are announced of Zoltán Bubonyi and Peter Temes; both stalwarts of Hungarian table tennis and valued members of the Swaythling Club International. Born in 1935, Zoltan Bubonyi enjoyed a notable international career; for Peter Temes, born in 1944, it was in the coaching sphere where he excelled. Zoltan Bubonyi very much followed in the footsteps of Ferenc Soos and Jozsef Koczian, representing Hungary on 18 occasions between 1957 and 1960; he played in an era when the debate on the subject of sponge rubber was very much at its height. Notably, he was a member of the Hungarian team when