Balatonfüred proves ideal home for Tibhar Cup

The men's singles 60 to 64 years podium (Photo: courtesy of Istvan Bajdik) by Ian Marshall, Editor Staged in Balatonfüred, a popular Hungarian resort on the banks of Late Balaton, a total of 156 players from five countries competed in 17 events in the recent XIV Tibhar Cup. The host nation’s Krisztina Spengler emerged the most successful player on duty, she secured a full house of available titles. She won Women’s Singles 40 to 49 years, in addition to partnering colleague Andrea Turner to victory in Women’s Doubles 49 years and Joszef Nyiro to Mixed Doubles gold.. Undoubtedly the efforts of Krisztina Spengler attracted the attention as did one player who did not gain a podium finish. At 93 years of age, Austria’s Margit Schieder,

Viva Las Vegas veterans

Jörg Rosskopf on duty in Las Vegas (Photo: Christophe Neuville) by Susie Hughes Deputy Chair of Table Tennis England and the VETTS It is known as the entertainment capital of the world but from Monday 18th June, Las Vegas will turn into the planet's table tennis metropolis as more than 4,000 players descend on the Nevada desert city. Las Vegas will play host to the 19th World Veteran Championships, the biggest veteran sporting event in the world. Table tennis players aged from 40 to over 90 years old will take part in singles and doubles events for both men and women in 11 age categories, five year bands, for the prize of being crowned World Champion. All participants compete in group stages, with the first

Celebrated names in Las Vegas

Famous faces (left to right) Jörg Rosskopf, Erik Lindh, Stellan Bengtsson, Istvan Jonyer, Jörgen Persson (Photo: courtesy of Matt Hetherington) by Matt Hetherington, USA Table Tennis Media & Communications Director Tonight the 19th World Veteran Table Tennis Championships was officially declared open, by Hans Westling of the World Veteran Table Tennis Committee, after a night of entertainment and celebration. Indeed it was a taste of Vegas which was put on show, intertwined with special moments in table tennis history and the acknowledgement of the sport’s legends who had descended upon Las Vegas, USA, among approximately 4,000 competitors. Indeed among the first two days of practice the scale of this momumental event has already been realized, and tonight’s ceremony ignites a thrilling week of table

Enjoyable three days in Bosa

Jacky Versang (left) the Men's Singles Over 70 Years winner (Photo: courtesy of Fabio Costantino) by Ian Marshall, Editor Staged in Bosa from Sunday 29th April to Tuesday 1st May, a total of 80 players competed in the 2018 Sardinian Veteran Open Championships. In addition to Italy, players from Switzerland, France, Belgium, Germany, England, Scotland, Spain, Romania, Pakistan, Russia, Israel and Sweden participated. Competition first but also players were able to savour the surrounding area, beaches and local historical area. Everyone enjoyed the hospitality afforded and most certainly many will return next year. Notably Italy emerged as the most successful nation on duty; in the Men’s Singles event, Maxim Kuznetsov won the Over 40 Class, Erich Schuster secured the Over 50 title; in the Women’s Singles

Tony Chatwin, Table Tennis England stalwart

Tony Chatwin (right) with Table Tennis England President Jill Parker MBE (left), receiving the Keith Ponting President’s Memorial Trophy in 2017 (Photo: courtesy of Table Tennis England) by Ian Marshall, Editor It is with great sadness that the death of Tony Chatwin, a stalwart member of Table Tennis England is announced. He passed away on Tuesday 10th April. Both nationally and internationally he was a familiar face in the role of umpire and referee; a genial smile, he was universally respected. Always calm, always he was a person to whom you could turn for constructive well thought out advice; in my days prior to working for the International Table Tennis Federation, he was always my first choice to be the referee for home matches

Yorkshire prevails, titles for Joanne Shaw

Medallist in Taupo (left to right) Gary Williams Bei Zhang, Jo Shaw, Sarah Sandley (Photo: courtesy of Table Tennis New Zealand) by Ian Marshall, Editor Located in the heart of the North Island, the Taupo Events Centre was the venue for the recently concluded 2018 New Zealand Open Veteran Championships. Proceeding commenced on Thursday 29th March and concluded on Monday 2nd April. A notable name on the roll of honour was that of Joanne Shaw, she won the Women’s Singles titles in both the 40 to 49 years category and the 50 to 59 years category; now that makes me feel old, very old! Joanne Shaw is from Yorkshire in England, the same county as myself; she excelled as a junior player, one of the

Once again Aarhus bids welcome

Smiling faces in Aarhus (Photo: courtesy of Jens-Erik Linde) by Ian Marshall, Editor First held in 1993, the Aarhus Veteran Open was staged recently in Denmark; a total of 91 competitors, play commenced on Friday 9th February and concluded on Sunday 11th February. It was the 25th edition of the event, the tournament's foundation being thanks to the endeavours of a group of players who had competed in the Nordic Veteran Championships in Malmö, as well as in the in Gothenburg and Oslo. Tournaments in Sweden and Norway, Denmark did want to be left out; since inauguration the only occasion when the tournament has not been held was in 2001 when Aarhus hosted the European Veteran Championships. Later Oslo, Gothenburg and Aarhus formed a “Grand

Vladimir Miko, mainstay of Czechoslovakian success

Vladimir Miko (1943 -2018), one of Europe's best (Photo: ITTF) by Ian Marshall, Editor It is with great sadness that the recent death of Vladimir Miko is announced; he was 74 years old. Born on Monday 22nd March 1943 in Krupina in the country now known as Slovakia; Vladimir Miko was a vital member of the Czechoslovakian team throughout the 1960s. He started playing table tennis in 1951 at STO Tatran Krupina, before in 1957 moving to Sparta Prague, where he was coached by established internationals Ladislav Stipek and Ludvik Vyhnanovsky. In 1959 he joined the national team, competing in seven World Championships, an event in those days held on a biennial basis. Notably in 1967 in Stockholm he reached the quarter-finalsof the men’s singles

Year starts, London the destination

Nigel Eckersley, winner of the men's singles over 50 years title (Photo: Mike Rhodes) by Ian Marshall, Editor Established in 1984 for players over 40 years of age, the Veterans English Table Tennis Society, known universally by the acronym VETTS, now boasts some 1,000 members; each year six regional tournaments are staged in addition to a National Championships. The most recent was the VETTS Southern Masters held on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th January at the Redbridge Leisure Centre in London. A total of 222 players competed in five age groups ranging from over 40 years to over 80 years; the events being Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles. Notably 1,153 matches on 32 tables were played over the two