General Information
Woodlands TTC – a Sussex TT Success Story
Woodlands Table Tennis Club in Rustington near Littlehampton has just entered its sixth year and stands as a fine example of a Sussex TT success story.
Its main night is Tuesdays, pay-and-play starting at 5.30pm and running until and then from 7.30pm league matches. In the summer there is open play from 5.30. More recently high demand has merited in the club opening up a second night on Fridays at a church hall in Littlehampton.
This year the club had 12 additional players from its pay and play session (which generates an average attendance of 24 players) that wanted to play in the league which increased its league teams number to nine, involving over 40 players, in the Worthing and District League.
The club has an excellent social side including activities such as skittles, outdoor bowls, quizzes, walks, barbeques, theatre trips and an annual dinner which is always popular. Annual, end-of-season club tournaments held in the evenings always generate a high turnout.
This year to mark the passing away of Jim Holden, the club’s secretary, a pre-season memorial tournament was staged involving 20 members split into groups where competitors had to swap bats. It is now planned to hold this event annually, with a different twist being introduced each time.
The club mainly concentrates on its strength in catering for older players of all abilities. A large majority of its members are over 60 and includes characters such as Dennis Rhodes, who plays in Division 2 and who will be 90 in January and Lawrie Fountain in Division 1, a 78 years old enjoying a so far unbeaten start to this season...and he's not yet reached his peak!
Club stalwart Dave Richardson, a man who did so much to build up Horsham TTC in the past, has done much to foster the growth of this relatively new operation since his move to the Littlehampton area. He supports new people to get going in the game and, if they are competitively minded, to progress into the club’s lower division teams.
Dave commented, “We receive a steady stream of new people coming along and it is encouraging to hear how they enjoy themselves and feel part of the club quickly. Putting people at their ease, helping them get started and lots of encouragement appear to be key factors underpinning our growth.”
Woodlands TTC plays at the Woodlands Memorial Hall on Woodlands Avenue in Rustington. For further information contact Dave on gorranhaven@tiscali.co.uk
