Aberdeen and District Table Tennis Association

Local contacts:
League Secretary: Alison Woods: 01224 279565
Match Secretary: Craig Cummine: 01224 705604 email: ccummine@talisman-energy.com
Development Co-ordinator: Charlie Flint: 01224 279905 email: cpflint@aol.com

ADTTA has been actively involved in promoting and controlling local organised table tennis since the mid-1930s when an Aberdeen League was formed. ADTTA’s two main trophies date from 1938 and their inscriptions bear testimony to the local presence of many names famously associated with the history of table tennis in Scotland.

There have been a number of peaks and troughs over the years and it is pleasing to be able to say that table tennis appears to be rising to local prominence once again. The demise of the McClymont Club in 2007 was one such low point but the excellent new facilities at Aberdeen Sports Village are providing a meaningful platform for promoting the sport locally across the age ranges.

The Aberdeen Sports Village facility, which offers real showcase opportunities for TT, only opened in August 2009 and already a number of significant TT events have been held there.

• firstly, in mid-November 2009 there was the Scottish Universities Championships for 2009-10 which seemed to be very well received by all concerned.
• the 2nd Annual Aberdeen University TT Club Xmas Competition followed in mid-December and was attended by around 50 adults and 50 junior players plus a sizeable group of spectators, who were entertained by some displays of very high quality TT.
• the revived North Confined Championships was held at the ASV at the end of January and again well attend by adults and juniors:
• finally, a well attended Regional Schools Qualifier was held in early February

The Management of the Sports Village has generously offered ADTTA/AUTTC a twice-weekly facility to provide developmental opportunities for young players and this is being fairly well attended. There are also other regular developmental activities currently taking place in schools in both Aberdeen City and South Aberdeenshire. One local TT club has more than 40 junior members and it’s further expansion is only limited by accommodation and volunteer constraints.

The ADTTA League Season 2009/10 features with 23 teams across 3 Divisions and the three usual handicap-based competitions are also being held. Following the decline of the McClymont Club the Triangle Pumas, a team from Aberdeen’s oldest surviving TT Club, came to the fore but this season they have been brushed aside by Crown Terrace Methodists. CTM have been boosted by the return to the fold of David Low who had spent a few of years in the TT wilderness. David reached VET status this season and is making his mark once again at both local and national levels. On a local league basis, David is being ably supported by another new VET, Martin Richens, Dennis Oon and the not so recent VET, Peter Aird. Division 1 is now a race for second place.

The AUTT Club has been boosted by the involvement of Donald Pirie over the past two seasons and both the AU Eagles and AU Falcons are both flying high in Divisions 2 and 3 respectively. However, the Falcons may yet have their wings clipped by Triangle Eagles.

ADTTA currently suffers from a shortage of active ‘certified’ coaches but the number of interested volunteers is beginning to increase and that should augur well for the future.