The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
EYES ON THE PRIZE: Joe Beadle with the all-new Spalding Voice Invitational Cup at our office on Winsover Road. Photo (NIKKI GRIFFIN): VNG030614-11
The Spalding and South Holland Voice is proud to reveal that we’re sponsoring an event that will help put table tennis in Spalding on the map.
This Saturday will see the first-ever Spalding Voice Invitational Cup, held at the Castle Sports Complex. Four leagues are taking part, with teams from Ely, Grantham and Chesterfield joining hosts Spalding.
The home squad is made up of Tomascz Dobrzyn, John Gilbert, Richard Hammond and Jean White. They all play regularly in the Spalding and District Table Tennis League, who are supporting the new event.
With Spalding’s league the smallest of all 250 running nationwide, table tennis expert Joe Beadle cooked up the idea of hosting the annual tournament in the area.
With years of experience as Tameside Table Tennis Development Officer, the Spalding league grabbed his attention when he retired from his post and moved to nearby Tallington.
And with table tennis a big part of this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Beadle feels it’s a great time for the league to raise their profile.
He said: “The Spalding League is the smallest in England and obviously I’d like to help them build it up if I can.
“When I moved here I was aware of a few leagues. But Spalding is unique. It’s a small competition, but one that is superbly well run.
“The idea of the invitational tournament is to build the league’s profile in a Commonwealth Games year.
“Hopefully it will be a big success. I’m very thankful to The Voice for sponsoring the event.”
The event, which runs from 11am to 5pm, will see a round robin of six singles – with the top two teams playing off in the grand final.
- The Spalding and District Table Tennis League are continuing their summer sessions at the Castle Sports Complex on Wednesday nights (7.30pm).
Coaching is available, as is the use of the league’s robot. Regular players and newcomers are all welcome to attend.
