Big Year Ahead for RTTA as All Sessions Return for 2026

The city’s table tennis activities at the local club on Leichhardt Park in Campbell Street

returned to normal recently after a recess during the school holiday period and some

maintenance issues that needed attention.

At the present time the club-house is getting a new roof over the six playing courts,

which has been made possible due to a healthy grant from the Gambling Community

Benefit Fund. It is hoped that this construction action will not adversely affect day-time

playing sessions, however should interruptions need to occur advice will be posted on the

club’s Facebook page. This page also contains information on all of the club’s playing

sessions where intending participants can obtain information.

The Monday morning Bat and Chat session for people over 50 years of age regardless of

playing standard has made a welcome return and all reports indicate that the people who

turn up for a social hit and smoko are ‘having a ball’ this year already, as they have over

the past few years when this concept was introduced. For those who are looking for an opportunity to play casual Table Tennis on a Monday evening, our weekly Club Night is held from 7:30pm. This is perfect starting session for beginners and is open to all ages and abilities.

Children are invited to attend the Thursday afternoon junior coaching session from

4.30pm and all they need to do is turn up with a water bottle and non-marking sports

shoes. As they progress their game they can look towards being set up with their choice

of playing equipment with plenty of options being available for bats and rubber-

coverings. All of these beginner sessions are supervised by qualified coaches with many

years of experience in the sport.

The Top Table competition from 7.00pm on Thursdays offers a different style of hit-out

to the normal with players changing opponents based on a time-based approach rather

than games or rubbers won and the Saturday afternoon practice hit from 2.30pm gives

participants of all playing standard the opportunity to play against a variety of opponents

with different playing skills. For those who cannot make it on Saturdays the Wednesday

morning practice session provides a similar opportunity to have a hit.

The premier competition in open grade hit off last Tuesday night and apart from a few

rusty-spots needing to be blown away from a few of the competitors who have not

touched a racquet since early in December some good table tennis was on display.

The city’s two leading juniors faced off in the opening round and with Cooper Bulow

being promoted to the top division he got a taste for high-class action from the get-go as

he had to play fellow city rep Judd Carr and the reliable Jakob Baker. Bulow did well on

his initial outing when he stole a set from Carr and outlasted Baker over five long sets

where he came back from being 1-2 in arrears. Carr was playing well enough on the night

to defeat Rayden Smith over four sets, but Smith is one of the players who hasn’t touched

a bat in a while.

In a clash that drew some interest due to some very long rallies, Warun Wilkinson just

beat Pam Clarke 14-12 in the deciding fifth game and on the same court Jeff Jordan

survived a serious challenge from the improving Oliver Wright in another battle that went

the full distance where Wright had his chances after leading two games to one.