Tournament Trail Continues for Rockhampton Table Tennis

The tournament season is well underway, and players seeking competitive action still have a few events on offer before the upcoming national championships. Rockhampton players have travelled strongly this year, with a solid contingent representing the club at the Bundaberg Open in late March, followed by the massive Mackay carnival two weekends ago. Sandwiched between these events was the annual Rocky Open, held over the Anzac Day long weekend, which drew a strong field of local and visiting players showcasing their skills.

In just two weeks, the club’s enthusiastic veterans can compete at the Moreton Bay Veterans Carnival. These same players are encouraged to consider entering the Queensland Veterans Championships, to be held at the South Pine Indoor Sports Centre in Brendale from 16–19 July. This major event offers both team and individual competitions across a wide range of age groups. Entries for the team events close at the Rocky club next Tuesday night, while individual entries must be submitted online via the state body.

Although the qualifying tournaments for junior and senior players were held around Easter—leading into national titles in Victoria during the July school holidays—the Australian Veteran Championships are scheduled for mid-October, also at the South Pine facility. To be considered for selection in Queensland state teams across various veteran age groups, attendance at the Q-Vets in July is essential.

For those keen to sharpen their skills, Rocky veterans have several opportunities each week at the Leichhardt Park Table Tennis Centre on Campbell Street. The popular Monday Club Night at 7:30pm draws players of all skill levels and guarantees competitive matches. Midweek practice runs on Wednesdays from 9:00am–11:00am, typically with strong attendance, and Saturday afternoon training (2:30pm–4:30pm) often includes younger players, offering variety in playing styles. The Thursday night Top Table competition is another great option for players of all standards, while Bat and Chat on Monday mornings caters to the over-50s crowd in a relaxed, friendly setting.

On the topic of younger players, the club’s long-standing junior coaching program continues every Thursday from 4:30pm, providing an excellent foundation in the sport. This pathway has produced numerous representative players for both the club and Queensland. Beginners receive expert coaching from qualified instructors and gradually progress to playing singles matches, with many eventually moving into regular club activities.

Players under 18 are welcome to join the Thursday coaching sessions. All that’s required to start is a pair of non-marking sports shoes—loan bats are available.

As players develop and grow in interest, they can invest in their own equipment, with expert advice readily available through the club.