December 2014 - January 2015 Holiday Week Schedule

   As we also do every year on Thanksgiving, this year we are changing our normal Thursday night play to the previous Tuesday - Dec 23rd, rather than Thursday December 25th, which is Christmas day.

  Our weekend play, on Saturday afternoons in Fairfield, and Sunday evenings in Bethany as listed at the homepage, will be unchanged before, during and after the December holidays - unless very severe weather occurs.

  Thursday play on the evening of New Years Day MIGHT be changed to the previous Tuesday as well - depending on weather, and player preferences communicated to me the previous weekend (after Christmas). If the website isn't updated again before 5pm on Monday December 29th,the decision will be announced at the Fairfield TTC phone info number by then. Or you can text my cellphone that afternoon asking if we will substitute Tuesday Dec 30th for Thursday January 5th. Please include your name and town if you text me. Play will return to normal days on and after January 3rd.

Milestone for Connecticut TTC Teen
Teenager Adam Sahar of Trumball, who came to us in Fairfield, and then Bethany, as an unrated, 13 year old Novice player, has made great progress in about two years with us. About a year ago, he reached a USATT rating of 1800+ with wins that included an upset of the near 1900 rated owner of the club that hosted the tournament.

 Recently, he reached another personal goal, with his first club match win  over former Connecticut Champion, 2200 level Rich Dewitt.

Congratulations to Adam and his supportive family for his rapid progress and accomplishments so far in our sport.

CT TTA Players show summer practice pays off -  score in multiple NY rating events

A summer of regular local practice at the Fairfield and Bethany clubs payed off as  6 of our players took took honors, or reached the finals or semi-finals in multiple USATT rating based events in the most recent (August 23-24) tournament in NY, while others have new club wins in Fairfield and Bethany.

Rich Dewitt took second in the U-2350 event with a semi-final win over Xing Chen Cui, before losing to event winner Adar Alguetti in the final, and Rich also reached the semi-final of U-2200, losing to Brian Gao .

Anthony Cappasso and Glen Randmer reached the quarterfinals of the U-2000 event in spite of ratings well under the event cutoff.

In the U-1900 event,  Samuel Medina defeated Benjamin Zhang to win the event, and bested fellow Fairfielder Jeff Von Kohorn in the Semi-final.

In the U-1750 event,  Anthony Capasso reached the semifinals and Austin Greenfield reached the quarter finals.

 Sam Donkor of Bridgeport won the U-1300 event in a 5 game final over
Daniel Yan. Sam also reached the semifinals of the rating based handicap event.

In club play, a number of other players are also showing improvement, with club match wins over higher rated clubmates.

Douglas Silva has 4 wins in his last six local matches with 2200 level Rich Dewitt in Fairfield, and Anthony Cappasso had his first upset match win over his coach, 2070 rated Dave Strang recently in Bethany.  Rob Withers and Chris Rydzic are also playing 2000 and 2100+ level in recent club play, though Rob isn't a tournament player, and Chris hasn't played a tournament this year.

As the saying goes  'a rising tide lifts all boats' and the quality of practice and match play among our players in Fairfield and Bethany is resulting in most players improving their skills and strategy, with our rivals from larger clubs in New York and New Jersey seeing the results in their own local events.

 

 

 

Fairfielder has big US Open win

   Lifelong Fairfield resident, Rich Dewitt had an upset win in the recent US Open in Grand Rapids Michigan that gained him congratulations from US Team Coach and former US Mens Champion Dan Seemiller among others. 

   Rich, 1998 Connecticut Men's Singles Champion, and along with fellow Fairfielders, Don Feltenberger, Michael Lazerev and Cotter Micheals, one of the original players when the Fairfield Table Tennis Club began in 1995, had 7 wins and 5 losses in the 630 player international field.

   But his win over USATT 2415 rated Niraj Oak of Houston was not only a significant upset based on Rich's 2189 rating going into the tournament, but also Niraj's only loss to a player under 2685 in the tournament.

  Typically. the odds of an upset diminish greatly when there are hundreds of USATT rating points difference in the computer based USATT match based player rating system, with odds exceeding 10 to 1 against this upset. 

 With his unique, extremely steady backhand and close to the table defensive style, Rich has often played the spoiler with upset wins over US and foreign trained players in major tournaments, including a 22 win 2 loss career best performance at the 2006 US Open Teams where a series of them temporarily boosted him to a 2445 rating placing him in the top 50 among all active US players at the time.  

  Why did former 1980's era US champion and World ranked #19 Dan Seemiller notice this result, if Rich has a reputation for upsets? Because Dan, who while now a full-time coach,  like Rich now a 'veteran' player, also still competes, especially in the many Senior age category events included in events like the US Open, and the US National ('closed') Championships, and had lost to surprise 2010 US Team Member Naraj last December in the US National Championships, as Niraj won the US Over 40 Men's Single crown. 

 (article at http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/At-43-Amdavadi-makes-it-to-US-TT-team/articleshow/5942735.cms )

   Unlike other upsets, where Rich's methodically steady low spin game often surprises, and sometimes wears down, more aggresive Top-spinning players, this time Naraj was outlasted by a player who, like him had a defensive playing style.

  Maybe Naraj hadn't heard that Rich and childhood friend Richard Bowling had been listed in the Guiness World Records for a witnessed ralleye lasting over 10 hours without a single missed shot ?! 

Fairfield Gym gets 'new' floor.

 After enjoying the new lighting, upgraded at the Bethany Town Hall Gym in January, CT Table Tennis Association players have recently been treated to another upgrade, this time in July at our Fairfield Senior Center playing site.

  While the process, sanding down the Center's wood floor, and refinishing and resealing it, was extended from the expected week to two, to assure the new surface coatings dried completely before any use, causing the loss of 4 playing dates, the local players were general quite impressed with the improvement.

  Depending on their shoe selection and playing style, some players noticed improved traction, while everyone appreciated the aesthetic improvement, with most of the many court lines for sports now not played in the former school gym removed, along with enhanced playing space for our sport, as 3 wheel bicycles and other seldom used equipment was also discarded or relocated in the process, improving the playing space for tables 4-8 in the gym.

 

  

BETHANY TTC RESUMES PLAY for 2014

In spite of competing with the 'big game'  and many home parties to see the halftime entertainment and newest commercials ,  Bethany TT began it's 2nd year with 9 players, from unrated to 2100 level, and from 14 to 58 years old on February 2nd.

Those present were the first to enjoy the improved playing conditions in the newly remodeled Bethany Town Hall Gym after the work stretched from late December until early February.

Was it worth the wait ? Well, one tournament experienced player declared the new lighting as the best in the NY-NJ-CT tri-state area, while playing courts also averaged 40 by 15 feet with an excellent floor. The Gym has room for 6 tables with 2 additional tables possible for practice or robot use nearby.

Earlier News - 2008 through 2012 is available Here:

http://members.tripod.com/netta_ct/2008_2009_News_blog/

(Cut and paste into your browser if link isn't active)

BETHANY TTC Holiday schedule and Gym News

 UPDATE * Play now expected to resume January 26th but please confirm by phone at (203) 514-0757 *

Our last session for 2013 at the Bethany  Town Hall Gym is scheduled for Sunday evening December 15th.

We expect to resume play in January after the holidays , beginning our 2nd year in our newest CT TTA club location, most likely on Sunday January 12th. (Schedule information will be updated on the info-line message listed at the homepage, as it is if severe weather impacts a playing date)

( As usual, Fairfield play will continue with our usual schedule of Thursday night and Saturday afternoon play throughout the Dec/Jan holidays. )

Contractors are scheduled to replace the Gym ceiling in Bethany and, more importantly for us, install new light fixtures, which should make our lighting brighter and more uniform, and eliminate the need for the supplemental portable lights we've used until now to improve lighting in the far end of the gym.

 We've also added an additional table in the nearby gameroom this fall, bringing us up to 7 available tables when needed, nearly matching the 8 tables available at Fairfield.

Thanks again to the Bethany and Fairfield Recreation Departments, and the Fairfield Senior Center, for providing excellent facilities and partnering with us in providing, upgrading facilities and promoting year-round weekly play in safe spacious and well lit facilities, and for the many players who support our lifetime sport.

 2013-2014 WINTER Schedule

Thanksgiving Week

As in previous years, our Thanksgiving Week schedule features a switch in our mid-week Fairfield Schedule from Thursday night play to the previous Tuesday evening.

Saturday afternoon play in Fairfield  continues as normally scheduled on Thanksgiving weekend.

 Bethany Sunday play is ON for the Sunday before Thanksgiving 

The decision regarding Bethany play on the Sunday AFTER Thanksgiving will probably be finalized and announced during the previous Sunday session based on turnout that Sunday, and player interest expressed then, and IF cancelled, will be announced on the Bethany Club information message line recording by the following week, by Sunday afternoon at the latest..  

As with possible winter severe storm cancellations, depending on when the decision is finalized, it might NOT be announced on the website or by e-mail. This is the reason the recorded message phone numbers supplement the website's information.

Christmas/New Years Eve/Day 

With these holidays falling on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, play in both Fairfield and Bethany should not be affected this year.

Severe Winter Weather

While cancellations don't normally occur due to typical winter snow storms, Blizzard conditions or freezing rain storms can be the exception, including heavy snow occuring on the weekend or after rush hour when highway plowing may be delayed.

Decisions in  those cases are often delayed to be sure any Weather report storm predictions are confirmed by actual weather and road conditons in or near southern or central Connecticut.

E-mails or website changes due to weather often can't be made in a timely manner, so please use the appropriate message phone lines for Fairfield or Bethany before leaving for a scheduled session if weather conditions seem questionable, and use your own judgement, even if the club IS open, based on weather and road conditions in your own town and neighborhood.

Please call from your cell phone if possible, so I can call you back after you've heard the message, should a later change occur, whether cancelling a session if conditions worsen, or restoring it if an expected storm doesn't hit the area with enough force to require a cancellation.  

It would be helpful too, if you are a regular player, AND/OR drive a distance to play, to provide me with your full name and town via an instant message or voicemail from your cell number in case I need to contact you due to an unexpected cancellation due to issues such as localized Power failures or other facility issues that may not make the news in your area of the state.

 

News release: January 19th 2013 (Updated June 2013)
for immediate release

BETHANY HOSTS NEW  CONNECTICUT TT ASSOCIATION CLUB


Bethany Parks and Recreation Department, and Coach Dave Strang's NETTA/ CT. Table Tennis Association have joined together to establish the New Haven/Waterbury Table Tennis Club at Bethany to provide weekly recreational and competitive play and instruction for players of all ages and skill levels.

Table Tennis (also called 'Ping-Pong) is the world's most popular
individual Olympic sport – second only to Soccer in worldwide
participation – where strategy and individual technique count more
than strength, height or age.

   The initial club meeting will be on Sunday January 27th at 2:30pm
in the Town Hall Gymnasium at 40 Peck Rd.   (Peck Rd. is just off
Amity Rd – rte 63 in Bethany, 10 mi. north of New Haven, & 12
mi. south of Waterbury).As of mid-JUNE, play is Sun 6:30-10:30pm

    Club Director and Coach Dave Strang of Prospect, many time
Connecticut State Champion in Men's and Senior Men's Singles and
Doubles, and a former National Collegiate finalist, will be joined by
top Junior, Senior and Women's single's players from his club in
Fairfield, who will give demonstrations, play challengers and give
free pointers, followed by open club play and mini-tournaments where players will be matched with players of similar experience and skill.

     Open club Play will continue on Sundays, with additional open play, leagues or clinics on a weekday evening possible later in 2013 - based on participant interest.

     Drop in play on Sundays will cost $10 per participant for a  full
3-4 hour playing session, with reduced fees for players only playing
the first or last hour of each session or making a pre-paid advance
commitment.

The club will feature 6 professional Table Tennis Tables and a 'Newgy'
Table Tennis Robot available for special practice or instruction.

Players may bring their own Rackets or borrow or buy them at the club meetings.

    Spectators are welcome for any regular Sunday club meeting,
including the special Jan 27th club kick-off event, without charge.

  More information is available by calling Coach Dave at (203) 514 –
0757 (recorded message ) or (203) 660-1363 (home/office) or at
realtabletennis.NET. or e-mail nettadave@gmail.com

Bethany TTC on Sundays near Waterbury & New Haven

The New CT TTA club in South/Central CT  meets Sundays -                      (6:30-10:30pm as of June 2013) 

Distances to the  Greater New Haven/Waterbury area TT Club at Bethany, CT:

New Haven 10 miles -via 63 north

Waterbury 12 miles  - via  63 south from rte 8 or I-84

North Haven 15 miles - via Parkway south to exit 59 and 63 north

Bridgeport 24 miles- via Parkway north to exit 59 and 63 north

Meriden/ Middletown 19 / 25 miles - via 691 exit 3 rte 10 s - rte 42 west to 63 south OR take rte 691/84w to rte.8 south then 63 south - this is 10 miles longer but simpler &  takes the same time -also about a 30 to 40  minute trip.

Fairfield 29 miles - via Parkway north to exit 59 and 63 north

Newtown 25 miles - via 34 (consult GPS) OR 30 miles via 84 to rte 8s to 63 south

Hartford 35 miles - via 84 sw to 8 south to 63 south

Danbury  39 miles - via 84 east to rte 8 south to 63 south

New Playing Fees for 2013

A modified Playing fee structure will start in mid-January for play at  Fairfield and the new New Haven/Waterbury TTC at Bethany.

The new single playing session fee will be $10 per player, reflecting inflation, costs for other entertainment and recreational activities,  and the current drop-in playing cost at other comparible quality table tennis clubs in the Tri-state area. (Clubs in NYC are often MUCH more expensive, sometimes even for smaller playing courts and shorter time periods)

Fairfield Club fees were originally established at $5 per visit in 1995 when that was a common  Movie admission price, and of course, most other prices for necessities, or entertainment, were MUCH lower than they are today.  

But regular players are encouraged to save time and money by pre-paying with options like 3 visits for $25, reducing the cost to slightly over $8 per session. 

Other options are being considered as well, such as weekly or monthy payment options, which might reduce the the cost (somewhat) more for players who regularly play on consequetive club days the same week, or who consistantly play every week on the same day. or arrangements for family or short duration play, particularly for new, unrated players.

Participation levels, player ages and incomes and initial participation levels at the new club location in Bethany will help determine the possible variety of pre-payment discount options that might be offered either to everyone, or on a case-by-case basis, at Club director Strang's discretion. 

But the '3 for $25' is recommended for most players at this time, though players are also welcome to 'pay as they go' at $10 per visit, hopefully with correct change as often as you can remember to bring it.  

Earlier CT TTA NEWS - from 2008 through 2012 is available at the following page:

 http://members.tripod.com/netta_ct/2008_2009_News_blog/

(Cut and Paste into your browser if link isn't active)

2006-2007 CT TTA NEWS -

 http://netta_ct.tripod.com/news2006_2007.html?start=#imgAnch3

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Top 5 rated active FAIRFIELD TTC PLAYERS 11/01/2012:

1.Rich Dewitt 2219

2.Adis Medunajin 2132

3.David Strang 2070

4.Krzysztof Rydzik 2059

5.Christine Lockwood 2009

Top 10 and Top 20 Rating Lists for CT.TTA are located at:  http://www.realtabletennis.com/Ratings/