A century of table tennis in Marlborough will be marked in appropriate style on 16-17 October.
Past and present members of the local table tennis fraternity will come together over two days to reminisce and catch up with friends, old and new.
The Marlborough Table Tennis Association’s progression, from humble beginnings in 1926 as the Marlborough Ping Pong Association, through the highs of the 1970s, with numerous active clubs, to the current organisation, will be remembered and celebrated.
In 1926 Mr George Perry, with his wife Gladys, was the instigator of the local Ping Pong Association, with their Charles St home being the headquarters. The Association was reformed in 1938 as the Marlborough Table Tennis Association. The Perrys two sons, Trevor and Nigel along with their wives, Joyce and Eileen, then became heavily involved. Nigel went on to give decades of service, holding many of the management positions, awarded a Life Membership in 1975, and went on to be awarded a Queen’s Service Medal in 2022 for services to table tennis and tennis.
The Association hosted seven NZ tours of world champions, between 1938 and 1960, and hosted the South Island Open Championships on four occasions.
Miss Maris McKay was the first Marlburian to win a South Island title in 1959, and since then players have claimed many South Island, North Island and NZ titles, represented the South Island, and gone on to national honours. Marlborough had the number one junior girl and senior woman in NZ, and in 1975 and 1977 the local girls’ team were the NZ U18 girls’ teams champions. All members of these teams will be present.
On Friday night, 16 October, celebrations will be staged at the Simcox Stadium, with player exhibitions and memorabilia on show.
The Celebration Dinner takes place at the Marlborough Events Centre the following night. The Mayor will be present, along with representatives from the NZ Table Tennis Association. Registrations are still open until Wednesday 7 October.
To register go to mtta.org.nz/centenary. Manual registrations are also welcome by contacting Debbie Stratford 0211632140 or Association President, Barbara Burkhart on 0274343800.
