RECENTLY, the World Veterans Table Tennis Championships took place in Rome and amongst the 6,100 competitors, including 171 from England, were four representatives of the Newton Abbot Table Tennis Club, based at Teign School.

The events were divided into 5-year age gaps from 40 years old right up to, incredibly, 90 years old!

All the events start with groups of four- the top two qualifying for the main draw and the bottom two going into a consolation draw meaning there were plenty of games for everybody!

With the temperatures outside hitting the mid 30's it was lucky that the six massive halls, containing 350 new tables in total, were all air-conditioned and the conditions were excellent for quality table tennis.

Many ex-internationals took part, with some of the 2,000 spectators gathering around their favourite’s table in the early rounds.

Sonja Ryland ,Kevin Nicholls and Dennis Gibbs all did well to qualify from their groups, with Sonja making the last 64 out of 136 entrants in the over-45s, Kevin the last 256/767 entrants in the over-55s and Dennis Gibbs the last 16/434 entrants in the over 70's.

Newton Abbot Table Tennis twosome Sonja Ryland and Kevin Nicholls
Newton Abbot Table Tennis twosome Sonja Ryland and Kevin Nicholls (Tony Halse)

Kev and Sonja teamed up to win their group in the over-45s mixed doubles and got to the last 64. Former Devon champion, Bob Parkins, who also plays for Newton Abbot, got through to the last 16 of the men’s over-75s doubles and Dennis Gibbs, playing with Bob's brother Terry, in the men’s over 70s doubles, beating seven pairs before losing to the Chinese number one seeds 8,7,5 in the last eight on one of the show courts.

Dennis Gibbs also partnered Exeter player Penny Perry in the over-70s mixed doubles. They were unlucky not to qualify for the main draw but won 8/9 games to get through to the consolation final and win against a German/Chinese pair.

It was an incredible experience for all the Newton players!

Tony Halse, who does an incredible job running the Newton Abbot club, took some great photos and wrote updated reports, which are available on the Newton Abbot Table Tennis Club Facebook page if anybody would like to see more.