Stratford-upon-Avon Table and District Table Tennis Association have made their first-ever appearance in the Midlands League

Stratford-upon-Avon Table and District Table Tennis Association have made their first-ever appearance in the Midlands League.

The Stratford side – Piotr Penczkowski and Adrian Jones (Stratford Blazing Paddles) alongside Stephen Foster (Shottery) – battled hard in a narrow 6–4 defeat against Derby in their milestone match.

Jones remained unbeaten throughout and was named player of the match.

The team will now face Hinckley in their next Midlands League encounter at Meon Vale on Saturday, November 16, at 1pm and supporters are warmly encouraged to attend and cheer them on.

The Association is also appealing for a sponsor to support its Midlands League campaign, helping to cover team shirts and venue costs.

Anyone interested is invited to contact team captain Kevin Taylor via stratforduponavonttc@yahoo.com.

Shottery maintained their position at the top of Division One for a few days after inflicting the first defeat of the season on Stratford Blazing Paddles.

Gary Stewart and Rob Poole were just too strong, seeing Shottery take the honours.

Later in the week, Littleton Lynx joined Shottery at the summit of the table with an impressive 15–4 victory over JLM Hussars, led by standout performances from Craig Witherford and Richard Bishop.

JLM Hussars overcame Stratford TTC-MND 12–7 in a closely fought contest, with the experience of Jim Clarke and Doug Payne proving decisive.

In Division Two, Littleton Panthers recorded a narrow 11–9 win against league leaders Ilmington.

Despite the loss, Ilmington’s Rick Burgess remained unbeaten and proved difficult to overcome.

Willersey recorded a dominant 15–1 victory against Quinton, with Ian Cooper and Robert Pitt in excellent form throughout.

Quinton edged past Stratford TTC Edge Shots 10–8, thanks to strong displays from Andrew Smith and Mark Walton.

Division Three saw Ashorne Spirits secure a comprehensive 15–0 win over Generations United, thanks to strong performances from Stephen Handley and Paul Hedges.

Ashorne also defeated Stratford TTC Slow Paddles 13–5, led by the consistent play of Martin Hamer and William Little.

Meanwhile, Stratford TTCs new team, Two Pings, continued their impressive debut campaign with a 15–5 victory over Stratford TTC-Junior Boys Red, featuring stand-out performances from Adam Wojniusz and Mati Watkins.

Two Pings maintained their good form, beating Stratford TTCs Junior Boys Blue 11–6, though they couldn’t overcome the superb Herbie Langstone, who was unbeaten for his team.

The Junior Boys Red side responded well, recording a commanding 15–1 win over Stratford TTC-Generations United, with excellent play from Toby Ledgard and Charlie Shuker.

The Stratford Table Tennis League welcomes new players of all ages and abilities.

Whether you’re an experienced player looking for competitive matches or a beginner keen to develop your skills, there are opportunities to get involved across the district.

Many local clubs offer coaching and practice sessions for newcomers and new teams are always encouraged to join the league.

For more information about joining a club or starting to play table tennis in the Stratford area, visit the league’s website or contact the committee via local club representatives.