AN OLYMPIC summer of sport promised to inspire a generation and nowhere has that been more prevalent than in the Basingstoke and District Table Tennis League.

Terry White’s long-running Saturday coaching is going from strength to strength. On the competitive side, Patrick Garlick’s summer league gave a opportunity for newcomers to make their first forays into table tennis with a relaxed match environment.

Over the summer, UKCC Level One coach Steve Ng has been making full use of his licence, achieved with a grant from the league, as, along with Melvyn Lovegrove, they are training Blanka Bimi and Jan MacDonald at Essex Road.

It was fitting that the opening match in the league featured reigning closed championship singles winner Sander de Riemer against the Basingstoke and District Table Tennis League life president Dave Kimberley. de Riemer carried on his ruthless form from last season as he won 3-0 against Kimberley on his way to a treble. KG A’s Tony Amies showed great fight, but it was left to Kimberley to notch their solitary point in a 9-1 defeat to Alpha.

Queens A’s doubles pairing of Tony Palaczky and Marcel Ludwig were in great form as they both scored trebles against their Queens B counterparts in a 9-1 win. Their teammate George White was not far behind with a double, his only loss against Peter Martin in four.

See The Monday Gazette for all of the action from the league.