A Friendly Clash with Competitive Spirit

August 27, 2025 | Lauren Evans

Table Tennis Exchange: Saltburn TTC vs. Topspin TTC Durham

Inspiration & Genesis

Topspin

The match was born from a desire at Saltburn TTC to elevate their group’s play to a more competitive level. Discussion began when Pat, who had previously met Clare (North East Women and Girls Ambassador) at one of Clare’s table tennis days, connected with her. Their shared vision led to the idea of a formal tournament, and the concept quickly gained momentum.

Planning & Coordination

The tournament took shape over a three to four-week planning window. The organisers—Pat, Clare, and Dave—first deliberated over suitable venues and ended up choosing Saltburn. Throughout, coordination among the trio—and with the participating players—posed the largest challenge.

Pat drew upon her tournament experience to propose realistic timelines and managing player numbers. Linda supported Dave in handling group sessions at Saltburn on Monday and Wednesday evenings, while Eileen, Saltburn’s most seasoned player, served as an on-call advisor throughout.

Format & Selection

With approximately 70 members in the Saltburn group (many in their 60s and 70s), participation interest was high. The selection process weighed immediate response and enthusiasm, while also intentionally including players who would benefit from the experience and 32 players were given the opportunity to play even though there was lots more interest.

Pat created a tournament format mirroring one played previously at ESV TT Troisdorf in Germany. The structure involved two groups of 16 players (8 pairs per group), each playing round-robin matches across three tables per group. Matches included singles (player 1s facing each other, then player 2s doing the same—both playing the best of 3) followed by doubles.

Atmosphere & Highlights

Saltburn Leisure Centre provided a welcoming environment, with the staff at the centre being very accommodating, The competitive spirit remained friendly, and players soon took to social channels to express how much they enjoyed the event.

One participant recalls advancing to 9–1 in the deciding game only to be pulled back to 9–9 before clinching an 11–9 win. In another match, match point slipped away, ending in a 12–14 loss. Meanwhile, many non-selected players still showed up early to help set up a wonderfully received “graze‑as‑you‑wish” buffet—giving the event a great social buzz.

Final Matches & Friendships

Two nail-biting group finals saw Saltburn’s Eileen Robinson & Peter Wagner edge Durham’s Keith Swain & Care (Keith and Care?) 17–16, and Alfie & Tom narrowly beat Anne & Bob 20–19.

The day created bonds that extend beyond the court: Durham’s willingness to join the October 2025 ESV Troisdorf tournament in Germany underscores the friendships forming—and the hope for more collaborative exchanges to come.

Reflections & Future Outlook

This event highlights the inclusive, barrier-free culture of social table tennis: age and gender disappear in the spirit of play and camaraderie. While overseas tournaments like this one pose challenges—such as unpredictability in opponents’ abilities—they also offer irreplaceable experiences built on mutual respect rather than rankings or handicaps.

Looking ahead, Saltburn are open to more events and exchanges—accommodating up to 32 players at Saltburn Leisure Centre—and the club would welcome contact from any other clubs who might be interested.