ParkySMASH! serves up a storm in Manchester!

The ParkySMASH! Event in Manchester saw 20 competitors in action in singles and doubles, including three who travelled from Japan.

Their presence was a reciprocal visit after a delegation of English players with Parkinson’s went to Japan earlier this year.

“Today we are here to have fun playing table tennis with our friends” says Hiromichi Kawai, who was one of the Japanese trio to make the trip to Manchester to take part. “It’s a disease free sensation, or disease free movement”

In our videos, some of the players and their partners talk about how table tennis has helped them live with Parkinson’s, as well as the other benefits they have seen.

Kerry Courtney, the partner of Leeds ParkyPING! founder, Rob Cook, says that she sees participants’ symptoms seemingly ease off when playing table tennis as well as the fact the sport allows a perfect space to engage with people socially.

“I can see that when he [Rob] plays table tennis, his Parkinson’s symptoms ease off a bit, his tremor is less, he’s less anxious. We get real benefit from the sporting side, but also the social side. Meeting other player’s with Parkinson’s, and players without Parkinson’s.

“And one of the things that has happened as a result of Rob setting up the table tennis club in Leeds, Parky Ping, for people with Parkinson’s is that we’ve both joined a mainstream table tennis club. And this year, in the Leeds summer league, we have had a team entirely made of people with Parkinson’s playing against able bodied players”

ParkySMASH! featured three competitions, with Tony Howgate defeating Satoshi Ohara to win the men’s singles, with George Chan and Stephen Pickles as semi-finalists from an entry of 15 players.

In the women’s singles, there were five entrants, with Mayumi Kanie finishing first and Lynn Tearse second. In the open doubles, Stephen Pickles & Hiromichi Kawai were victorious over Tony Howgate & Lynn Tearse, with Rob Dawson & Dennis Hudson and George Chan & Ken Booth the semi-finalists.

To watch the full Spotlight On piece covering the ParkySMASH! in Manchester, follow the link below.

Watch the full video here!

For more information about Parkinson’s Disease, visit the Parkinson’s UK website here.

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