Watford Tournament - New Dates

New dates set for remaining events in Watford League Tournament

Wednesday 14th April - Veterans Singles
Thursday 15th April - Mens Doubles
Monday 19th April - Mens Singles
Tuesday 20th April - Ladies Singles and Mixed Doubles
Wednesday 21st April Handicap Singles
Thursday 22nd April - Finals night for all events including juniors and divisional singles.

All events are at Queens. All entries to be sent to Geof Bax. Entry form required even if you entered previously but of course you do not have to pay a second time.

Note we are pleased to have secured some sponsorship from Baker Tilly. A press release will be made.

Post by : Stuart Seaholme

Comments

[Mike McGarry]

I know the weather played havok with the tournament this year but it seems a shame to re-arrange it|so that it clashes with that of the neighbouring SHAW League. The effect will be to devalue both events I fear.

[Stuart Seaholme]

Hi Mike,

I assume typo error as we would not select dates "so that it clashes". Several weekend dates were considered. Either a venue or the manpower to run the event were not available. Eventually we selected what we considered to be our best option. Everyone was aware we would be seeking new dates and had the opportunity to inform the committee of possible clash but they never did. As happens every year a few will not enter because the dates do not fit their agenda nevertheless we anticipate a strong entry. Whoever wins at either tournament will have had several victories against the best who entered and I think it wrong to suggest that such a victory is devalued.

[Mike McGarry]

It is great to have a forum where we can air views on these things but I think that there is a tendency for people to take things a bit personally. I thought I was just expressing a little sadness at the clash of dates.
A couple of people came up to me last week to explain what had happened and what they seemed to be saying was that there were few alternatives and they could not really take account of what other leagues were doing. I did not actually agree with them but I thought it was really a dead issue and, as I am really a ‘Johnny come lately’ to this league, I had no intention of pressing it. However, now that there has been some comment, I will tell you what I think.
The Watford League, quite rightly, seem very keen to promote table tennis as well as just their own league and I applaud it. I imagine that over the years a kind of gentleman’s agreement has fallen into place whereby neighbouring leagues have their tournaments at different times. Now this year we had the problem with the weather and it meant that Watford had to re-arrange their tournament. The onus surely must be on Watford to do their best to avoid a clash. Other leagues have had their dates set for ages, If Watford did check but it was impossible to avoid a clash then fair enough, If they did not check, they must expect a mild rebuke from the likes of me who suffered by that decision.
In my own case, I would have played in the veterans’ event in both leagues as would another member of my team. But they are now on the same night. Consequently, I will be playing in the Shaw tournament and he will be playing in Watford. Of course it devalues both events simply because of the reduced numbers. Equally, I would not suggest that the winning would be de-valued. I am also sure that my presence will have no significance. But would it not have been possible to organise the tournament so that similar events did not clash?
Anyway, may I add that I know how difficult it is to organise these things and how annoying it is when you have spent loads of time on something only to find some ill informed oik starts criticising. I think the Watford team are doing a great job and you have my sincere thanks. If only there was a bar at the Queen’s School I would buy you all a drink!

[ian ban]

Hey! johhny come lately
there is more than just a tendency for people to take things personally in this blog but persevere and you may find that you can have fun in winning a debate with either a strong unbeatable intellectual arguement, as for instance I do :), or use clever wit or even cleverer sarcasm!
Why is it annoying if "some ill informed oik starts criticising" ? If the oik is ill informed then one should not be annoyed ,but one should merely inform the oik of the relevant facts. Anyway criticism, if only when showing a bit of sadness on a clash of dates, in this blog is a sure way of getting responses it seems. Careful with all that praise! lol. you after a place on the committee?