For the second year running the West Lothian C team attended the Annual General Meeting of the Edinburgh & District Table Tennis League to accept an award. This time it was for winning the second division, having won the third division only last season. Next season they join their A team compatriots in the first division and leave the more fancied B team in the second division. Having only joined the Edinburgh League some six years ago with one team in the fourth division, the West Lothian club has come a long way in a relatively short timescale. The decision was taken to join the Edinburgh League in order to provide much needed competition and experience to a very small group of players and this decision has been completely vindicated by the number of West Lothian players who can now compete successfully in that league.
The A team finished their season in fourth place, which was probably a couple of places lower than they had hoped for at the start of the season. However, work commitments and personal circumstances meant that they were without three top players in John McCulloch (club champion), George Flanagan and Andy MacDougall for a large number of games, especially in the all important latter half of the season. That meant that the team relied on an unusually large number of players but the teamÕs relatively high finishing position only highlights the clubÕs strength in depth.
Heading the teamÕs individual averages was Asif Raja who averaged 80% from 15 games and this puts him in a very strong position for a recognised first team spot next season. Following him was the tight grouping of MacDougall (67% from 21 games), Flanagan (67% from 18 games) and McCulloch (63% from 24 games) and if even two of these players managed to play together more often crucial points might have been won instead of lost. Other squad members were Bill Fleming (50% from 24 games) and Davie Fletcher, a former Scottish Junior Champion (33% from 15 games). Between them this group of players beat every other player competing in this division at least once to show that a higher finishing position is not out of the question.
In division two the season started with two West Lothian teams, the B team being the more fancied of the two because of their greater experience of competing in the division. For most of the season they fielded two seasoned regulars in Keith MacKay and Drew McLaren and added new boy Kevin Milne to the mix. Again, the regular players were not able to play all matches although they did manage the majority. MacKay topped their averages with 73% from 30 games, Mclaren followed with 54% from 39 games and Milne with 47% from 30 games. As expected, Milne had a better second half to the season as his game benefited from the added experience and competition. Over the season these three were ably assisted by Benny Flockhart with 58% from 12 games and George Anderson with 21% from 24 games. It is probably fair to say that they all are capable of better on an individual basis but that overlooks the fact that they finished in a very creditable third spot.
The C team started off with a line up of last yearÕs third division winning team of Brian Barton, who lost only 4 games from 54 last season to finish that division as best performer, Steve McKay and Ian Mowbray but only a few games into the season they unexpectedly lost Mowbray to work commitments. However, a large slice of luck saw them able to add father and son newcomers, Barry and Lewis Hills, to the fold and all of a sudden what promised to be a season of gaining experience in a higher division became a tour de force as they stormed to top spot. Yet again, there was a number of players involved and they were headed by Scotland Number Three in the over 60 age group, Barry Hills, who won a very impressive 17 games from 18 to finish with a personal average of 94%. Son Lewis followed with 83% from 24 games, then Steve McKay with 73% from 45 games and Brian Barton with 67% from 24 games. Last seasonÕs captain Ian Mowbray finished on 40% from only 15 games but no doubt would have improved as he acclimatised to the higher level.
In the cup competition both the B team and C team had wonderful runs, which saw them reach the semi finals at which point there were hopes of an all West Lothian final. In the event neither team managed to make the final, going down 5-4 and 5-3 respectively in matches, which were highly complimented by the Edinburgh officials in attendance. With just a little luck both results could easily have gone the other way.
All in all the West Lothian club can claim yet another highly successful year to add to a list of continuous successful years and one which gives optimism for coming season. Certainly, there is now a strength in depth which was not evident in the early years and it is fair to say that there will great competition for all team places next year. This success is testimony to the hard work put in by club coaches and the management of the committee throughout the year, not just the playing season. However, the ever faithful Bill Fleming has indicated that the travel is becoming too much and may seek pastures new.
This leaves the club with the usual problem of integrating family responsibilities and working life with the sporting arena and if this can be overcome further successes are sure to follow. Another factor to be considered is how to introduce a good crop of juniors into the Edinburgh League. Leading the way are primary pupil Keiran Boyle, Daniel MacKay (son of Keith), Luke Marris and Duncan Ewing. Such is the standard in the Edinburgh League that coaches would prefer to see them blooded gradually so that confidence is not affected when they meet more seasoned and experienced opponents.
Despite the seasonÕs successes, the committee and coaches have much to consider but it can be fairly said that any problems they have to face are of the good variety.
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EDINBURGH
& LOTHIANS TABLE TENNIS LEAGUE |
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Season 2007 /
2008 |
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Premier Division |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
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Division 1 |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
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North Merchiston
II |
22 |
21 |
1 |
0 |
196 |
24 |
43 |
|
Murrayfield III |
18 |
17 |
1 |
0 |
144 |
36 |
35 |
|
North Merchiston
I |
22 |
18 |
1 |
3 |
174 |
45 |
37 |
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Murrayfield IV |
18 |
12 |
3 |
3 |
109 |
71 |
27 |
|
Murrayfield I |
22 |
17 |
1 |
4 |
162 |
57 |
35 |
|
Post Office III |
18 |
12 |
1 |
5 |
112 |
68 |
25 |
|
North Merchiston
III |
22 |
13 |
3 |
6 |
121 |
98 |
29 |
|
West Lothian I |
18 |
8 |
3 |
7 |
91 |
89 |
19 |
|
Penicuik I |
22 |
11 |
4 |
7 |
106 |
114 |
26 |
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Post Office IV |
18 |
8 |
2 |
8 |
87 |
93 |
18 |
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Edinburgh University I |
22 |
7 |
5 |
10 |
98 |
122 |
19 |
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Edinburgh University II |
18 |
6 |
4 |
8 |
75 |
105 |
16 |
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Post Office I |
22 |
8 |
3 |
11 |
91 |
128 |
19 |
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Post Office VI |
18 |
5 |
3 |
10 |
71 |
109 |
13 |
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Murrayfield II |
22 |
7 |
3 |
12 |
92 |
126 |
17 |
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North Berwick |
18 |
4 |
4 |
10 |
80 |
100 |
12 |
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Post Office II |
22 |
4 |
4 |
14 |
76 |
143 |
12 |
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Post Office V |
18 |
2 |
5 |
11 |
75 |
105 |
9 |
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North Merchiston
IV |
22 |
4 |
4 |
14 |
75 |
145 |
12 |
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HPO S&S Club I |
18 |
2 |
2 |
14 |
56 |
124 |
6 |
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Edinburgh Sports Club I |
22 |
3 |
3 |
16 |
65 |
154 |
9 |
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Edinburgh Sports Club II |
22 |
2 |
2 |
18 |
59 |
159 |
6 |
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Division 2 |
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Division 3 |
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West Lothian III |
18 |
14 |
2 |
2 |
135 |
45 |
30 |
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North Merchiston
VI |
18 |
14 |
3 |
1 |
129 |
51 |
31 |
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Penicuik II |
18 |
13 |
4 |
1 |
117 |
63 |
30 |
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Muirhouse |
18 |
12 |
2 |
4 |
121 |
59 |
26 |
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West Lothian II |
18 |
9 |
3 |
6 |
104 |
76 |
21 |
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HPO S&S Club III |
18 |
12 |
2 |
4 |
113 |
67 |
26 |
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Post Office VII |
18 |
8 |
4 |
6 |
102 |
78 |
20 |
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Post Office XI |
18 |
8 |
5 |
5 |
87 |
93 |
21 |
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Edinburgh University III |
18 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
86 |
94 |
20 |
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Post Office IX |
18 |
9 |
4 |
5 |
99 |
81 |
22 |
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Post Office VIII |
18 |
6 |
4 |
8 |
86 |
94 |
16 |
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Penicuik III |
18 |
8 |
3 |
7 |
100 |
80 |
19 |
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Murrayfield V |
18 |
6 |
3 |
9 |
88 |
92 |
15 |
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Edinburgh University IV |
18 |
6 |
5 |
7 |
83 |
97 |
17 |
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North Merchiston
V |
18 |
6 |
2 |
10 |
74 |
106 |
14 |
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Post Office X |
18 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
77 |
103 |
11 |
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HPO S&S Club II |
18 |
5 |
3 |
10 |
76 |
104 |
13 |
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Edinburgh University V |
18 |
3 |
1 |
14 |
63 |
117 |
7 |
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Murrayfield VI |
18 |
0 |
1 |
17 |
22 |
158 |
1 |
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Murrayfield VII |
18 |
0 |
0 |
18 |
28 |
152 |
0 |
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Edinburgh & Lothians
Table Tennis League |
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Leading Individual Averages - Season 2007 / 2008 |
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Individual Averages of 60% and better having
played in a minimum of 2/3 matches |
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Premier
Division |
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Division 1 |
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David
Atkins |
North
Merchiston |
52 |
2 |
96.30% |
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Lindsay
Muir |
Murrayfield |
53 |
1 |
98.15% |
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James
Russell |
Murrayfield |
46 |
2 |
95.83% |
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Russell
Frith |
North
Berwick |
45 |
6 |
88.24% |
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Stewart
Armitage |
North
Merchiston |
53 |
4 |
92.98% |
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Ian
Moran |
Murrayfield |
41 |
10 |
80.39% |
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Willie
Mabon |
North
Merchiston |
56 |
7 |
88.89% |
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George
Oliver |
Post
Office |
39 |
12 |
76.47% |
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Alan
Colliar |
North
Merchiston |
53 |
10 |
84.13% |
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Brian
Bridson |
Post
Office |
37 |
14 |
72.55% |
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Glynn
Eggar |
North
Merchiston |
42 |
9 |
82.35% |
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Colin
Dalgleish |
Murrayfield |
39 |
15 |
72.22% |
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Donald
Renton |
North
Merchiston |
44 |
13 |
77.19% |
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Roger
Thomas |
Murrayfield |
25 |
11 |
69.44% |
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Oliver
Gaertner |
Edinburgh
University |
35 |
16 |
68.63% |
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Ken
Benjamin |
Post
Office |
36 |
18 |
66.67% |
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Greig McDonell |
Penicuik |
38 |
19 |
66.67% |
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Eddie
Scott |
North
Merchiston |
40 |
26 |
60.61% |
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Division 2 |
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Division 3 |
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Clive
Liddiard |
Penicuik |
43 |
8 |
84.31% |
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Kenny
Fraser |
HPO
S&S Club |
49 |
5 |
90.74% |
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Mathieu
Terrisse |
Edinburgh
University |
29 |
7 |
80.56% |
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Manish
Maharjan |
Post
Office |
46 |
5 |
90.20% |
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Steve
Mackay |
West
Lothian |
33 |
12 |
73.33% |
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Ying
Jin |
North
Merchiston |
32 |
7 |
82.05% |
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Bob
Sterling |
Murrayfield |
37 |
14 |
72.55% |
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Simon
Hughes |
Edinburgh
University |
28 |
8 |
77.78% |
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Brian
Bailey |
Penicuik |
35 |
16 |
68.63% |
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Alan
Ward |
Post
Office |
34 |
11 |
75.56% |
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Ian
Woodyer |
Penicuik |
33 |
18 |
64.71% |
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Chris
McCathie |
North
Merchiston |
27 |
9 |
75.00% |
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Kirk
Ollason |
Post
Office |
29 |
16 |
64.44% |
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Ali
Pakarian |
Post
Office |
33 |
18 |
64.71% |
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Doug
Smith |
HPO
S&S Club |
33 |
18 |
64.71% |
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Ker
Wilkie |
Muirhouse |
27 |
15 |
64.29% |
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Allan
Clarke |
North
Merchiston |
25 |
14 |
64.10% |
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(*) - denotes winner of Individual Award |
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