Smashing success in Bristol!

Published on 10 Sep, 2024

Smashing success in Bristol!

The Cooke & Deaton team has been on the road this month, starting with an amazing weekend in Aberdeen and then heading down to Bristol for another action-packed training camp. It’s been an incredible journey, meeting so many enthusiastic table tennis players across the UK!

 

This past weekend in Bristol was yet another huge success, with over 30 participants joining us each day. It was a great atmosphere at SGS College; the sports hall was full of energy as players honed their skills under the expert guidance of our coaching team. We had an incredible line-up of coaches for this event: joining Alan & Nicola were Kelly Sibley, Dale Ajeto, and Sam Walker. Also supporting this fantastic team was Nick Davidson, whose excellent organisation and setup skills were crucial to the weekend’s success. Another special thank you to Michelle for sparring with our players, offering valuable practice throughout the event.

 

The venue at SGS College, home to the renowned Bristol Table Tennis Academy, provided top-notch facilities. It’s clear why Nick has been involved here for many years, and why it was an excellent choice for a Cooke & Deaton training weekend. The academy, a long-standing hub for table tennis and basketball (home to the Bristol Flyers), offered the perfect playing conditions for both players and coaches.

 

It was wonderful to see so many new faces, including players from the local area and others who travelled from afar, with some even crossing the Welsh border to join us. The diverse mix of young and female players added a good dynamic to the weekend, and we were thrilled to see Nick’s sons getting involved as well.

 

A familiar face for Alan and Nicola was Steve Joel, a player from their Sheffield league days. Steve brought back some nostalgic memories for Nicola, reminding her of when he used to watch her matches as a young player.

 

Throughout the weekend, participants were treated to top-class demonstrations from our professional coaches, who shared their expertise on the technical aspects of table tennis. It was great to see so many players capturing the moments on film, eager to replicate the drills in their own practice sessions.

 

Saturday evening saw a thrilling exhibition where Sam, Kelly, and Alan showcased their skills in friendly yet fiercely competitive matches. Lucky participants even had the chance to challenge our pros, leading to some fantastic rallies and an unforgettable match between Sam and Alan. It was a great opportunity for everyone to witness the same techniques in real match play that had been demonstrated earlier in the day.

 

An additional highlight of the weekend was the chance to test the FastPong training machine. This innovative tool uses visual targeting to measure accuracy and reaction times, giving players, especially the younger ones, an extra edge in their training while having plenty of fun in the process.

 

As the weekend came to a close, most of the team headed home, except for Sam, who jetted off to Germany to compete in a Bundesliga match the following day. The entire Cooke & Deaton team had an amazing time, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to connect with so many passionate table tennis players. We look forward to continuing our journey across the UK, impacting the development of each player we meet.

Cooke and Deaton Table Tennis

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