Mark Smith Table Tennis

Official launch of Sanctuary Runners Alkmaar last Saturday, fantastic that the founder Graham Clifford visited Alkmaar to kick start our group. Great also to have the support and partnership with Hal25 where we often meet for a quick table tennis warm up and coffee before taking a jog. Sanctuary Runners Alkmaar is open to all from beginner to advanced, we meet most days.

Just received Bradford council approval to hold a public table tennis fun tournament on Centenary Square, Bradford from 1700-2000 on Tuesday 23rd of June.

The event is to publicise launching the Bradford Table Tennis Foundation (CIO charity foundation).

There has been amazing support for this project to help re-vitalise table tennis in Bradford. This includes the Bradford Table Tennis League and of course the 6 trustees of BTTF (including myself) Oye Jemiyo, Andrew Crabtree, David Adams, Alekss Belskis and Sarah Cheshire.

Really excited to get started on delivering this project supporting schools to be active in TT as well as developing a coaching infrastructure. The longer term aim of the project once participation in TT grows throughout Bradford will be to lobby for a fulltime centre.

2022 Alkmaar team champions Kring Primary School are still showing strong TT skills and a positive competitive nature!

Thankyou Ruby, their brilliant role model sports teacher and also Ping Pong Alkmaar for partnership financing.

De Kring are strong contenders again in the upcoming 2026 team competition, as well as De Fontein school, also very competitive players.

Lots more primary schools also have a chance. It just takes 4 kids who love TT and can play on the table in their own school yard!