TTT30 Spring 2023

The Good News Page
In January Paul Drinkhall and Liam Pitchford reached their best ever world doubles position at number
seven.
Congratulations to Andrew Rushton and Shaun Marples who have been promoted to Head Coach and
Programme Manager/Pathway Manager respectively for British Para Table Tennis. They have both
done excellent work and been a significant part of para success over the last few years.
Gorazd Vecko was in the news as he was awarded a
Friend of Para Sport for his contribution to table tennis by
the Slovenian Government and the National Paralympic
Committee. A great honour indeed. Gorazd had been the
Tournament Director at the Slovenian Para Open for 20
years, a tournament which is regarded as the most
prestigious as well as the largest Open Para event in the
world. Gorazd was the Slovenian Head Coach for 19 years
before becoming the incredibly effective Performance
Director of British Para Table Tennis from 2009, he has
built strong links between his home country and Great Britain. The President and eight government
ministers were present at the dinner where Gorazd was presented with his award by the Japanese
ambassador to Slovenia.
Congratulations too, to Gavin Evans, who has been appointed as TTE’s Head of Performance
Development on a permanent basis. Gavin has been acting in an interim capacity since October 2022.
More good news when we heard of the appointment of Emma Vickers to the post of TTE’s Head of
Pathway Development. Although the downside is Emma will have to come off the TTE Board.
….. and the not such good news – Colin Clemett has
stood down from the TTE Rules Committee, a committee
he first joined in 1958. Although his service on that
committee wasn’t continuous he had the undoubted
record of serving on the National Umpires and Referees
Committee, later known as Technical Committee, for 58
years continuously. Richard Scruton visited Colin to
present him with a photographic memento and also a
food hamper.
As TTE have changed their criteria for serving on
committees, Colin’s record is unlikely to be emulated. In
future the maximum period for serving on a committee
will be eight years.
Richard Scruton with Colin Clemett
We can only thank Colin for his many wonderful years of enormous service to table tennis at all levels
from the ITTF downwards, table tennis will be the poorer without his enormous wealth of knowledge
and sound judgement. Fortunately, Colin is still a very active and valued member of the TTE Archives,
Museum and Records Committee.
TTT: Issue 30: Spring 2023
42