Number 8 is a special day for table tennis
1-Aug-2008 11:20 AM

If you are not already aware, the number 8 is a special day in the International Table Tennis Calendar - ask any of the children attending Table Tennis Development Classes in Lautoka - why!!!!!!

It is also a special number in Lautoka’s Table Tennis Calendar, because LTTA are holding their 1st Lautoka Primary Schools Championships (on the same day as the Olympics). 2.30 to 8pm Friday 08-08-08.

There will be age group events (Under-8 U9, U10, U12 and U15).

If your child is or will be - 6 to 8, 10, 12 or 14 years old this year and has already attended a development course in Lautoka over the past 12 months, and is currently attending any of the Lautoka, Nadi or Ba District Primary Schools then they have already “qualified” for this event.

Entry fee is free to paid members of LTTA or $1.00 per child, per event.

Association Membership is $5 per year for Cadets/Juniors U18 and $10 per year for adults, which includes unlimited free coaching from the best coaches available in the Pacific.

An entry form will be distributed by e-mail and around the schools this week and available at Khatriya Hall, Lautoka from today.

We must have player’s date of birth and family contact details to accept entries. If you have received this e-mail directly from Steve Reilly then I have your child’s details, I just require confirmation of intention to enter our 1st Lautoka Olympics Table Tennis Tournament on Friday August 8, 2008!

Entries close 8pm Thursday August 7, 2008.

Entry forms available from coach Steve Reilly at Khatriya Hall Mon-Fri 2.30pm to 8pm Tel; 628 2010 or text; 999 3484.

Late entries on the day will not be accepted, just like the real Olympics!

Don’t worry if you don’t qualify for this event we will be holding a Western Schools Open Championships during the School Holidays for all Primary Schools in Fiji.

Developing young minds through sports:

Many of you will have already heard a little about my passion for nature, science and education.

Lautoka Table Tennis Association currently has the most successful and friendly club in Fiji, soon to be the most successful in the Pacific Islands.

The theme of the club in Khatriya Hall is “Butterflies and Caterpillars” Developing the Sport of Table Tennis through “time tested’ educational principles and enhancing our natural competitive instincts to reach the top in our goals whilst learning to understand why we are that way.

I have recently had so many e-mails from old friends I have not seen or heard from for many years, some more than 20 years!

Today I received a short video story from one of my former National Table Tennis Team mates from the West of Scotland who has just heard about our association in the West of Fiji……………..

He “Googled” my name on the internet and found Lautoka Table Tennis!!!!!!

I have not seen him for 26 years!! Yet, strangely, we still share the same passion for our sport and remember each other like time has stood still!

Both of us left the sport for many years because of family and work commitments, but we are now both doing the exact same thing in opposite sides of the Globe!!!!!! A legacy to our first “Peoples Champion” coach; Andy Fleming.

“S” sent me a short music video clip story of a lion club called Christian. It’s an educational video suitable for all ages, especially children.

By Steve Reilly president of Lautoka Table Tennis Association Olympics