Competitive Playing
There are a number of opportunities for all players to play some form of competitive matches which are detailed below. All competitions are open to both adult and junior players. If you wish to take part in any of these events, please contact David Gough, our Club Captain or use the form on the Contact page.
TTE Pathway
Bury St. Edmunds League
2024-2025
For the 2024-2025 season, Stowmarket Table Tennis Club entered six teams – one team in Div. 1, four teams in Div. 2 and one team in Div. 3.
The current league fixtures and results can be seen them on the League website, here.
Players will need to ensure that their TTE Membership is up to date before the season starts. See the link below.
If you would like to try playing in the league next season, please let David, the Club Captain, know by contacting him via the form on the Contact page, or this email address:
clubcaptain@stowmarkettabletennis.co.uk
…or by talking to him or another committee member at a practice session.
Match fees for league players
£4.50 per match played
Match Format
In Divisions 1 & 2, there are three players on each team. Each player plays each of the opponents and two of each team play a doubles game, making 10 games in all in a team match.
In a Division 3 match, there are only two players on each side; there are therefore only 5 games overall.
In a season, each team plays every other team in their division 3 times. Therefore, against some teams you will play twice at home and once away and, against other teams, the reverse will be true. Overall each team will play the same number of home and away matches.
Other Competitions
Bury St. Edmunds League Tournament
Each year, there is a one-day tournament for players who have taken part in the league. There are a number of events, including a Handicap event, various doubles events, junior events, an event for over 50s. events for girls and women etc. This is another fun, but competitive, event. This usually takes place at the Dome, King Edward VI School, Bury St. Edmunds.
Bury League Handicap Events
This includes two events:
- The Bury Free Press Shield
- The Saffron Shield
Teams who do not progress past Round 2 of the Bury Free Press Shield are automatically entered into the Saffron Shield.
These tournaments are both Handicap events – each player’s handicap is calculated from a review of their results in their respective Divisions so all players, regardless of standard, have a fair chance of winning.
Past Stowmarket Results in the Handicap Events
2024 – A clean sweep for STTC, as Tigers won the Bury Free Press Shield and Jaguars won the Saffron Shield
Suffolk County Senior Closed tournament
A major local table tennis event, not to be missed.
Eligibility: any player registered for a club in membership of a league affiliated to Suffolk County T.T.A, or a registered member of a directly affiliated club, or a directly affiliated player, or attends any school under the authority of Suffolk County Council affiliated to Suffolk Schools TTA.
There are usually 7 events:
- Mens Singles
- Womens singles
- Restricted Singles
- Handicap Singles
- Mens Doubles
- Women’s Doubles
- Mixed Doubles
Suffolk County Veterans' Closed tournament
We hate to break it to you but, if your over 40, you’re a veteran!
The upside is that, if you live in Suffolk, this entitles you to enter the Suffolk County Veterans table tennis tournament.
In the 2024 tournament, there will be 7 events:
- Mens Over 40s
- Mens Over 60s
- Womens Over 40s
- Womens Over 60s
- Restricted Singles
- Handicap Singles
- Open Doubles
Other Local Leagues
Although we are not affiliated and do not enter any teams in other leagues, a number of our members participate in other leagues, especially the Ipswich League.
Braintree League (including Sudbury)
You can see a full list of other local leagues on the Table Tennis England (TTE) website here.
Junior Competitions
A number of local and regional tournaments are held at Stowupland School and STTC Junior members have a strong history of success at these events.
National Cadet & National Junior League
According to Table Tennis England:
The National Cadet League (U15s) and National Junior League (U18s) are competitions aimed at grass root players looking to experience a competition.
TTE’s website goes on to say:
The National Cadet League (U15s) and National Junior League (U18s) are competitions aimed at grass roots players looking to experience a competition early on in their career. It bridges what was a large gap from beginner to the Junior British League.
The NCL & NJL act as feeder competitions to the Junior British League (JBL), with many players making the leap from one to the other. Players represent a team (often a club) so it also provides a good social activity for our younger players. Competition dates are set by the Tournament Approval Panel (TAP), but may vary due to local venue availability.