Senior Corner

September/October 2007
By Olga & Stan Kahan,

Co-Chairs, USATT Senior Committee

949-830-6699 (ph) • 949-240-7167 (fax)

natashafeingold@gmail.com

Last June, numerous members of the Reno Sparks Table Tennis Club in California gathered to hear a tribute to Les Madden, “the club’s cornerstone”— presented by Carlos Ortegon, Club President. The birthday cake was colorfully decorated with words “80 years ENHANCED.” Mimi Ortegon, RSTTC games director, in her letter to us, vividly described Madden’s 65 year devotion to table tennis: “Lester was and is vital to the success of the club with his experience; quiet and unassuming manner; willing to do anything; make barriers, cleverly inventing our popular picker-uppers, set-up and breakdown every play night... He has worked every event, tournament, and other social activities and demonstrations we held along with his duties as our treasurer… We can hopefully paraphrase Les: ‘Old soldiers never die, they just keep on serving and serving and serving.’ ”
Let us all join together to celebrate the belated birthday of one of our brave octogenarian table tennis soldiers and to wish him and his California club further enhancement of this ageless sport!

2007 US OPEN SENIOR MASTERS

The 2007 US Open Senior Masters was held on July 4-7 in the Las Vegas Convention Center in conjunction with the main 2007 US Open tournament. This tournament’s directors were Dan and Marina Cravens from Las Vegas. They have excelled in paving the unknown path towards a new vibrant venue of recreational table tennis for seniors. The USATT program director, Dana Schnell, praising Dan and Marina with their crew of volunteers from Nevada, proudly mentioned that this senior tournament represented a prototype for like-kind tournaments which would attract many mature recreational players from various table tennis venues; players who eventually might join the mainstream of competitive table tennis on a regular basis.

HUNSTMAN WORLD SENIOR GAMES

Grant Misbach will be joined by dynamic Shonie Aki as co-director of the Huntsman Table Tennis Competitions, with the indispensable help of Dee Osborn as assistant director. Dee Osborn was delighted to share some news with us: “six additional Butterfly tables were purchased in addition to the existing ones, and Paddle Palace will have their own booth of clothing, balls, paddles, and other table tennis items for sale during and after the tournament.” Events will include singles, rated singles, doubles, mixed doubles, and random draw doubles. Gold, silver, and bronze medals will be awarded in five-year age divisions for both men and women.
Last year, 180 avid table tennis players from various countries, including Canada, Britain, Germany, Mongolia, Russia, Spain, and Sweden took part in competitions together with athletes from various corners of the U.S.A.
This international sport competition is just around the corner, from October 8-20, 2007 (The table tennis championship will be held on October 8-12 at the Dixie Center.) The competitions will be held in St. George, Utah, for men and women age 50 and better. St. George is the gateway to the largest concentration of national parks and monuments in America. Zion National Park is just 45 minutes away and Bryce Canyon is within a short scenic drive. There is also an opportunity to see very vivid prehistoric steps of massive ancient dinosaurs who reigned our earth millions of years ago. Enjoy sport and fun together! http://www.seniorgames.net or e-mail hwsg@infowest.com for more information.

THE FIRST US INTERNATIONAL VETERANS CHAMPIONSHIPS

The finale of scheduled senior events for 2007 will be the first US International Veterans Championships (40+). It will be hosted by USATT on December 19-22, in conjunction with the US Nationals. The event is limited to 200 table tennis senior players from various parts of the globe who will compete at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This tournament will be directed by Craig Krum from California.
“We expect and hope,” says Craig, “that this senior tournament will be enjoyable and will grow every year. There will be no pressure to win or lose points. These championships give players from various countries not only a chance to compete against their opponents, but also to have the opportunity to enjoy many of the Las Vegas attractions [during the Christmas season].”
Olga Kahan, tournament Chair, together with her colleagues from the ITTF Veteran’s Committee and her fellow members of the USATT Senior Committee, welcomes this new US International Veterans Event as “a bridge among mature table tennis players from various continents to come over to Las Vegas and to enjoy good sportsmanship and enthusiastic pleasure.” Remember that maturity has pleasures all its own!