Celebrated members at the St Kilda celebration
Photo By: Courtesy of Warren Woolcock
11/29/2008
Cricket and table tennis; it’s not unusual for the two to be linked.
Several highly rated cricketers have been table tennis players of note. In the 1960s England’s Geoff Pullar was a junior table tennis international before becoming a celebrated test cricketer; whilst of the current generation, Sri Lanka’s captain, Mahela Jayawardene is a table tennis enthusiast.
Currently, the most successful cricketing nation in the world is Australia and in that country table tennis and Cricket are linked.
On Friday 21st November 2008, the St Kilda Cricket Table Tennis Club celebrated its 75th birthday; present was Glenn Tepper, the ITTF Director of Development Programmes.
Oldest and Most Active “It is the oldest, most active and most successful club in Australia and possibly one of the oldest clubs in the world”, said Glenn Tepper. “I played for this club for 10 years and over 200 past and present players and officials attended.”
The club has won more A Grade Winter Premiership titles than any other club, a total of 19 in a state league which has the large majority of the best players in Australia. The best players tend to come from Victoria where the club is based or they move to Victoria in order to further their table tennis career.
Effectively it is a National League; the nearest club to St Kilda’s achievements having five titles to their credit.
Bob Tuckett versus Glenn Tepper “Bob Tuckett won six state leagues and also I won six over a 10 year period”, continued Glenn Tepper. “In 1979 it was the first club to have dual Australian born national singles champions in Kerry Thompson & Bob Tuckett, on the night both were aweared life memberships.”
A fitting reward for the two stalwarts and Glenn Tepper has fond memories even if some contain a little pain.
“Bob won a record 10 Club Championships beating me in the final in at least five of them!” he said. “I finally won two when he retired!”
Champions Over 20 St Kilda Cricket players have represented Australia or became Australian Champions. It is a club with strong traditions and loyal members; this is highlighted by the fact that in 75 years there has been only 7 Presidents.
“On the night Bob Tuckett joked, when making his life membership speech, that in true dictator form the current President George Puchlenko, himself a handy penhold grip player, had appointed himself as President for Life”, explained Glenn Tepper. “He has already served 20 years in office and shows no sign of retiring!”
Pride St Kilda Cricket Table Tennis Club is proud of its traditions and the loyalty shown by those who have played under its colours of black shirt with red collar and yellow piping.
“Could this club be the oldest Table Tennis Club still operating in the world?” asked Glenn Tepper; I don’t know the answer but one thing is certain; everybody had a good night on Friday 21st November 2008.
