The Rockhampton Table Tennis Association held its 2024 Trophy Presentation Function at the Rocky Sports Club last Friday, and a delightful evening was enjoyed by all in attendance. Medals for the first three fixture seasons of the year were awarded, while the awards for the final season, which concludes next week, will be presented then. Trophies and prizes for the annual closed championships were also distributed. While the recipients for these events were already known, the evening provided a chance for members to celebrate their achievements with their clubmates.
As always, significant attention focused on the winners of the club’s five prestigious perpetual awards, presented annually to commemorate another successful year. This year marks the club’s ninety-first year of operation—a milestone worth celebrating.
The Incentive Trophy, awarded to the junior player deemed by the club’s coaches to have a bright future in the sport, went to Cooper Bulow. Meanwhile, the Les Thorn Perpetual Trophy for the Most Improved Junior Boy was unanimously awarded to Judd Carr by the club’s selectors.
The coveted Best and Fairest Player in Top Grade Award, determined by votes from regular fixture players during the last season, went to an elated Leo Lai. This award, which cannot be won consecutively, remains a highlight of the annual presentations.
Another much-anticipated honor, the Life Members Trophy, recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the club. This year, selectors awarded the trophy to Chris Leitner (Junior) in acknowledgment of his dedication and service.
The evening culminated with the presentation of the Player of the Year Trophy, the club’s top honor. This year’s recipient, Rayden Smith, had a standout season, highlighted by his victory in the men’s open singles at the Rocky Open Championships.
In other news, the Queensland Schools Table Tennis Championships finals were held at Brisbane’s Downey Park Stadium last Friday. Two schools from the Central Region participated in the two-player team competition: Rockhampton High School entered a team in the Open Under-18 section, while Gladstone’s Faith Baptist Christian School fielded teams across four divisions. Unfortunately, Heights College had to withdraw at the last minute due to transportation issues. Event organizers commended these local schools for their participation, noting the absence of teams from any schools north of Rockhampton.
Although none of the Central Region teams returned home with medals, their efforts were commendable, and the experience will undoubtedly prove valuable for their development.
Representing Faith Baptist were Isaiah Noonan and Nate Wilson (Under-12 Boys), Ryza Salutan and Emily Sauvageot, Scarlett Schluter, and Ava Maree (Junior Girls), and Levi Galea and Eli Noonan (Junior Male Division). Rockhampton High’s team featured Cooper Bulow and Jackson Bulow.