Sport
19 September, 2025
Top table tennis players rewarded
ORFORD and District Table Tennis Association celebrated season 2025 with a presentation night at the Kirkstall Hotel.
The association records date back to the early 1960s.
In the early years the association was dominated by a small number of teams.
It was decided to grade the players for the 1972 season and drop the ‘club based’ type teams.
When the 1973 AGM was called there were only enough players for four teams (down from 12 the previous year).
David Rowbottom, who started playing in 1966, became president and the teams returned to ‘club’ format.
Andrew McGrath, who was a member of one of the surviving teams, was elected secretary/treasurer in 1975 and both have held the positions ever since.
They were both recently rewarded with National Volunteer Awards for 50 years’ service to table tennis by Table Tennis Australia.
Over the years the Orford association has stabilised at eight teams, after a high of 14.
In the 1990s Orford was invited into the minor league tournament, where they performed above expectations for several years.
The association also won inter-association matches against Hamilton, Merino and Portland.
None of the achievements over the years would have been possible without the support of the committee and the players who enjoy the competition and the comradeship after the night’s matches.
During last week’s presentation night, awards were presented as follows:
A grade – winners Warrnambool Warriors (Peter Owen, Neil Ford and David Cranwell); runners-up Attunga (Val, Kelly and Ian Wortley, and Gus Looney).
B grade – winners Myndarra (Aaron, Ally and Jensen Rowbottom); runners-up Tarrone (David Warhurst, Andrea Drendel, Steven Young and Peter Johnson).
The 2025 Aggregate Award was won by Aaron Rowbottom, who remained undefeated for the season despite strong competition from Peter Owen when they played.
Aggregate (leading players):
Aaron Rowbottom 42 rubbers, Peter Owen 36, Fergus Monsborough 33, Kelly Wortley 32, David Warhurst 29, Russell Hussey 29, Gilles Gundermann 28, Val Wortley 27, Dom Angarano 27, Neil Ford 26, David Cranwell 25, Chad Ryan 24 and Ally Rowbottom 18.
Tony Storer was acknowledge for winning 11 rubbers at the age of 85.
The most improved player award was won by Myndarra’s Ally Rowbottom.
Ally won 18 rubbers this season; eight more than her previous season.
Her improvement shone through during Myndarra’s grand final win, where she won two rubbers.
