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The Isle of Wight Table Tennis Premier League is the brainchild of 12 times Island Champion Danny Burns and was trialled experimentally last year. The idea is for a competition that pits the top Island players against each other.
The League is formed of six teams comprising two players per team; matches therefore have four singles and a doubles. A point is awarded for each match won, thus five points are up for grabs per match. The teams play each other once.
As the name implies, the Premier League looks to promote and reflect excellence. The selection criteria is simple: be in the top 10 of the IW League Division One averages, or be recognised as being amongst the top players on the Island.
This year the League has a sponsor – Trigg & Co Estate agents. Their support has enabled us to provide the players with Premier League shirts and fund trophies and an end of season awards evening. In return we look to provide them with a competition of quality & high calibre in all respects.
The Premier League is a showcase for talent. Last season those who played in it found it challenging and exhilarating. Those who watched the matches found it inspirational and exciting. The feedback from players and spectators was uniformly positive and enthusiastic.
At present the League is at a fledgling stage, but already has fulfilled a need for the top players and given an impetus to those wanting to reach that level. We hope that this can be an exciting addition to Isle of Wight table tennis and come to be seen as an innovative competition that motivates talented individuals and encourages improvement, inspiring other players to achieve. The league also promotes diversity and inclusivity, with male and female competitors, a Para champion, teenagers and older players.
A number of the players in the League are representing the Isle of Wight in the Island Games taking place in Gibraltar in July of this year. The League is an important part in their preparation for this major event.
The Premier League starts after the IW Table Tennis League has finished, and has been supported by the IWTTA, but is at present run independently. It starts on Wednesday 20 March 2019 at 7.30 pm at the Smallbrook Stadium, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 4BH.