Club Trips

EUROPEAN CHAMPS VISIT TO GDANSK/SOPOT OCTOBER 2011

Early morning on Wednesday 12th October 11 club members ventured out via Stansted to our latest trip abroad. Brian, Jan & Paul Davison, Nikki Kennard, Kevin Gowlett, Trevor Carter, Jon Hill, Vicki Stredder, Matthew Brown and Steve Kerns were first over. Check in was delayed as Kevin realised 100ml was somewhat less than he thought, resulting in disposal of at least half the contents of his bag. Vicki was also somewhat delayed by having to drag around a huge suitcase that was at least twice her size. Most people knew that this was not because Vicki needed extra room for her clothes, but that Jon would need a suitcase to bring home all the new rubbers and blades he would be buying.

On arrival, taxis were commandeered for what should have been a half hour trip to the hotel. An hour and a half later we realised Polish traffic was just as bad as in England! After a quick check-in at the modern hotel we mused that Robin would be happy here as it was built alongside a McDonalds…

We then set off for a 15 minute walk to the venue. This was made to feel more like an hour and 15 minutes as heavy rain came down to ensure we all felt like drowned rats on arrival. After a quick coffee (unfortunately following a request for numerous beers we discovered the devastating news that no alcohol was available at the venue) we sat down to watch the action.

As we usually join tournaments in the final stages it was nice change to watch some English Players in action with Kelly Sibley and Liam Pitchford really impressing and Darius Knight also seemingly in good form.

The food at the venue was also limited so we found a bar that provided food just around the corner. Although I enjoyed my Carbonara (when in Rome…) others felt that the vat of salt in each of their dishes was not too their liking, so we did not eat there again. At least it sold beer! Back to the venue for the Men’s Team Final, Sweden v Germany. As expected these days the Germans dominated but the smallish crowd briefly came to life when the German Coach managed to overturn what appeared to be (and was) a perfectly good umpires decision regarding an edge ball in favour of Jens Lundquist at a crucial time. The moment the umpire changed the score was met by load boos and cries of “rubbish” (ok, that was me) and eventually, after looking at TV replays the point was given back to the Swede.

It was decided on Thursday morning to get the train to neighbouring Sopot. The walk to the train station was interrupted by poses for photographs by the old tank that was just parked outside someone’s house! On arrival in Sopot we walked down the hill to the coast and on to the longest wooden pier in mainland Europe. Very nice if a little windy as the photos show. After a nice walk through the town and square we settled down for a nice meal (including the traditional Polish starter of soup with Dumplings) before heading back to the venue late afternoon to watch the English back in action.

Thursday evening was one of the highlights of the competition for the English, as Sibley and then Pitchford scored great 4-3 victories over highly ranked opponents. The late finish though meant McDonalds was again the only option. McFlurry’s all-round followed by drinks in the hotel bar.

Friday saw the arrival of our second contingent as Robin, Dean, Snowy, Garry and Cec flew over. Defeats for Pitchford, Knight and Sibley saw the end of the English but with some great TT to come. In what was going to be a long day with the Men’s Last 16 due to run late into the evening some decided on shooting back in to Sopot for a leisurely lunch whilst the new arrivals and the hardcore remained to watch some fantastic women’s TT. Pesotska, Samara caught the eye with their top-spin games but it was Poland’s own (well, sort off) Qian Li that really impressed with her wall like defending.

Later in the evening Tokic v Weng He Zhi (whom had earlier defeated Pitchford) was the highlight, with Tokic winning 11-9 in the final set. When the last of the group returned back to the hotel to find us in our usual spot (i.e. the bar). Shortly afterward, a “lady of the night” appeared in the foyer. The unusual thing was that she was missing the back part of her “hot-pants”, thereby not leaving much to the imagination. Perhaps she thought her coat was longer than it was? We mused that she had either just finished work at the local dancing establishment or was indeed just starting work. The fact that she was quickly followed in by Dean and Snowy was purely coincidental they claimed as we quickly interrogated them. Interestingly however, Dean left the bar shortly afterwards….

Saturday morning saw most of us decide to visit the centre in Gdansk for the first time. After initially buying train tickets for the wrong direction we rued our lost funds of around 70p per ticket and eventually found our way there to be greeted by a statue showing young children who were left behind during the war. Snowy immediately spotted this memorial and took the first of what was to be many photos of the interesting statues and buildings in the city. We kept losing him as he studiously considered the best angle for each shot in each location, while we carried on walking…

After a short stop in a bar of the re-developed river front (to which we would return on Sunday night) for a drink we suddenly wondered where Trevor was. What we all correctly guessed however was that he was checking out the micro brewery across the river. On his return however we unfortunately discovered that it was closed. Whilst on the river front we noticed on old style pirate ship on which cruises were available. We fancied a bit of that on our free day on Monday when we had more time.

Back to the TT, we saw the end of Toth/Pota v Dodean/Samara in the doubles which turned into a great match as Dodean/Samara came back from 3-1 down to win 4-3. Dodgy scheduling with all the men’s quarter finals due to be played on one table meant we were in for another late night. The best match saw Tokic shock Ovtcharov 12-10 in the 7th, followed by Karakasevic, the chain smoking, beer bellied Hungarian, beating Steger 4-2. Oh, how we laughed. So back to the hotel with most of us leaving at 11pm (for yet another McDonalds) prior to the start of the last QF between Samsonov and Baum. We later found we did not miss much as Baum cruised through. The Chairman impressed himself by finding the match being beamed live on his phone. Garry was however far too busy “facebooking” on his mobile to notice. All communication with Garry had to be through “facebook” (even when standing next to him) as he had developed a strange affliction whereby his neck could no longer straighten as it had spent so long bending to look down at his phone.

The finals day on Sunday was a bit of an anti-climax as Boll was a class above and the Chinese woman playing for Holland won as expected so we decided to head back to the hotel and then into Gdansk for a meal. On the train Robin was overheard talking (surprise I know) and was asked by the locals if he wouldn’t mind reading an article from the “economist” in his best English accent. I was not on this carriage but apparently this was worth seeing! I had found a fish restaurant in the guide so we headed there on arrival and all enjoyed a fine meal. We then hit the riverside bar again as Nikki (renowned expert) introduced new cocktails to Vicki and Jan and numerous local beers were ordered. Garry then decided to persuade Jon to try the local Vodka. After a mere sniff I wimpishly (or sensibly?) decided that it was not for me. That did not stop Garry ordering more though and then when Jon stopped saying yes he then obviously had no option but to drink them himself. The resulting effects of this could be seen when we all all went to find a Taxi, with Garry walking twice as far as everybody else, as he seemed to be going around in small circles.

On our free day in Monday we went for another look around Gdansk and through some of the pretty streets that the late comers had not seen and then we brought tickets for a what we thought would be a picturesque cruise. We soon realised that the vast industrial wastelands of Gdansk were the destination. Although interesting to see, not really one for the photo collection! Amusingly half the group nearly got left behind as the 15 minute stop at one end of the route turned out to be more like 15 seconds due to the late departure.

Once back to the hotel we were please to see that the Taxi’s we had arranged in a drunken haze on Saturday night to take us to the airport had turned up, and were much cheaper than the ones we picked up on arrival, result!

More shenanigans at airport security as this was stricter than Stansted with belts and shoes removed but we were soon through and piecing together (or borrowing from Dad) the last of the Zlotys for some surprisingly good airport food before the journey home.

Another good NETTS trip, roll on the next one.

Paul Davison, November 2012

LIBEREC 2011 (or ‘LEFT LUGGAGE,OR RIGHT?’)

The day started innocently enough – Brian collected Gary, then Pete Trevor & Steve arrived at my house and we collected Richard and set off to the airport………

The check in went well, no problems with our 6 items of hold luggage, no problems with hand baggage or toiletries in plastic bags, so far so good……… but the God of Left Luggage was watching, and waiting……

After a pint or two while awaiting the flight to Cologne, Trevor thought it a good idea to invest 80p in a newspaper to catch up on events. The last time he had bought a paper, a large ship called Titanic was rumoured lost at sea ……………………

As we boarded the plane and walked past the complementary newspaper rack, we all took a paper and you could hear his teeth grinding as Pete reminded him of the importance of fiscal prudence…

An hour later we were walking through Cologne airport looking for the connecting flight desk for Prague. Having found it, we all produced our passports and checked in for the next flight, and who would assume your luggage would not follow you? Not us, as we are all now well aware that upon check in you are given a white sticker containing a barcode for your hold luggage, but the fact that all 6 of our stickers were stuck on the back of Steve’s passport as we were one group escaped our notice. And Steve’s……

We arrived at Prague and waited by the baggage carousel for 6 bags………oh how we laughed as we imagined someone’s luggage not arriving, what a joke that would be.

Gary became quiet as all other travellers collected their bags and left the area, and we sat watching it revolve, empty, us 5 with our bags and Gary with no luggage.

The ‘luggage problems’ area staff were sympathetic, and showed Gary pictures of other cases and bags, various ‘mug shots’ of ‘wanted’ luggage still at large, from the Book of Luggage, hoping this would cheer him up.

This did not cheer him up, and Gary was pulled from the room as he kept running his fingers over the pictures and sighing to himself, tears welling in his eyes.

The only way they could trace the luggage was by using the barcode, which Gary did not have. So Gary’s address in Bedrichov village was noted, and his mobile number, and we were left to console him – by offering him Pete’s pants as a hammock !

We all stood in Arrivals 2 with our bags (except for Gary) looking for the Roy Norton agent and the coach, and 2 hours later wondered whether we were missing something.

Pete’s keen leaders brain took charge and he decided to look for a bar, and en route saw a sign for Arrivals 1…..

Having found lots of people in track suits at Arrivals 1 we boarded the coach and 2 hours later were up in the thickly forested mountains at a ski lodge – Hotel Hela.

We had arrived!

We had a meal and a beer after unpacking (except for Gary) and although our friendly Hotelier spoke no English, and we spoke no Czech, Richard spoke Food and that is very important when you are Richard……

Fast forward to Sunday and the Opening Ceremony at Tipsport Arena (where we met up with Mike Johnston) and we were underwhelmed at the thought and effort that had obviously gone into the event. To waste some time every flag of a competing nation was carried out one by one by a local Czech babe until a horseshoe shaped pattern of flags were set in the floor of the arena, with the girls waiting patiently beside the flag in 30 degree heat while a local bigwig told us what a wonderful event this was. At this point the girls began to drop like stones, fainting? Heat exhaustion? Who knows but Pete immediately ran a book with odds offered on Belgium and Denmark to go next. As the girls were dragged and carried off the bigwig reminded us of the healthy life style of the area.

The flags were followed by street dancers, a young choir, and finally stilt walkers who were still mastering getting up from the floor with dignity. All with a table tennis theme…

But the good news when we returned to the hotel later was that Gary’s luggage had arrived. Clean pants, what joy………

Monday was a day of disappointment for a lot of us…Richard lost his singles, Gary won 1 out of 3, I lost my 3, Steve won 2 out of 3, Trevor and Mike fared little better…….Pete lost his 2 games and we were in the Consolation event before we started……..the highlight of the day was Steve rummaging in his bum bag for some money and pulling out 6 stickers with barcodes, and asking ‘what these were’ and ‘where had they come from?’……..just then Gary’s face was a picture worth many words, some with asterisks ……….

Tuesday and doubles was much the same…Pete and Gary were picked off, Steve and Mark Wicker progressed onwards, Trevor and Richard were swept aside, Mike and I lost our 3…

Wednesday was a free day and rather than visit the Skoda factory or go sight seeing it was decided that we would visit Liberec town and ‘visit the bars’.

But Steve enjoys walking, and decided he would walk down the winding steep road from the hotel in Bedrichov to Liberec town, around 9+ kilometres……… it took him 2 hours and we met him in town, the rest of us being sane enough to use a taxi. He walked the route Thursday and Friday also, so he really, really does enjoy walking. Steve did try to walk back from Liberec up to the village in the afternoon heat, but found that up the mountain seems much more tiring than down the mountain, so gave up and returned to the same bar he had left over an hour ago with only mild heat exhaustion and dehydration. Our defence in court will be that Steve seemed perfectly normal to us – for Steve that is………

Now most evenings it was a late night for the majority of the party, by which I mean 1am earlier in the week and 4 or 5 in the morning as the week progressed, before a taxi arrived with a noisy party of atheletes. Pete and Steve were sharing a room next to Trevor and I and although Trevor was very quickly asleep upon arrival (as in shuffle in the room, drop all loose change on the floor, mutter incoherently, then collapse as though hit by a sniper bullet),Pete and Steve decided to have a lively debate upon complex political issues before sleeping which became a ritual.

Thursday and Friday were our last chances of playing in the Consolation event and we quickly took our exit in singles and doubles…..Pete beat his first opponent from being 10-6 down in the 5th to continue on, and in his next match was 10-4 up in the 5th – and lost……

It was about now that I began suffering from what is politely called a stomach upset, but was in fact the squits…………cough or sneeze at your peril……

The Friday night party was very busy with all tables in use so while listening to the Beatles tribute band it was decided to borrow the drinks trolley to use as our table. This went well until a member of staff wanted it back while it was full of our drinks – so like any reasonable lout I held on to the trolley while she pulled at it until our drinks had been moved to a table – and this, I am told, was the best entertainment of the night – except for Peter taking to the stage at the end of the evening and singing to the staff while they tidied the room…

Saturday was the semi finals and Finals at the Arena, and afterward I did not take part in the events at a bar/club that led to Gary being compared to ‘Taz in Tazmania’ or ‘whirling dervish’. And I would point out that Richard is absolutely convinced that it was a girl that tried to pick him up, and not a transvestite as Pete suggests – although Pete makes a compelling argument…

Sunday was away by coach to Prague airport midday, and fly home 5pm – luckily all our luggage arrived intact, and we were collected as planned.

The perfect end to a perfect trip, I think……………

That was basically it – and if I have overlooked anything its probably for the best……………

Robin Armstrong – June 2011