Mornington Veteran’s tournament kicks off next Sunday 29th September at Mornington Peninsula Table Tennis Association.

Last year, the tournament was extremely successful with around 680 matches played in 43 events.

Also, six more tables were used in the basketball stadium on top of the Mornington’s 13 tables.

At this year’s event, there will be an additional 12 tables so there will be 25 tables running throughout the day.

The facilities at Mornington are great.

TTV spoke to Mornington Peninsula Table Tennis Association’s President Max Coulthard before the event.

“The lighting at Mornington has been so good, (we have) an amazing surface to play on and a lot of

International sized courts and lots of space that means you have plenty of room to move,” he said.

“And lots of parking and that’s I think what attracts people to us.”

Coulthard is pleased at how well the event goes each year.

“Year after year we get so many compliments, for example - I haven’t played for about an hour and a half and we will try to do our best to get you on a table soon,” he said.

“We do really try our best to get them off and back on again as quickly as possible and that’s something we pride ourselves on organising.”

Mornington Peninsula Table Tennis Association has a Veteran’s board member.

“I think this has been great, because we have good communication,” Coulthard said.

“And because of that their numbers stay high in the Veterans tournament, as they enjoy it and feel they can have a say and make a difference and contribute.

“It’s all pretty much about integrating everyone and it’s a strategy about being community focused and encouraging people of all ages to play.”

The Mornington Peninsula Table Tennis Association measure event success three ways.

“The number of people who actually come down and play, so the good thing is once they put their enrolment in, they are down to play,”

“Number two is it generates a profit for the association.

“It does not cost us money in a way because we make up the money with the events.”

Best part of the event includes the social element of meeting new people and catching up with friends and colleagues.

“Everyone is there to win as well, but it’s the goodwill, the camaraderie and just the general demeanour around the place is the feel-good factor,” Coulthard said.

“I am pleased, because I think too often you go to events at other places, you feel like it’s cold and there’s no warm greeting.

“It’s just something that we felt we are always part of a community, the community of both Mornington Peninsula and Table Tennis.”

Mornington Veteran’s Tournament is on Sunday the 29th of September at 9am.