OOAK Table Tennis Forum
https://ooakforum.com/

Introducing: John Hilton
https://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=6335		 Page 1 of 3
Author:  haggisv [ 22 Mar 2009, 17:12 ]
Post subject:  Introducing: John Hilton
John Hilton will (hopefully) join our forum, and will (hopefully) agree to answer some of our question, and participate in discussions.

For those that don't know John, he is one of the most successful combination bat players ever, winning with an aggressive style that featured twiddling between his conventional and antispin rubbers. His success was a major reason the ITTF adopted the two-color rule.

Below are some more details. Please join me in welcoming John to our forum!

John Hilton
Former European Men's Singles Champion
Achieved No.1 Ranking in Europe, No.5 in World
Played in 4 World, 4 European & 3 Commonwealth Championships
ETTA Qualified Coach

John was born in Hyde, Greater Manchester and has always been a natural all round sportsman having competed as a youngster in Gymnastic competitions and league squash. His introduction to Table Tennis was at the Hyde Lads Club which had teams playing in most of the major leagues in Greater Manchester.

Once the bug had bitten John was keen to develop his game and progressed to Manchester YMCA. The YM was a hotbed of Table Tennis talent and regularly had top internationals and county players practicing throughout the day and night and it was exposure to this level of competition which enabled John to improve knowing that he was learning from some of the best players in the country.

Following a two year spell in Australia where he gained regional representative honours he returned to Manchester and was soon to be seen in the YM almost everyday practicing for up to four and five hours and it was this strict routine that eventually paid dividends resulting in him climbing the national rankings and being selected to represent England in the 1980 European Championships. It was at these championships that he reached the pinnacle of his career by taking Europe by storm winning the men's singles title as a relatively unknown ‘Englishman Abroad‘.
Author:  Debater [ 22 Mar 2009, 20:42 ]
Post subject: 
John Hilton came to our table tennis centre in Preston, England last year for a 3 day coaching series (2 with our juniors, one with our seniors) along with Brian Kean, another top coach and sound guy. To add to what haggisv says, he's a really nice down to earth guy with a lot of interesting ideas, particularly on pushing returns and the angle and direction of the bat.

What's more, he even used my bat to demonstrate some shots and techniques - not often you can say an ex European champion has used your equipment, although the down side is I can't blame my equipment for all the poor shots I produce now! :roll:

I hope he does join haggisv. He was more than happy to answer all our questions although the issue of "legal serving" did generate an err... interesting debate!
Author:  Skull [ 22 Mar 2009, 20:45 ]
Post subject: 
man if he does join, it willl be great to speak to a former European #1, and also its great to speak to someone who has been around the ETTA for a while

so when he does join, Welcome to the forum John
Author:  Yuzuki [ 22 Mar 2009, 21:05 ]
Post subject: 
Debater wrote:
What's more, he even used my bat to demonstrate some shots and techniques - not often you can say an ex European champion has used your equipment, although the down side is I can't blame my equipment for all the poor shots I produce now! :roll:


:lol: The pressure!

But I'd like more information about pushing, that'll be great!
Author:  Mathias [ 27 Mar 2009, 03:56 ]
Post subject: 
Yes it would be very helpful.

I guess an opening question is how the two-colour ruling affected the inverted, anti- twiddle style of tt at international level and why is the game now so heavily dominated by two-winged power loopers.
Author:  Debater [ 02 Apr 2009, 18:57 ]
Post subject: 
haggisv wrote:
Quote:
John Hilton will (hopefully) join our forum

haggisv, any developments please on the John Hilton situation?
Author:  metal monkey [ 02 Apr 2009, 21:23 ]
Post subject: 
Welcome to forum mr. Hilton,
your achievements certainly make you a living legend, and a god to us combination players :P
I would like to hear on what kind of exercises or tips you give on rotating the blade or twiddling.


metal monkey
Author:  haggisv [ 02 Apr 2009, 21:32 ]
Post subject: 
John is on holidays at the moment, but will consider joining the forum as soon as he returns...
Author:  Dark horse [ 13 Apr 2009, 05:07 ]
Post subject: 
I've played against John more than once, and he's got the best hands I've ever played against, welcome to the forum John (Andy wignall) :)
Author:  Trottski [ 29 Apr 2009, 22:58 ]
Post subject:  Re:
Dark horse wrote:
I've played against John more than once, and he's got the best hands I've ever played against, welcome to the forum John (Andy wignall) :)


Surely not better than mine Wiggers?
Author:  Dark horse [ 30 Apr 2009, 01:24 ]
Post subject:  Re: Re:
Trottski wrote:
Dark horse wrote:
I've played against John more than once, and he's got the best hands I've ever played against, welcome to the forum John (Andy wignall) :)


Surely not better than mine Wiggers?


Don't be silly Andy, nobodys are better than yours
Author:  theOldDuffer [ 05 May 2009, 05:26 ]
Post subject:  Re: Introducing: John Hilton
John was on hols then off to see his offspring in Dubai. I assume he is back now.

He is number one in my books. He and his good wife are wonderful people.

tOD
Author:  theOldDuffer [ 05 May 2009, 05:28 ]
Post subject:  Re: Introducing: John Hilton
One of my best memories is seeing John win in Berne.
tOD
Author:  theOldDuffer [ 17 May 2009, 06:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: Introducing: John Hilton
After about about a four year lay off from competition JH is now back at No. 3 on the ETTAs Vetern Men's list.

Way to go John!!

tOD
Author:  Thunder Boult [ 17 May 2009, 06:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: Introducing: John Hilton
3 in England...

...but nowhere to be seen on this forum!
Page 1 of 3 All times are UTC + 9:30 hours
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/