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PING PONG TOURNAMENT FUN July 31 and August 1 IN HELENA. We now (Saturday,7/25/26), have 25 players signed up to play July 31 and 19 players signed up yo play August 1... JOIN US.
Sign up NOW for FREE “PING PONG Tournaments 7/31 and 8/1.
>>> REGISTRATION (for either July 31 or August 1 or both) is easy and must be completed by 11:59pm Tuesday, July 28. 2026... DETAILS BELOW.
o o ALL ARE INVITED AND WELCOME..
>>> July 31: Helena-area players only.
>>> August 1: Open to players from whatever location
o o JOIN US IN PING PONG FESTIVAL FUN IN TWO FREE TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENTS FOR PLAYERS OF ALL LEVELS AND AGES
Players of all levels and ages who love table tennis/ping pong are welcome , INCLUDING those who have not played for a long time.
There will be singles, doubles, men's, women's and youth and seniors (60-79), ancients/elders (80 and over) and other divisions for beginners and even for those who can't remember the last time they played.
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SPONSORS:
>> Helena Table Tennis Club https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064492822277
>>Paddle Palace of Portland, Oregon https://www.paddlepalace.com/Aboutus.asp , https://paddlepalaceclub.com/team/
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Tournament site is Plymouth Congregational Church
400 S Oakes in Helena
o o FREE.
o o ALL ARE INVITED AND WELCOME TO JOIN IN PING PONG FESTIVAL FUN.
o o Players of ALL levels and ages who love table tennis/ping pong are welcome.
o o Table tennis paddles will be provided for those needing them.
PLEASE SHARE THIS HTTC FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE FOR THE JULY 31 AND AUGUST 1 EVENTS:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1354186703554424
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>>> REGISTRATION (for either July 31 or August 1 or both) is easy and must be completed by 11:59pm Tuesday, July 28. 2026... DETAILS BELOW.
>>> Questions? Contact Tournament Director Frank Kromkowski at 406-443-0843 or [email protected]
>>>>>> July 31: Helena-Area-Players-Only Table Tennis Tournament Friday, July 31, 2026 -- Starting at 5 pm
The July 31 tournament is free and is only for Helena-area players -- with players of all ages and levels welcome.
There will be singles, doubles, men's, women's and youth and seniors (60-79), ancients/elders (80 and over) and other divisions for beginners and even for those who can't remember the last time they played.
July 31 arrival time/player sign-in: Please arrive by 4:30pm 7/31 to sign in, so we can begin match play right at 5pm.
>>>>> August 1: 13th HELENA FORREST GUMP MEMORIAL TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT. Saturday, August 1, 2026 -- Starting at 9 am.
The August 1 tournament is free and open to all (not just those the Helena area (as in the July 31 event). Players from anywhere and of all levels and ages who love playing table tennis
There will be singles, doubles, men's, women's and youth and seniors (60-79) and other divisions for beginners, for those 80 and older and even for those who can't remember the last time they played. .
August 1 arrival time/player sign-in: Please arrive by 8:30am on 8/1/26 to sign in, so we can begin match play right at 9am. ___________________________________________________________________
>>>>> REGISTRATION (for either July 31 or August 1 or both) is easy and must be completed by 11:59pm Tuesday, July 28. 2026 ... You can find the Registration Form below.
>>> Questions? Contact Tournament Director Frank
Kromkowski at 406-443-0843 or [email protected]
o o Table tennis paddles will be provided for those who need
them.
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REGISTRATION
>>> >>> To SIGN UP/REGISTER to play (for either July 31 or August 1 or both), complete the registration form below. There four easy ways to do this:
… (1) Send the completed registration form to the following e-mail address: [email protected]
… OR (2) If you don't have access to email, mail it via the US Postal Service to: Helena Table Tennis Club, c/o Frank Kromkowski, 1207 Hauser, Helena, MT 59601-2134.
… OR (3) Send your registration form info via Facebook message to HTTC at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064492822277
… OR (4) Call HTTC Tournament Director Frank Kromkowski of the Helena Table Tennis Club at 406-443-0843
REGISTRATION FORM for July 31 AND/OR August 1:
NAME: ... __________________________
MAILING ADDRESS: ... ____________________ ____________________________
E-MAIL ADDRESS: ... __________________________
PHONE: .. __________________________
DATE OF BIRTH (NEEDED FOR AGE-RELATED DIVISIONS): _____________________
I want to play in: Check all that apply.
____ the July 31 Helena-area players only tournament
____ the August 1 Forrest Gump tournament (open to all)
I want to play in the following tournament Groups/Divisions ...
>>> Check all that apply.
__ YOUTH SINGLES DIVISION… Ages: 8-11, 12-15, 16-18
Girls (11 and under) ___ Boys (11 and under) ___
Boys (12 -15) ___ Girls (12-15) ___
Boys (16-18) ___ Girls (16-18) ___
__ BEGINNER’S (NEWCOMERS/NOVICES) DIVISION
Men ___
Women ___
__ MEN'S SINGLES DIVISION
__ WOMEN’S SINGLES DIVISION
__ DOUBLES DIVISION
Doubles Partner’s Name and Phone Number:
__________________________
_____ I do not have a doubles partner. Help me find one.
__ SENIOR'S SINGLES DIVISION (Age 60 -79)
Men ___
Women ___
__ ANCIENTS/ELDERS DIVISION (Age 80-150)
Men ___
Women ___
__ “CAN’T REMEMBER WHEN I LAST PLAYED” (those who have not played for a long time ) DIVISION
Men ___
Women ___
VISIT THE HTTC FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE FOR THE JULY 31 AND AUGUST 1 EVENTS:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1354186703554424
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Some of the players who might be playing July 31 and/or August 1 in Helena:
· YOU, along with players at all levels and ages (from beginners to state champions) from Helena and all across Montana, women and men of all skills levels and ages who love ping pong/table tennis.
· CONFIRMED: Thorstein Truelson: Veteran player from Seattle and Bozeman -- winner of the 2024 Forrest Gump A Division.
· CONFIRMED: Anders Truelson from Bozeman: 7-time Montana stare champion in the Men's A Division A at the Big Sky State Gamesm runner up in the 2024 Gump A Divivion.
· CONFIRMED: Lena Conlan of Sweden and Bozeman: 2005 Forrest Gump Table Tennis Champion (defeating two-time state champion Binhai Zhu in the finals). Big Sky State Games women's champion many times.
· CONFIRMED: Tatiana Bogaheva, HTTC Coordinator, from Helena and Russia: 2013, 2015-2019 Helena Women’s Champion and 2013, 2015-2019 Forrest Gump Women’s Champion.
· Max Bryce of Helena. 2005 US National Junior Champion, 2004 Forrest Gump Beginners Champion, 2005 Montana Big Sky State Games Junior Champion.
· Rod Trahan: Many-time Montana Champion, formerly of Billings, MT and Sheridan, WY (and now in Busby, Montana). and 2004, 2015 and 2016 Forrest Gump Men's Division A Winner.
· CONFIRMED: Frank Kromkowski of Helena. co-founder of the Helena Table Tennis Club (along with Don Hurd, RIP) and many-time Helena City champion (1970s on). Former Montana Big Sky State Games Champion in the B Division and Over 50 Division. Montana Senior Games Champion numerous times. Tournament Director for each of the 12 Forrest Gump Tournaments in Helena since 2004.
· Dallas Reddekop of Lolo: 2013, 2016 and 2107 Montana Champion Dallas Redekopp and 2017 Forrest Gump Men's Division A Winner (and Anaconda 2018 Champion and 2018 Bozeman Runner-up) and 2015 Forrest Gump Runner-Up.
· Gary Pastushok of Bismarck, North Dakota -- Second place in the 2017 Gump A Division with a record of 6 wins and only one loss (to champion Dallas Redekopp).
· Binhai Zhu of Bozeman: two-time Montana Champion. 2005 runner up in the 2005 Gump Open Division, losing to 2005 champion Lena Conlan in the finals. 2006 and 2014 Forrest Gump Men's Division A Winner and
· Steve Kotson of Helena. 2019 Gump B Division Singles Champion (with no losses).
· CONFIRMED: Norm Mullen: Anaconda 2017 Tournament Champion.
· Layne Ryerson. Formerly of Helena, now in Bozeman: 2014 Forrest Gump Men's Division B Winner and 2016 Montana high school state tennis champion, Carroll College marathon runner; 2015 Gump doubles runner-up (with partner Frank Kromkowski.)
· CONFIRMED: Mike Chilinski of Helena: 2017 Gump Doubles Champion with partner Dallas Redekopp -- tied for 2017 First in Doubles with the team of Cole Feisthamel and LLoyd Revious of Bozeman). Chilinski was also 2016 Gump doubles runner-up with partner Frank Kromkowski).
· CONFIRMED: Barb Leland of Helena. Second place in the 2018 Forrest Gump Women’s Division and 4th in the 2018 B Division.
· Caroline Foster of Helena. Second place in the 2019 Forrest Gump Women’s Division.
· Makenna Sellers of Helena. Second place in the 2019 Forrest Gump Women’s Division.
·· Casey Calnan of Anaconda (2017 Gump B Division Champion) and Gary Kump of Butte: 2013-2017 Montana Senior Olympic Doubles Champions.
· Patrick Savage of Anaconda. Second Place in the 2019 B Division Singles.
· CONFIRMED: Cade Foster of Helena, second place in the 2019 Gump A Men's Division.
· John Louie of Helena: 2017 Gump B Division Second Place Winner, with 8 wins and 2 losses; and Third Place in the 2018 Anaconda Singles Tournament.
· Tony Welder and Bill Wagner of Bismarck, North Dakota -- Tony Welder took second place in the 2021 Big Sky State Games B Division, losing to champion Nate Wilcox of Bozeman in the B Division finals.
· Tyler Pestell of Great Falls. 2019 A Division Gump Men's Champion.
· Wilmot J Collins (former mayor of Helena)... Wilmot was a member of a 2019 Gump doubles team (actually a trio) with Hal Fossum of Helena and Duncan Moran of Livingston.
· Cole Feisthamel and Lloyd Revious of Bozeman: 2017 Gump Doubles Champions (tied for First with the team of Redekopp and Chilinski).
· Chad Simmons of Helena: Helena’s 2013 City Champion, 2013 Forrest Gump Second Place Winner, and 2012 Montana B Division Big Sky State Games Champion.
· Clayton Ryerson of Helena: Gump A Division 2016 (tied for Fourth Place with Tatiana Talseth of Helena), Gump B Division 2016 (Fourth Place) and C Division 2016: Second Place Tie with Steve Kotson of Helena.
· John Bodnar of Bozeman: Second Place in the 2018 Anaconda Tournament. Mike Bodnar of Wise River, MT: Second Place in the 2018 Anaconda Doubles Tournament with partner John Bodnar.
· John C. Waters from Missoula and formerly of the Malta, MT table tennis Club. 2015 Youth Division Gump Champion. 2021 third place winner in the B Division of the Big Sky State Games.
· Nathan Wilcox of Bozeman: 2014 Gump Division A Second Place Winner and 2013 Forrest Gump Division B Champion.
· Jeff Van Tine of Helena: Former junior table tennis champion of Delaware.
· Terry Hankins of Havre: 2013 Montana Big Sky Games C Division Champion, founder of the Havre Table Tennis Club.
· Patrick Savage of Anaconda, the 2017 Gump C Division winner, with fellow Anacondan Bobby Duong taking Second Place.
· Art Fust of Billings: 2013 Montana Big Sky Games B Division Champion and recent Over 60 and Over 70 (2021) Champion Art Fust (who also runs the Montana Big Sky State Games Table Tennis Tournament).
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TOURNAMENT PROCESSES AND RULES FOR AUGUST 1 AND JULY 31:
The tournament committee reserves the right to amend the tournament format and schedule as necessary, depending on the number of entries.
o o To assure health and safety: All persons experiencing physical symptoms possibly related to COVID‐19 (including coughing or fever over 100 degrees F, difficulty breathing and other common COVID symptoms) are prohibited from entering the tournament area.
>>> Friday, July 31 -- Helena-Area-Players-Only Table Tennis Tournament will be held Friday, July 31. Matches start at 5pm. The tournament site (Plymouth Church in Helena) will be open for practice/warm-up at 4pm. There will be singles, doubles, men's, women's and youth and other divisions.
Arrival time and player sign-in on Friday, July 31: Please arrive by 4:30pm on Friday, July 31 to sign in, so we can begin right at 5pm.
>>> Saturday, August 1 -- The 13th Forrest Gump Table Tennis Tournament in Helena will be held Saturday, August 1. Matches start at 9am August 1. The first Forrest Gum Ping Pong Tournament was held in Helena in 2005. The tournament site (Plymouth Church in Helena) will be open for practice/warm-up at 8am. There will be singles, doubles, men's, women's and youth and other divisions.
Arrival time and player sign-in on Saturday,August 1: Please arrive by 8:30 am on Saturday, August 1 to sign in, so we can begin right at 9am.
o o Entries in the July 31 and the August 1 tournaments will be sorted by the HTTC's Tournament Directors into separate competition Divisions A, B, C, D (etc.) for tournament match play.
– The sorting will be based on preliminary Round-Robin play (where everyone plays everyone else). >>> The tournament committee reserves the right to amend the format as necessary, depending on the number of entries.
o o Preliminary Round-Robin matches (to determine placement in the A, B, C and D competition Divisions) start at 5pm on Friday, July 31 and will start at 9am on Saturday, August 1.
o o To start the tournament each day, players will be sorted into Round-Robin groups (with everyone playing everyone in each Round-Robin group).
Use of Round-Robin play is intended to maximize the number of possible matches you can play in the tournament and assure fair placement in the A, B, C and D competition Divisions. These Preliminary Round Robin matches are "best of three" (i.e., first player to win two games is the winner of the match). >>> The tournament committee reserves the right to amend the format as necessary, depending on the number of entries.
We will set up preliminary Preliminary Round-Robin groups of 3 or 4 players (for the Men’s and the Women’s Division), with the first-place finisher in each round robin groups advancing to Division A, 2nd place to Division B, 3rd place to Division C and 4th place to Division D, etc. >>> The tournament committee reserves the right to amend the format as necessary, depending on the number of entries.
After the preliminary round round-robin matches, matches in each of the subsequent divisions (A,B,C, D) will be operate under the single elimination rule (i.e., one loss and you are out of the competition). >>> The tournament committee reserves the right to amend the format as necessary, depending on the number of entries.
o o Women's Singles Divisions: Preliminary Round matches (to establish Women's Division A, B, C and D tournament groupings) start at 5pm Friday 7/31 and at 9m Saturday 8/1, with a Preliminary Round round-robin format (in which everyone plays everyone). These Preliminary Round Robin Women's matches (and ALL matches) are "best of three" (i.e., first player to win two is the winner of the match).
After the preliminary round round-robin matches, matches in each of the subsequent divisions (A,B,C, D) will be operate under the single elimination rule (i.e., one loss and you are out of the competition). >>> The tournament committee reserves the right to amend the tournament format and schedule as necessary, depending on the number of entries.
o o Men's Singles Divisions: Preliminary Round matches (to establish Divisions A,B. C and D tournament groupings). Preliminary Round-Robin Play starts at 9am. These Preliminary Round Robin Men's matches are "best of three" (i.e., first player to win two games is the winner of the match
After the preliminary round round-robin matches, matches in each of the subsequent divisions (A,B,C, D) will be operate under the single elimination rule (i.e., one loss and you are out of the competition). The tournament committee reserves the right to amend the format as necessary, depending on the number of entries.
o o Doubles Division: The Doubles Division will begin when the singles tournaments are completed – or earlier if tables are available. >>> The tournament committee reserves the right to amend the format as necessary, depending on the number of entries.
o o Youth Division: Age groups (Round-Robin: Everyone plays everyone): __ 8-11, __ 12-15, __15-18 >>> The tournament committee reserves the right to amend the format as necessary, depending on the number of entries.
o o There are also four special divisions to help everyone feel welcome and compete fairly:
>> “BEGINNER’S/NOVICE” DIVISION – those who are just starting out, just learning the game.
>> “CAN’T REMEMBER WHEN I LAST PLAYED” DIVISION – “old-timers” wanting to come back and have some fun.
>> SENIORS DIVISION (60-79).
>> ANCIENTS/ELDERS DIVISION (80 OR MORE)
Equipment and rules:
o o Five tables are available for the tournament.
o o All matches are best of three (i.e., the first player to win two games is the winner of the match). >>> This could be changed to best of five depending on the number of players registered to play.
o o Three-star Nittaku competition-level balls will be used: New, unused 40+mm 3-star balls will be provided by co-sponsor Paddle Palace of Portland.
o o Referees (from among the tournament players) will be provided for all matches.
All matches will have referees as scorekeepers. The referee will announce the score after each point, before the next serve.
The loser of a match must remain at the table and keep score and serve as the referee for the subsequent match.
Referees will return the match results to the Tournament Director on index cards provided for each match.
Referee's decisions are final concerning disputed plays. Referees may consult, as needed, with the Tournament Director for clarification of rules.
o o Players are reminded to respect each other and to respect the equipment/tables -- refrain from leaning on the table or hitting the table with your racket and refrain from wiping your hands on the table.
o o Players are encouraged to remember that a tournament is a friendly competition not a war. We encourage you wish each other luck as you begin (as is the beautiful custom at the famous South Bend Table Tennis --
https://southbendtabletennis.com/ )
o o USA Table Tennis rules will apply:
https://www.usatt.org/rules-of-table-tennis
• Games are played to 11 points, A player must win by 2 points.
• Each player gets 2 serves, alternating between players. A player does not have to win specifically off their own serve in order to win a point.
• If a game ties at 10-10, a player must win by 2 points. In this situation, players serve one serve each, alternating.
Legal Serving Rules:
• You must throw the ball up straight, from a flat palm, at least 6 inches (16cm)
• Your toss and service contact must be behind the table surface (not over)
• You cannot hide the ball with any part of your body during service, from the ball toss, to contact with the raquet.
• If the ball hits the net during service and lands on the table on the opponent’s side, a "let serve" (= “play it over’) is called by the Referee (and the point is replayed). There is no limit or point deductions for let serves.
SHARE THIS HTTC FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE FOR THE JULY 31 AND AUGUST 1 EVENTS:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1354186703554424
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Plymouth Congregational Helena MT, 400 S Oakes St, Helena, MT 59601-4605, United States
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