Brian Renwick can’t afford to rest on his laurels after regaining his New Zealand Ping Pong Parkinson’s singles title in Palmerston North.
The 71-year-old was back at the Table Tennis Nelson base just three days after a busy national tournament.
“You can never put your feet up when you have Parkinson’s. It is imperative to keep moving, maintain good shape, balance and agility. You can’t risk falling, breaking bones and ending up in hospital,” says Brian, after cycling from Richmond for practice at Saxton Stadium.
Brian is a popular figure there and plenty of well-wishers congratulated him on his latest success.
Then it was back to business with his 16-year-old coach Dimitri Bell.
“Brian is a good listener and very motivated. I have helped him with his serving, receiving and shot placement and he can now play with a lot more intent,” explains Dimitri, who was really pleased that the hard work paid off.
Ping Pong Parkinson’s has really taken off since the first national tournament in 2024.
Competing numbers have risen from 14 to 35, ensuring a busy schedule for Brian.
“I played nine matches but that wasn’t tough for a fit fellow like me. Although it was very close in the semi-final, which I won 17-15 in the third game,” declares Brian.
The final also went to three games where he beat Glen Wallis from Otago.
“It felt wonderful to get the title back as the standard this year was higher. I won in 2024 but had lost last year.”
He and doubles partner Lawrie Halkett also reached the finals, but suffered their first ever defeat.
Brian has had about half a dozen training sessions with Dimitri and rates the Nelson College student a very good coach.
“The results speak for themselves,” insists the two-time national champion.
Now he is eying a much bigger challenge, the PingPong Parkinson World Championships in China next month.
Brian will be the sole New Zealand representative, and the first ever from this country to compete at the seventh staging of the global event.
It is part of the World Table Tennis for Health Festival and will also feature players with Alzheimer’s disease.
The hosts make up more than half of the 227 entries from 24 nations.
“It will be one of the biggest adventures of my life. I thought, ‘shall I or shan’t I go’. It is such an opportunity, it might be the best chance I ever get so I thought, ‘just do it’,”
enthuses Brian.
The former ship’s captain is now plotting a course to try and get through the group stages in Shanghai where he will face stiff competition in the higher mobility class.
Meanwhile, it is a busy time for his clubmates in Nelson too, who are at the national table tennis championships in Christchurch this week.
Dimitri is playing singles and team events in the junior sections and will step out in the senior grade as well.
“It is the biggest tournament of the year, so I feel like I need to get the most out of it,” says the player-coach.
