ENGLISH SCHOOLS TABLE TENNIS ASSOCIATION


Twelve young men from The Crypt School, Gloucester recently competed in the finals of the English School Table Tennis Association Butterfly National Team Championships 2007/8 is a result of becoming zone finalists.

Gloucester Table Tennis Association have been working in coordination with the Crypt School to promote and develop Table Tennis in the City of Gloucester.

For the last twelve months Shirley Bailey, Table Tennis Development Officer and ETTA Coach, has been working with Crypt School, coaching during the school lunch times on Tuesdays and Thursdays and during the Summer holidays on a Friday evening with a view to spotting talent in Gloucester and encouraging new players for the Gloucester Table Tennis league and for the county.
As a result of all this work Crypt School were able to enter three teams into the National Team Championships that were held in Cheltenham.

The three teams consisted of the following players: -

Under 13 Team
Alex Guscott, Adam Crabbe, Matthew Skelding, Tim Smith.

Under 15 Team
Simon Parkinson, Ben Simmonds, Archie Morton, Zubar Saleh.

Under 19 Team
Daniel Hockaday, Nick Walker, Matthew Inman, Alex Fong.

With the majority of the team players were playing in an age group above their own, the Crypt teams knew that they were going have an uphill battle on their hands. However even though they faced far more experience players they raised their games and played with courage and brave hearts. Mike Kiff, City Team Captain and ETTA Coach and Shirley Bailey both attended the event to assist with coaching.

Mike Kiff said, “I am very impressed at the level of determination shown by the players, some of whom have only been playing a very short time. If this enthusiasm and dedication continues the future for Gloucester City’s Table Tennis looks bright”.

Anyone interested in playing Table Tennis there is coaching at Churchdown School, Winston Road, Churchdown, on Saturday afternoons, from 1400hrs till 1600hrs for 8-21 year olds, by Mike Kiff City team Captain phone Mike during the evening on 07824 849401.

Shirley Bailey, also runs coaching sessions at Crypt school, Tuffley, on alternate Friday evenings - phone Shirley on 01452 883365 or 07879838881 for availability.
The Gloucestershire Schools Individual Championships are being held at Cheltenham College, Thirlestaine Road, Cheltenham, on Saturday 9th February 2008 from 1000hrs spectators and supporters welcome.

Lesley Dewick

Lesley Dewick
Press Officer
Gloucester Table Tennis Association
lesley.dewick@blueyonder.co.uk

[Return to Top of page]