Webb aims to keep his sport in GCWGA fold

GUERNSEY table tennis will not walk away from the local Commonwealth Games Association says its president, Derek Webb. While there was a high level of disgruntlement within the GTTA hierarchy when the GCWGA selectors snubbed all the sport's 2006 Games candidates, Webb said it would be a waste of six years on the GCWGA council and would be potentially harming the aspirations of the emerging island talent, if the sport was to withdraw now.

'Obviously, as an association we were extremely disappointed having been on the committee for six years.

'We've never really had a reason why we haven't gone.'

Webb believes that table tennis are not alone in feeling aggrieved.

'A lot of sports aren't happy with how it all went and I think things are going to change.'

The GTTA boss said that competing at events such as the Commonwealths is an important part of the sport's development plan which, he points out, is bringing dividends with the best crop of young talent the GTTA has ever witnessed.

'It should be all about representing your island, not winning medals.'

Melbourne may have been denied them but table tennis is still heading overseas.

Guernsey will be sending men and women's teams to the World Championships in Bremen, Germany, which run from 24 April to 1 May.

Phil Hunkin, vice-president of the GTTA, will accompany the team and he said the time was right to return to the world fold.

'We haven't been for a number of years. Certainly not for the last 10.

'Basically, we want to go to all the big events we are eligible for and the worlds is a good developmental event.

'You play against countries of a similar standard or just a little better.

Along with 39 other nations Guernsey will play at Division Four level.

The entrants will be split into pools of four or five and following a round-robin, there will be play-offs and each country will be ranked worldwide.

Both Guernsey squads are young and full of future potential.

Scott Romeril, Garry Dodd and James Lesbirel form the men's and Alice Loveridge, Paula Le Ber and Bethany Pipet the women's.

* MARK PIPET has long retired from representative table tennis but the veteran underlined that he remains a major force in the domestic game by winning last night's Whistlers Open.

The number three seed beat top seed Scott Romeril in the semi-finals and then Jez Powell, the fourth-ranked player in an event featuring all the island's big guns, 7-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-7 in an entertaining final.