Young players go to higher level

THE cream of Guernsey's young table tennis players flew off to the 14th Portugal Youth Championships yesterday. The highly-rated tournament is taking place in Tavira and will feature players from more than 18 countries, including Canada.

Scott Romeril, Garry Dodd and Adam Langlois will represent the island in the under-18 boys' competition while Oliver Langlois and Matthew Stubbington are going to take part in the under-15 boys' event.

In the under-18 girls, Bethany Pipet, Sophie Dyer and Sophie Ferbrache fly the flag for Guernsey, while double national champion Alice Loveridge and Paula Le Ber will do likewise in the younger age group.

'We see this as part and parcel of the development of our juniors,' said Guernsey Table Tennis Association president Derek Webb.

'We compete regularly with England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland and we need to move our juniors up another level.

'I think we're going to get some good results. I'm fairly confident that some of our players will do well. We'll be pleasantly surprised.'