Youngsters to get first taste of international action

GUERNSEY'S young table tennis players are up against the best of British this weekend. An eight-strong squad has travelled to Cork to compete in the Under-12 British Primary Schools' tournament.

They will play against England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Isle of Man.

The boys' team includes twins Lawrence and Joshua Stacey and Joshua Butler, all 11, and Jack Totty, 12.

Eleven-year-old twins Rachael and Laura Harm and Kate Stubbington are joined in the girls team by Shannon Carre, 12.

'The team has been training intensely for the past four months for this and I have been really impressed with the commitment and hard work that have been put in by these young players,' said Becks O'Keefe, the island's table tennis development officer.

'Hopefully all their effort will pay dividends when they are away in Cork. The tournament will be an excellent experience for the young players which they can take on board.'

It is a testament to the development of the sport in Guernsey that their youngsters are able to compete.

'It's a very high standard. Guernsey table tennis five or six years ago was not competing with the international teams but we are now. If the children play to their potential, they have a chance of winning medals,' said O'Keefe.

'It's the first international trip that seven of the children have been on and their first taste of international table tennis.'

The exception is Stubbington who is competing in her third Primary Schools tournament. In the past she has lost narrowly to possibly this year's number one seed.

'It's an enormous challenge but the experience they will gain from it will be enormous,' said O'Keefe.

She believes some of these youngsters have the potential to be the next Alice Loveridge and potential Olympic stars of the future.

The tournament follows the success of the young GTTA team at the Six Nations junior tournament in Coventry in March.

Eight of Guernsey's best young players came away with a well-deserved handful of silver and bronze medals.

The squad, which has its sights set on further success in Cork, are thankful for sponsorship from Deutsche Bank and funding from the School Sports Federation.