Elite camp could lead to quality tournament

THE island will host a prestigious training camp for the top European elite junior players next year. The Guernsey Table Tennis Association have secured the event for the first time after liaising closely with the European Table Tennis Union.

It will feature Europe's top 32 under-12 boys and girls.

'It's a bit of a coup to get that. One of the objectives is to break the Asian domination of table tennis,' said GTTA vice-president Phil Hunkin.

The Chinese and Korean players are currently the best in the world and the aim of the camps is to help stop that trend.

Guernsey's Olympic hopefuls Alice Loveridge and Oliver Langlois have been to similar camps previously.

'We hope as the home nation we will be able to put in some competitors.

'We are working closely with the European Table Tennis Association and their development officer is coming over,' said Hunkin.

It is likely to be held in February at the home of the sport in the island - the Guernsey Bowls Stadium.

'It puts us on the European map as far as table tennis is concerned and we have some long-term plans to stage a prestigious tournament, probably junior.'

Guernsey are also sending a junior (under-18) boys team and cadet championship boys and girls teams to the 50th European Table Tennis Youth Championships in Bratislava between 13 and 22 July this year.

'The European Championships are the pinnacle of the sport and the highest level they can play at,' said Hunkin.

'We feel our players deserve it and won't be disgraced.'

The under-18 boys team is made up of Scott Romeril, Garry Dodd and Adam Langlois, who collectively won a bronze medal at the recent Junior Six Nations tournament in Coventry.

They finished ahead of Wales and Ireland and behind England and Scotland.

'They will be competing at a reasonable level. Table tennis is a worldwide sport and every European country plays. It will be very tough and if there are 40 European countries, I would expect them to finish 20 to 30,' said Hunkin.

Germany, France, Sweden, Hungary and Italy are expected to be very strong.

The cadet girls' duo of Loveridge and Paula Le Ber scooped a silver medal behind England at the recent cadet championships.

The former still has another three years in the age group and is expected to do well.

Hunkin expects the pair to finish in the top 10 to 20 places.

The boys' cadet team comprises Oliver Langlois and Matthew Stubbington.

In Bratislava, the first four days will be team events followed by a rest one, then four days of individual competitions.

The previous time Guernsey sent a team to the European Championships was in 1978 in Barcelona.

Hunkin himself was involved along with Ian Powell, Ian Le Page, Tina Powell and Susan Gaudion.

Fly For Sport have agreed to underwrite some of the trip's costs to the tune of £1,500.

Coaches Becks O'Keefe and Maurice James will accompany the players.

Generally the island's table tennis future is in safe hands.

'At junior and cadet level we are getting a lot stronger and competing with the home nations and beating some of them, which is exceeding our expectations,' said Hunkin.

'They are getting some very good results and are dedicated.'