Butterfly Schools’ Individual Championships
It’s a busy period for the English Schools’ Table Tennis Association. Having recently sent teams to compete in the ISF World Schools’ Championships and the British Primary Schools International and hosted the Butterfly Team Championship finals in Hinckley, all eyes turn to Doncaster on Saturday for the Butterfly Individual Championship.
Some 300 players will make their way to The Dome, Doncaster on the 21st April 2012, hoping to be crowned the Butterfly Schools’ Individual Champion at the English Schools’ Table Tennis Association National Finals.
While we all wait to see who is crowned champion, its an accomplishment to just reach the final stage. With only one space available per county most players have already faced some tough competition to get this far.
Marcus Giles (London South), holder of the 2011 Under 13 Boys’ title and Tom Jarvis (Lincolnshire), the Under 11 Boys title, are the only current champions taking part but this year both are fighting for the Under 13 Boys’ crown – But, if their epic battle in the final last year’s Under 11 final is anything to go by, Tom Jarvis and Hugo Pang will be right there to compete with top ranked Alec Ward (Cleveland).
All other events are up for grabs but no doubt last year’s silver and bronze medallists will be hoping to make it gold this year – they are Tyrone Wells (London West) – Boys’ 16; Hugo Pang (Dorset), James Hobson (West Yorkshire), Daniel McTiernan (Berkshire), Joshua Bennett (East Sussex) – Boys’ 13; Abbie Milwain (Derbyshire), Evangeline Collier (Lincolnshire) – Girls’ 19; Emily Bolton (Cumbria), Jasmine Johns (Devon) – Girls’ 16; Letitia McMullen (Hampshire) – Girls’ 13; Kate Cheer (West Sussex), Denise Payet (London North) – Girls’ 11.
Cheer, Milwain, McMullen and Ward are seeded No. 1 in their events together with Bradley Tuttle (Hertfordshire) – Boys’ 19, Liam McTiernan (Berkshire) – Boys’ 16, Emma Torkington (Kent) – Girls’ 16 and James Smith (London South) – Boys’ 11.
Play starts at 9.00am with the Under 11/13 events and continues with the Under 16/19 events later in the day. This is the largest one day table tennis competition in the Calendar in England. All are welcome to come along and watch a great day’s table tennis.
The photograph shows Marcus Giles, the defending champion with the 2011 Under 13 Boys’ finalists.
For a full list of competitors click here
John Arnold & Mat Morris