Click here to view all the photos from the day.
The 2015 launch of PING! Liverpool was staged in the prestigious Liverpool One shopping complex on 16th July, organised by Liverpool City Council in collaboration with Table Tennis England and the Liverpool and District TTL. The event, in Paradise Place attracted large crowds with over 350 people taking part, including the Mayor Tony Concepcion and Liverpool Councillors who pitted their chances against a table tennis robot.
There was a great opportunity to see exhibition matches staged by the 2011 and 2014 Liverpool men’s singles champion and nine times Wirral champion Jonathan Taylor who took on Steve Green, who this season collected veteran singles titles on both sides of the Mersey and in the Lancashire Closed championships. The pair also created a Liverpool Ping! record completing 138 successful shots in 60 seconds on an outdoor table.
Also on duty were promising England ranked juniors, Sisters Nicole and Rachael Scott from West Kirby, Wirral, who together with Liverpool’s Harry Watson and Rhys Davies from Ainsdale, were all a credit to their parents and respective coaches’, their ability impressing all who witnessed their input over the three hour demonstrations. Completing the top class line-up were Paralympian players’ Mark Palmer and Jack Hunter-Spivey, the latter a recent gold medal winner in the Slovakia open.
With superb weather, the event couldn’t have gone better with everyone playing their part to make it a success. Hopefully, the event will encourage many more to take up the sport and for those who once played and gave up competing to return to action.
With tables at popular key sites such as; Albert Dock, Liverpool Cricket club, Wavertree Tennis Centre, Liverpool University and Liverpool Cricket Club, plus ten parks and recreation grounds, the 30 tables provide plenty of opportunity to engage in casual play or stage a local competition.
Click the links to view; PING! table locations near to you, to download a leaflet to help promote table locations throughout the city and to view local clubs in your area.
Don Davies
Liverpool League Chairman
June 2015