On Saturday 6th July local people of all ages and abilities took part in the launch of Ping! Northampton where ping pong tables will spring up at local landmarks, open spaces, parks and events across the town, closely followed by Ping! Kettering’s tables popping up throughout the town, from the middle of July.

Backed by National Lottery funding from Sport England, Ping! Northants is produced by Northamptonshire Sport in partnership with Northampton and Kettering Table Tennis Leagues, Northampton Leisure Trust and Kettering Borough Council who have helped organise a programme of ping pong events and activities.

Greg Yarnall of Northamptonshire Sport said “We want to get people taking up and playing sport more regularly. Table tennis appeals to lots of people of every age and background, it’s a great way to get active” he adds “As well as the ‘free play’, courses are also being arranged for beginners and 50+ groups to take up and join this fast growing sport.”

Ping! Northants launched with a ping pong bonanza of table tennis show matches with champion Desmond Douglas, (11 times National Champion) and future rising stars Bhavika Mistry and Alex Ramsden (both from Northants). Plus there was an attempt on the World Record for the most number of people taking part in a table tennis rally which was kicked off by Councillor Les Marriott the Worshipful Mayor of Northampton, and Michael Ellis, MP for Northampton North.

Ping! has proved one of the most successful sports participation projects funded by Sport England and the National Lottery, attracting over 500,000 participants since its launch in 2010. Moreover, Sport England’s research shows that once people start playing they don’t want to stop.

Written by John Alsop (July 18, 2013)