A record 277 teams from 194 schools have qualified, following county events, to do battle in the Butterfly Schools’ Team Championship Zone Finals this weekend (January 30-February 1).

This English Schools’ Table Tennis Association event is held at eight venues throughout the country.

The North East Finals (Zone 1) held at Billingham sees three reigning champions – Northfield School & Sports College, Cleveland (Under-16 Girls); St Mary’s College, Humber (Under-13 Boys) and Conyers School, Cleveland (Under-13 Girls) defend their 2014 titles.

The Park School, Dorset (Under-11 Girls) defend their title in Plymouth (Zone 8) hoping to beat all-comers and progress to the Regional Finals which will be held on the weekend of March 21-22.

Double defending champions London Academy, London North (Under-19 & Under-16 Boys) will join 45 teams in the eight age groups at the University of East London (Zone 6) – these finals are also part of the Jack Petchey London Schools’ Table Tennis Championships.

This year’s events feature 34 schools new to this level of competition and they, with the other school teams, will fight to depose the current cup holders.  Two of the eight competitions (Under-19 Girls & Under-11 Boys) will see new champions crowned.

A full list of entrants from each county can be found on the Events/Results section of the English Schools’ Table Tennis Association Website – click here to view.

John Arnold MBE
January 25, 2015

The photographs show:

• 2014 Under 13 Girls’ Champions – Conyers School, Yarm, Stockton on Tees (Cleveland) with Margot Fraser presenting the Hartshill Cup.
• 2014 Under 16 Boys’ Champions – London Academy, Edgware (North London) with Darius Knight presenting the Leach-Carrington Cup.