St Andrew’s wins Brighton and Hove’s first Primary School Table Tennis Championship

St Andrew’s took the honours this week in Brighton and Hove’s first-ever Primary School Table Tennis Championship.  The other schools taking part were St Luke’s, who finished a close second, and Elm Grove who took third place.

St Andrews won the mixed doubles and the boys’ and girls’ competitions. 24 boys and girls took part, playing 8 matches each. Max Wilson from Year 5 at St Andrew’s was overall winner. Runner up was Karl Newland and the Bronze went to Jack Dickinson.

Brighton Table Tennis Club, which organised the championship, runs coaching sessions in each of the three schools, and many of the players who took part in the championship play regularly at the club in its new home, The Fitzherbert Centre, Upper Bedford Place, Kemptown. The event also introduced many Year 4-6 children to the sport and the club for the first time.

Said Andy Starkie, PE Co-ordinator at St Luke’s:  “Table tennis brings out the very best aspects of sport. The children from our school loved the thrill of competing at such an excellent venue, but also got to learn how important it is to congratulate opponents and respect umpires. The fact that 8-year old girls can play in the same venue as a 60-year old Chinese man and one of the UK’s top table tennis Downs Syndrome players makes such an event inclusive and inspirational.”

Brighton Table Tennis Club (BTTC) is open seven days a week to players of all ages and abilities. A local community club and registered charity, it holds weekly sessions for a wide range of groups, among them primary school children, under 16s, over 60s, people with learning disabilities and looked after children. Two women-only sessions are held each week. It also runs regular sessions in schools and colleges in the city.

BTTC is Table Tennis England’s National Table Tennis Club of the Year 2015. One of the country’s biggest clubs, it has an expanding programme with more than 1,000 people playing table tennis each week across Brighton and Hove.

For more information visit the club’s website or call 07985 141788

By Tim Holtam – 10th February 2016