Table tennis - Veterans called on to save Manx’s day

Oct 2 2008 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

TWO of West Lothian’s top veteran table-tennis stars were stunned and delighted to be called up for international duty at short notice.

Local players John McCulloch and Drew McLaren proved to be more-than-able deputies for the Isle of Man after the Manx Six Nations Table Tennis Championships.

The international event took place at the Bells Sport Centre in Perth, and the late substitutions showed that sportsmanship remains alive and well on the table-tennis circuit.

When the Isle of Man Federation advised that their over-60 team might have to withdraw because of the illness of two of players the other sides stepped in to come to their rescue.

Rather than witness the withdrawal of a team at such a late stage, the other five nations (Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales and Guernsey) offered to allow guests to compete in order not to disappoint the other players and teams.

An urgent call was made to the in-demand duo of John and Drew, who gratefully accepted the invitation to play for the Isle of Man - notwithstanding many a comment about being traitors to their own locale.

Without any real practice or preparation for the tournament Drew and John duly arrived more in hope than expectation.

There was to be both individual and team events with groupings at over-40, over-50, over-60 and over-70 years of age.

Entrants included the world over-70 champion, Fred Lockwood, in the oldest age group and Brian Hill, former European junior champion in the over 60 event but this was just the tip of the iceberg as there seasoned international players every where.

The iconic figure of Ireland’s Tommy McCaffrey was also a popular figure among players and spectators alike in the star-studded over 60 category.

It was in the over-60 competition that John and Drew found themselves competing for Isle of Man.

However, their presence did not prevent a very weak Isle of Man team from losing all their matches.

John did finish as the only team member to win a game, though both men could be proud of their efforts, as they took some of their fancied opponents the full distance in both singles and doubles games.

A strong England squad took top position in every event, save for a magnificent performance by the Wales over-40 women in the team event, and also in the individual event, where Julie Lawrence of Perth, the reigning Lothian Open champion, lost in the deciding set in the final to her Welsh opponent.

Next year the event is to be hosted by the Isle of Man so it is unlikely that either John or Drew will be invited to play for them.

However, the West Lothian players made friends from other parts of the UK and might well take up offers of friendly matches and hospitality at some time in the future.