TABLE TENNIS County hosts a table tennis extravaganza

Oct 16 2008 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

YOUNG table tennis players from across the country descended on West Lothian last weekend.

West Lothian Table Tennis League had contacted other leagues throughout Scotland with a view to establishing a junior league specifically designed for younger players who are still developing and would benefit greatly from competition against players of the same level from other areas.

This approach found initial support from Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh, and the first such event took place at Bathgate Academy last Sunday. Already, Falkirk have intimated their wish to be involved with the next event.

There were sufficient entries to create three divisions, each with four teams of three players, with the teams playing each others once.

Each player then played all of the players in the opposing team so that the match consisted of nine games.

After these matches all the individual players were put into groups of similar standard to play a round-robin competition with a view to promotion and relegation in subsequent meetings.

Selected for West Lothian’s A team were Robbie Fairley, Kieran Boyle and Duncan Ewing, and this trio finished in second-top spot to an excellent Dundee team.

In probably the most exciting match of the day this team beat Edinburgh 5-4 with the last game going to a deciding set. Young Kieran looked dead and buried before making a brave comeback.

However, as expected, it was Scotland-ranked number 9 in his age group Robbie, who led the way for West Lothian by winning seven of his nine games. Kieran had a record of four wins from nine with Duncan taking his win from Aberdeen.

Playing for the B team were Luke Marris, Ryan Whyte and Jason Farquhar. Luke could possibly have made the A team but for a lack of practice but the other two were competing at this level for the first time.

This team matched their colleagues by finishing second but only on a countback. Luke led the way by winning four games to Ryan’s three and Jason’s one, but the latter two did well considering this was their first competition.

As with the first division Dundee were undefeated but the other three teams won one match each.

In the individual event Robbie competed in group one against the best players on show and did well to win two from four but was unlucky not to have taken at least another scalp. In group two Kieran had exactly the same record with his all-action style of play but should have won three. Duncan did less well in group three but avoided the drop by registering a single win.

Luke took second place in group four but when he returns to regular play he is sure to move up the divisions.

On the way to second place he beat Ryan. However Ryan maintained his place in the division by beating the bottom-placed player.

Jason struggled a little in group five but, like Duncan and Ryan, his sole victory keeps him in that division.

Jason’s younger brother Darren proved to be the surprise package having competed earlier in a scratch team in the third division where he excelled, losing only once.

His efforts took him to group six where he lost only once to finish second top. No doubt the Farquhar brothers will be comparing their respective records for what could be the start of a long brotherly rivalry.

Of all the players who represented West Lothian only Robbie is a regular feature on the national scene but it is hoped that an event like this will encourage the others to follow his lead.

Certainly, they did not let themselves down and where they did not win they competed well and the experience can only be helpful.

With sports being encouraged with renewed vigour in our schools, Whitburn Academy and St Margaret’s which supplied all but one of the squad should have the basis of healthy clubs within their school.

The West Lothian Secondary Schools championships are scheduled for Friday, February 6 and it is a fair bet that all of these players will feature prominently.

At primary school level there is a national event upcoming on November 23 and it is anticipated that some of West Lothian’s youngest players will attend.

West Lothian Table Tennis Club really is living up to the ‘sport for all’ mantra, having had players featuring in the over-60s event at the recent Six Nations championships down to primary school students playing in the national championships and all age groups in between.