Table tennis players celebrate top Scottish rankings - at all age levels

Dec 11 2008 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

LAST weekend two West Lothian players finished in the top ten of an under 15 assessment.

Whitburn pupil Robbie Fairley finished the event ranked Scotland number seven in his age group.

Robbie has been a regular competitor in these events over the past four or five years and while a seventh ranking nationally is excellent there are many within the sport who believe that a higher finish is well within his capability.

Although two years younger, St Kentigerns first year pupil Kieran Boyle finished in a highly creditable tenth place in his first event at this level. Indeed, Kieran still qualifies for the under 13 age group and when he next competes at this level expect an even higher ranking.

These two should prove to be the players to beat at next year's Secondary Schools Championships.

Moving up the age groups quite significantly many of West Lothian's veterans took part in similar events for the more experienced players.

In the over 60 group West Lothian again has two players in the top echelons.

Now ranked at number two in Scotland is Barry Hills while Bathgate's own Drew McLaren is currently ranked at number five.

The top age group is the over 70s where Davie Dall is also ranked at number five.

In the Edinburgh League the West Lothian B team is presently riding high in second position.

This early season form is testament to the hard work and practice put in by them during the close season. The four man squad of Lewis and Barry Hills, Steve McKay and Andy MacDougall is certainly making their presence felt.

Meanwhile, the A team is presently sitting mid table due to the fact that all too often they have been without regulars Asif Raja and John McCulloch for whom Keith MacKay is a regular deputy.

However, this state of affairs is offset by the fact that George Flanagan is having his best season ever and without his exceptional record this team would be struggling even more.

The C team is also sitting mid table, but in Division Two. Their pool is a mixture of experience in Drew McLaren and George Anderson to whom have been added the more inexperienced Kevin Milne and Martin Rumsey.

Results are gradually improving and a top four final place is still very much on the cards.