County hosts cream of youth table tennis

Feb 26 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

THE top youth table tennis stars from across the country were in West Lothian last week for the Scottish Schools Qualifiers.

Bathgate Academy opened its doors and welcomed the top prospects to the event which decides who goes forward to the National Championships, to be held later in the year at the Bell's Centre in Perth.

The tournament also decides who will represent West Lothian in three age categories from under-14s up to under-18s.

The hopefuls first played in groups followed by semi-finals and finals.

Each age group produced superb matches with Kieran Boyle from St Kentigern’s Academy overcoming James Marris of St Margaret’s Academy by 11-7,11-8 to march into the final.

Darren Farquhar, again of St Kent's, put Ryan Gray of Whitburn Academy to the sword in the other semi, 11-6,11-4.

This set-up a wonderful final, between Kieran and Darren with both showing all their skills in an enthralling encounter.

In the end it was Kieran who emerged victorious, winning in two straight sets by 11-8, 11-7.

It should also be noted that young Kieran is already ranked inside the top 15 in Scotland but Darren is fast catching up.

Next up was the under-16 event, which was also closely contested.

In the first semi there was a repeat of last year’s meeting between the ever-improving Ryan White from Whitburn and the Scotland-ranked Robbie Fairley, also of Whitburn.

The score of 11-8, 11,4 in favour of Robbie did not reflect the whole story, as Ryan wrongly decided that he could win by outhitting Robbie, which in fact caused his own demise.

In the second semi Daniel Mackay defeated Douglas Gunn Broxburn in straight sets 11-4, 11-6 in a rather one-sided match.

Douglas has bags of ability and if he gets some coaching he could become a force to be reckoned with.

In the final there was to be no repeat of last year’s five-setter between the two as Robbie was completely dominant winning in two straight sets 11-4, 11-6.

But the under-18 final was a tremendous struggle over five sets with Luke Marris of St Margaret's coming through against Jason Farquhar – 11-7, 11-7, 12-14, 7-11, 11-7.

Disappointingly there was only one female entry but Imogene Beck of Bathgate Academy did very well in the group stages of the under-16 event and qualified for the Perth finals.

Drew McLaren, chairman and coach of West Lothian Table Tennis helped to organise the event in conjunction with the active schools coordinators.

They expressed their thanks to coordinators Jamie Connelly and Glen Marsters, and to all the teachers who brought all the kids along to participate.