Bath Street Marine Table Tennis Club
A Table Tennis England PremierClub
News Release - BSMTTC News 152
Dateline: 12 February 2023
Juniors make big impression!
Nine junior members of the club took part this weekend in the Merseyside Schools Table Tennis Association Individual Championships. The event, held on Saturday 11th Feb at Crosby High School, was open to all pupils of schools in the Merseyside area, and there was quite a large entry. Eight age banded events took place in the day, and juniors from the club, representing their individual schools, took part in 5 of them. There was some very good table tennis, and a great effort by all the club juniors. Players could participate in just 1 event, so most only chose the event appropriate to their age band.
U19 Boys & Girls
There were no members of the club in the U19 girls event. But Ivan Maksym, representing Chesterfield High School, took part in the U19 boys event. A low entry meant that Ivan went through to the final, where he found himself up against Rhys Davies - one of the top men's players in the Liverpool League . Ivan may have been outclassed in this one, but with a smile he says he enjoyed the experience of playing against a top quality player and hopes that he has learned from the experience. Nevertheless a runner-up medal for Ivan. For fun, and to give him some more games, Ivan was also allowed to play in the U16 Boys event, but wasn't allowed to go further than the group stage for that event!
U16 Boys & Girls
Both of these events had a very strong entry. The Girls event was played as a round robin involving 6 girls, two of them being junior members of the club, 14 year olds Erin Riley and Isobel Boyd. Each representing different schools. There was some excellent table tennis from all of the girls. In the final round of games Izzy faced her close rival Isabella Hamer for the top spot. On this occasion it was her slightly older rival who just got the edge and took top spot, but Izzy was a very worthy runner-up! Interestingly the two girls met again the next day in the Southport League Closed Championships. Where Izzy took her revenge in a pulsating full on final.
In the Boys U16 event, club members Seb Rice (Wirral Grammar School) and Scott French (Chesterfield High School) were among the large number of entrants. As you might expect from this age group there were some very strong players. And once again some high class table tennis. Scott did exceptionally well to qualify out of his group, but then narrowly lost out in the semi-final. The event being eventually won by Louis Cheung-Turner a young England player who has from time to time trained at Marine.
Above: Isobel Boyd and Scott French who both played in the respective U16 events.
And below, Jakub Glowacki who played in the U13 Boys.
U13 Boys & Girls
Two junior members of the club, Myles Ambrose & Jakub Glowacki, took part in the U13 Boys event, and strangely found themselves as rivals, both in the same group! What's more it was the final encounter between them that would decide who would go forward for a place in the semi-finals. The encounter between them was an excellent match that went to and fro, finally being decided in the 5th end where Myles just got his nose in front. This was a first tournament for Myles and he did exceptionally well to qualify for the semi-finals. In a strong field though he could not quite make it all the way.
The club had no members in the U13 Girls event.
U11 Boys & Girls
There were very strong entries in these youngest age category groups. The club having an interest in the U11 Boys with Ronan Tierney and Oliver Glowacki. But no entries in the Girls event. Both boys put in exceptionally good performances. Oliver was unlucky not to gain a place in the final, but showed real fighting spirit in all of his matches. Ronan by contrast fought his way into the final, and what's more came away with the trophy! An excellent win, and he will now go forward to play in the National Schools Individual Championships. Well done Ronan.
Overall a really good day of table tennis for all the juniuors who took part.
