Crosby college and prep school compete in nationwide table tennis finals

This year for the first time ever, St Mary’s College and St Mary’s Preparatory School in Crosby have had three players from three different age groups represent the St Mary’s community in a nationwide table tennis competition.

The competition pathway for schools in England is organised by Table Tennis England as part of its wider competition structure. Under the title English Schools Table Tennis, there are two National Schools Competitions – one for teams and the other for individuals.

51 school’s counties, approximately 140 schools, affiliated with Table Tennis England hold qualifying events in their counties across England. The winners then represent their schools’ counties in the Butterfly National Schools Competitions.

Those competing from St Mary’s College are lower sixth student, Jack Savage, competing in the U19 boys’, and Isabella Hamer in Year 10, competing in the U16 girls’ category. 

From St Mary’s Preparatory School is Year 5 pupil, Nyasha Roberts, competing in the U11 Girls’ category.

All of them placed in the Merseyside competition and progressed through to represent the schools and Merseyside in the Individual National Finals held in Wolverhampton on 27 April this year. 

The national event had over 300 competitors in age groups ranging from under 11 to Under 19. 

Nyasha managed to reach the quarter finals in the U11’s, Isabella placed fifth in the U16 Girls and Jack placed fourth in the U19 Boys, with both of them encountering the number 1 seed in their respective groups.

This year’s success is the best St Mary’s has had yet following on from a previous successful period.

Last year’s Under 16 college boys’ team, consisting of students Jack , Louie , Luke G and Luke P, reached the national finals for the first time and placed fourth in the competition for the county.

St Mary’s staff are thrilled with the success of students in their skilled sport thanks to the specialist training they run at the prep with Lancashire coach Dave Graham.

Other county players have come from the college including Elliot Cooper and Daisy Boulton, and all of these children attended the prep, coached by Dave, and then progressed on to college.

The interest in the sport has skyrocketed at the prep, having regularly over 40 children attend lunchtime table tennis in addition to the squad’s weekly training sessions. 

The prep boys’ squad were Merseyside U11 boys champions and reached the semi-finals of the National competition this year. Diego in Year 5 was the runner-up in Merseyside U11 boys.