West Lothian Table Tennis Club

West Lothian Secondary Schools Table Tennis 2007/8

Roll of Honour	Winner	Runner Up
Under 14	Robbie Fairlie (Whitburn)	Daniel MacKay (St Margarets)
Under 16	Luke Marris (St Margarets)
Over 16	Jonathan Maisey (West Calder)

The West Lothian Secondary Schools Table Tennis Championships were held recently at Bathgate High School when a separate competition was held for three separate age groups, which were Under 14, Under 16 and Over 16. As before, players were to be nominated from those competing to represent West Lothian at the National Schools Championships held at Perth Sports Centre on Sunday 13^th April.

As usual the final of the Under 14 event proved to be the highlight of the day when West Lothian’s only Scotland ranked player, Whitburn Academy’s Robbie Fairley, met Daniel MacKay of St Margarets in a re-run of last year’s final which ended with the same outcome. Robbie, currently ranked at number 9 in the Under 15 age group had a comfortable win over fellow Whitburn pupil Ryan Whyte in his semi final, as did Daniel, formerly Scotland ranked in the Under 13 age group, over Bathgate Academy’s Duncan Ewing. In the final Robbie won in straight sets but Daniel did not give in without a fight.

The Under 16 crown was successfully defended by Luke Marris and the Over 16 competition was won by Jonathan Maisey. Both of these players qualified for the National Schools Championships along with the top four from the under 14 event.

The local tournament was supervised by West Lothian Table Tennis Club and supported by the schools’ sports co-ordinators and West Lothian Council Sports division. Drew McLaren, chairman of West Lothian Table Tennis Club, was delighted with the turnout and the support given by the schools and, in particular, by Glenn Marsters, West Lothian School Sports Co-ordinator.

In Perth the West Lothian contingent found the standard a bit high and the competition a bit fierce. In total there were 137 competitors from every corner of Scotland and much of the tournament was played in groups to allow competitors as much play as possible during the day. Of the West Lothian contingent, only Robbie Fairlie qualified from his group but lost in the quarter final to Falkirk’s Blair Fowler in the fifth set, having won the first two sets. Daniel and Duncan both came third in their respective groups where they faced Christopher Wheeler (Falkirk), a losing semi finalist, and Ying Jin (Edinburgh), Scotland ranked number 5 in this age group, respectively. Unfortunately Luke and Jonathan both found the competition in their group too hot but like all the others will benefit from their exposure at this level.

The West Lothian representatives all enjoyed their experience, regardless of results. At present, table tennis is booming in Scotland and more and more Scots of all ages are figuring in the Great Britain ranking lists. Much of this success is due in no small part to targeted central funding in certain areas, none of which is located in West Lothian. Given this situation, there is not exactly a level playing field throughout the country but, regardless, there is still an exciting and progressive club in the county where every one is welcome.