The prospect of a girls cadet (under 15 ) league was floated by table-tennis england early in the year. Our club decided to support it and we selected 11 girls to be members of a cadet girls training squad under the leadership of Monika Tomaszek and Susie Swan. At the beginning of May we entered two teams in the League, both sides being allotted places in Division 3 of 3 in Wellingborough for Day 1. As we were easily the youngest and least experienced players in the League this came as no surprise. Nevertheless our A team of Abbey Amos, Leanne Fernandes and Isabelle Sandu won two of their three matches, defeating our B team 3-2 and Draycott by the same score. Isabelle (2) and Leanne (1) secured the Draycott win.

The winners in our Division were a combined team from Highfield (Wellingborough) whose Bani Pal is ranked at 64 in the England under 13 ranking list and Corby’s Sophia Goodley (ranked 48). Although our A side lost 0-5 both Abbey and Leanne went to 4 with both girls. Our B team of Alice Eriksson, Elsa Green and Kyra Fernandes were very competitive too. They only just lost to our A team and denied them runners-up spot by taking two points off them. Against Corby/Highfield, Alice, who is 10, was unlucky to lose deuce in the 5th to Sophia. Days 2 and 3 take place in June.

We should like to give a special mention to the other girls in this training group who are showing lots of potential and I am sure will be highlighted in future posts They are Archie Bhol, Liv Cronin, Shatakshi Dutta, Julia Patarroyo and Betsy Peake.