Schools’ table tennis has rarely been in better shape in Scotland. Rebecca Russell won her second Scottish senior title this year while still at school (Grangemouth High) and Corinna Whitaker (Dollar Academy) and Craig Howieson (James Gillespie’s High, Edinburgh) have both made their mark at senior level.
Rebecca’s first defeat after winning the senior title for a second time last month came within 24 hours, when she lost to Corinna in the Scottish junior final.
Craig won a silver medal at last month’s Junior Six Nations event in Coventry (losing 3-2 to England’s Bradley Evans in the final) and has already represented Scotland at senior level.
The latest crop of talent will attempt to make its mark at international level with a team of eight attending the British and Irish Primary Schools’
Championships in Cork.
Lesley Atkins (Wilton Primary, Hawick) has already shown her promise by winning the Under-14 girls’ title at the recent Scottish Schools’
Championships in Perth, ahead of older players. And Liam O’Shaughnessy (Castle Douglas High) reached the last four of the boys’ Under-14 event before losing to eventual winner Daniel Swiatek (Shawlands Academy).