Mason at the double

Mason McLarney was the star of the show as he scooped a double at the under 16 and under 18s Junior Table Tennis Championships at Centre 21.

The Ramsey player pushed Julyan Davey, the defending champion, into second place in the u’16 event, winning 11/4 in their fifth set.

Ronan McDonnell, who won the under 14 championship, came third just ahead of Will Bayley.

In the u’18 event, Mason won all seven of his matches in a round–robin competition involving eight competitors.

Scott Lewis was second, Davey third and McDonnell fourth.

Meanwhile, David Lovelady, who was a semi-finalist in the under 14 championship, has spent a week in Buzau in Romania for intensive coaching.

The ETTU (European Table Tennis Union) hosts the Eurokids event and 32 nations take part, each being invited to send their most promising under 12 boy and girl and a national coach to help with the training.

David was accompanied by John Magnall, who runs the Arbory Table Tennis Club, and for many years has been involved in training and developing the national squad at both senior and junior level.

The IOM Table Tennis Association funds 50 per cent of the costs of the trip with the balance having to be raised by the player(s) and the coach.

Unfortunately, the IOM was unable to fill the place available for an under 12 girl.