This years Stiga Junior Inter Provincial Championships took place in the IWA Sports Hall, Clontarf, Dublin. With all four Provinces competing it turned out to be the most evenly balanced Championships for many years.

Each province competed in three age groups at under 17, 14 and 12 for boys and girls. The Ulster squad had 18 players with three in each team.

Altogether nine players selected were from the local clubs in the west of the province.

Under 12 Girls Ashley Givan

Under 12 Boys Neil Irwin and Michael Jones

Under 14 girls Kerry Jones and Ruth Trimble

Under 14 boys Ashley Robinson and Stephen Slater

Under 17 girls Judith Atwell and Rebecca Irwin

Two local coaches were team captains Mark Givan under 14 girls and William Trimble under 14 boys.

After eight hours of table tennis Ashley Givan under 12 girls and Ashley Robinson under 14 boys had won all of their nine matches each and helped to secure gold for their teams.

Michael Jones also secured a crucial victory for the under 12 boys team after recovering from two games down and 7/9 down in the third game. The other players also helped their teams to silver with excellent personal performances. Ulster, Leinster and Munster had won two gold medals each. Ulster won the overall Shield by virtue of winning two gold and four silver medals. Leinster was second with a better match ratio from Munster, also on two gold, one silver and three bronze medals. The next major table tennis team event is at the UK School Games in Bath from 28th –31st August.

Ashley Robinson and Ashley Givan have been invited with the Ulster senior squad to compete in the Hereford Grand Prix next weekend.