St Mary’s College Teams and Individuals through to National Table Tennis Finals

The victorious under 13 boys team pictured with Coach Dave Graham and St. Mary’s Table Tennis Co-ordinator, Helen Savage.

A Crosby school has reinforced its reputation as one of the country’s leading hotbeds of table tennis talent after students reached the finals of a prestigious national competition.

Two teams of talented players and three individuals from St. Mary’s College are set to take part in the National Butterfly Schools Championship in Wolverhampton at the end of April, one of the biggest events in the table tennis calendar.

Pupils beat off the challenge of schools across the North West at the recent regional final in Widnes to reach the last stage of the competition organised by Table Tennis England and sponsored by table manufacturer Butterfly.

Students through to the final include the girls under 19 team of Nyasha Roberts (Year 7) and Isabella Hamer (Lower Sixth) who, at the ages of just 12 and 16, were up against opponents much older than them. 

All smiles for Isabella Hamer (aged 16, left), Nyasha Roberts (aged 12, right) and their Coach Dave Graham as they celebrate the St. Mary’s under 19 girls team reaching the finals of the National Butterfly Schools Championship.

Remarkably Nyasha and Isabella, along with Priscilla Dix (Year 5 Preparatory), had also secured places in the national final of the individual competition the previous weekend, the first time ever that St. Mary’s pupils have reached both individual and team finals in the same year.

Meanwhile, the school’s boys under 13 team are also heading to Wolverhampton thanks to excellent performances against Altrincham Grammar, Manchester Grammar and Blue Coat School among others.

The team included Kaya Eryavuz (Year 8), twins Archie and William Green (Year 7), Thomas Locke (Year 7) and Deniz Berker (Year 6 Preparatory).

The only disappointment for St. Mary’s in the competition was that the regional finals clashed with a Preparatory School ski trip, preventing some key members of the under 11 teams taking part.

As a result, some younger players stepped into the breach. Although they failed to reach the finals, their determined and resilient performances indicated that the future of table tennis at St. Mary’s is in safe hands.

The school’s Table Tennis Co-ordinator, Helen Savage, said she was delighted with the results: “We have never had so many pupils in the national finals, spread throughout the year groups, so we’re really thrilled.”

“What they have achieved is a testament to their commitment to the sport, the fabulous support they have achieved from parents and the excellent coaching of Dave Graham who is also the Lancashire Coach.”

“The future of table tennis at St. Mary’s is certainly bright, and we will be looking to build on this success in the years ahead,” added Helen.