Table tennis - Inverness quartet successfully retain Highland Table Tennis League championship as they see of teams from Dingwall, Elgin, Fort William, Nairn, Tain and Wick
INVERNESS A have successfully retained their Highland Table Tennis League title after winning the competition for the second year running.
The team claimed the championship in the final round of league matches which took place at Inverness Tennis and Squash Club on Sunday.
Inverness A claimed the league championship with 74 points, with Inverness B second on 56 and Fort William third on 55.
The winning team consisted of captain Mike Dow, along with Connor Cadden, Lukasz Chudek and Arthur Laws.
Despite Cadden being missing for the final round of matches due to competing at the Scottish School Championship in Bathgate, Inverness A still had enough to claim the overall title.
Dow said it was a terrific achievement by the entire team to claim the Highland Table Tennis League title for the second year in-a-row.
He said: “We did really well considering we had two septuagenarians in the team.
“But that was balanced by having a young lad like Connor who is only 15.
“It was a good effort from our team and it was a lot harder this year winning the title compared to last year. But we managed to hold on.
“We had clinched the title with one match to spare, but on the last day the top four teams had to play each other and could have gone any way.
“It was tough but very enjoyable.”
Teams from across the Highlands, including Dingwall, Elgin, Fort William, Nairn, Tain and Wick as well as Inverness, played matches which took place on three days during the course of the season.
Dow says table tennis is a growing sport in Inverness and there are plans to expand the competition for the 2025/26 season.
He said: “Table tennis was big during the 1970’s and 1980’s and then it collapsed completely. But over the last five years it is getting bigger.
“The league had been resurrected after an almost 40-year gap and goes from strength to strength.
“The enthusiasm for the game has seen a meteoric rise in recent years and it is fitting that the league competition should once again be part of the Inverness and area table tennis calendar.
“It is hoped to hold the first Inverness closed club championship in June once again after a decade’s long absence.”
He added: “Next season we are talking about expanding the division and creating two divisions.
“Instead of a 10-team league, we will have two divisions of six. That will help develop the game by introducing promotion and relegation. It gives more teams something to play for. The first two years was about consolidating that Highland League, now we are looking to grow it. We have interest from Aviemore about introducing a team.
“We have a youth development squad run by Stephen Gertsen and there is great interest in Inverness and we regularly have 25 players turning up at Inverness Tennis Club on Friday night. So it is great to see.”
Meanwhile, Connor Cadden (15) from Inverness and Alexander Stepney (13) from Moray have been selected to compete for Scotland at the Home International Championships in June.
The duo were selected after finishing in the top four or their age groups at the Scottish Senior School Championships at Bathgate.
Both teenagers were called up to the Scotland squad to play against Northern Ireland in January.
Stepney competed for Scotland at the Home Internationals last year.
Dow said for both players, who are members of Inverness Table Tennis Club, it is a massive achievement.
He said: “Compared to much bigger clubs such as Drumchapel, Murrayfield, Aberdeen and North Ayrshire it is a huge step forward for the Highland club and the boys themselves.
“Their success is due in no small part to their coaches in Inverness, Stephen Gersten and Rae Jack.”