N E W S

Catch up with all the latest news about the Club . . . .read on . . . . .

OTTC's close relationship with The Drumchapel Table Tennis Club brought an intensive training opportunity to the local clubs' senior members as preparations continue for the 2007 Island Games in Rhodes (30th June - 6th July).

Coach Terry McLernon Snr. brought along elite coach Ryan Jenkins and other top coaches from the Drumchapel Club (Terry McLernon Jnr., Andy McFadyen and Jason Godfrey) to give the local team a chance to learn from the best. The training got underway on Friday evening with a two hour session to help everyone get into their stride before the intensive 6 hour session on Saturday.

Ryan Jenkins is a former Commonwealth champion, British Champion and Welsh Champion. There's nothing quite like being put through your paces by one of the best in the country ! Saturdays session was very hard work but everyone got stuck in and gave their best in every practice routine, and coaching tips were being thrown at us thick and fast throughout the day.

The final session on Sunday was organised as a competition with the Orkney and Drumchapel players being split into two mixed teams with a series of singles and doubles matches played. Inevitably, the team which Ryan captained won through on the day although the score was a draw until the final match played between Ryan and Orkneys very own Xianmin Chang. We suspect Ryan was merely toying with Xianmin throughout the final game judging by some of the amazing shots he played !

OTTC would like to thank coach Terry McLernon Snr. and his assistants, and a special thanks to Ryan who had travelled all the way from his home in Wales just to share his knowledge with us.

Orkneys top player, Catherine Symons has been selected to Captain the Scotland Ladies Team in the Commonwealth Championship which is being held in Jaipur, India between the 30th of May and the 5th of June. This news comes at a great time for Catherine as she, along with other OTTC members, continue preparations for the Island Games in Rhodes in July.

The Commonwealth Championship will be the first time that Catherine has been given the role of Captain and is a landmark event in her advancing career. OTTC's coach, Terry McLernon Snr., has been a major influence on Catherine and everyone at the OTTC would like to thank Terry for his continued support and we all wish Catherine the very best of luck in India.