Great many lessons garnered from competing in this years Queensland Junior Championships held at the Brisbane Table Tennis Centre.

Townsville sent two under 13 boys teams (Ashsmith and Lance; Micheal and Keanu), a whole under 18 girls team (Lilly and Rebekah) and two under 18 boys teams (Olav and Ryan; Anton and Billy). Coaches assisting Gary Walmsley were Jason Hockings, Walter Parkes and any players who were free of matches. Team Manager was Elle Morato.

For the first time this reporter (past junior player) can remember the Townsville junior team played together, ate dinner together, stayed in the same accommodation together and cheered each other through the competition. A big well deserved thank you to Elle Morato for pulling all the strings together to organise flights, accommodation, meals and transport between Brisbane table tennis centre and accommodation.

Coaching staff are very proud of all our players efforts, on table and their attitudes towards competing at representative level. Despite strong opponents from Brisbane and Gold Coast in the form of national juniour squad members Mateo Dvorani, Benjamin Gould (Brisbane A team) and Jake Duffy (Gold Coast), our own Olav and Ryan secured 4th place amongst nine under 18 boys teams. Lilly Bradshaw pushed, served and topspun Sophia Pan (Cairns) to her limits, falling narrowly 21-19 in the fifth set. The tense match drew a nice crowd too :).

Coaches are formulating exercises based on observations of the playing standard of all juniors who represented our club and others from around the state. Our spy has scoped out the ITTF junior circuit tournament in Tweed Heads; Gary is eagerly awaiting a report.

Best wishes to Olav, Rebekah and Ryan who played their last Qld Juniors. May your future contain happiness, table tennis or ideally some combination of both.

A huge thank you too parents, grandparents and supporters of attending players, your contribution to your progenies efforts is invaluable to the expansion of skill and mindset as table tennis players and young people.

Thanks to the committee for team shirts. They were really the best dressed and most easily spotted players in the venue.

Results
Silver medallists Rebekah Fliegner for the under 18 girls doubles with Leah Scott from Bundaberg.
Bronze medallists Ryan and Olav for the under 18 boys doubles and Billy and Briahna (Bundaberg) in the u18 mixed doubles.

For all of the results from all events hit this to go to Table Tennis Queensland’s, Qld Juniors results page.