Ben Mckay to represent Kent at Butterfly Schools’ Table Tennis National Finals
Following these championships, the English Schools’ Table Tennis Committee will select representative teams to play in the Invitation International.
Kent table tennis player Ben Mckay.
For publication in the Kent & Sussex Courier
Rising star Ben Mckay has qualified to represent Kent at the 47th Butterfly Schools’ Individual Table Tennis National Finals.
The 14-year-old who attends Tunbridge Wells Grammar School in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, will take on some of the best young players in the country at Aldersley Leisure Village in Wolverhampton on Saturday, April 2.
He earned a place at the event by battling through the county qualifying stages.
Mckay started playing table tennis aged ten at Amherst Primary School, where he won the school’s trophy which led to him joining Darenth Table Tennis Club under the guidance of Janet and David Field.
He now plays at Byne Hall led by Gary Howes, who also coached Paralympian gold medallist Will Bailey.
More than 350 players representing 50 counties will gather for the national finals, the biggest one-day table tennis competition in the country.
Several stars of the sport, including Rio Olympians Liam Pitchford, Paul Drinkall and Sam Walker and commonwealth medallists Tin Tin Ho and Maria Tsaptsinos, competed at this event during their school years.
Competitions are held at under-11, 13, 16, 19 levels for both boys and girls. All primary and secondary schools are eligible to enter players in the county rounds in order to qualify for the national finals.
Following these championships, the English Schools’ Table Tennis Committee will select representative teams to play in the Invitation International to be held in June, with teams from England, Guernsey, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Scotland, and Wales all competing.
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