This Is Jersey

By Andy Bradshaw

JERSEY’S young table tennis team compete in the World Championships in China next week with their chief aim to improve on their current World ranking of 111th.

The team of Craig Gascoyne (25), Chris Corfield (17), Luke Walker (15) and Josh Band (14) are all appearing in the Worlds for the first time and they are thoroughly looking forward to the experience ahead of them when they travel to Asia tomorrow.

Gascoyne, the sport’s development officer in Jersey and a former Scottish international, said: ‘Everyone is really excited.

The majority of a huge amount of hard preparation work is almost complete and we’re all looking forward to the championship.

‘We have been adjusting our body time clocks this week, on Monday we got up at 6 am and moving forward one hour every day we will be getting up tomorrow at 2 am.

‘It’s being done to help everyone fight off the effects of jet-lag.

It will be interesting to see how it works for us over the next few days and during the tournament.

Fourth

‘We will be playing in the Fourth Division of the championship so there is no chance of us playing against any of the top countries taking part.

‘I see no reason why we can’t improve on our ranking and we can only do that if we win games.

The juniors have come on a lot in recent months.

Yes, it will be a fantastic learning experience for them and me and I’m confident we can win games.

International delegate Geoff Reed will accompany the Jersey party to China along with Jersey Table Tennis Association president Chris Band and coach David Gascoyne (Craig’s father, who is paying his own way to the championships).

President Band said: ‘Our build up has been tremendous; I’ve been impressed with everyone and I’m really proud of the team and their efforts.

‘It’s our association’s 85th anniversary this year and we will be presenting a couple of gifts while we are away.

The Guangzhou organising committee will receive a wooden plaque of the Island of Jersey and we are hoping to meet World champions China and present them with a silver salver with a map of Jersey on it and the JTTA’s crest.’

Article posted on 21st February, 2008 - 12.00am