Table Tennis - Jack Styring's the lad to shine

Sep 17 2008 by Bob Brown, Birmingham Mail

TABLE TENNIS

JACK Styring, who only took up the sport in February, showed just why he is already being talked about as a star of the future by finishing third in the Under-13 section of the Warwickshire trials.

The 12-year-old, from the Smiths Wood Bribar club, returned home from a holiday in Bulgaria at 7am and was playing in the event just two hours later.

“This showed tremendous commitment,” said Smiths Wood boss Simon Upson.

Mitchell Nash, also from the Smiths Wood club, was second in the Under-15 section and, along with Styring and Ian Anson (Baverstock), has progressed to the West Midland trials, which eventually lead to England ranking competitions.

Upson has entered eight teams for the 2008/9 Birmingham League, with three in the top flight, including the current champions led by Michael Browne and Scott Prime.

Perry Nash, 15, has rocketed from Division Five to Division One, teaming up with the experienced trio of Dave Smye, Roger Ellerington and Sarah Riach. Mitchell Nash and Tom Moy will have experienced Derek Broadbent alongside them in Division Four.

Arthur Sutton has returned after a long period out of the game, with the 76-year-old set to play alongside Styring and another 12-year-old in Bash Robinson in Division Five. Smiths Wood compete in Division Two North of the British League at the weekend, at the Draycot Centre, Derby.

Prime is absent through work commitments so Browne, Jack Williamson, Alan Caffery and Alasdhair Broadbent make up the squad.