The successful table tennis squads from The Harefield Academy proved their talent across the board in the recent individual and team sections of the English Schools' Championships. 

 

Six boys were entered into this prestigious contest in three different events, the Under 19, 16 and 13 age categories. Harefield showed their dominance by reaching the final in both the Under 13 and Under 16 boys.

 

An eventful day began with all four U13 boys, Michael Gillett, Alex Cleary, Joe Franklin and Andrew McCorkell, sailing through their groups. However, the championship belonged to Michael Gillett who defeated his Harefield counterpart, Alex Cleary 3-1.

 

In the Under 16 semi-finals, Mitchell Jones ranked 126 in England Cadet defeated the much higher ranked and England’s number 32 cadet, Senyo Owusu, 3-1. Once again it was an all Harefield final with England’s number 11 cadet Tyrone Wells defeating Mitchell 3-0.

 

The Under 19 event saw a great display of talent from Rhys Thoroughgood losing to former National Champion Daniel Basterfield in the group stage. Adam Reed was also only beaten by Basterfield at the semi-finals stage, 3-1.

 

 

The Under 13 girls’ team, comprising of Kelsey Toner, Becky Woolterton, Aideen and Diane McHugh, recorded an impressive 8-0 victory against Costello Technology College and Hampstead Hall CLC. The Under 16 boys' team, Tyrone Wells, Baiden Thoroughgood, Danny Lewis and Mitchell Jones, also recorded an 8-0 win against Stanley Park High School, Dr. Challoner’s Grammer School and Penryn College.

 

The Under 16 boys will be hoping to retain the English Schools' title they won last year, whilst the Under 13 girls look to join the party as both teams will now compete at the finals in Leicestershire on Saturday 19th March.