New Forest youngsters led the way at this year’s Hampshire Schools individual table tennis championships held at Waterside Table Tennis Club.

In the U11 girl’s competition Katie Holt, representing Brockenhurst Primary School, was undefeated and now goes on to represent the county in the national schools finals in Doncaster later this month.

The Waterside TTC, Southampton West and Bournemouth TTC starlet, has been playing for just two years and recently was ranked sixth nationally within her age group. At just nine years old she will probably be the youngest player at this years national championships.

In the Hants boy’s U11 competition New Milton Table Tennis Club’s Mathew Daish beat Jonathan McMullan from Whitely Junior School, Fareham, in a very close final of a high standard. Matthew won the first set 11-8, Jonathan won the next two sets 11-2 and 11-5, and then Matthew won the next set 11-9. With the match at two sets all it went into the deciding fifth set and with Jonathan 10- 6 up Matthew held his nerve to win six points in a row for a 12-10 victory. Matthew who was recently ranked 4th nationally within his age group will be joining Katie in Doncaster later this month.

There was a strong field of players in the U16 boys which was won by Josh Green representing Hounsdown School, who beat Jimmy Yeung of Priory School Portsmouth in a very exciting final which went to the fifth and final set. Yeung clawed his way back to win the fourth set 12-10, before Josh was the convincing winner with a final set 11-3 victory.