On Saturday, 28th June 2025, 69 players from the North of England participated in a Cadet & Junior 2 Star Open. Hosted at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), which supports table tennis through dedicated scholarships, the event had an impressive entry of 45 players in the Cadet Singles, 24 in the Junior Singles, 51 from the North West and 11 girls.
The competition took place at UCLan’s Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre, following a banded group format. Most matches were played on two tables, with groups assembled based on the TTE rating list as of the 6th June closing date. This structure ensured that all participants enjoyed a wealth of games against similarly ranked peers.
The day witnessed numerous thrilling matches and performances. Medals were presented by Clare Briegal (Chair of Table Tennis England) and Peter Leahy (Chair of the NW Local Organising Group). Beyond the winner and runner-up awards, a special medal was granted in each group to players who demonstrated a high level of competitive play, positive mental attitude, or exemplary sportsmanship during their games.
Photos of all the awards and banded group sheets can be seen here.
Medallists
| Winner | Runner Up | Performance Award | |
| Cadet Boys Band 1 | Charlie Burnside (Du) | Ronan Tierney (La) | Oliver Glowacki (La) |
| Cadet Boys Band 2 | Will Anderton (Ch) | Darven Rawal (Wa) | Will Anderton (Ch) |
| Cadet Boys Band 3 | Ranveer Chohan (La) | Jack Walker (Cv) | Charlie Bowen (Y) |
| Cadet Boys Band 4 | Reece Hi (La) | Jackub Glowacki (La) | Harry Williams (La) |
| Cadet Boys Band 5 | Raphel Dix (La) | Karson Leung (La) | Nathan Wu (La) |
| Cadet Boys Band 6 | Ollie Yu (La) | Andrey Kim (Ch) | Benjamin Rowell (La) |
| Cadet Girls Band 1 | Aadhira Prakash (La) | Nyasha Roberts (La) | Nyasha Roberts (La) |
| Junior Boys Band 1 | Joseph Ilia (La) | Charlie Williams (La) | Liam Chau (La) |
| Junior Boys Band 2 | Sebastian Runcanu (Ys) | Nathan Collins (La) | Monty Super (La) |
| Junior Boys Band 3 | Charl Myburgh (Nd) | Lucas Xi (La) | Dylan Reid (La) |
| Junior Girls Band 1 | Brooke Morris (La) | Sophie Ackred (Cu) | Sophie Ackred (Cu) |
Congratulations are extended to all medallists, with gratitude to the committed team of table managers: Jim Bolton, Dan O’Connell, Bill Mackie, Jason Howarth and Aiden Ireland. Appreciation also goes to referees, Brian Jackson and Lyndsey Simpson, whose expertise ensured the smooth running of the event.
Special thanks go to Dan O’Connell, UCLan’s Performance Coach and Jimmy Kahn, UCLan Head of Sport and Wellbeing for supporting the competition. To Blackpool TTC for organising the event and Thornton’s Table Tennis for their generous sponsorship.
Looking ahead, UCLan is set to host a three-day Cadet & Junior Training Camp, welcoming aspiring players from across the country. Led by Dan O’Connell, former Welsh No.1 and Level 4 Coach, and a team of experienced coaches and players, the camp will take place at the Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre on 11th, 12th, and 13th August 2025. Offered at a subsidised rate of only £15 per day, this exciting opportunity promises skill development and competition training. Interested participants should contact Dan O’Connell at [email protected] before the registration deadline on Sunday, 3rd August 2025. Don’t miss out—we hope to see you there!
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