Widnes teens bid to be ping pong champs
TWO talented teenagers from Widnes have been selected to be part of the North West table tennis squad at the 2017 School Games National Finals.
Robyn Cosgrove, 17, is a student at Wade Deacon High on Birchfield Road while 13-year-old Joe Davies attends Saints Peter And Paul Catholic College on Highfield Road.
They are both members of Halton Table Tennis Club and will compete at event which will take place at Loughborough University.
Around 1,600 athletes will compete across 12 sports at the School Games, seven of which include disability disciplines.
The event – from Thursday, August 31, to Sunday, September 3 – is supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust. ●
Robyn and Joe will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of some of Britain’s biggest sporting stars who have competed at the School Games before going on to senior international success.
Previous competitors include Paralympic champions Hannah Cockroft, Ellie Simmonds and Jonnie Peacock, Olympic champion Adam Peaty, heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson and sprinter Adam Gemill.
A university spokesman said the duo will experience the excitement of competing at the highest level and live in a dedicated athletes’ village on the Loughborough campus, take part in an opening ceremony and perform in front of huge crowds of spectators.
Youth Sport Trust chief executive officer Ali Oliver said: “The School Games National Finals provide a great opportunity for talented young athletes like Robyn and Joe.
“Competitors get a real taste of what it’s like to be part of a worldclass sporting event at the amazing sporting venues of Loughborough University, and the event is a great way to see our future sporting champions in action today.”
For tickets, visit www.ticketsource.co.uk/2017schoolgames