We were delighted to welcome former Great Britain Olympian Andrea Holt and Stockport Table Tennis Academy Coach David Hulme to perform an exhibition table tennis match in the Arts Centre on Wednesday.

David and Andrea gave a thrilling demonstration a number of table tennis shots and match play in two sessions to Senior and Junior pupils. Many were surprised to see the speed, skill, power and movement required in what is often thought of as a very benign sport, and certainly learned the difference between table tennis and ping pong!

Andrea, who was on the Olympic team for Great Britain in the Barcelona and Atlanta Games, also gave a Q & A session in which she answered questions about table tennis, what it feels like to represent your country at the highest level and the level of commitment required to do so. After the exhibition matches, girls then had the chance to have a go at serving, spinning and slamming on the new table tennis tables in the Hub.

Suggested by the girls in School Council, the tables have been immediate hit with pupils and no doubt will now become even more popular after witnessing how exciting and competitive table tennis can be, but that it can also be a great sport to play for leisure too.

Head of PE Mrs Mhairi Ferrol said: “We hope the girls who do not already participate in an extracurricular sports club will get involved in this fast, exciting sport.”