The WOKSSA Racquets Festival organised by Tunbridge Wells School Sports Partnership was held at Angley School - A Sports College on Thursday 15th November. Sixteen teams representing fourteen local primary schools took part in the event, which aims to provide primary aged pupils with the opportunity to play table tennis and badminton.

Teams from High Halden, Tenterden, Benenden, Frittenden, Cranbrook, Rolvenden, Sandhurst, Goudhurst, St. Michaels, Colliers Green, John Mayne, Marden, Woodchurch and Wittersham represented the primary schools of WOKSSA. They took part in a variety of activities during the workshop, highlighting the development of skills and tactics in each of the disciplines. The year fives and sixes took part in both sports, having time to discover the needed skills in table tennis and badminton.

Each session was run by qualified coaches from local community clubs and members of staff from the Tunbridge Wells School Sports Partnership. Congratulations to all of those who took part – the level of skill and commitment on display was fantastic!

The table tennis stations had an element of competition, using the Butterfly skills programme. Each school team had a set amount of time to do all eight activities, scoring points for each task completed. Tasks included balancing, striking and bouncing the ball.

Final Standings

Scool Final Score     St. Michaels (A) 1051     Woodchurch 1036     Marden 962     Cranbrook 940     John Mayne 918     Colliers Green 906     Benenden 900     Wittersham 886     Goudhurst 812     Tenterden (A) 810     High Halden 799     St. Michaels (B) 784     High Halden 62     Tenterden (B) 758     Sandhurst 731     Frittenden 719     Rolvenden 695

Special thanks go to Pat Davies (Junior Development Manager) and his assistant Brian Gasking who coached the badminton workshops and Mr Gray (National Development Manager, English Table Tennis Association Ltd), his son Lewis and daughter Daniella who led the table tennis workshops along with Andy Hodder (Competitions Manager from Hasting and Rother SSP). Without these wonderful volunteers such events would never take place.
Our thanks also go to the sports leaders of Angley School - A Sports College and Mr. Willmott and Miss Benbow (TWSSP), who worked extremely hard to ensure the festival ran smoothly and each of the players enjoyed themselves.

If you are interested in playing recreational or competitive sports relating to this festival please contact;

TABLE TENNIS
Diccon Gray – (National Development Manager)
English Table Tennis Association Ltd

Tel: 01424 722525
Email: diccon.gray@etta.co.uk
Website: www.etta.co.uk

BADMINTON
Pat Davies – (Junior Development Manager)
Tunbridge Wells Badminton League

Tel: 01732 833092
Email: gran@pandadavies.fsnet.co.uk
Website: www.badmintonengland.co.uk

Phil Gower
Tunbridge Wells Schools Sports Partnership
Competitions Manager
Tel: 01580 720840