Worthing Juniors celebrate promotion and strong start to British Clubs League season

Worthing Table Tennis Club's rising stars enjoyed a fantastic start to the 2026/27 Junior British Clubs League season, with all three teams recording victories and one securing promotion during the opening round of competition in Southampton on Saturday 17 October.

The opening weekend also marked another milestone in the club's continued growth, with Worthing more than doubling its representation in the competition, increasing from just one team last season to three teams this year.

The expansion reflects the success of Worthing TTC's growing junior coaching programme and its commitment to providing young players with opportunities to progress into competitive table tennis.

Competing against talented young players from clubs across the region, Worthing's teams demonstrated determination, teamwork and some excellent table tennis throughout a busy day of competition.

Worthing's A team made a strong start to their campaign, securing two victories from their three fixtures.

Despite suffering one defeat, the team produced some excellent performances against strong opposition, leaving them in an excellent position to challenge for promotion to Division 1 when the competition resumes.

With plenty still to play for, the team will be looking to build on their encouraging start in the next round.

Worthing B came agonisingly close to securing promotion after winning two of their three team matches.

Their only defeat came in an incredibly close 5–4 contest, with the team ultimately missing out on promotion by just a single point.

Despite the narrow disappointment, the team can take plenty of positives from their performances, having demonstrated that they are more than capable of competing at the top of their division.

There was also an outstanding individual performance from Zach Heaps, who finished the day with a perfect 100% winning record, remaining unbeaten throughout his matches.

It was a particularly successful day for Worthing C, who produced a superb unbeaten performance to secure promotion to Division 5.

The team won all three of their fixtures, demonstrating impressive consistency and determination to finish the opening round with a perfect team record.

Their promotion represents a fantastic achievement and an exciting step forward for the players as they continue their development in the competition.

Adding to the celebrations was Ashley Almeida, who also finished the day with a 100% individual winning record, remaining unbeaten throughout the competition.

The results represent another encouraging step forward for Worthing TTC, which has continued to expand its junior programme and create more opportunities for young players to experience competitive table tennis.

Worthing TTC Head Coach Matthew Porter said: "I'm delighted with how all three teams performed. To have every team winning matches, one securing promotion and another missing out by just a single point is a fantastic start to the season.

"For me, one of the biggest positives is seeing how much our junior programme has grown. Last season we had just one team competing in the British Clubs League, and this year we've increased that to three. That growth is something we're incredibly proud of and shows the progress we're making as a club.

"These competitions are about much more than just results. They're about giving young players opportunities to challenge themselves, gain experience and develop the confidence to compete at higher levels. Seeing that development translate into strong performances and promotion is incredibly rewarding."

The three Worthing teams will return to Southampton for the next round of competition looking to build on their excellent opening performances and continue their push for further promotions.

Worthing Table Tennis Club provides junior coaching, competitive opportunities and development pathways for players of all ages and abilities, from complete beginners through to regional and national competition.

For more information about the club and its junior programme, visit www.worthingttc.com.