Howard Table Tennis Centre hosts summer training camp
A former European champion has been passing on his expertise to some of Medway's finest table tennis players.
John Hilton, who in his heyday was ranked number five in the world and was England's joint number one, spent four days coaching at a summer training camp hosted by the Howard Table Tennis Centre.
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Youngsters from the Howard, Chatham, Meopham and Darenth Table Tennis Clubs spent two days being put through their paces, fine tuning their techniques and picking up tips from the 1980 European Champion. It was then the turn of Medway's adult players to spend two days at their summer training camp at the Howard Table Tennis Centre. |
Speaking during day one of the junior camp, John said: "When I first watched them play this morning I thought they were already at quite a high level, but as I started with the exercises I thought there was still a lot of work that could be done."
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Table tennis did not become an Olympic sport until 1988, eight years after John's European success. He did not get to compete at an Olympic Games himself but believes getting an early taste for tournaments is the key to developing potential Olympians of the future. John was full or praise for the Howard Table Tennis Centre and its manager, Steve Waud, for the role the centre is playing in fostering young talent. |
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He said: "Table tennis does not develop without someone developing it properly and committing himself to it like he has. "It's nice to come back here and see it again. The centre is absolutely flourishing." The Howard Table Tennis Centre is a purpose-built facility which, since opening two years ago, has become a thriving centre for community and competition use. |
The Howard Table Tennis Centre forms part of Medway's bid to be a host venue for pre-Games training camps for the London 2012 Games.
August 2007 news