North Ayrshire Table Tennis Club in Saltcoats has been celebrating its success stories, despite the 2019-2020 season being cut short due to coronavirus.

Players have been competing at the top of their game in Scotland with eight players having represented Scotland or Team GB at international events.

NATCC also celebrated the best results it’s ever had at this year’s National Championships with players in at least the semi-finals of nearly every event. Club successes include Martin Johnson, 17, who won Junior Boys Singles, Men’s Doubles, and Junior Doubles and reached the semi-finals of Men’s Singles.

Holly McNamara was crowned U16 Girls Scottish Schools Winner, Colin Dalgleish was crowned Men’s British Champion and Men’s Scottish Champion and Chris Main was selected to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Championships in India.

Due to COVID-19, the club have had to postpone two of its major fundraising events – the North Ayrshire Open and the NATTC Golf Day.

But the players have been keeping fit during lockdown by going out jogs and following online fitness videos from their house.

Holly McNamara even took part in the Table Tennis Scotland online Q&A with Don and Jill Parker MBE.

Chris Main, NATTC Coach, said: “Throughout the UK and especially in Scotland, women’s table tennis isn’t as popular as the men’s side of the game. At NATTC, we have three girls that have represented Scotland in the past year – Holly McNamara, Jess Hogg and Naomi Provan.

“We hope to build on the girl’s game over the next couple of years and generate more interest in schools and our club.”

Club historian Graeme Stevenston has also been writing up the History of NATTC during lockdown as the club heads towards its 20th anniversary. The work will look at how the club went from a one table venue in a Scout hut to a popular weekly club with classes across North Ayrshire.

Members are encouraged to send in any results, newspaper cuttings and information from their time playing or training at the club.

Chris said: “During this season, we were very fortunate and thankful that we have support from our major partners and sponsors of the club.

“We send our thanks to Bribar Table Tennis, Freshii, North Ayrshire Ventures Trust, Joe Perry (Extra Access Scaffolding), Stanley Morrison Trust & Sporting Chance Foundation.”