While the rest of the country enjoyed the Good Friday Bank Holiday, Bishop Auckland Table Tennis Club embarked on its second 24 hour ping-pongathon, teaming up with Pink Pong – a table tennis Cancer Charity – to raise money for Cancer Research UK.
Starting at 10am on Good Friday and running right though the day and night to 10am on Saturday, the event took place at the Tesco supermarket in St Helen Auckland. Club members took shifts to keep the table going but encouraged the general public to have a go, and had several very keen staff members from Tesco taking part.
Throughout the 24 hours over 60 people took part with Matt Porter and Carol Rodway from the club doing all 24 hours!
A spokesperson for the Club commented, “We would like to thank all of the members who took part and helped raise the funds, and to Tesco for the use of the shop, as well as Ingram’s Removals and Soapy Car in Bishop Auckland for help with transport.
“The current total stands at around £800 but it’s hoped to be a bit higher once all sponsorship money is collected.”
On another note, young members of Bishop Auckland Table Tennis Club represented Durham at the National Schools Individual Championships in April at Doncaster Dome. With over 300 players from 50 counties taking part, it was one of the largest one-day table tennis events in the country. The young players qualified in various age groups, with Luca Pontone in the under 11s, Carl Draper and Erin Harrison in the under 16s boys and girls respectively, and Zak Hutchinson in the under 19s.
“I’m very proud to be representing Durham, I’m following in my dad and granddad’s footsteps playing table tennis and I want to be beating them soon,” said Luca Pontone.
Head Coach Matt Porter said, “All the players have been working very hard in training and to qualify for the national finals is a great reward for their efforts.”
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
