There were many winners at the weekend's first round of the National Cadet League held at the Sport England funded, Southall Sports Centre, but perhaps the biggest winner was the table tennis charity, TTK. A massive thirty teams assembled at Southall from across the capital ready to do battle and of those thirty teams, 17 were either directly or indirectly associated with TTK. All the TTK schools, Oaklands, Wembley High and West London Academy, performed extremely well at the tournament and all three schools are well placed to be among the medal winners at the end of the season. And it should not be forgotten that London Progress, with its huge contingent of 8 teams and currently leading in Division One, has also been a recipient of TTK grants at its London Academy base in Edgware. Four of the top six Progress cadets at the weekend were a direct product of the TTK funded coaching programmes at Edgware.

TTK have been able to creatively solicit funds from City Institutions and with these funds have established a network of full time coaches working in London's inner city schools. The results of this project have been impressive with many disaffected youngsters being drawn into the competitive world of table tennis and thereby finding a focus and purpose for their leisure time. Three years of patient work by TTK came to fruition at the weekend as dozens of young beneficiaries of the TTK scheme showed the world just how talented and committed they can be. And, of course, we should not forget the crucial role of the TTK coaches, Jason Sugrue, Gareth Herbert and Gideon Ashison.

A second winner at the weekend was the six way partnership between Sport England, the Southall College, Active Ealing, Positive Futures/Brentford FC, London Progress and the ETTA. After a long and traumatic five year gestation period, the Southall Sports Centre finally emerged as a winning entity with London Progress and Active Ealing creating a West London Table Tennis Centre as good as anything in the country. In accordance with the development plan, Southall has become a successful community base as well as a centre of table tennis excellence. It is worth noting that of the eight Progress teams, five of them were made up of local youngsters, (many of whom were recruited via the Brentford FC in the Community programme). London Progress is somewhat unique among table tennis clubs in encouraging complete beginners to train alongside accomplished internationals in the same hall at the same time.

The third and obvious winner at the weekend was table-tennis itself. Here was a wonderful showcase of table tennis where ninety youngsters from every national background and religion battled all day without friction or dispute. They umpired their own games and did so without complaint or assistance. For eight hours the Capital's cadets fought it out with a wonderful display of self discipline and skill. This was table tennis at its best- in Sport England's terms, 'A Sport for All'.

Many of the players will reassemble in two weeks time (Sat 29th October) for the first round of the National Junior League. Same time, same place same excitement. Full results of the NCL will follow shortly.

Jon Kaufman