Reflecting the wonderful diversity that is the global city of London, London Progress has long been a magnet for those international adventurers wishing to live, work and play ping in Britain's capital city. What these players get when they arrive at Progress is immediate acceptance from our already cosmopolitan membership. Within hours of arriving at Southall Sports Centre they are made to feel part of the family, playing in local league matches or heading off for a Grand Prix tournament with the London Progress contingent and, doing what Progress love to do above all else, winning!!

First of this year's arrivals was Dhaivat Pandya from India. Dhaivat has made an immediate impact at the club both at local league level and on the Grand Prix circuit. Highlights of his London career include helping Progress reach the finals of the Wembley & Harrow Cup, where he saw off stiff opposition from Vagabond's, Lee Dredge and Gary Morgan and narrowly losing to Stephen Bailey in the Band 1 of the London Grand Prix. Dhaivat will be a definite starter for British League next season.

Second to arrive this year was Ugur Surucu from Turkey. Ugur had been in the club for no more than half an hour when he found himself in a match against experienced defender, John Taylor. No problems; three sets to nil to Ugur. In the London Grand Prix Open, Dov Katz was quickly disposed of in the group along with the two other hopefuls and it took  the lightning skill of England No 10, David Mead to stop Ugur going any further. If Ugur is still around in September of this year look out for him in the British League. He will impress.

Third arrival  was the young 22 year old Colombian, Alexander Echavarria. Yet to make his local league debut for Progress he certainly made a powerful debut for his new club in the Mid Sussex Grand Prix this weekend. Not content to win the Band Two event and reach the semi final of the Band 1 on Saturday, Alex decided to knock out Stephen Bailey and Larestus Trampauskas out of the Open on the Sunday. It took the high flying Jing Wei Zhao to stop him reaching the semi-finals. 

While all this international action was unfolding, London Progress had important domestic junior business to deal with. The annual Wembley & Harrow League Junior Championships where taking place and London Progress duly made its mark with Yasir Mauthoor comfortably reaching the Junior Boys final to be played against William Maybanks on Thursday and Alex Fegredo reaching the Cadet Boys final but narrowly losing to Maybanks 3 sets to 1.

Alex Hedges took the Junior Girls title with fellow Progress star, Eman Hussain coming second.