The tournament itself proved successful with two days of action packed table tennis catering for a wide range of pan disabilities for those players in wheelchairs, learning disabilities, hearing and physical impairments.

This was my third pans disability tournament and it started with the ‘Doubles’ section and I was introduced to my partner Kristin Coombs, a person with restricted growth. Between us we opened our account with a convincing 3 – 0 win and this was my first match success in any tournament. Unfortunately in our next two round robin group matches proved less successful when we were on the receiving end of 3 – 0 defeats and were eliminated from the knock out stage. At least this gave me time to watch some of the other athletes in action during the morning session.

After lunch, the afternoon session was the ‘Singles’ categories round robin group matches. Through the nature of my disability, my body is never at rest where there is an inability to perform an isolated movement, any action and all or parts of the rest of the body kicks in, for example arm movement when speaking. This is athetoid cerebral palsy. In pans disability table tennis tournaments I am classified as a category 6 player.

The tournament organisers grouped categories 6 and 7 to make a larger pool. Category 7 is mainly arm impairment. This session proved extremely difficult where I lost all five matches quite convincingly 3 – 0, but at least I appreciated the standard and challenges that lies ahead that I must work towards to achieve any success.

Sunday morning was the ‘Open’ division and I had three round robin group matches and one of the opponents I competed against the day before. Another player in this group had won gold the previous day and I soon realised that I would have my work cut out. It was not until the end of this match when my opponent, Chris Cattell, commented that I played him last September in the Disability Sport Events (DSE) tournament in Grantham and was amazed with the progress I had made. This compliment made my morning. Unfortunately I still lost all my group matches 3 – 0.

Whilst the tournament standard was extremely high with the calibre of players at the event, many of the players would have graced the Stroud & District Table Tennis 1st and 2nd divisions with aplomb and therefore I didn’t disgrace myself.

Upon the conclusion of the tournament, 4 trophies were awarded for the juniors and seniors males and females player of the event. To my surprise and delight was chosen as the senior male recipient in receiving one of the trophies.