Link 2   Sam Mabey's achievements

Sam Mabey becomes England Under 11 Champion (Norwich 31 May)

Sam Mabey (Northamptonshire) won the National Under 11 Championship at Norwich on 31 May. Miles Chan (Northamptonshire) was Runner-Up. We congratulate both boys on their excellent performance which is a credit to them and the County.

SAM MABEY

Following on from his successful U/11 Singles title and a beaten semi-finalist in the U/12 Singles event at the Essex 1 Star Junior Open Tournament at Harlow recently, the Northamptonshire top Under 11 boy Sam Mabey received his second invitation to England's Youth Development U/12 Squad Training Camp. He attended the Lilleshall National Sports Centre on 1/2 March 2008 where he received top class training from the England coaches. Sam is very highly thought of by 5 times England Womens Singles Champion Nicola Perry from whom he receives training at the East Midlands High Performance Centre at Nottingham.

Sam also has one-to-one sessions each week with his personal coach Dave Welsman, who has been very influential in his rapid progress to date.

Competing at the Chandlers Farm Equipment 1 Star Cadet/Junior Tournament at Grantham on 23 February 10 year old Sam, now ranked England U/11 No 2 and U/13 No 8, was again successful in winning the U/11 Singles and and only lost narrowly in the semi-finals of the U/13 and U/15 events, each in the final leg.

Sam represented the County for the first time on 15 March when he plays for our County Cadet team in Derby.

Sam has been very successful in this year's County Closed winning the U/13 Singles, U15 Doubles with Miles Chan, and coming R/U in the U11 Singles to his doubles partner Miles Chan, and R/U in the U13 Doubles with Miles Chan. In the U15 Singles he just lost 11-8 in the fifth game after leading 2-1 to Jack Coleman five years his senior.

Sam has now received international recognition. He has been selected for the English Schools International U/11 team to compete in the Primary Competition at the Isle of Man on 4/5 April 2008. This accolade comes on top of his excellent performance in the Cadet/Junior Tournament at Grantham. He is currently sponsored by the table tennis specialists Thornton's sport.

At the English Schools National Individual Finals in Doncaster on 26 April Sam never lost a game on the way to the semi-finals where he then beat Michael Siket of Worcester (U12 Ranked 7). In the final he lost to Helshan Weerasinghe of Sussex (No 1 at U11 and U12) in the fifth game. This is an astonishing achievement in his first competitive tournament season.

At the National Regional Squad Finals in Doncaster on 27 April Sam Mabey and Miles Chan, the England U/11 No 2 and No 3 represented the East Midlands against the other Regional Squads in the National Squad Trophy. Both acquitted themselves brilliantly to help East Midlands win the trophy which they had lost by only one point in 2007. Mabey won all his games but one, losing to Helshan Weerasinghe of Sussex, the England No 1 at U11 and U12, to whom he had lost in the fifth game on the Saturday. Chan also won all his games with the exception of losing to Jack Bennettof Sussex the England No 7.

Northamptonshire stars Sam Mabey and Miles Chan, nationally ranked at No 2 and No 3 respectively, have been selected for the England U/11 team to compete in the Euro Mini Championship Tournament in Strasbourg in France from 29-31 August 08. This is a tremendous honour for these two players, as it is for the County, to have two talented young stars performing for their country at the same time for the first time in this county's history.

Ken Marchant (County Chairman)