Aquinas College student, Daniel Clarke, secures a table tennis silver medal in the British College Sports National Championships.

Representing, Aquinas College and the North West Region, Daniel Clarke had earlier in the season won the North West Regional qualifiers to earn his college a place at the National Championships. 

Daniel defeated six other regional champions to secure silver, losing out to the West Midlands' champion Mike Siket who took the gold.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daniel Clarke secured silver for Aquinas and the NW in the last 
match of the day, defeating one of the strongest players at the
finals, from the South East Region, who got the bronze

 

Daniel Clarke said: "It was great to represent Aquinas College and the North West at this amazing event; I'll remember it for the rest of my life. Congratulations to Mike, he tanked it out all day, winning all of his matches, including in three games straight against me. He fully deserved the gold. I hope to return next year and go one better for Aquinas." 

The British College Sports finals is one of the country's largest annual sports events, with 1,800 competitors competing in sixteen sports: Badminton, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Hockey, Netball, Rugby, Swimming, Squash, Table Tennis, Tennis, Trampolining and Volleyball, with multiple disciplines, mens and womens events.

Colleges enter competitors into each sport via a series of regional qualifiers, with the winners going on to represent their college and their region at the finals. Daniel Clarke was just one of several players from Aquinas College who made it through to finals: Dan Davies and Tom Belsham, partners in the mens doubles, finished sixth and there was also representation from Aquinas at the finals in the golf.

The 2015 finals took place at the University of Bath, for the third year in succession. The North West Region finished 5th overall with 4 Golds, 4 Silvers and 6 Bronzes. The full medals table and results are on the National Chamionpships website.

The three boys started playing table tennis aged eight during primary school, training and competing together. Dan Davies and Tom Belsham both compete in the Manchester League for Aquinas College and in the National Junior League NW. Daniel Clarke plays for Cheshire U18s in the Junior County League, Halton in the Mens British League and Warrington in the Junior British League.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daniel Clarke (centre), with his silver medal, with Aquinas
College's NW Regional doubles champions, Dan Davies
(left) and Tom Belsham (right)

Below: Tom Belsham and Dan Davies in action against Wales

Above: Daniel Clarke ahead of his silver-bronze decider with 
the South East Region

Below: the North West Regional table tennis team from Aquinas
College ahead of the BCS National Championships