The Bartica Community Centre was a veritable hive of table tennis activity when the Region 7 edition of the CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited-Guyana Table Tennis Association-Ministry of Education National Schools Teams and Singles Table Tennis Championships got underway on Monday 9th December 2024.
The championships, forming the catalyst for integrating the sport into the fabric of regional organizations and coordinating same with a view to building and developing capacity, are also aimed at incubating the development of talent in this particular sport regionally and nationally.
Moreover, being part of the Ministry of Education’s priority programmes, these championships offer athletes opportunities to become regional and national champions while inculcating in them skills learned that would last a lifetime, among other benefits.
Following on the heels of the successful Region 3 edition of the Championships, the event saw over thirty (30) student-athlete Table Tennis players from Bartica Secondary, Three Mile Secondary, St John the Baptist Primary, St Anthony’s Primary, Two Miles Primary and Potato Primary gracing the halls of the Bartica Community Centre auditorium to compete for regional and school honours.
A unique feature of the Region 7 edition was the mixture of winners in the various categories emerging from the seven (7) competing schools, and a younger nucleus of players who competed for regional success in the 13-years-and-under boys’ and girls’ singles, alongside the 15-years-and- under boys’ and girls’ singles.
ITTF-certified coaches Candacy McKenzie and Timothy Cornelius, President of the Bartica Steering Committee, provided great coordination to the championships. On hand also to lend support were the teachers who came to supervise and support the students, and Mrs. Celeste La Rose, Region Seven Education Officer, Department of Education, who also provided great support to make the championships a success.
Mr Ian Chung, Senior Officer, Community Investment, CNOOC, and Huang Zhao, Projects Manager at CNOOC, were on hand to declare open the championships and wish the student athletes well.
Mr Chung, in delivering brief remarks to the students, indicated that CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, as a key oil and gas industry player, was very happy to support and provide opportunities to develop the talents and capacities of young Guyanese, “testimony to our investment in this first of a kind national schools table tennis championships which is being played nationwide.”
He charged the student athletes to be disciplined in their thoughts and in their ways of life, to emulate good role models and be good role models, to study hard and work hard as the basis for being successful in life.
“It is great to see you are undertaking playing a sport. Play to the best of your abilities, and have fun. The capacity is within each one of you to be the best you can be. Play in the spirit of good sportsmanship, respect, and with determination in representing your school, continue to practise hard, and good luck to you all. You are all winners. CNOOC and our partners are happy to support you,” he offered.
The Region 7 Edition of the CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, Guyana Table Tennis Association, and Ministry of Education National Schools Table Tennis Championships is a ground-breaking initiative sponsored by energy oil and gas giant CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited.
Results of the Region 7 Edition of CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited Guyana Table Tennis Association and Ministry of Education Nationwide Schools Table Tennis Championships were as follows:
Girls 13 years-and-under:
Ulani Nurse of St Anthony’s Primary emerged as champion.
Victoria Innis of St Anthony’s Primary placed second. Cateleya Deeges of St John the Baptist Primary and Ariel James of St John the Baptist Primary were joint third-place winners.
Boys 13 years-and-under:
Samany Harrison of St John the Baptist Primary emerged winner. Zellon Williams of Two miles Primary placed second; and Tyries Sue-Kam-Ling of St John the Baptist Primary and Damali Skilkie of St Anthony’s Primary were joint third-place winners.
Girls 15 years-and-under:
Rossanna Patterson (L) of Bartica Secondary emerged winner over her Bartica teammate, and Samantha Garraway placed second in the round robin finals.
Boys 15 years-and-under:
Aiden Sheriff of Three Miles Secondary emerged champion.
Selwyn Johnson of Bartica Secondary emerged as runner-up, and Simon Fiedtkou of Bartica Secondary placed third.
