BURNHAM on Crouch's Rebecca Lowman claimed top honours at the Jack Petchey Schools’ Table Tennis Singles finals at Brunel University.

The talented 16-year-old won the girls' under-19 title after beating Barnet’s London Academy's Rhoda Boadu 11-9 12-10 7-11 11-9, in a spirited final.

Lowman has been playing table tennis for five years and wants to now progress into the top-ten of the under-21 category.

The Ormiston Rivers School pupil recently started working as a part-time waitress to save up to buy a table tennis robot and a table and says the new equipment has been a big help.

Lowman said: “It has really helped my game and spurred me on especially with the Olympics coming up.

"I would love to play in that one day and I love table tennis - it’s complex and challenging."

More than 90 players representing 41 schools from across London and Essex gathered for the prestigious competition.

Six events have already been held in Essex, North, East, South, West and Central London, resulting in nearly 500 players from 100 schools taking part in the championships’ qualifying stage.

Players and spectators at the finals were treated to an exciting exhibition match between England stars Tin-tin Ho, the leading junior player and Darius Knight.

As well as the London and Essex schools’ championships team and individual competitions, the Jack Petchey Table Tennis programme includes the donation of tables and equipment to secondary schools in London and Essex; four table tennis Academies in London and one in Essex, plus donation of tables and equipment to youth clubs in London.