Bertie Kelly, a 13-year-old member of Portishead Table Tennis Club, has made history by becoming Somerset’s youngest ever senior men’s champion.

He took the title at Blackbrook Sports and Leisure Centre in Taunton, beating last year’s champion, Marcin Szram, 3-2 in the final.

At 13 years and 2 months, Bertie, who plays for Portishead Surfers in the Bristol League Premier Division, now holds a staggering FIVE Somerset county titles. 

He had already won the under-13, under-15 and junior doubles titles in July. In addition to the men’s senior championship, he partnered with his Portishead Surfers teammate, Dean Sully, to also win the senior doubles title in Taunton.

Sully added to the Portishead success by winning the Veterans’ title.

It’s been a remarkable few days for young Bertie. The previous weekend he won the under-14, under-15 and under-16 titles at a major ranking tournament in Milton Keynes, and a day later he repeated the feat in the under-15 tournament in Plymouth. His victories in Taunton meant he had scooped six different titles in nine days.

For further information, contact:

Stephen Knight

General Secretary, Portishead Table Tennis Club

01275 871925

steve@knighttrain.co.uk

Or:

Derek Connop

Club Development Officer

07779 118936 (m)

derek.connop@hotmail.co.uk