TALENTED table tennis youngsters from Port Glasgow became British champions recently after beating off competition from across the UK to claim sporting success.

Members of the 2nd Port Glasgow Boys' Brigade took part in the organisation's national table tennis final last month as the tournament returned following a two-year Covid-enforced break.

The six-team event was held in the Cheshire town of Widnes, near Liverpool, on April 22 with the Port boys competing against fellow Scottish representatives 12th Inverness, as well as groups from Northern Ireland and England.

The local squad beat their 4th Newtownabbey and 26th Leeds counterparts to progress to the semis, where they overcame 133rd London to make the final showdown.

And it was a day to remember for the Inverclyde youngsters as they defeated the 1st Greenisland team from Northern Ireland to lift the trophy.

The A team, consisting of Joseph Adams, Jack Wilson, Darren Lowe and reserve player Ben Hammerman, had already been crowned district champions and Scottish champions in 2022/23 having lost only once during this session, to a team of senior players.

Meanwhile, the B team, made up of Jake Denyer, Sandy McQuilken and Ben Hammerman, were third in the district competition and reached the semi-finals of the Scottish Championship.

Coach Billy Hamill said: "This is an unprecedented performance in Boys' Brigade table tennis and follows three years of dedication by the boys to the Boys' Brigade and regular table tennis practice sessions."

The 2nd Port Glasgow Boys' Brigade meet regularly on Wednesday and Thursday nights and have table tennis coaching sessions on a Friday afternoon, all at New Parish Church in the Port.

For more information visit boys-brigade.org.uk.