TABLE TENNIS: Orpington’s James Smith has been selected in the development group of Table Tennis England’s 28-strong youth squad.

The 13-year-old is in the 15-player development section of the squad, which was announced after skill and fitness assessments of all the players who applied to join the squad at an assessment day at the National Sports Centre in Lilleshall.

Smith will attend regular training camps and will work more closely with England coaches at his club.

Table Tennis England’s national talent development Coach Matt Stanforth said: “Only together can we be successful and we hope this program will allow us to successfully prepare players for future senior international success.”

GOLF: A pair of golfers have moved a step closer to winning a dream all-expenses paid ticket to Morocco, after winning the latest Morocco Golf 100 Series event at Shoreham GC.

Dartford’s John Phillips, 43, and Bexleyheath’s Steve Cragg, 55, headed the field at the event, one of a series of nationwide tournaments organised by the Moroccan National Tourism Office (MNTO) to celebrate 100 years of golf in the country.

Phillips, a 17-handicapper, narrowly won the event, with near rival Cragg close behind.

The duo will now move on to a national final, due to be held on October 15 at Oxfordshire Golf Club, where they will compete alongside other winners from similar events around the UK for the chance to win a luxury trip to Morocco.

Phillips said: “I’m very happy to have won through to the Grand Final of the Morocco 100 and I’m looking forward to heading to The Oxfordshire in October.”

FOOTBALL: A goal from Megan Crowson and an own goal ensured Gravesham Girls U10 shared the honours with Maidstone in a 2-2 draw .

The U11s suffered a  2-0 defeat in their away fixture at the same opponents, where players of the match were Keira-jo Carey and Trinity Deininger

Gravesham U12  continued their winning streak with a stunning 6-1away victory over Ridgewaye thanks to Brooke Hutson (4), Hannah Spooner and Becky Stephenson.

Holly Martin (2), Alicia Stanley and Jade Fawcett secured Gravesham Girls U15s a 4-0 victory at Parkwood Rangers.

Strikes from Roisin Fuller, Ami Burnham, Kimberley Baldock and Morgan Whyman were not enough to prevent the U16s being edged out 6-4 by Swale.

RUGBY: Old Colfeians put on a highly creditable performance before going down 29-14 to top-of-the-table Tunbridge Wells in London & SE Division Two.

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The Lee side’s scorers were Adam Hodgkiss with a try (pictured) and Dan Courtneidge with three penalties.

SWIMMING: A member of Orpington Ojays Swimming Club has been awarded the London Swimming disabled athlete of the year at a ceremony in London.

Billy Birchmore was nominated because of his phenomenal achievements as a swimmer in the S14 disability category this year.

He competed at the European Downs Syndrome Championships in May, breaking the European record for 50m backstroke and just outside the world record in 50m fly.

As a result of this success, Billy has been selected to join the GB team competing in the World Downs Syndrome championships in Mexico later this year.

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He is pictured receiving his award from Steve Baker, chairman of the London region ASA.

GOLF: A teenage member of Langley Park Golf Club is targeting success on an international stage next week when he heads to Quinta do Lago in Portugal to compete in the final of the junior golf championship.

George Mullins, 16, qualified top of the leader board after shooting a blistering seven-under round to win the SE boys’ championship in July.

Mullins also won the European schools’ individual championship this summer and will now line up against the cream of the UK’s top up-and coming golfers In Portugal for the chance to lift the junior championship between October 8 and October 10.

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