On Saturday 18th January, the boys and girls table tennis teams travelled to Tower Hamlets in London for the zone finals of the competition. Having already been crowned Basingstoke and then Hampshire champions this was a chance for the team to compete against the best teams in the south east of the country. 

Both teams were placed in a group alongside three other schools from around the South East. The boys drew their first match 4-4 against St Andrew's Prep school from Eastbourne and then won their second match 5-3 against Southwater Junior school from West Sussex. This meant that in their final game a win would lead them to win the group, a draw would take them through in second and a defeat would put them out of the competition. After a great start the boys were 2-0 up but the children from Edge Grove school put up a strong fight and eventually won the match 5-3, putting them through to the semi-finals and the boys team out. 

In the girl's competition, St John's managed to win their first two matches against Edge Grove (5-3) and Southwater (6-2). Following a defeat to Earls Hall in the final group game they qualified for the semi-finals of the competition as group runners up. In the semi final they played the winners of the other group - Amherst of Kent. In a very closely contested match that swung one way and then the other Amherst eventually won 5 - 3 and progressed to the final. 

The standard of table tennis was incredibly high with many nationally ranked players competing for the various teams. Our children played incredibly well and with great sportsmanship and we are really proud of their achievements. Well done to everyone involved. Thank you also to Ben Cummings for helping to deliver countless extra practise sessions and all the children's parents for their support and arranging transport to the competitions.