Our First Ever Visit to the Shetland Isles

May saw the Cooke & Deaton team, Alan, Nicola and Kelly, make a very special first trip all the way to the Shetland Islands! It’s safe to say this was one of the most unique and memorable trips we’ve ever had as a coaching team.

The weekend got straight underway on the Friday evening, hosting a coaching session with the younger junior players. The sessions were held at the impressive Clickimin Leisure Complex, which was a fantastic venue for the entire weekend.

Saturday was packed from start to finish, both morning and afternoon coaching sessions taking place in the main hall. The enthusiasm and energy from all the players across the weekend was brilliant to see.

On Saturday evening, we hosted a packed exhibition night with nearly 100 people filling the hall to watch. The evening was a brilliant mix of high-level table tennis and comedy, with Alan and Kelly showing off their skills using everything from a frying pan to a Viking axe! Connor also fully embraced the occasion by arriving dressed in full Viking wear.

Players and audience members were given the opportunity to challenge Alan and Kelly, which created a fantastic atmosphere full of laughter, entertainment and some excellent table tennis. It really was a brilliant evening!

Following the exhibition, the team were treated to a lovely meal overlooking the sea. Even during dinner, table tennis remained the topic of conversation as everyone kept up with the semi-finals of the World Team Table Tennis Championships — China v France — with matches being watched on phones around the table. It truly was a full weekend of table tennis!

We finished with one final session on Sunday before heading home after a brilliant few days away.

A huge amount of credit must go to Joan, Greg and Nicola L for organising and promoting the event so well. There was a fantastic buzz around the whole weekend, and it was great to see so much local support. Our own Nicola Deaton even took part in a local radio interview ahead of the event to help spread the word.

Beyond the table tennis itself, the hospitality shown throughout the trip was incredible. Joan, Greg and Nicola L were wonderful hosts and even took the team sightseeing, including visits to a beautiful beach and to see the famous Shetland ponies.

We’re also extremely grateful to Nicola’s dad, Kenneth, for allowing the team to stay with him during the weekend and for making us feel so welcome throughout our visit.

A huge thank you once again to everyone involved. We’re already hoping this won’t be our last trip north!