Table tennis club set for relaunch at new venue in Inverness
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Highland Table Tennis Club will hold their first session since the pandemic began tonight – in a brand new venue.
Having previously been based in Merkinch, they have been able to come to an agreement to move to Inverness Leisure, which will allow them to have more members attending in a bigger space.
After 15 months away, members will be desperate to return to in-person sessions, and head coach Stephen Gertsen says it is an exciting time for the whole club.
“We can’t wait to get back,” Gertsen enthused.
“We’re really exciting about moving to Inverness Leisure, it’s a big move for us in terms of growing the club and trying to increase participation.
“We’ve got more potential there to get more people involved in the sport longer term.
“Being in Inverness Leisure puts us in the public eye a little bit more. We’re not hidden away, we’re in one of the biggest facilities in the Highlands.
“People will walk past and see the club, and hopefully we’ll run tournaments there in the future.
“We’ll have more junior sessions to link in to what High Life Highland offer as well, we’re going to try and get table tennis to be part of the summer programme.
“Hopefully that will filter into our club, so there are a lot of opportunities there, and hopefully we can make the most of it.”
Gertsen has heard stories of tables selling out over the last year as people try to find any way they can to stay active in a pandemic, but he says another club has helped with table time over the last year.
“As a club, we work very closely with Inverness Tennis and Squash Club,” he added.
“Friday nights with us will be the hub of table tennis in the area, but they basically have a table tennis room there now.
“People can go and play as much as they like, so Inverness Tennis and Squash have been absolutely amazing with us and there is huge potential in having a venue where you can go and play at any point.”
n For more information contact stephengertsen@hotmail.co.uk
