Table tennis teen to represent Scotland

A Dumfries teenager has been chosen to represent Scotland at the table tennis European Youth Championships in Sweden in July.

Shannon Brown will travel to Malmo alongside team mates Megan Mulhern and Amelia Smolarek from Drumchapel TTC.

The eighteen-year-old is an accomplished player, with a good track record of representing Scotland, Scottish schools and Dumfries Table Tennis Club. She took up table tennis at the age of eight, following in the footsteps of her mother Norma, who represented Scottish Schools at the British Home Internationals several times. Norma is also a stalwart member of the Dumfries club.

Shannon’s interest and commitment were evident from an early age. She represented Scotland at two British Primary Schools Championships and four British Senior Schools Championships. Also on her record are one Home Nations Championships and one European Youth Championships.

In 2022 she represented the prestigious Drumchapel TTC at the Junior British League, where her team finished second in division four, earning promotion to division three for the following season. Unfortunately her progress was impeded at that point when injury struck and she was forced to spend time on the side-lines.

Shannon then set to work with the club’s younger players, offering coaching and advice. At the same time she embarked on a programme of physio to aid her recovery. After a year or so she began a cautious return to the sport and is now fully fit. She hopes to be included in the Drumchapel team at the JBL again for the 2024/25 season.

Shannon is currently Scotland’s number two junior girls and the club’s undisputed top junior in both the mixed and the girls’ categories. Sadly she was unable to compete in the club championship’s open or ladies’ singles or the open doubles, owing to other commitments on the day. This season she added the title of division one’s leading individual to her record. Always busy, she combines all her table tennis practice and competitive activity with employment at Let’s Get Sporty and Active Schools, and also takes a weekly football class at New Abbey.

The club would like to thank junior sponsor, Fusion Renewables for their support.