Teenage star is set for national championships

Rowan Jones is training with his coach, Mel Buxton.

Bolsover District Young Sportsman of the Year Rowan Jones is to represent Derbyshire in the Butterfly English Schools Table Tennis Association Individual Championships for the second successive year next month.

Jones trains at the Colin Deaton Table Tennis Academy in Staveley, where Pitchford learnt his craft.

The 14-year-old is coached by Pitchford’s first coach, Mel Buxton.

Jones became the Derbyshire Under-15 champion in February for the second successive year.

Earlier this month he won the Blitz 2* Cadet Under-15 competition in Gainsborough, beating some of the top seeds.

Jones has rocketed up the English National Under-15 Cadet rankings from 1,028th to 49th in the last 12 months — and may be in the top 30 after his recent competition win.

The Bolsover School student has his sights set on the Under-18 Junior National Championships next year, when he graduates from cadet to junior ranking.

The English schools championships will take place at Aldersley Leisure Village, Wolverhampton, on April 29th.