Darlington's high flying juniors join senior club mates at next week's opening English Grand Prix tournament in Liverpool. Such is the improvement made by the club's juniors that their season plan now includes the top senior events as well as all of the major junior Open tournaments.

With a growing number surging up the national ranking list, the main aim is to compete in next summer's ITTF World Youth tournament, once again scheduled to take place in Hungary.

Twelve Darlington youngsters played in the event last year after a mammoth fundraising campaign. With the club again receiving the invitation to compete and the squad having grown, a committee made up from parents and club officials will face the task of raising the finance needed.

However, the thoughts of Hungary will take a back seat as the youngsters move into action at Liverpool. Precious computer ranking points are the target with 14 juniors travelling to Merseyside. The recent intensive week long training camp with England stars Alan Cooke, Nicola Deaton and ex-European champion John Hilton has prepared Darlington's talented youngsters.

David Meads begins as England's No 4 ranked U-12 with club mate Mark Simpson at No 7. Andrew Leighton and Claire Wilson ended last season as top 25 ranked U-14s and will now be aiming to club the U-17 list.

Stephanie Donnelly heads the club's U-14 girls challenge and is certain to rise rapidly from her opening national ranking of 32 while a change in style from attacker to defender should see a meteoric rise for Jonathan de Wind.

With many of the club's youngsters already having taken county and national honours, the new season is a debut one for a new batch of players from the club's coaching scheme. Sarah Robinson, 10, Michael James, Stuart Osborne, Adam Hassan, Rachel Greener, all 11, Samantha McCormick, Helen Dickinson, both 12, Simon Hahn and Ian Brunning, 13, will make their tournament debuts next month in Grimsby.

Darlington's senior coach Keith Wilson believes there is much more to come. "Our junior squad is growing all the time. There are many more reaching this standard and we will again be involved in community development projects which will add to the club's junior membership."

l Applications are invited from any players or clubs who would like to

play in the Darlington & District League. Closing date for entry is Monday with fixtures commencing in September. Contact Aidan Williamson on (01325) 240257.