Chris Holmes is representing the Isle of Man in table tennis at the 2019 Island games that is taking place in Gibraltar between 6 - 12 July. Agenda caught up with Chris, a tax consultant at KPMG, who also sponsor the table tennis team. 

I started playing table tennis when I was about 8 years old on my Gran’s dining room table, so I was used to being regularly being beaten by a 75 year old woman with 2 fake hips. However, I overcame that embarrassment and, like a lot of people on the Island, I entered the Manx Youth Games to try a few different sports (and play against some people my own age) with table tennis the one that stuck. Having played in the Manx Youth Games I was really keen to continue playing so joined the local junior league on the Island and I have been playing fairly regularly ever since. 

This year me and Scott Lewis (who is also going to the Island Games) won the Isle of Man doubles championship. That was a gratifying moment for me as it showed the work Scott and I had been putting into practicing was paying off. 

The team gets together and practice once a week at the NSC and there are a couple of other sessions in Ramsey and Castletown during the week. I’m trying to attend as many of these as I can.  Also, I have recently put a table in my garage which has made everything a little bit easier, it has been nice to be able to go and practice for just an hour or even less without having to drive anywhere or book anywhere. I have also been going away to competitions in the UK. It has been really helpful to play different players and play people with different styles. 

We are all very excited to be going. I know in some sports the Isle of Man is the favourite to win a raft of medals and that can add some pressure, in table tennis we going to do the best we can, but I know other Islands have 24/7 practice facilities and we find it quite hard to complete with people who have the option to play all the time. So I don’t feel too much pressure and I’m just really looking forward to going. 

The one thing I am nervous about is playing in a school hall, in Gibraltar, in July. I’m slightly concerned I will melt. 

Just get involved! Table tennis is great sport, that is very friendly and anyone can play. It doesn’t matter how old you are or how good you are. If you are interested have a look at the Isle of Man Table Tennis website or Facebook page.