AN up and coming table tennis player from Okehampton is hoping sponsors in West Devon will help her to play at national level, and hopefully on the international stage.

Naomi Jackson, 15, a member of Okehampton Table Tennis Club, has seen her dedication pay off. The talented player already has an impressive list of table tennis credits to her name:?Devon Schools U19s girls' singles champion; Devon women's and junior girls' doubles champion; Devon senior women's and junior girls' singles runner-up and Bribar East Midlands four star TTT banded junior girls' singles winner 2010.

She recently won the Bribar Bristol open grand prix women's band three event.

Naomi is ranked in the top 40 England juniors (U18s) and plays for Devon in the junior county championships as well as representing the South West region as a cadet (U15s) and playing for Devon County at senior level.

She is off to Hertfordshire for the English national junior championships on November 20.

In recognition of her achievements Naomi, was recently awarded the Frances Jarvis Award for 2009-1010 by the Devonshire County Table Tennis Association for her 'contribution to the sport, sportsmanship, effort and commitment'.

The Okehampton College student has now been selected to join the South West regional talent squad for table tennis, which is run in conjunction with Bath University.

She plays in division one of the Exeter and District Table Tennis League, after winning the division two title last season as part of the Okehampton A team.

She has received the backing of Okehampton and District Lions, who donated £350, but is looking for more to cope with the increasing expenses.

Naomi said: 'On the surface, table tennis seems like a fairly inexpensive sport. However, to play at the top level, bat maintenance on its own can costs more than £200 a year.

'Weekly training sessions at both Okehampton and Plymouth, regional squad training, Exeter and Okehampton district league matches, competition fees, equipment, accommodation and travelling expenses etc. cost a lot of money.

'This year I am also entering the British Women's League for the first time as part of a new South-West Girls' team. The first weekend of matches was in September in Barnsley. This competition alone is not cheap to enter and participate in.'

Naomi said that to compete at the highest level and gain further national ranking points she needed to compete in Grand Prix tournaments and junior events held around the country, with venues including Bristol, Cardiff, Liverpool, Doncaster, Shrewsbury, London and Newcastle.

'It costs about £60 to enter each event and taking into account travel and accommodation expenses I have worked out that in order to progress in the sport and reach the top I am going to need at least £4,000 to cover expenses for the next season alone.'

For more information Naomi Jackson can be contacted by email on [email protected]">[email protected] or on 01837 52260.