JACK Hunter-Spivey has broken into the country's top 100 table tennis players at his age group.

The Halton ace's achievements are all the more remarkable given he has cerebral palsy and takes on able-bodied opponents from a wheelchair.

The 11-year-old has only been playing seriously for about nine months but already has ambitions to take part in the 2012 Paralympics in London.

Jack, a pupil of Sts Peter and Paul Catholic Sports College, was first introduced to table tennis while still at Ditton Primary School.

He attended an after-school club at Ditton Community Centre where his potential was quickly spotted.

He was pointed towards Halton Table Tennis Club, which he joined in February.

Jack lives in Widnes and trains once a week at Halton Stadium.

He has played for Halton in the National Cadet League and is 99th in the English Table Tennis Association's Under-12 boys' rankings.

Barnardo's were involved with taking Jack along to the club where he has been helped and supported by coaches and another wheelchair-using player Tony Edge.

Karen Tonge, chairman of Halton club and league, said: 'After playing for less than 12 months, Jack shows much promise.

'But he needs a sports wheelchair and table tennis equipment of a higher standard.'

Jack's mum Renee Hunter-Spivey said: 'He really loves the game and he has done really well.

'His current chair is very heavy and clumsy and difficult for Jack to manoeuvre.

'Now he is playing at a higher standard, he also needs a better bat and a table to practice on.'

The youngster has already tasted success in competitions.

He won the Under-16s table tennis event at a district Rotary Clubs Sport for the Disabled event at Sutton Leisure Centre in St Helens.

He was entered into the competition by Runcorn Rotary Club.

He was then selected to represent District 1280 in the 25th Rotary Disabled Sports finals at Coventry the weekend before last.

He reached the final, losing to a 16-year-old GB squad member.

As the event featured sports other than table tennis, Jack also had a try at weight lifting for the first time.

Weighing in at 69 kilos, he lifted 45 kilos to finish second.

His overall contributions helped 1280 District to win the competition, which this year boasted a record 300-plus entries and Jack received the trophy on their behalf.