TABLE TENNIS: LYNSEY Pich is making the top table tennis players in England sit up and take notice with her exhilarating form.

The 16-year-old started the season in 97th place in the English National Junior (U18) rankings.

But she has charged determinedly up the list in a season of unprecedented personal success and is now 48th.

However, the pinnacle of achievement in Lynsey's career so far was reached on Monday with her England Schools selection for a home international tournament on July 3 at Lilleshall where she will compete in a singles event.

By earlier this season reaching the quarter-finals of the National Trials at the National Sports Centre, Crystal Palace, she had served notice of her intentions by beating some players of significantly higher reputation.

And through her performances, Lynsey was invited to the weekend's English Table Tennis Association Junior Masters in Slough.

This involved the top 16 players in the country on current form.

The Masters included eight players from the trials and the top eight Grand Prix points scorers.

This was Lynsey's first opportunity to mix it with the elite in the junior game.

The competition proved every bit as tough as expected and Lynsey struggled for her best form.

But she battled gamely and will have benefited from the experience.

Lynsey, from Widnes and a pupil at Sts Peter & Paul High School, plays for Runcorn Sports Club in the Halton League.

She is also a member of the Northwich-based North West Regional High Performance Squad where she is coached by former European senior champion John Hilton, assisted by Runcorn's own Paul Ingham.

Lynsey was selected on assessment by Steen Kyst-Hansen, ETTA performance director.

She also trains at Mid-Cheshire Table Tennis Centre in Northwich under former international Mike Johns and Ingham.

Ingham said: 'Lynsey has been doing a lot of very specific training over the last year or so.

'I have been working quite closely with her over the last few months and her form has made great strides.

'Lynsey is up there now with some of the top players in the country.

'She represented the region at the National Trials, which involved most of the top girls in the country, and got to the quarter-finals by beating players in the top 30.

'She won her group of seven qualifiers to enter the last 16. A great win took her into the quarter-finals where she was beaten by Lisa Radford, ranked 20, from Devon. Lisa went on to lose closely in the final to the England number five.

'Lynsey was then invited to the Junior Masters, which is the premier competition of the season, and for her to have qualified is a tremendous achievement.'

A few weeks ago, Lynsey represented Cheshire in the National Individual Schools Competition at Stoke.

She got to the last eight of the Under 16s competition and this has helped her to gain a first England cap.

Ingham added: 'I have seen what Lynsey has done in training and what she is capable of, but it is another thing making it in tournaments when you're under pressure. Over the last few months, she has gained the confidence to play the way she can.'

Lynsey has been awarded a grant through Halton Borough Council's excellence development scheme to help with her training costs.