Kelly Sibley, the England No 1, has signed for Kingshurst Bribar and is expected to feature in the Birmingham Summer League for them, after returning from the World and Commonwealth Championships.
 

This is a massive signing for the top club in the city and their supremo Simon Upson is naturally delighted.  "Kelly practices at the club and needs to keep sharp during the close season, so we have signed her up," said Upson.  "She will need clearance from her sponsors first, but will be a fantastic addition to our pool of players."

 
The 18 year old from Leamington flies out to Zagreb this week with the World event starting at the weekend, followed by the Commonwealth competition in India.

 
Kingshurst meet arch rivals Curdworth next Thursday, with the renewal of hostilities between the two, spicing up the Birmingham competition.  Recent Curdworth signing Chris Burgess, who is at the Filton Academy in Bristol, where he combines academic qualifications with top class table tennis tuition, has fueled the rivalry between the clubs.  "Kelly Sibley and my-self are probably the only players coming through in the city at the moment," insisted Burgess.  "There is going to be a new academy in Middlesbrough next year and I don't see why Birmingham shouldn't have one as well."

Upson has produced a conveyor belt of talent coming through the Kingshurst club over the past 20 years and is not impressed with the Burgess comments.  "Scott Prime, Jack Williamson, Alan Caffery and Sarah Riach are the pick of the current crop of young players at the club, with literally dozens of players making their mark in the game over the years," stated Upson.  "I doubt whether Chris is studying geography at the academy as Kelly is from Leamington not Birmingham.

"He is obviously an improving young player however, as I notice from the latest England senior ranking list, that he has moved up from 399 to 396!!."