Oakbank Table Tennis Club have plenty of reasons to celebrate this Christmas.

Hans Soova, who founded the club 13 years ago, is in his 45th year as a coach and has helped 24 players to represent England in the sport.

Those players have collectively won 53 national championships during that time.

Soova said: “I still enjoy it and I wouldn’t continue to coach otherwise. I coach about six or seven times a week and I like to make a difference. I hope that the players get something out of it all.

“I was born in Estonia but came to England as a refugee in 1951. I’ve lived in Bradford since then and it’s been my home ever since.”

Mary Fuller is the latest Oakbank player to represent England, joining a lengthening list of club members to receive national recognition The 18-year-old follows in the footsteps of Heather Shutt, Nichola White, Steven Denny and Oye Jemiyo, all of whom are from the Bradford district.

Fuller, from Stanbury near Haworth, is currently ranked 15th in the senior women’s rankings and has been selected at three different age groups for her country.

Soova is proud of Fuller’s achievements so far in the sport, saying: “She is an example for every child to follow.

“Mary started playing at seven and played for England under-12s at 11 years old and went right through the age levels and all the way up to the senior team.

“She’s won four gold medals already and won the women’s doubles while she was still a junior.

“I’m really proud of her and all the others – especially Oye Jemiyo, who is one of the outstanding players that I have coached.

“He has been ill and undergone operations but he’s been so brave and courageous in the face of a lot of adversity.”

The Oakbank club are also celebrating the success of their sponsored walk, which helped to raise enough money to give their team five new shirts.