August 7 - Scott and Clarie Robertson, the first couple of British disability table tennis, are appealing for sponsors to help them reach the London 2012 Paralympics.



Scott has represented Britain at the last three Paralympics - Sydney in 2000, Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008 - while Claire made her debut in the Games in the Chinese capital two years ago.

She used to be a promising cross-country until she suffered spinal injuries following a road traffic accident 20 years ago.

She took up table tennis and met Scott Robertson at a competition in Australia in 1993.

The couple from Saltney in North Wales currently have to find the majority of the costs themselves to compete.

A single bat can cost up to £150 ($239) and specialist sports wheelchairs can cost up to £3,000 ($4,787).

Claire, 34, said: "Scott has written to lots of companies, but a lot of them already sponsor football teams and things like that.

"It’s a shame, but table tennis often gets pushed to one side in favour of other sports like swimming and athletics which seem to get all the TV coverage.

"We would love to have some sponsorship.

"It would mean we were able to go to tournaments and have a better chance of qualifying."

The couple are due to represent Britain at the World Championships in Korea in October and are hoping to qualify for the Paralympics.

The couple were chosen by Royal Mail last month to promote its London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic stamps.

Claire said: “I would love to go to London.

"My family have never seen me play at a high level so it would be nice for them to be able to go.

"I’m playing well at the moment and Scott is playing really well.

"People always ask us are we going to win a medal, but when you start thinking about that it puts pressure on yourself, so I’m not going to say yes or no."

After London 2012 Claire is planning to hang up her bat.

"I would really like to have a family,” she said.

"I’m not getting any younger so I’d be quite willing to stay at home and look after the children while Scott carries on."

Anyone interested in helping the couple should contact Nick Wood-Dow on 0207 9397939 or [email protected].


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