As the popularity of the sport continues to grow in the territory, Table Tennis Yukon (TTY) is getting set to host the next test event for the 2007 Canada Winter Games.

The Western Canada Open will be hosted at the Canada Games Centre May 19-21, with competitors from B.C., Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan joining two teams from the Yukon. Some athletes from Alaska may also make the trip to Whitehorse.

Representing the Yukon on the men's side will be Kevin Murphy, Steve Fecteau, Ken Madsen, Malkolm Boothroyd and Ryan Bachli.

Edna Knight, Zara Bachli, Karlie Knight, Claire Abbott and Jada Powell will compete in women's action. Murphy and Edna will act as coaches for the team members.

Those teams were determined at the Yukon championships, which were held in Whitehorse this past weekend. About 25 people took part in the event, which organizers said is a great turnout.

The Whitehorse Table Tennis Club (WTTC) has experienced a growth spurt this year, thanks in part to a few clinics which were held, including one featuring Table Tennis Canada junior development coach Attila Csaba.

At the 2006 Arctic Winter Games in Kenai, Alaska, the Yukon table tennis team posted some impressive results, including a silver medal in junior female doubles, and bronze medals in the junior male and juvenile female categories.

Still, Murphy expects the competition for top spot in the team event will be 'almost a dead heat between B.C. and Alberta.

'Saskatchewan, at the last Westerns we went to, had the number one player in the tournament on their team, but after that, I think their depth dropped off a bit.'

Without seeing the names of who's coming from each province, Murphy said it's tough to know for sure who will finish first. At the last championships, he finished third in the open men's consolation round while Edna was third overall in the over-40 division.

'Most of what we were trying to achieve (at 2005 Westerns) was to expose our youngsters to tougher competition. In that respect, we did. They certainly got a chance to see what the game's all about and it's helped them develop.

'We're hoping the same thing happens now, that they will continue to develop and learn.'

While it's hard to say if the Yukon teams have any 'diamonds in the rough,' said Murphy, he feels that anyone of the local athletes are capable of playing above their normal capacity.

TTY will be holding a special Yukon only night on May 19, featuring singles action in male novice, female novice, under-17 boys and under-17 girls. Anyone can sign up to play singles, but the deadline for entries is Friday, May 5 at 4 p.m.

'There's a lot of people in this town that have played in the (WTTC) in the past, but for one reason another, don't have the chance to come out to the club events on a regular basis,' said Murphy.

Murphy would like to see at least 60 people entered in the Western Canada Open, though he understands the travel can be a bit too pricey for competitors from outside of the Yukon. He had an e-mail from one man in Vancouver who is driving up for the championships on his own, since he's not part of the official B.C. team.

The event will feature preliminary round-robins, followed by a single-knockout format in the playoffs, for singles.

All other events (doubles and team) will be single knockout, although a preliminary round-robin may be added upon discretion of the tournament and committee.

Women's and men's singles semifinals and finals will be the best four of seven games. All other events will be best three of five games.

The top two finishers of men's and women's singles will advance to the Canada Cup qualification tournament during the Canadian championships in July.

Cash prizes will be given for men's and women's singles, doubles and team action. Trophies or medals will be awarded to the winner and runner-up for all other events.

Doors open at 5 p.m. on May 19 for the Yukon only event while things will get underway at 8:30 a.m. Saturday with the opening ceremony. Action runs Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Here are the results from last weekend's Yukon championships:

Men's Open

1st Kevin Murphy, won best of five 3-1

2nd Steve Fecteau

3rd Ken Madsen and Dave

Stockdale

Women's Open

1st Edna Knight, won best of five

3-0

2nd Zara Bachli

3rd Debbie Abbott

Junior Boys

1st Malkolm Boothroyd

2nd Ryan Bachli

3rd Ben Barrett-Forrest and William Kennedy

Junior Girls

1st� Zara Bachli

2nd Claire Abbott

Rookie Boys

1st William Kennedy

2nd Alex Zheng

Adult Doubles

1st Kevin Murphy and Steve Fecteau

2nd Sandy Neuman and Dave Stockdale

Junior Doubles

1st Malkolm Boothroyd and Ben Barrett-Forrest

2nd Ryan Bachli and William Kennedy