Sept 2014 Zurich International - The John Reynolds Trophy

Felix Buechi reports:

The Zuoz Fives Club in Zurich was founded more than 50 years ago by some alumni of the Zuoz boarding school in Switzerland. Originally one single Fives court was built near the city of Zurich to ensure that passionate players were able to keep playing the game after their graduation from Zuoz. In 2001, a second court was built to meet demand.

Ever since the club’s foundation, it has organised many games and tournaments. Some of these invite club members to compete against each other, others are for newcomers and family members, and yet others are competitions between students and alumni. However, there has never been an official international tournament in Zurich so the current keepers of fives, Renato Buechi and Kevin Michaelson, and the president, Felix Buechi, decided it was about time to change this. And when John Reynolds came up with the idea to visit our club in Zurich this autumn with a few fives players from England, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to finally set up this new tournament.

As every tournament needs a name it was up to the organizers to find an appropriate one for the new tournament in Zurich. Most fives tournaments are named after their creators, such as the Kinnaird Cup. However, the keepers and the president of the fives club in Zurich wanted to name their new tournament after someone who has inspired many fives players in Switzerland. That’s why we named it the John Reynolds Trophy.

John is not only blessed with extraordinary fives skills but he also has the gift to make the game more enjoyable for other players in the court. Even in a tournament, John’s focus isn’t limited to winning the game but he also communicates the philosophy of fair play through every aspect of his play. Furthermore, John happily helps players to improve their skills and enjoys discussing the significance of playing a game without a referee. We are happy that our new tournament is named after someone who strongly represents fives in the way we like it so much.

The first tournament was held on Saturday 13 September, 2014. Some 24 players took part, including 8 who learned their fives in the UK. (For the record, these were Old Carthusian and EFA vice-chairman Ronald Pattison, Old Stoic Will Skjott and Old Citizens David Cooper, John Gee-Grant, Alex Kasterine, Stephen Kelly, Jonny Powell and John Reynolds.) Zuozers and visitors were paired according to ability to create evenly matched pairs.

After an entire day of fives, fuelled by sausages grilled by Dieter Buechi, the final saw Marc Mettler and Ronald Pattison triumph against Kevin Michaelson and John Gee-Grant. We then enjoyed supper together, and drank some beer out of the new trophy.

After the successful first execution of the tournament, we would like to play for the John Reynolds Trophy once every year from now on. We hope that this tournament will help the Zuoz Fives Club Zurich to strengthen its relationship with players from England and other countries. We’re already looking forward to seeing some members of the EFA next year in Zurich!