2024/25 Club Reports
Read on to find out the clubs' views on their 2024/25 seasons. Missing reports will hopefully be added shortly...
Aldenham
World Fives Day; Veterans Winners
The Aldenham Fives Club (The Heath) had another busy year with our ladder competition proving ever popular.
The ladder is played every six weeks and is particularly popular with four to five courts regularly filled. Each winner is awarded the Phil Marsh Trophy which they retain until the next ladder competition. These evenings are rounded off with a meal at the Akash Indian Restaurant which is always well attended by players and non-players alike!
The club play every Tuesday evening throughout the year (only Christmas and New Year preventing the full 52 sessions) and players from other clubs are very welcome to join us.
Phil Lyndon
Brigands
Bourne Trophy winner; EFA Trophy team; World Fives Day
The Brigands – a like-minded, inclusive group who meet on Wednesday evenings to compare notes on gloves, leave behind clothing for a week, swap photos of their knees and play Eton Fives.
A pre-season Guinness & golf meeting @ Bramley GC on the 3rd September was the perfect pre-cursor to a stellar Brigands Eton Fives season which kicked off properly the following week.
Alongside the more usual suspects, this season we were also glad to welcome Justin Adie (back from France), Paz Sarmah (en route to Bermuda) and Kristiana Smilovska (Bulgarian Ladies Champion) to our fold.
There was barely enough time to remember which glove goes on which hand before the first match of the season – a kind of hybrid OC/Brigands team v Charterhouse on September 19th. 24 players lit up the courts with Fives. Relatively easy victories for our 4th, 5th and 6th pairs against U15 opposition but a much tougher match for Hector Platt & Fin McLellan at 1st pair and Rod Smart & Justin Adie at 3rd pair whilst an injury and concession at 2nd pair from the school meant a successful evening all round celebrated in style at the Cyder House Inn. History repeated itself 3 weeks later as Brigands put out their own very strong 6 pair team with Alex Constantine and Oli O’Callaghan-Brown at 1st pair, Alex Knight and Matt Davis at 2nd pair and Stuart Clarke and J-B Garway-Templeman at 3rd pair. The school were only able to offer real resistance at 6th pair where that particular rubber was tied.
The second half of October was notable for Martin Powell’s victory in the inaugural Golden Crutches tournament. (Matt Davis is surely odds-on with PaddyPower to break something during the off season to be able to participate in the 2026 version.) The Brigands were well-represented at the EFA Centenary Dinner at Lord’s with no fewer than 18 of our number in attendance.
November saw the first ‘major’ – the Silver Salver – Grant Smith kept his hands on the trophy from the previous year but this time sharing it with Alex Constantine. Alex Constantine was back in action the following week at 1st pair with Matt Davis whilst Rod Smart and J-B Garway-Templeman played at 3rd pair and Martin Powell took the afternoon 2nd pair role (taking over from Charterhouse schoolboy, Bertie Marshall-Rice’s morning role) alongside Tom Leach in the EFA Trophy qualifiers at Eton. We suffered 2 6-0 defeats against eventual winners of the whole event, Oxford University, and eventual Runners-Up, North Oxford but fared better against Newbury (losing 4-2) and the Oxford University 2nd team where we tied 3-3.
The following week saw 4 Brigands return to Eton this time chaperoning 4 Charterhouse schoolboys in the Turnbull Trophy. Alex Knight and Matteo Gilardini did well to make it out of their group with 2 wins and just the 1 loss before coming up against some tough opposition as their reward. Tom Leach and Jan Michalski-Leach won 2 and lost 2 eventually ending up in a Plate where they narrowly defeated Shrewsbury in the semi-finals and Repton in the final. Matt Davis and Bertie Marshall-Rice also made it to a Plate Final and despite leading 7-2 were eventually undone by a strong Repton pair. J-B Garway-Templeman and Jules Formige forged a strong relationship which improved throughout the day and ended up bronze medallists in the Main Plate!
Matt Davis and Tom Leach were in action again the following weekend at the London Festival. Tom Leach was playing with schoolboy, Bertie Marshall-Rice, and they reached the Plate quarter-final at one point even on 7-7 before falling to an Ipswich pair they had beaten in the morning group stages. Matt Davis and partner Al Taylor went further to reach the final but were also eventually put to the sword by an Ipswich pair 12-9, 8-12, 12-7.
It was almost time for a festive break by this point but not before the traditional Brigands Xmas dinner at the White Horse at Hascombe and a Brigands v OC match (which Brigands won 2-1).
The 2025 calendar year started with a re-match (after the EFA Trophy defeat) against North Oxford at Eton. Alex Constantine and Tom Leach were overwhelmed at 1st pair but were compensated for by a win at 2nd pair for Matt Davis and Matt Beard. Ian Clarke and Martin Powell finished with an honourable draw at 4th pair so the match hung in the balance as we waited to see the outcome of J-B Garway-Templeman and Justin Adie’s efforts at 3rd pair… …which naturally also ended in a tie before a well-earned curry.
February brought another Brigands v Charterhouse 6-pair event with a complete re-hashing of the Brigands pairing ‘system’. It resulted in walkover wins for the Brigands at 4th and 5th pairs and a solitary win for the school at 6th pair. Justin Adie and Paz Sarmah at 1st pair were taken close (13-15) in the 2nd set but ultimately triumphed. Rod Smart and Alex Knight came through comfortably at 3rd pair whilst J-B Garway-Templeman and Nick Bourne required the latter’s spectacular reverse backhand to the back bricks to win at 2nd pair. One match against the school in February was simply not enough so another 3-pair event took place with Stuart and Ian Clarke this time drawing with the school 1st pair whilst Alex Burrows and Tom Leach narrowly won at 2nd pair and Alex Knight and Rod Smart closing down the school’s 3rd pair effectively.
The Kinnaird Cup saw Alex Knight and Tom Leach pairing up again whilst the ever-promiscuous Matt Davis was this time in action with Ed Habershon. Both pairs were swiftly despatched from the main event only to find themselves in the same subsidiary Plate where they were to meet in the final with Matt and Ed triumphing eventually 12-10.
An away match at St Barts, Newbury was next on the busy agenda. Matt Davis and Justin Adie narrowly lost at 1st pair 9-12, 14-15 whilst J-B Garway-Templeman and Martin Powell won fairly easily 12-5, 12-9 at 2nd pair resulting in another drawn match.
The season-ending Bourne Trophy almost required both Rachel Riley and Carol Vorderman to be called upon to work out the complex Maths. Unusually out of 16 players, only 2 came out with full points: Rod Smart and Stuart Clarke. When looking at ‘points against’, again Stu and Rod were unable to be separated. Eventually it went to the countback based on the final match with Rod being pronounced the winner for the 2025 edition!
Brigand Tom Leach was in action again (this time with son, Jan Michalski-Leach) at Eton in the Aberconway inter-generational tournament. After finishing top-equal in their group with Seb and John Cooley, they were eventually trounced 12-6, 12-2 by eventual runners-up, Pemberton & Son, in the semi-final.
The following week the EFA calendar had in store the twin delights of the Singles tournament and the Veterans tournament. Matt Davis managed to win the Plate C AND the Plate B in this inaugural Singles event. Meanwhile at Aldenham, Martin Powell (with partner Paul Kendall) was picking up bronze medal in the Over 60s. Further away from the prizes in the Open/Legends tournament, Alex Knight and Tom Leach were battling it out against fellow Brigands Oli O’Callaghan-Brown and Alex Constantine for the wooden spoon which went to Alex and Tom after surrendering a 10-6 lead to lose 14-15.
A final Fives ladder awaits as the final on-court event of the season to be followed by an eagerly anticipated season-closing dinner and surely a traditional golf finale before we are back again in September!
The Brigands play every Wednesday evening from September through to April at Charterhouse School and players in Surrey (and environs) of all abilities are welcome to join by contacting Club Secretary,
Tom Leach
Bunch of Fives
World Fives Day; The picture in question
The Bunch of Fives has had a busy and entertaining year but our ranks are currently perilously thin. Spirits are more than willing but the toll of joint replacements, grandchildren and house moves has made it harder to ensure a quartet for our weekly meets at 11am on Thursdays at Iffley Road.
Word of mouth has proved our most effective recruiter, much as we have enjoyed other plots and pranks , and we are becoming notorious for asking acquaintances old and new whether they would like to try - or in some cases rediscover - the noble game. This said, we have had some real highlights since our last report, including a terrific evening playing Oxford University EFC and a sterling fashion show on World Fives Day which raised £200 for EFA outreach.
Our ferns survive on the courts’ outer walls and we continue to explore the frontiers of Fives history, with Prof Peter Davidson convinced that he has found a pair of Fives gloves in the attached 18th century painting. The clue is in the obvious padding and the fact that the subject is a London merchant with his son, neither of them associated with gardening. The scene beyond the window is not of herbaceous borders but a field of cows.
In our excitement at this, we were about to put in a bid at Malham’s auctioneers who were selling the painting, to buy it and hang it in our clubhouse dining room. Cooler heads suggested that we should wait until we have a clubhouse or at least a dining room, and they prevailed. But the episode illustrates the enthusiasm which we are certain will carry us through to better-attended times
Martin Wainwright
Cambridge Chroniclers
World Fives Day
As the world of Eton Fives expands, there’s an exciting hub you might not be aware of: the Cambridge Chroniclers Club. Often shadowed by the well-established North Oxford, this vibrant town club is steadily growing in both enthusiasm and skill. The year has seen a dedicated group of players from all walks of life come together to challenge themselves and support the flourishing university club.
If you're in Cambridge or planning a visit, mark your calendar for Wednesday evenings. The club welcomes newcomers and guests alike, eager to share their passion and make the most of the remarkable indoor courts. It would indeed be a missed opportunity not to experience this hidden sporting haven!
The Cambridge Chroniclers Club is proud of its weekly gatherings, where diversity thrives and the university players are always welcome, especially during term breaks. It's no surprise that the presence of courts in the local sports centre is drawing in fresh talent and attention.
With a roster that includes Ipswich Graves Cup winners and league match pros, the club is poised to make its mark on the Eton Fives Association (EFA) scene. And if you're lucky, you might even catch the renowned Riki sharpening his skills on the court.
Despite a quieter year, the club has been actively nurturing its team, supporting university initiatives, and hosting occasional matches. With sights set on expanding its reach and influence, the Cambridge Chroniclers Club anticipates more collaborative events and increased visibility in the coming year.
Whether you're a seasoned player or just curious to see what Eton Fives is all about, the Cambridge club is a welcoming and dynamic environment ready to embrace new members and catapult itself into greater prominence.
Join us in fostering this unique sport and become part of a thrilling journey in Eton Fives.
Simon Cass
Cambridge University
Universities Champions; Mixed Unis squad; Varsity Match squads
No report received yet
Jesters
No report received yet
Lancing
OLs at the EFA Awards; World Fives Day at Lancing
The season kicked off with The EFA Centenary Dinner at Lords , where Richard Black deservedly received a Lifetime achievement award.
All of us who play for the OLs owe Richard an enormous debt of gratitude, for all his enthusiasm, hard work and perseverance to promote and encourage us to play, what Richard calls, “this lovely game”.
Aside from that the 2024/25 season was one of transition for the OLs and Fives at Lancing.
At Lancing Matt Davis has taken over the coaching role and regenerated the midweek Fives club. Fives remains a minority sport at Lancing and with now only two courts , it is proving difficult to get decent numbers of students playing. Matt’s devotion to the game is amazing and the miles he will travel for a game is incredible.
The informal OL Fives club has for many years been kept going by Richard Black and Nigel Cox. With Richard’s stepping down from most matters Fives, things are being organised by Matthew Beard, Ed Habershon, Ashley Lumbard and hopefully in the future Alex Abrahams.
Ed Habershon has taken on the job of being match manager for the Westway Summer Super leagues and at the time of writing the team has a 100% record!
On court Alex Abrahams and Ashley Lumbard continue to be our star players , with Alex rising up the rankings and Ashley being runner up again in the Ladies Championships.
The OL pool of players is a small one when compared to other clubs, but nevertheless you will find that OLs who play the game, play it in exactly the right way and in the right spirit, albeit their trophy cabinets are generally gathering dust.
Matthew Beard
Newbury
Newbury at the Mixed; World Fives Day
No report received yet
North Oxford
Boughton Bowl winners; Ladies Champions; World Fives Day at Summer Fields; North Oxford/Exeter University
EFA Tropy Finalists; Division 1 line-ups on and off court
The 2024/25 North Oxford season was as busy and diverse as ever, with Monday evening practices at Summer Fields continuing uninterrupted, and large numbers of people playing large numbers of fixtures and competitions on a wide range of courts.
We were as competitive as ever in the team competitions, reaching the finals of the Boughton Bowl, the Richard Black Cup and the EFA Trophy. We only managed to get our hands on the silverware in the first of these, the sextet of Karen Hird, Rachel Wood, Grace Day, Nick Shaw, Tom McCahon and Alex Abrahams winning the tournament for the second time and the first since 2021, while our second string of Emily Scoones, Sze-Lynn Yuen, Mandie Barnes, Andy Bishop, Stefan Nowinski and Archie Cameron-Blackie came close to making it an historic one-two.
The Black Cup was notable for reaching a remarkable eleventh straight final, although our chances of a fourth win a row were scuppered by an excellent Old Salopian team. The good news was that the North Oxford was bringing through some new talent of its own with Charlotte Barr, Darcy Clarke, Olivia Prankerd Smith and Rachel McCormack all making their NOEFC BLack Cup debuts.
The EFA Trophy campaign was a familiar story of fine performances and ultimately a near miss with a strong qualification day followed by a fine semi-final win over old foes the Old Salopians and then yet another final defeat to add to the collection at the hands of local rivals Oxford University. With Alex Abrahams (now ineligible) and Matt Asquith (in the US) having moved on from last year, this was another fine showing from the team, which consisted of Isaac Weaver, Fred Prickett, Karen Hird, Stephen Thatcher, Nathan Turnbull and Archie Cameron-Blackie with Archie's badly timed thumb injury perhaps the crucial blow before finals day as he had to be replaced by a combination of Pete Scholey and Gareth Hoskins.
The league season once again saw us with a team in all three divisions of the league and not a single penalty point conceded across the board - a mighty feat. Andy Bishop's Division 3 team and the ever-changing Division 2 line-up finished joint third and third respectively in their Divisions and fulfilled their brief of having lots of close, enjoyable matches and providing playing opportunities for lots of different players. 46 different players represented the club in the league, with each of the three teams driven by a core group of players and lots of others popping in for a game here and there. The Division 1 team had their best season ever, both in terms of points scored and finishing position, ending up in second place behind the defending champions the Old Westminsters. It was particularly pleasing to see the core group of the Division 1 team consisting mainly of a group of young players who have all now found their feet at this level and are all improving, with Noah Caplin, Alex Abrahams, Tom McCahon, Gwydion Wiseman and Isaac Weaver all outstanding during the course of the year. With support from other youngsters such as Beau Swallow, Ben Hart, Frank Lebon, Tancred Campbell and some bloke called Cooley alongside club stalwarts Graham Pulsford, Darshan Patel, Chris Austin and Stephen Thatcher, some notable results were achieved throughout the year both in particular pairs and as a team. Even the club captain managed a first pair win in his only Division 1 appearance, although he doesn't like to talk about it much.
Monday nights at Summer Fields have also continued to produce plenty of new faces with appearances throughout the year from newcomers Olivia Prankerd Smith, Tim Boyes-Watson, Simon Beattie, Nick Jamieson, Giles Atwell, Rachel McCormack, George Lythgoe and Julia Schaub alongside the familiar old ones of Andy Bishop, Gareth Hoskins, Stephen Thatcher, Stefan Nowinski, Ian Mitchell, Mandie Barnes and Robert Thorogood. We've also been delighted to have been joined on most Mondays by Andrew Rennie, who has provided a welcome injection of quality into our on court efforts. Plenty of others have made the odd appearance here and there and anyone in the Oxford area on a Monday evening is always welcome to come and join us on the courts at Summer Fields.
There has been individual success for our players away from the team environment too - Isaac Weaver and Fred Prickett made the final of the U25s, Fred & Tom Hoskins got to the semi-finals of the Universities tournament for Exeter, a competition which was won by Beau Swallow & Ben Hart. Karen & Charlotta retained the Ladies Championships, Seb won plenty as always, Gwydion won the U21s and the Aberconway, Gareth won the Graves Cup and Alex deservedly picked up a Player of the Year nomination.
The other great joy of being part of North Oxford is the opportunity to do a variety of things: the summer barbecue at Broughton Castle (thanks, Martin!), Paume Artignoscaise in Provence, Warminster Fives, Prior Park Fives and a Christmas sortie onto the Real Tennis courts at Radley.
Thank you to everyone involved for making it such a fun season to be a part of and let's do it all again next year!
Gareth Hoskins
Old Berkhamstedians
Aberconway finalists; U21 winners; Mixed Unis winners, Universities runners-up
Old Cantabs
Old Cantabs at the Mixed. The Black Cup and in Grillon
The Old Cantabs Eton Fives Club (OCEFC) continues to grow as a friendly and welcoming home for Cambridge fives alumni. Whether you’re a seasoned player or someone who picked up the sport at university and wants to keep it going, we’re always happy to hear from you!
Highlights of our season include our strong representation at the Richard Black Cup and the Mixed Tournament. We also currently have Team Cantabulous representing our club in the Westway Summer Superleague! It is always great to see Cantabs on court even when on a different team (hats off in particular to the other captains and the work they do for the sport!), and it's a testament to the important role our sister club CUEFC plays in widening access to the sport. As part of our club's commitment to this, this year we raised over £150 to support CUEFC with reducing club costs to help keep the sport open to all.
If you'd like to keep in touch with us, we’ve got a mailing list for updates on matches, tournaments, and social events. We’d love to add more players to it. Whether you're a recent graduate, a long-lost Cantab, or someone who just fancies getting back into fives, please do get in touch!
Jessye Tu
Old Cholmeleians
Cholms front and back; World Fives Day; Mixed runners-up
It has been a mixed bag for the OC Fives club as we come to the end of the 2024/25 Fives season. There has been a lot of opportunity for players to step up to play Division 1 fixtures this season and our Division 2 side has been consistent. We have seen players, such as Aroop and Abs Bhattacharya, Vatche Kassardijan, having good performances in major tournaments, notably Jonny Ho reaching the final of the London Tournament with Tom Dunbar in December and Emily Scoones reaching the final of the Ladies' and winning the Mixed Tournament with Hugo Young. Joel Robb has been a brilliant captain this year for the Oxford University Fives team which won the Varsity match and the EFA trophy. Other crucial players this season have been Jack Ledigo and Oli Hallam (who has been coming back from injury).
Emily Scoones
Old Citizens
Barber Cup team; Wood Plate; Festive Fives; Varsity Match contingent
With the Zuozers; Adams Cup; Dossi Dish winners
We held three well-attended tournaments for the club's silver, celebrated the Zuozers' centenary with a visit to Zuoz and contributed six players to Varsity match day.
Twenty of us competed in the Adams Cup – a trophy for Old Cits and guests presented 99 years ago with which we round off every season. This year we welcomed four guests from Switzerland, current CLS schoolboy Jamie Anderson and the school's magnificent master-in-charge, Rahim Dharamshi. Edwin Gosnell won for the second year in succession, beating Jivan Navani in the final - they were both partnered by Swiss guests.
Our season-opener, for the Wood Plate, back in September, saw Edwin and Mark George Jacobs win the silverware, donated by former Rugby Fives president Tom Wood, for which we have competed since the mid-1970s.
At Christmas our festive fives match between the oldies (who learned their fives on The Embankment) and youngies (introduced to our great game while pupils on Queen Victoria Street) ended in a rare win for the former.
We lost a thrilling five-pair edition of the Hawken Garrett Cup to the Zuozers when they came to London for the EFA's centenary - our guests staged a remarkable comeback to win 3-2.
We lost in the first round of the Barber Cup but fielded a first six (Sam Packer and Edwin Gosnell; Nicholas Choustikov and John Gee-Grant; Saajan Shah and Jacob Mendel) dominated by players who learned their fives at the 'new' school on Queen Victoria Street, ie without courts on home turf – only Johngee learned his fives on the Victoria Embankment. As our opponents were the Barbarians this meant that 11 out of 12 of the participants attended schools without Eton fives courts.
Wonderfully, the OCEFC provided half a dozen players to Varsity match day, held at Eton. Oxford won the match itself, with post-grads Edwin Gosnell and Nicholas Choustikov at second and third pairs respectively.
And Gabriel Oldknow, a bizarrely trim and youthful Spencer Chapman, Indigo Luksch, and Will Krohn played for either the Oxford Peppers or Cambridge Penguins (as the universities' second strings are billed).
Three of those (Spencer, and Nick and Edwin) also formed the backbone of the Oxford University side which won the EFA Trophy at Eton.
Edwin Gosnell won the main plate competition (for the Dossi Dish) at the mixed tournament at Eton, with his partner and fellow Oxonian Freya Butler.
Finally, the club had very enjoyable outings to the Swiss Alps to mark Zuoz's 100 years, six of us went to to Geneva to play on the Zuozers' splendid blue courts there, a clutch of us played at Prior Park in Bath (to play on the magnificent and massive stone courts at Prior Park) and we also took a table at Lord’s for the centenary celebrations of the EFA.
John Reynolds
Old Etonians
Golden Crutches winner; Turnbull Trophy players and finalists; Richard Barber Cup team; Universities champions
The Old Etonian Fives Club (OEFC) has had a good 2024-2025 season, characterised by strong league performance, spirited tournament participation, and a commendable club atmosphere. Encouragingly, the club saw a broader range of members taking to the courts for league fixtures this season than last, and we hope that will continue following our 'pre-season sharpener' in Grillon in August.
League Standing and Tournaments:
The OEFC secured a very solid 2nd place in Division 2, a testament to both consistent turnout and the quality of its players. This marks an improvement on the previous season, with only one pair conceded. The club's guiding principle remains to provide a game for all who wish to play, with the glory of winning being a welcome, but secondary, pursuit.
The Graham Turnbull Trophy proved a lively affair, with an excellent showing of six OEFC pairs, one of which gallantly fought its way to the final. The event was well reported as "a fantastic day of quality fives" played in "a great spirit", and provided a splendid opportunity for current Etonians and Old Boys to get to know each other. A particular feather in the cap was Henry and Lochie Turcan's victory in Plate B.
In the Richard Barber Cup, despite a somewhat select field, the Etonians acquitted themselves well (ably assisted by the lusty blows of Eton coach Ryan Perrie), just missing out in a tense final game.
Sociable Gatherings and Club Spirit:
Beyond the competitive arena, the season was punctuated by several congenial events. The traditional friendly against the Jesters in January was, as ever, a fixture met with much enthusiasm, and a number of OEs also partook in the Jesters' festive Christmas match. The St Andrew's Day match also drew a good crowd, navigating the slight inconvenience of ongoing court renovations.
Another notable and splendid occasion was the EFA's Centenary dinner at Lord's, where a contingent of Old Etonians joined the celebration of the Association's hundredth anniversary in grand style in the Long Room.
The club's goals remain participating well in league fixtures and fostering connections with current Etonians, and we are looking forward to next season with excitement.
Rupert Swallow & Arthur Clover
Old Harrovians
Northern winners; U25 finalists; Universities runners-up
No report received yet
Old Ipswichians
Graves Cup players and finalists; U25 runners-up
A slightly backward step in the performance of the OI team in terms of league position compared to previous years, but much like the Ipswich football team we were close in many matches with fine margins and fitness often being the difference. The squad of players continues to expand across the generations, helped by the continued popularity of the game at the school, supported by weekly club nights. The team progressed to the second round of the Barber Cup, narrowly losing to the eventual champions 1-2.
Special mention to Isaac Wagland, Nadia Mason, Ed Haberson, Sam Christopher and Tim Gregory,whose regular participation ensured we could fulfil the majority of our league fixtures; hopefully Cam Lyle will be persuaded out of retirement for the 25/26 season.
Ipswich hosted the annual Graves Cup, the two-day competition and dinner were again very well attended by OIs, school pupils and distinguished guests. The pairing committee excelled themselves to produce a tournament of many close games, with no single obvious early favourite, the very popular winners this year were Noah Urmston & Gareth Hoskins, who beat Simon Cass & Tim Wyndham in the final.
Peter Forrest
Old Millhillians
U25 champions
After the OMEFC 50th anniversary celebrations in April last year, the 2024/5 season began with the 150th anniversary of the first Fives game played at MHS. This was celebrated at the school in September during the annual Summers Cup when combined schoolboy and alumni pairs compete against each other.
On court, the club had a better year in Division One than last year with improved availability leading to a solid mid-table finish. Division Two proved to be more of a challenge with players struggling with the irregular commitment of a limited fixture list. We hope for an improvement next year with the return of two players from university and two from abroad.
Charles Plummer continues to reinforce the connection between the club and the school with two new schoolboy players appearing on a number of occasions for the club this season. He also had another exceptional season on court, winning the U25s for the second year in a row and winning seven Division One games at first pair. He also reached the semi-finals of both the London and Kinnaird despite being partnered with Sunil Tailor and came third in the Player of the Year Awards.
Sunil Tailor & Chris Vincent
Old Olavians
Ladies Champions; Barber Cup winners; Northern winners; Richard Barber Cup team
A wonderful season with more alumni returning to represent the club and partake in the Saturday club mornings. The highlight of the season was undoubtedly the desperately close Barber Cup Final; won on the final point of the final set of the final match.. after almost 5 hours!! With it, the club became the most successful in history with a record 24 Barber Cup wins.
Olavians were present in good numbers in all the major tournaments and numbers continue to grow steadily.
Howard Wiseman
Old Salopians
Salopian winners - Northern Festival; Richard Barber Cup; Turnbull Trophy; Richard Black Cup
No report received yet
Old Westminsters
OW Autumn and Spring tournaments; Barber Cup team; EFA Player of the Year; London Champions
I am pleased to announce that the OWs Eton Fives Club has had another successful year. We won Division 1 for a second year running, and were runners-up in this season’s Alan Barber Cup, with the Final again closely fought against the Old Olavians, the titans of the game. We came out on the wrong side of the sudden death tiebreaker, but the hunger to reclaim this title will fuel our motivation to train and prepare even harder in the coming year. The fact that we as a team are no longer satisfied with second place is a testament to our players’ dedication and dramatic improvement in recent years.
There have been several fantastic performances at an individual level. Elana Osen has returned to the sport with style, winning her Quarter Final at the Ladies National Championships with a ruthless triple bagel (12-0, 12-0, 12-0) and taking a game off her opposition in the semi-final. Hugo Young won his sixth and final U25 National Championships, a new record for the competition, and went on to be voted Player of the Year at the annual Eton Fives Association Awards.
We have seen continued growth of the club this season, with weekly Tuesday/Wednesday sessions providing ample opportunity for OWs and current Westminster pupils of a range of standards to enjoy being on court. Thanks in part to this, but also to the work of Matt Wiseman and Andy Charles at the school, the Spring OW Cup had a record entry of pupils across the year groups, which was very encouraging for the future of the club.
Onwards and upwards!
Riki Houlden
Old Wulfrunians
Over 40s finalists; Over 60s finalists; World Fives Day; Universities Champions
Our regular Wednesday evening sessions in Wolverhampton have been well attended as ever this season with Andy Husslebee, Toby Grainger and Salopian Tony Walters very rarely missing a week plus regular attendance from Greg Hammond, Mark A Yates & Dave Jones.
Away from WGS, Rob Pye continues his regular activities at the Westway centre in London and Ben Hart is still playing the majority of his regular fives at Oxford University.
Ben has again been a one-man winning machine this season with trophies won in the Varsity match, the Universities title, the Universities Mixed title and EFA Trophy representing Oxford University.
Mark W Yates and Ellie Frith had another tournament outing this year, this time in the Mixed tournament at Eton College, getting to the Plate Semi-Final.
Sid Simmons & Chris Austin couldn't retain their Over 40s Veterans title this year, being beaten in the final.
However, congratulations to Andy Husselbee who was triumphant in the Over 60s Veterans Tournament overcoming fellow Wulfrunian Andy Stephenson in a very high quality final.
The EFA Trophy saw seven OWs (Andy H, Toby, Rob, Dave, Greg, Chris & Sid) competing as a team at Highgate School against various other club teams. As with last season, we were very close to qualifying for finals days with a top 2 finish in the round-robin league. Needing to win the last match, we unfortunately succumbed to a 2-1 loss meaning we again finished 3rd.
Sincere thanks must go to everyone involved with the playing team, support teams at WGS and the administrative side of the club for an extremely enjoyable season. We couldn't keep playing and enjoying it without every single one of you. Thank you all!
Sid Simmons
Oxford University
EFA Trophy winners; Dossi Dish finalists; Universities Champions; World Fives Day
Varsity Match teams; Universities Mixed finalists
The 24/25 season saw a combination of long-time Oxford team members and new faces competing across the year. The first tournament for the men’s side was the universities. Beau Swallow and Ben Hart took the tournament convincingly, and made a first win for Ben in the last year of his PHD. Beau also achieved the feat of defending his universities title with a new partner.
The main event of the year for the senior team was vying for the EFA trophy. We submitted two teams for the qualifiers, and despite some difficulties (Tommy taking a trip to Legoland) both sides put up a competitive showing. The Blues topped the group, and the Peppers finished in a very respectable mid-table. The final was played with a bolstered team, and for the first time in six years Oxford brought the trophy home.
This year also saw an expansion in the beginners’ section of the men’s team, as we finally tried to catch up to the women’s side of the club. Four completely new players shot for the stars, whilst one was already there. They competed in the first beginners’ varsity match (suggested to be called the Cox Cup) and were able to make a clean sweep.
The Blues and Peppers both completed clean sweeps themselves at the Varsity Match following the trend of the last few years. It was, however, the final match for a large contingent of the squad and so next year may be very different. The game was followed by the usual inter-club dinner and the dispatching of an envoy back to Cambridge.
To round out the season there were some Kinnaird entries. Joel and Jonah entered the main tournament and fell at the first round before being defeated again in the pepper pot by teammate Nic Choustikov. Ant and Cyril entered Kinnaird festival with high hopes but unfortunately fell short of expectations, losing in a valiant effort against u15s in their final match.
The women’s team had a similarly exciting year expanding their team to be over 50% new players! I’m really proud of all the girls and their hard work throughout the year. It has been a pleasure to get to see so much of everyone. Their fives-playing has come on in leaps and bounds thanks to their dedication and of course our wonderful coach Gareth.
The Varsity match against Cambridge on 1st March was the perfect demonstration of this, with 6 pairs arriving ready (with 7 beginners). After some exciting games, both the first and second teams won 2-1 against a very talented Cambridge side.
I’m excited to see this side and the women’s Oxford University Eton Fives side continue to grow in the years to come!
Joel Robb & Vita Love
Repton
Golden Crutches finalist; Mixed Plate winners
It’s been another steady and enjoyable year at Repton, with our Wednesday evening sessions continuing to provide regular play for club members and guests alike.
While we didn’t compete in formal fixtures this season, there’s been plenty of activity from Repton players across the broader Fives community.
Stuart Kirby made it to the final of the entertaining Golden Crutches tournament, while Karen Hird retained her title at the Ladies Championships.
Both Karen and Archie Cameron-Blackie also turned in some fine performances for North Oxford in League play.
Zoe and James Wheale also picked up a mighty plate B victory in the Mixed Tournament.
We’ve been particularly glad to see the continued crossover with members of Derby Moor Rugby Fives Club joining us on a regular basis. Their support has brought energy to our Wednesday sessions, and we’re especially grateful to Stuart Kirby for his ongoing input and advice throughout the year.
We have also enjoyed the attendance of Lewis Keates - a strong Rugby Fives player - who has become a familiar face on court, and we hope to see more like him enjoying Eton Fives (even if it never takes the place of his true love!).
Looking ahead, we hope to have access to the fabled Priory court during the summer holidays - a treat for those interested in a little Fives history or ticking off some less commonly played courts.
As ever, we extend our sincere thanks to Headmaster Mark Semmence for his ongoing support of the club and for helping to ensure Fives remains active at Repton.
We’re always on the lookout for new members of all levels - whether you’re trying the game for the first time or returning after a break - so if you’re ever in the area and fancy a friendly knockabout, we’d be delighted to see you.
Archie Cameron-Blackie
Team Westway
Team Westway at the Boughton Bowl; Fancy Dress Fives; Kinnaird Pepperpot Champions
World Fives Day; Westway in Grillon; Action on the Westway courts
Highlights of the 2024/25 season for The Westway Club involved the return of regular socials alongside the thrice-weekly club sessions, winning Division 2 of the league, being semi-finalists in the EFA Trophy and another nomination for Team of the Year. Plus showing off our new multi-coloured kit and gloves.
Getting Social:
- Halloween fancy dress fives brought out all sorts of scary things to the hallowed courts, including costumes of all genres, very sugary candy, and a much needed trip for pizzas afterwards
- In Memoriam: a more unusual gathering at the courts included the family and friends of Ronald Patinson and Paul Bowden who had both been great supporters of Westway in their time. It was wonderful to see some of the family including young grandchildren take to the courts for the first time and to welcome other special guests who came for the occasion.
- Festive Fives Ladder: a first for the club bringing out 25 players for a social and friendly ladder style evening. After some amusing rock, paper, scissors tie-breakers the joint winners were Freddie Rowe and David McCahon
- Our Spring Social was held in World Fives week with another ladder this time jointly won by McCahon junior (Tom) and Pete Griffiths
Star Quality:
In the leagues both teams did well, continuing the squeaky clean no penalties streak, but more impressively Team Westway 1 came through comfortably winning Division 2!! With a top 3 finish in Division 3 displaying the club's increasing depth of talent.
Star moments for Westway club representatives came as Adam Field and Tancred Campbell took home the Pepperpot Trophy from the Kinnaird, and as a strong showing in the qualifying rounds led the team to the semi-finals of the EFA Trophy.
The club was also represented in other tournaments throughout the season including a great effort from the women in the Richard Black Cup combining expertise from both the Eton Fives and the Wallball sides of the Westway Club. Along with a vibrant Mixed Team at the Boughton Bowl displaying their rainbow colours for the first time. The club also made appearances with individuals and pairs entering the Midlands Tournament, the London tournament, the Northern tournament and the Ladies Championships. More players than usual brought out their generational elders/youngers for the Aberconway Cup at the end of the season! And a post-season 'ladies' trip to Grillon managed to squeeze in five Westway representatives too...watch out, we're going global!
Division 3 matches:
1. In the 1st match of the season, the first pair had a cracking 4 setter and won; the other pairs were beaten in 3 sets apiece but everyone enjoyed the occasion and had decent level matches. All despite some grim rain and hideous traffic delaying the majority contingent from London getting to Berko on time!
2. Against Old Citz, our 1st pair won in 4 sets, 2nd pair won in 3 close sets, 3rd pair Morgan and Sarah toughed it out for a 5 setter but lost it at the last hurdle! Hailed as a great night of fives by all and played in the true spirit of the game.
3. A 3 pair loss against Berko school but 2nd and 3rd pairs both had close 4 set battles and were just edged out by the youngsters (both in mixed pairs, one a brother sister duo) and 1st pair weren't given much of a chance by their U15 opposition who put on an impressive show. Nevertheless, much fun was had on the road trips to Berko and commiseratory fish and chips cheered up the westway troops. Plus some pleasing smiley faces from the speed signs ;-)
4.North Oxford came to Westway in December - I had flu but the 1st and 3rd pairs won their games and we got some seldom-seen players out on court for the occasion
5. St Olaves came to visit and Westway won 2-1 with an extra court of friendly fives being played alongside the main match. There was a close 4 setter at 2nd pair, followed by a clear win in pair 1 (it was an u21 warm up match for the Olavian boys so friendly coaching tips were shared after the match) and a mirrored clear loss in pair 3 who were just outmatched on the day. Some fun mix around games were played after followed by a pub lunch.
6. The match at Westminster against the Abbey team provided an opportunity for 2 more Westway players to make their debut in the league fives although slightly cut short by a conceded 3rd pair from the Abbey last minute.
7. Newbury had a tough time getting their eligible players over to the Westway courts this season and a last minute no-show didn't help, resulting in a walkover in Westway's favour. We made the best of the situation though and rounded up some extra local Westway-ers and mixed around as best we could to play some friendly fives.
Natalie Lilienthal
Windsor & Eton
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