Ipswich Win The Vargas Salver

Paul Bowden reports:

20/09/22: It was great to gather six schools at Charterhouse on Sunday 18th September for the third edition of the Vargas Salver.

Remarkably, two of the schools travelled a total of 569 miles on the day to be there, one other school has only one court and one school has no courts at all. It just goes to show that with the right level of enthusiasm anything is possible!

An earlyish start for a Sunday was arranged in the knowledge that Ipswich would be a little late and they duly obliged. Burford were held up for a long time exiting the M3 but we were able to get things underway shortly after 11.00.

The day started unusually with a presentation, one left over from last season. The Lyceum Alpinum Trophy for sportsmanship and upholding the spirit of fives was presented to Queen Elizabeth’s School Barnet who dominated the voting from Masters in charge at the end of the season. It was suggested that these qualities of sportsmanship, fairness and respect would be expected throughout the day and indeed, to their great credit, this was very evident at all times with all of the players.

The format was a round robin in which each pair played two games with step on seven against their corresponding pair with a point being awarded for each game won. The first two pairs of Ipswich and Charterhouse were both strong but Ipswich had greater strength in depth, with their second pair unbeaten and their third pair only losing once. QEB brought four pairs of very consistent standard: indeed, whichever two players represented their third pair won all of their matches. They were also a very young team and showed great potential. Even younger was the team from Burford which included one player who had only played previously once and that was the day before. He and his partner were able to win one of their matches: no mean feat.

Repton and Cranleigh lacked experience but all of their players improved through the day and gained valuable match experience against a variety of opponents.

Highlights included a wonderful tussle between the first pairs of Ipswich and Charterhouse which ended 8-7, 7-8 and left unresolved who were the strongest pair present on the day.

It was wonderful to see the standard of all the players improving during the course of the day as they warmed to their task. It was good to see two girls playing: I hope to see far more next time.

I would like to thank all of those who came to make the day such a success which all the players professed to having really enjoyed. I did suggest that they should each encourage one more of their friends or indeed a younger pupil to start playing which I really hope they will do.

I would also like to thank Owen Chisholm, Tom Constable and Charterhouse for hosting the event so excellently including providing very welcome refreshments. And finally, huge thanks to Dale and Krystyna Vargas who came to present the Salver and to give each member of the winning team a copy of the History of Eton Fives.

It is intended to hold the event twice a year, once in the Autumn and then again on the same day as the Williams Cup in the Spring.

Results:

1st Ipswich: 27points 

2nd QEB: 22 points 

3rd Charterhouse: 19 points 

4th Repton: 13 points

5th Cranleigh: 5 points

6th Burford: 4 points

Ipswich Team: Elliot Caldwell, Henry Gardner, Alex Phillips (capt.), Matt Williams, Sam Cook, Archie Magnus, Charlie Wright.