Veterans Tournament 2025: Pulsford's Persistence Pays Off...
Graham Pulsford reports:
08/05/25: The Veterans is a great finale to the fives season and there is always a place for anyone over 40 to play.
This year’s highlights included:
- New winners for the Chris Cups
- New winners for the Walters Cup
- A first win for John Cooley & Gideon Osen
- Newcomers from Berkhamsted - ‘Martin & Martin’ and Ben Wille
- Brigands, Berkhamsted and Wolverhampton each providing four players
For a flavour of the afternoon please scroll through the photographs.
The result of the three finals were:
Open Competition for the MJS-J Cup: Seb Cooley & Graham Pulsford beat Chris Austin & Sid Simmons
The MJS-J Cup is an exceedingly difficult competition to win and is often a marathon with close games from start to finish. This year was very different. The team that scored first then went on to win with relative ease, a pattern which continued into the semi-finals where the Wulfrunian pairing of Chris Austin & Sid Simmons moved smoothly past Alex Knight & Tom Leach, and then Seb Cooley & Graham Pulsford accelerated past Alex Constantine & Oliver O’Callaghan- Brown. The most competitive and watchable game was the third place play-off which was tense and close scoring from start to finish. There was some quality fives with some excellent volleying exchanges involving all four players but, despite some highly unorthodox shots from Tom, he and Alex fell just one point short at 14-15.
The final was therefore the 2024 holders, Chris Austin & Sid Simmons, against the new pairing of Seb Cooley & Graham Pulsford. This was a surprisingly quick game and you can select your preferred summary from the quotes below:
Chris Austin “We knew we had to play our top game to win. We probably tried too hard, and everything went horribly Pete Tong from the very start”.
Graham Pulsford “I didn’t touch the ball in four games. Seb did it all and I just tried to look the part”.
Sid Simmons “I had a few good games and then played against Seb. On the bright side he drove me back to Wolverhampton in his new stylish Z4, complete with heated seats. A steady 72mph all the way. Nice bloke off the fives court.”
Seb Cooley “Graham first asked me to play with him in the Veterans via a misdirected email back in 2006 about the Aberconway Cup – being still in my twenties I was rather surprised but politely and foolishly said yes for the future. I feel that I have now worked off my contractual obligation 😊”
Unbiased observer “Still shattered from his unfinished Kinnaird final a few days previously, Seb was a pale shadow of his usual self, making a string of spectacular and unfortunate unforced errors. Thanks to the incredible contribution of Graham, who played like two men possessed, Seb’s blushes were saved as Wolverhampton’s most famous fives couple crumbled in the face of an ongoing series of straight winners from every part of the court….”
John Cooley presented a cup to the worthy winners and also acted as official photographer to round off his day. John Cooley was not the unbiased observer.
Over 50s Competition for the Chris Cup(s): Ashley Friedlein & Chiedo Nkwocho won on a round robin basis
In a change to the normal format this year the Chris Cups competition was played throughout the later part of the fives season on the same basis as the early Kinnaird Cup; pairs drawn together arranged to play against each other at a time and at a court that was mutually agreeable. With many of the previous competitors of the Chris Cup moving up level into the Over 60s competition and no new arrivals from the MJS Cup there was going to be a new name on the cup for 2025.
By the time of the main Veterans weekend the irrepressible pairing of Chiedo and Ashley were the last pair standing and they arrived at Aldenham to show off their skills in a series of joyous exhibition games. Their irrepressible good humour added to the day, and they will be back next year to defend their title.
The cup was presented to the delighted winners by Jon Shorrocks.
Over 60s Competition for the Walters Cup: Andrew Husselbee & Peter Scholey beat Peter Boughton & Andy Stephenson
This was the strongest entry in this category for many years and there were four to five pairs who could easily emerge as winners. Could Peter Boughton with his new partner, Andy Stephenson, get to his seventh consecutive final and who could they meet? Could it be Matthew Beard & Stefan Nowinski, Paul Kendall & Martin Powell (holder of the Golden Crutch), or Patrick Gibbs & Marco Rimini?
The early group phase included a rare and highly celebrated win by John Cooley & Gideon Osen, a late entry by the mysterious ‘two Martins’ from Berkhamsted, and Jon Shorrocks partnering three different players on his way to the third-place playoff! Indeed one of the best matches to watch was Jon Shorrocks, with partner number two, against Matthew Beard & Stefan Nowinski with the former coming out on top.
As the round robin group stages were completed the two group winners were Peter Boughton & Andy Stephenson and Andrew Husselbee & Peter Scholey. The latter had worked through their matches with steady efficiency and looked very comfortable as a pair – the only surprise being Pete’s extraordinarily bright orange shirt. The lengthy final was played in front of a healthy crowd with court side commentary provided by Dr Neil Margerison with assistance from Sir James Fredenham. Andrew Husselbee & Peter Scholey took an early lead and moved steadily ahead to 8-3. From this point Peter Boughton & Andy Stephenson dug in and slowly clawed their way back to 8-8 by determinedly winning a series of long and exhausting rallies. At this critical stage they then had opportunities to edge ahead and put pressure on their opponents. Two clear chances were lost and from this point Andrew Husselbee & Peter Scholey took advantage and with a combination of Andrew’s top court volleying and Pete’s aggressive back court the Wolverhampton/Edwardian pair secured a well-deserved a 15-9 victory over their Ipswichian/Wolverhampton opponents.
Stefan Nowinski kindly presented the Tony Walters Cup to the exhausted winning pair.
Paul Kendall & Martin Powell took third place although equally this could have been Matthew Beard & Stefan Nowinski or Jon Shorrocks with partner number three!
Roundbush Pub
The post competition visit to the Roundbush PH was a pleasing end to the day. General bonhomie and tales of past fives exploits are always enjoyable.
Many thanks to those who helped make the day enjoyable by playing and to Aldenham School as hosts.
Note: If you are over 40 you are eligible for these competitions
Note: 2026 is the 42nd Veterans Competition – the more pairs the merrier!
