Marlborough Tournament

Howard Wiseman reports:

A wonderful sunny weekend in Marlborough - a truly beautiful market town. What a perfect back-drop for such a unique event - the Marlborough Fives Championships. No other event enables Fives players to try each others' game.

Eton Fives and Rugby Fives are played in equal measure, by all players no matter what their specialist code of Fives actually is. All matches are paired to ensure an even match, and it is the total points scored over the weekend that results in four players making their way into the final. Whilst there were many fiercely competitive matches between players from the same code, all on their own courts - most players were voting to play the "other " code for most of the time.

Representation

There was a good of clubs. Rugby Fives players took part from the Derby Mercia Club, Old Dunstonians, Stoke Newington Old Boys, UCS Old Boys and Tonbridge Old Boys .The Eton Fives players were from a very strong field of Old Cholmeleians and Old Olavians.

The standard of Fives played was superb - and everyone soon adjusted to the "other" code on offer. The highlight with this event is always when the " Rugby" boys have completed their apprentiship with the "Eton" players and end up together by themselves on the Eton Courts.

Early Games and Final

Everyone adjusted well to their new surroundings! There were some twelve one game matches played by everyone over the Saturday afternoon and Sunday. Surprisingly, nobody came even close to winning all their matches, even though the total scores for each player were very high. As the top-scoring Eton Fives player, James Toop partnered Stuart Kirby who had weighed in second from the Rugby group. Bob ? was top scorer from the Rugby players, and so partnered William Powell from the Eton Pool. The first half of the Final (one game to fifteen points) was played on an Eton Court. The score was 8-7 to James and Stuart as the match moved indoors to the Rugby courts. The Final concluded 15-9 in favour of Stuart and James. The match was typical of the games played throughout the weekend - demonstrating a wide range of shots and techniques, as well as many smiles and much laughter.

Almost everyone, together with numerous guests, attended the meal on Saturday evening in Marlborough High Street.

A really sociable, and fun weekend with like-minded enthusiasts!