Spring 2012: State school to build three new Eton Fives courts

Pictured: St Barts requisitioning officer Tina Smart on the site of the new courts

St Bartholomew's School in Newbury, Berkshire, is to build three new Fives courts. It used to have two open air courts until its facilities were rebuilt two years ago and is aiming to have three covered courts from September 2012.

The school, which is a co-educational academy and was founded in 1466, has about 1,650 pupils from the ages of 11 to 18, and so is set to be the largest school in the country to play the game. By comparison, Eton College, the home of the game, currently has about 1,300 pupils.

Tina Smart, requisitioning officer of the school, said she was delighted the school would be rejoining the Eton Fives fold.

"Fives was popular when we occupied our old buildings so we are delighted to be able to reinstate the game with three new courts being built alongside our outdoor sports facilities", she said.

The school has commissioned JPR Courts, run by John Reynolds, to build them. He said "I'm very glad that the school is to replace its courts and especially pleased that it will have three. I'm also very happy to be involved. I've formed JPR Courts to strengthen and spread the game and I hope these will be the first of many courts I'll help to build in the UK and abroad."