Autumn Fives Festival – Sunday 22nd September 2013 – Shrewsbury School

Mark Yates reports:

A beautiful sunny day witnessed the first competitive Fives for many of the players at this year’s Autumn Fives Festival. Held at Shrewsbury School by kind permission of the Headmaster, we were delighted to welcome 36 players from Rydal Penrhos, Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton G.S. and Wrekin College. The players took part in one of four competitions, with the focus on participation and welcoming beginners to our wonderful game.

The competitions were run on a ladder format, with participants playing as individuals. Where possible, players from different schools were paired together, with a win moving a player up a court and defeat moving down one. Therefore, by the later rounds all players were on courts appropriate to their standard. As far as the overall results went, Wolverhampton G.S. proved to be dominant in the ladies competitions, with Shrewsbury and Rydal Penrhos taking the honours for the boys. It was most pleasing to see the enthusiasm and rapid development of the boys from Wrekin College. Having only started playing at the beginning of September, they typified the spirit of the event, with great improvement in their play and demonstration of polite on court etiquette.

Results:

Senior Girls: Tejas Netke & Beth Parlane (Wolverhampton G.S.)

Beginner Girls: Sophie Pye and Hannah Parlane (Wolverhampton G.S.)

Intermediate Boys: Tom McCloskey and Tom Hamilton Pritchard (Rydal Penrhos)

Junior Boys: James C. (Shrewsbury)

Jack Parker (Rydal Penrhos)

I very much look forward to the Spring Fives Festival and welcoming back all the players and more as the Fives season heads towards the National Schools Championships.