2025/26 School Reports
Read on to find out the schools' views on their 2025/26 seasons. Missing reports will hopefully be added shortly...
Aldenham
Aldenham in action at the Vargas Salver
No report received yet
Berkhamsted
U15 runners-up; U14 winners; U11 finalists
The 2025–26 season has proved another exceptional chapter for Eton Fives at Berkhamsted School, defined by impressive participation, strong competitive results, and sustained growth across every age group. The programme continues to thrive, showcasing both depth of talent and a clear sense of momentum for the future.
At senior level, the Boys’ senior squad set the tone for the season. Fulfilling an extensive schedule of 22 fixtures, the team drew from a remarkable pool of 33 players—highlighting both commitment and the strength in depth within the group. Alongside them, the Girls’ and Mixed teams, though smaller in number, played a vital role in maintaining the breadth and inclusivity that underpins Fives at Berkhamsted.
The foundation of the programme remains particularly strong in the lower school, where participation levels continue to flourish. With 41 players in the U13 age group and 32 at U12 level, the future of Eton Fives at Berkhamsted looks exceptionally bright.
Strong Results Across the Board
Performance on court reflected this depth. The boys’ teams completed 65 fixtures over the season, achieving 40 wins, 7 draws, and 18 losses—an impressive 61% win rate. The girls’ teams enjoyed an equally successful campaign, recording 4 wins, 1 draw, and just 1 loss from six fixtures, giving them a 66% success rate. While opportunities for mixed fixtures were more limited, they remain a valued element of the school’s inclusive sporting offer, particularly within the Sixth Form.
National Success and Standout Performances
Berkhamsted’s strongest performances came on the national stage. In the senior competition, first pair Tom and James battled admirably despite disruption through absence and injury, reaching the quarter-finals of the National Championships. Meanwhile, Lawrence and Federico secured an excellent victory in the Plate competition.
The U16 squad mirrored this success: Beau and Tom claimed the Plate title, while Rocky and Seb progressed to the last 16 of the main draw.
One of the most notable highlights of the season came from the U14s. Theo and Austin delivered a superb campaign to be crowned National Champions, defeating three highly talented semi-final pairs along the way. Their achievement was reinforced by Theo and Will, who added a Plate victory—underlining the depth and quality within this age group.
Further success followed across the programme. At U13 level, James and Cameron achieved an excellent third-place national finish, while the U15s reached the last 16, demonstrating consistent competitiveness across the board.
A Flourishing Development Pathway
The strength of Berkhamsted’s development pathway was evident at junior level. Harry and Oscar (U13) were crowned Prep School Champions, while additional successes included second- and third-place finishes in the Pett Plate, a remarkable second-place finish for a U11 pair competing in the U12 category, and semi-final appearances for Kamran and Albie.
Resurgence in the Girls’ Game
The girls’ programme continues to gain momentum. It was particularly encouraging to see four senior girls representing the school in both league fixtures and the national mixed competition—an encouraging sign for the future of the sport at Berkhamsted.
At U15 level, Rosie and Indie achieved a superb second-place finish at the National Championships, narrowly losing to strong opposition from Ipswich. The U13 pairing of Anya and Elodie secured third place, while Matilda and Nel clinched the Plate title, demonstrating growing depth and strength across the girls’ game.
Building Community and Tradition
Beyond competition, the programme has benefited from a strong sense of community. Regular Tuesday evening club sessions and league fixtures continue to bring together parents, Old Berkhamstedians, and current pupils, strengthening the sport’s culture within the school.
Among the season’s notable events were the Scholars and Rogues competition, won by Mr McWalter and Hayden, and the Derek Whitehead Trophy, claimed by Mr and Master Seddon. The year also marked a significant milestone, celebrating the centenary of the Castle Courts, originally opened in March 1926.
A Team Effort
Such success would not be possible without the dedication of the coaching staff. Mr Campbell, Mr Davey, Mr Foster, and Mrs Wheale all played a crucial role, bringing expertise, commitment, and enthusiasm throughout the year.
Looking Ahead
Finally, special recognition must go to the Upper Sixth pupils, whose contribution to Eton Fives at Berkhamsted has been immense. Their leadership, resilience, and passion have helped shape the programme’s success, and they leave with a lasting legacy on the courts.
As the season concludes, Berkhamsted’s Eton Fives programme stands in a position of strength - grounded in tradition, flourishing through participation, and looking ahead to an exciting future.
Andy Stephenson
Bryanston
Action on the Bryanston courts
No report received yet
Cardinal Vaughan
Cardinal Vaughan pupils at Eton
Under Fifteen Fives Qualifying Tournament
Ten pupils were selected to represent Cardinal Vaughan in the U15 Qualifying tournament, and they became the first pupils in a number of years to step onto a Fives court in a national tournament and play for the school. To do so at the home of Fives at Eton was a great introduction for the boys to the world of school tournament Fives.
It was admittedly something of a baptism of fire given the relatively short time they have been playing the game. However, all the pairs acquitted themselves well and all improved and gained useful experience during the day. The other schools at the tournament were from well-established Fives playing schools such as Aldenham, Mill Hill and Repton and their best players, in all honesty, were too strong. The initial pool matches were a bit of a trial and it would have been easy for the boys to become demoralised as points were often hard to come by. It is much to their credit that they kept smiling and battled on.
The top two pairs gradually became more competitive and were soon giving some of their more experienced opponents something to think about. They qualified into the plate competition for the teams that finished third in their pool games and they enjoyed some great matches against Aldenham 4 and 5. The highlight of these games was a spirited win by CVMS 2 against Aldenham 4 which they won convincingly 8-2, 8-2. CVMS 1 also beat Aldenham 4 4-7, 8-7 and 3-2, they did well to fightback from losing the first set. This resulted in a final game between CVMS 1 and 2 and it was a hard-fought match in which pair 2 won 7-8, 8-6 and 3-2. It was perhaps the excellent return of serve or cut that Declan had perfected during the day that swung the match in their favour.
The second plate competition was for the boys that finished in 4th and 5th in their respective pools and it was also a great experience for the other Cardinal Vaughan pairs and it provided them with an opportunity to play against slightly less daunting opposition. Here too, our players were able to score more points and all their games were more competitive. After beating Aldenham 6 and Cardinal Vaughan 3 and 5 it was a great achievement for CVMS 4 to win their plate competition, many congratulations to Michael and Anthoni.
All the players were a great credit to the school in their attitude and effort; to play so many games of Fives in such a short space of time was a very new experience and a very steep learning curve. I am sure their journey home was a quiet one!
In addition to sending a team to the Under 15 competition the pupils have also played Fives House matches for the first time. Both Years 9 and 10 participated in a series of lively and spirited matches.
When both competitions were considered and points were awarded based upon where each house finished in the various matches and plate competitions the houses were ranked in the following order:1st Fisher, 2nd Campion, 3rd Mayne and 4th Moore
Mike Till
Charterhouse
Charterhouse v Brigands; World Fives Day; Vargas salver winners
No report received yet
City of London
No report received yet
Cranleigh
No report received yet
Cranleigh Prep
U13 finalists
It has been another exceptional year for Cranleigh Fives, characterized by national success, significant individual development, and a remarkable demonstration of sportsmanship. Despite Fives being a non-selective activity with limited weekly contact time, our players continue to punch well above their weight, competing as equals against the country’s premier "Fives superpowers."
U13 Girls’ Nationals
Following the historic success of Hattie and Olive last year, our U13 squad returned to Highgate to defend the title. This year represented a "changing of the guard," with a younger, less experienced team taking to the courts. With three out of four players eligible to compete in this category again next year, the day focused on development and enjoyment.
Group Stages: The morning was a masterclass in rapid improvement. Holly and Grace (Pair 1) played with increasing confidence to finish third in their group, narrowly missing a semi-final spot. Chloe and Lily (Pair 2) finished fifth in a highly competitive pool—a result that could have swung differently with a slightly different bounce of the ball.
Plate Success: The girls learnt hugely from their morning lessons. Holly and Grace secured a brilliant third-place finish in Plate A, while Chloe and Lily were unstoppable, finishing as winners of Plate B.
The highlight of the day was the girls’ conduct; their manners and sportsmanship made them exceptional ambassadors for the school. With the majority of the team returning next year, the foundation is firmly laid for a serious title charge in 2027.
U13 Boys’ Nationals & Prep Schools
The U13 boys’ season was defined by grit and high-level skill, culminating in some of the school's best results to date.
National Finals: Ollie and Jake (Pair 1) played with great distinction, defying the odds against major Fives schools to reach the National Final. This is only the second time in our history that the school has reached this stage. Though they were defeated by a strong St Olave’s side, their achievement is a landmark for the school.
Plate Success: In the National tournament, George and Carter (Pair 2) showed great resilience, bouncing back from a narrow quarter-final loss to win their Plate competition.
The Marston Plate: At the season’s finale, the Prep Schools tournament, injuries forced several new pairings. Despite a slow start and four agonizing 11-12 losses, the team found their feet. Jake and Carter triumphed in the prestigious Marston Plate, winning it for only the second time in the school’s history.
U12 Boys’ Nationals
The U12 squad showed incredible strength in depth this year, beginning with a dominant performance in the National Qualifiers where Cranleigh placed 1st, 2nd, and 4th.
Finals Performance: At the National Finals, Harry D and Lochie H (Pair 1) mixed it with the elite, reaching the quarter-finals where they only narrowly lost.
Squad Progress: All other pairs improved markedly, finishing the day with many more wins than losses. A cultural highlight for the boys was the opportunity to visit the original Fives court on the side of Eton’s chapel, connecting their modern play to the heritage of the game.
Closing Reflections
This has been a season of remarkable success. My thanks go to Mr. Stone and Mr. Brewer for their invaluable help and support. Most importantly, I would like to thank the pupils. To see our teams competing so effectively on the national stage—while only playing once a week—is a testament to their talent and determination. The future of Cranleigh Fives looks incredibly bright.
Mark Halstead
Eton
Williams Cup winners; U15 winners; World Fives Day action on the original court
No report received yet
Harrow
U14 Novices champions; first pair in action; World Fives Day at Harrow
2025/26 has been a great year for the Harrow Fives squads with more boys playing than before and more enjoyment for all the beaks and coaches involved.
The top senior pair of Bertie Bradley and Olly Filo proved that they were worthy opponents for anyone reaching semi-finals of Nationals and maximiz-sed their ability to achieve some great wins throughout the season.
Henry Murray and Alf Beresford Pierce also performed well and improved throughout the year resulting in a Plate A win with much promise for the future.
The U16s were a revelation with three pairs in the quarter-finals of Nationals resulting in Henry Murray and Issa Corn gaining much valuable experience in the semis.
In the U14 Novices Alex Au and Ashmeet Ranjan were untouchable and dominated the event to win without losing a set. They also managed to make the semis of the main U14 which is a brilliant effort as novices.
we are looking forward to further battles ahead next year.
Ian Hutchinson
Highgate
U14 winners
A very enjoyable season for our players and thank you to all those who arranged fixtures with us, particularly your flexibility in allowing as many players as possible across the ability range to join.
Very pleasing to see the future of Highgate Fives, with our Junior School players keen to play as many fixtures as possible and also competing well in some Senior School fixtures. Felix and Henry Haworth reached the quarter-finals of the U11 Nationals, eventually beaten by a very strong Berkhamsted pair. Y5 Yixuan Liu reached the last 16, with her playing partner Kobi Thiruchittampalam and also had success in the both the U13 and U14 Girls tournaments!
Highgate’s girls continue to impress: at the U13 Championships, pair 1 (Arianna Zampella and River Ejiofor) and pair 2 (Yixuan Liu and Allegra Sola) met in the semi-final. Arianna and River then finished as runners-up to Prestfelde. Y5 Yixuan (with yet another playing partner!) then made the final of the U14 Girls tournament, where the semi-finals were composed of all Highgate pairs. Pair 1 (Imogen Williets and Evie Walker), eventually beat Yixuan and Tzi Ying Wong, after losing the first set.
Laila Offeringa and Veronica Maslovsky led the way for our girls, supporting many of the younger players throughout the year. Laila and Veronica have really continued to develop their game and reached the semi-finals of the U16 Girls Nationals, losing to Shrewsbury 1 in a three set match.
A massive thanks once again to Jack Flowers, who despite moving into his Head of Lower School role, continues to show his fantastic enthusiasm in introducing and developing Fives at Highgate. Our U12 and U13 players turned out in force at fixtures and tournaments this year. Testament to how Jack works with these players.
Later in the season, we benefitted from the coaching of Hugo Young, which really helped our more experienced players in the build up to their respective National tournaments. Thank you Hugo and we hope you will return for more!
Billy Bolton
Holyport
World Fives Day at Holyport
No report received yet
Ipswich
Open champions; U15/U16 champions; Individual Tournament players; Northern Festival champions
Williams Cup team; Midlands Tournament squad; World Fives Day
A marvellous year in which Ipswich pupils became Schools’ Open and Girls’ U16 & U15 champions. Particular congratulations to Year 12s Charlie and Daniel on a phenomenal achievement, winning the Schools’ Open Championship - just 120 years after new Headmaster, A.K.Watson, told the Governors Ipswich ought to play Eton fives and persuading them to build two courts. One imagines he would have been proud, even if it did mean beating his old school, Harrow, in the semi-final. Not only did Charlie and Daniel enable Ipswich to become only the 14th school to win the competition in its 97 year history, they did so without losing a single game in the tournament. There were promising signs earlier in the year: Daniel reaching the semi-final of both the U25s and the London Tournament (with Tom Dunbar) and, with Charlie, making the last eight in the Midlands Championship. Combining with OI Isaac Weaver, Daniel lost by a single point in the final of the Graham Turnbull Trophy. Charlie won the Ipswich Tournament (Graves Cup) and the pair went undefeated in the Schools’ national three-pair team competition (the Williams Cup) to earn Ipswich third place and secure Dan and Charlie first seeding for the Schools’ pairs event. Daniel was invited to play for the Old Harrovians in the first division of the national league, enabling him to play alongside Tom Dunbar against top club players and become the first Ipswich pupil to gain a national ranking. So many thanks to Tom both for giving Daniel the opportunity to play at that high level and for his invaluable guidance.
Our U15 girls did fantastically. Millie and Betsy becoming both U15 and U16 champions and doing so in emphatic style, losing only eight points in total in their last three matches. Anastasia and Rebecca also shone, winning through to the semi-finals of the U15s. Earlier in the season they had won the Ladies Festival, whilst Betsy was partnering club player Rachel Wood to the semi-final of the Ladies Championship, earning a chance to play against Charlotta Cooley. Betsy lost of course, as Charlotta closed in on her 15th Championship title!
U16 boys Jake and Max played superbly to claim a quarter-final spot in the U16 Championship, capping a season in which they won both the Midland and Northern Festivals and made the semi-finasl of the London Festival, as well as helping Ipswich to that third place in the Williams Cup. Scratch pairing Alex and Anas performed admirably in the U15 nationals, Anas having only started playing this year and, in just his second competitive outing, reaching the Plate final was terrific.
Whilst our top ten or so players gave us much to celebrate we were aware of many senior players no longer being able to find time for fives. We were also a bit thin on the ground at U14 and U13, though Grace and Flora represented us well in the U13 Girls competition, reaching the final of the Plate. We had a great group of players at U12 by contrast and at Nationals four of our six pairs reached the last 32. Alex and Ralphie were unlucky to miss the last 16 by just 2 points. It was lovely too that three U12s played with their beginner fathers in the end of season Aberconway Cup. Hopefully the start of a long and fulfilling fives journey for all of them.
As always we are mindful of the value of the many tournaments squeezed into the fives calendar, that enable us to compete without having a list of fixtures against other schools. Our grateful thanks to all those who organise and run them, to the schools that host them and to Tony Stubbs, Charlotta Cooley and Tim Wyndham for helping make the Ipswich School fives experience memorable for our pupils.
Peter Boughton
KES Birmingham
U14 squad; Turnbull Trophy; World Fives Day; U14s in action
"Consider the acorn. It is in the nature of an acorn, we might say, to become an oak tree—but only if the climate and soil are right." — Dr. Gabor
Well at KES, the soil is right and nutritious. Now we need to work on the climate…and our acorns will grow into oak trees. This year has been a real breakthrough year for Fives at KES. Two pairs thoroughly enjoyed the Fives for beginners at Repton as well as an away fun fixture at Shrewsbury. We also entered and competed very well at the U14 Championships and acquitted ourselves extremely well. Just to hear the name ‘King Edward's 1st pair to play against Eton 6th on court 4’ was brilliant. People and pupils know we’re back.
The Seniors numbers are growing and we have started to develop some exciting new blood. Led by Hari P we could have four pairs playing regularly next year. Enough to play some competitive Fives – away, unfortunately.
For the Juniors it is a very similar report with numbers now up to ten. So on a good evening five of the six courts could be in use. The ‘climate’ will need to change soon.
My final thanks must go to our newest recruit – KES Old boy Richard Tyler, who has been very invigorating and wonderfully supportive in his coaching role. Things are looking up!!
Jon Shorrocks
Lancing
Turnbull Trophy
No report received yet
Ludgrove
U12 champions
No report received yet
Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz
Geneva Tournament; Festival winners and runners-up
The Lyceum Alpinum team have once again enjoyed a very strong season, with success both in competition and within the programme itself. At the Schools’ National Championships in Repton, the 3rd girls’ pairing of Amance Séchaud and Annamay Wilkinson produced an excellent run to the Festival final, narrowly losing out to St Bees. Kai Büchi and Konstantin Winterfeld also impressed, successfully retaining the Boys’ Festival title with a win over Repton.
Internally, the programme continues to provide an environment in which Fives can thrive. Training sessions run consistently each evening, including weekends, and there is a clear enthusiasm among the players. It is not uncommon to see juniors using their lunch breaks to practise and spend time on court, reflecting the strength of engagement across the group.
Project Week remains a highlight of the Lyceum Fives calendar. With selected year groups able to dedicate a full week to training and play, the impact is clear, and this year again saw noticeable improvement from all those involved.
The Summer Games in July 2025 provided another enjoyable occasion, with the Alumni reversing last year’s result to edge a closely contested win over the school team in the Fives event.
Earlier in the season, the Geneva Fives Club once again proved excellent hosts for the Benny Oei Tournament in September 2025. With 18 students attending, the event offered valuable competitive experience, as well as the opportunity to mix with players from around the world.
Overall, it has been another successful and well-rounded season, with strong performances, high levels of participation, and continued enthusiasm for the sport.
Matt Wiseman
Marlborough
Turnbull Trophy
No report received yet
Mill Hill
World Fives Day
Fives has continued to be the bastion of tradition at Mill Hill this year, maintaining and competing in fixtures against the likes of Harrow, Eton, and Charterhouse.
Our U16 and U14 top boys pairs have been particularly competitive this season, securing wins against Eton and Charterhouse’s top pairs in their respective year groups. Our V Form pair of L.Namey and G.Griffiths are shaping up to be serious players, and we look forward to them continuing to improve over their remaining two years at the school.
Our U14 first pair of F.Namey and T.Barriball played few games together in the lead up to the Nationals due to injuries, but found form at the U14 Qualifying event, winning the competition and marking themselves as contenders for Finals day. Sadly, they lost a thriller in the last 16 (14-15) to Harrow 1; a pair that then made the semi-finals. We look forward to them challenging at later stages in years to come. IV Former F.Simpson has been the signing of the season and has the makings of a great player.
Our U15 first pair of (Remove) G.Griffiths and T.Ollier have improved tenfold this season, culminating in them winning the National U15 Qualifying event. They reached the last 16 in the National Finals, and we look forward to them going deeper in future years.
Our Senior Girls pair of D.North and L.Doukaki have exhibited ineffable dedication to their Fives this season, training week in week out across both the Michaelmas and Hilary terms. Due to myriad other commitments, their first fixture was the National Festival. In a cracking display of both grit and class in equal measure, they topped their side of the draw, eventually losing out in the semi finals to a Zuoz School pair. Devastatingly, the eventual winners of the competition were a St. Bees pair that D.North and and L Doukaki had in fact beaten in their group stage matches! Eheu!
Our thanks go to our Upper Sixth Leavers and Senior boys first pair, D.Jain and S.James, for their exemplary leadership and conduct, both on and off court. I am delighted to recommend them both to the OMEFC.
We congratulate L.Namey on his appointment as captain for the upcoming season, and look forward to the passion, pride, and gravitas he will bring to the role.
Charles Plummer
Oakham
World Fives Day
Despite the departure of a vintage group of Oakhamians last year, a number of younger, new and inexperience players have stepped up and immersed themselves in sessions and fixtures brilliantly. Successful fixtures in terms of results and learning against Uppingham and Repton provided challenge and competition. It has been brilliant to see some of last year's leavers have sought out courts and tournaments, continuing to play Eton Fives both competitively and for enjoyment.
Nayan Chohan
Prestfelde
U13 Champions
There has been an enthusiastic take-up for Fives this year with a good cohort of girls as well as boys, which has resulted in some notable successes.
Five U13 girls have enthusiastically taken on the game over the last two years and being natural sportswomen have developed their game and worked well together.
For the first time, we entered the U13 Girls’ Tournament at Highgate and Harriet Moffat and Grace Tierney cruised through the early rounds with some ease and came out as outright winners after a comfortable win against the Highgate first pair. The success was augmented by a Plate win as well from the other two girls, Tabitha Pickering and Kiana Brennan-Todd, who showed increasing competence as the Rounds progressed.
The U 13 Boys enjoyed some good measure of success in the U13 Tournament at Eton, and though they did not get through the preliminary rounds, eventually won the Plate. Tom Griffiths, who has been playing for three years and shown himself to be a highly resourceful and canny player has had a new partner in Charlie Prince, a natural ball player, who has made great strides in catching up. We look forward to most of these players going on to Shrewsbury next year.
The U11s had a clash in dates for their Tournament at Charterhouse, so entered the U12s at Eton with a couple of U12 players, making up three pairs. Whilst they did not enjoy the success of the U13s, the day’s Fives worked wonders in their handling of cut returns and general court awareness. Most of the U11s only started back in September and have made steady progress in the club which meets just once a week at Shrewsbury. We have enjoyed success against Wrekin, but with some hard-fought games played in the last term; and at Shrewsbury it was good to see our U13s playing well against their U14 opposite numbers and winning some of their matches. We look forward to widening our competition with further matches against Repton and Wolverhampton next year.
Alex Aldous
QE Barnet
QEB players across various tournaments including the Turnbull Trophy contingent
This Eton Fives season has been a hugely positive and enjoyable one, with over 65 pupils across the school actively involved and gaining valuable competitive experience. From regular weekly fixtures to major national tournaments, the enthusiasm, commitment, and attitude shown by all players throughout the year have been exceptional.
We are extremely grateful to the schools who welcomed us so generously and provided excellent opportunities for our players to compete and develop. Particular thanks go to Mill Hill, Highgate, Berkhamsted, Aldenham, Harrow, and St Olave’s for their hospitality and support throughout the season.
The year culminated in a highly successful and rewarding week at the National Schools’ Championships at Repton, where our players represented Queen Elizabeth’s School with great spirit, determination, and sportsmanship. The experience proved invaluable and showcased the depth and progress of the programme across multiple age groups.
A particular highlight of the season has been the leadership shown by our senior players, who have embraced the responsibility of coaching and mentoring younger pupils. Their dedication and willingness to give back have played a vital role in nurturing emerging talent and laying strong foundations for the continued growth of Eton Fives at QE.
Looking ahead, Year 9 pupils are currently holding trials with the Year 8 cohort to identify and develop the next generation of competitive players. With such strong engagement and promising talent coming through, the future of Eton Fives at Queen Elizabeth’s School looks very bright indeed.
Our thanks also go to Ryan Perrie at Eton, whose support and hosting of the final trial’s day will greatly enhance the experience for all involved. In addition, we are delighted to welcome Jack Tan in his newly established role as EFA Champion, the first of its kind at QE. We are confident that Jack will play a key role in ensuring continuity across year groups, strengthening links between past and present pupils, and helping to grow the game further within the school.
Jon Hart
Repton
Girls' Open finalists; Black Cup winners; Festival finalists; Boys' first pair; Turnbull Trophy action
Fives has continued to gather momentum at Repton and the School’s second hosting of the National Schools’ Fives Championships at the end of the Lent Term saw some great success which was the culmination of many terms’ worth of hard work from pupils and many hours of dedication from the staff. Once again, KH selflessly gave masses of technical expertise, time, and sage advice regarding the tactical nuances of the game to Repton pairs who benefit hugely from her passion for the game.
Fixtures against the ORs, Shrewsbury and Oakham were supplemented by a diverse range of tournaments and a new one for Repton fives in the Under 25s Nationals, where Bri Hansen Hoare and Meghna Rajan reached the semi-final. A core group of competitive players is flanked by a growing number of players who play less regularly in matches but continue to develop and a group of sporty types who have enjoyed Fives and will play irregularly, with great skill, when time allows. This is a lovely blend and underlines how engagement with the game can exist on many levels, and can bring great satisfaction for all.
In terms of results, the standout performance of the Michaelmas term came in the Richard Black Cup, the ladies national team competition where Repton secured its first ever win. Teams in this event must share a club / school connection and so it was that Bri Hansen Hoare, Meghna Rajan, BeBe Stannard, KH and Claudia Tate (OR) triumphed by beating North Oxford EFC in the final. This will be tough to repeat, but with ORs now continuing with Fives beyond school in earnest, the future of the Repton team looks positive.
The Lent term saw a successful fixture against Oakham and two fixtures against Shrewsbury, House Fives, the Vargas Salver and the Ladies Championships, all providing excellent preparation for the Schools’ National Championships at Repton. 21 Reptonians represented the school with distinction at this event. These pupils produced some of the school’s best ever results at the championships with U18 first pair Freddie Tebbs and Thomas Gilbody, who won the Open Qualifying tournament earlier in the term, reaching the last 16 of the Open. They mixed attacking Fives with control for sustained periods as well as they have ever done and will look to develop further as a partnership next year. In the mixed competition, Thomas Gilbody and Meghna Rajan reached the semi-final, whilst the Boys' Festival saw Alfie Pitts and Thomas Gilbody reach the semi-final and Freddie Tebbs and nationals’ debutant Henry Strudwick go one stage further, both losing out to an excellent Zuoz pair. This was followed by perhaps the most notable performance as Bri Hansen Hoare and Meghna Rajan reached the final of the Girls' Open; this was Repton’s first open age group final since 1976 and showed the progress that has been made in the sport in recent years. The large crowd that gathered to watch witnessed a high level of Fives as the two best girls’ pairs in the country this year battled it out. Some of the shot making drew gasps of awe and appreciation and, despite the defeat, Bri and Meghna took the number one seeds deep in each of the three sets and knew they had done absolutely everything they could to beat the winning Shrewsbury pair who must be congratulated on their triumph.
In House Fives, Priory won both the senior and junior boys’ whilst Field played brilliantly to win the senior girls’ competition and Mitre, with an inexperienced and enthusiastic team, got the win in the junior girls’ competition. The pupils are to be commended for being tremendous company all year and for making the 2025/26 season very successful and enjoyable. We also thank the EFA for their support in agreeing to bring the School’s Championships to Repton for what was an extremely enjoyable week.
David Exley
RGS High Wycombe
World Fives Day
Organised Fives revolves around “Thursday Afternoon Activities” (TAA): Years 10 & 11 choose from various activities – CCF, sporting, some more ‘hobby’ based – and Fives is one of those options. In the Autumn Term 2025, 16 pupils signed up for TAA fives, all Year 10.
Outside of these hours, the courts are freely accessible, and students do use the courts in their own time (breaks & lunchtime), playing with a tennis ball & bare hands, but playing (their own version of) ‘King’ (a.k.a. ‘King of the Court’ or ‘two up two down’).
Matches have been organised with Berkhamsted, and Holyport, across a range of year groups.
Ian Mitchell
Rydal Penrhos
World Fives Day; Action and winners at the Welsh Invitational
No report received yet
St.Bartholomew's, Newbury
Mixed action; World Fives Day
Fives at St Bartholomew’s School continues to grow in strength with a committed group of students regularly playing on the courts. With support from Newbury Fives Club we have coaches coming into school regularly to improve the players’ skills. We played our first fixtures against another school for a number of years with home and away matches v Summerfields school. Both ending in honourable draws, but the main purpose was to expose players from both schools to competitive Fives at different venues.
St Bart’s had players representing the school at the Mixed Championships at Eton, with those taking part enjoying the experience and acquitting themselves well.
We have appointed a Fives Captain, Rafferty Muir, who is taking the initiative for organising competitions within the school and promoting the game to students. He organised and ran a top-step competition, sourcing a trophy from a local charity shop, and with many players taking part it was a huge success. We hope the “Captain’s Tankard” competition will run for many years. In July we will host the 2nd running of the Cooper Cup for players at the school, named in honour of David Cooper who has done much to promote Fives at St Bart’s.
The players and myself thank Newbury Fives Club for their continued support of the players in the school and we look forward to hosting and travelling to other schools to play Fives in the future.
John Talbot
St.Bees
Northern Tournament squad; Festival Winners; World Fives Day
No report received yet
St.Olave's
Pepperpot Trophy winners; U16 finalists; U13 winners; Northern Tournament
No report received yet
Shrewsbury
Girls' Open winners; Mixed finalists; Turnbull winners; Williams Cup champions
Shrewsbury School Fives remains buoyant and an important part of the school’s sports structure despite the rise in popularity, and the demands of other sports including football/hockey (girls & boys) netball and even Paddle, in the Lent Term. Increasingly we rely on pupils to fit in their Fives playing around other sporting commitments. In the long term this is not a sustainable situation put for now we will do all we can to attract pupils to Fives. In the short term we are truly grateful to all the pupils that work so hard to ensure that Fives remains at the heart of sports programme. For comparison’s sake I note that in 2011, when last I was IC Fives, we entered 77 pairs of boys and 3 pairs of girls (total pupils 160). This year we 31 pairs of boys, 10 mixed pairs and 14 pairs of girls (total pupils (total pupils 110).
Last year, Adam Morris had to step aside from running Fives after an excellent four years in charge as he took on more academic responsibility, and I took on the responsibility after a 14-year period since last I was in charge. Adam’s influence and assistance remained in place and, together with the excellent support of Seb Cooley, Alex Aldous, Matt Barrett, Torin Morgan ,Sam Whitney and Lara , we muddled through. Often stretched and frustrated by the lack of access to our best players we still managed to help improve the play of many Salopians and achieved some outstanding results.
Over the past two years plans have been put in place to repair and upgrade our ageing courts but unfortunately the funding has had to be withdrawn due to the recent financial climate, nevertheless we remain posed and ready to push hard for funding as the courts need some expert attention and care.
The House Leagues & knockout competitions remain essential to allowing access to even more pupils and some 90 matches were completed throughout the programme on a Tuesday evening.
Michaelmas Term
In our less busy term, our girls and boys produced several outstanding results to maintain the positive momentum from last year’s excellent National Schools at Shrewsbury. Issy Wong (OS), Sienna Earles (5th), Michael Draper (U6th) & Mr Cooley all won National Titles. All four major tournaments were played in London, and 24 individuals from 4th Form to U6th represented the school. The inaugural Intra Open Mixed Competition saw 12 pairs play over 6 weeks for a cash prize and generate excitement and plenty of very competitive Fives.
Our standout achievements:
Old Salopian Issy Wong wins the National U25s Women’s Tournament whilst Millie Parry and Sienna Earles make the semi finals.
Sienna Earl Individual U16s Girls Tournament and Tiffany Leung is runner up.
Shrewsbury (Michael Draper & Seb Cooley) pip Ipswich in a thrilling Graham Turnbull Trophy final. Thirty pairs from 13 different schools entered.
Inaugural Intra Open Mixed Competition- a great success. Millie Parry (L6th) & Michael Draper (U6th) beat George Battersby (U6th) & Emily Clark (U6th) to win. Monty Sharman & Emilia Griffiths win the Plate Final.
Girls Top Three Pairs win 4 out of 5 matches to finish 3rd in the Richard Black Cup.
A mild December evening saw 23 pupils and staff turn out to celebrate the end of term with a Christmas Fancy dress Event.
Lent Term
Thirteen girls and boys represented the school at the EFA U14 Individual Tournament at Repton
GIRLS GOLD MEDAL: Olivia Evans
GIRLS SILVER MEDAL: Matilda Eisentein
GIRLS BRONZE MEDAL: Constance Worle
BOYS GOLD MEDAL: Oliver Godbold
BOYS SILVER MEDAL: Aniket Lacy-Coulson
BOYS BRONZE MEDAL: Edward Walker Okeover & Nathan Alreja
National U21s Tournament
Shrewsbury School entered seven pairs of boys who all excelled and represented the school exceptionally well. Draper & Battersby lost in the final while Spiby & Darke and Dovaston & Hammond both lost in the semi-finals.
U15 Hughes Cup
The U15s (Gurjeevan Athwal, George Jenkins, Connor Haswekk, Reuben Kundu, Barney Pearce, Rufus Bailey) came second at the Hughes Cup, only losing to Eton A across the whole day. The B team gained valuable experience encountering the best in their year group.
Northern Tournament
The standout performance were:
Haswell & Jenkins who lost in the Festival semi-final
Swan & Lupton who came fifth in the Festival.
Clark, Leung & Tippings who combined to reach the Plate B final.
27 Boys, 10 Girls & 2 staff took part in total.
U18 Williams Cup
The Senior Boys won the Williams Teams Cup at Charterhouse by a single point and become National Champions. In a nail-biting conclusion, Shrewsbury become National Champions for the 12th time since the competition began in 1993 and only the second time since 2012. The team consisted of: Battersby, Lupton, Draper (Captain), Dovaston, Darke, Spiby, Ogilby, Hammond.
Ladies Championships
Seven pairs of girls from 3rd Form to Lower Sixth performed well at Eton in the Ladies Championships. Millie Parry & Sienna Earles continued their good form and reached the quarter-finals, equalling the school record in the competition and only just losing out to one of the favourites. Seven girls made their debuts in this competition and there were two Plate victories.
U14 Girls Nationals
Olivia Evans & Sophie Longworth reached the quarter-finals at Eton, just missing out on a semi-final spot when losing 9-12 to Highgate. Constance Worle & Matilda Eisenstein also made the quarter-finals.
National Schools' Championships at Repton
Shrewsbury School enjoyed an outstanding week of competition at the National Schools’ Fives Championships at Repton, with pupils competing across multiple age groups and delivering a series of impressive performances.
The week began with strong early success in the U16 competitions. In the girls’ event, Sienna Earles and Tiffany Leung reached the final, finishing as runners-up to Ipswich in a highly competitive match.
There was further success in the Plate competition, where Minnie T and Charlotte H secured victory.
In the boys’ U16s, Callum Dovaston and Connor Perks were narrowly defeated in the quarter-finals by Eton, losing by just a single point, while George Jenkins and Connor Haswell performed well to reach the last 16.
Monday’s U15 competition proved particularly successful across both boys’ and girls’ events. In the girls’ pairs, Anna Hurford and Daisy Kerfoot were crowned Plate winners, with two further Shrewsbury pairs reaching the quarter-final stages. The boys’ competition saw excellent depth, with Rufus B & Barney P and Gurj A & Rueben K both reaching the semi-finals, alongside several other pairs progressing to the latter stages.
The senior boys (U18) faced a challenging field but showed resilience and determination throughout. Notable performances included quarter-final finishes for Battersby & Draper and Spiby & Darke, while Milbank & Simmons claimed Plate victory.
One of the standout achievements of the week came in the Mixed Pairs competition. Shrewsbury dominated a 26-pair field, placing three pairs in the semi-finals and ultimately contesting an all-Shrewsbury final. Battersby & Earles emerged victorious, defeating Draper & Parry 2–0 in a superb display of skill and composure.
Across the U14 competitions, Shrewsbury pupils continued to show promising development, with multiple pairs competing strongly in both the main and beginners’ events. Eli Graves & Bruno Dowland battled through the rounds and improved throughout to meet Harrow in the final. They fell at the last step but showed huge commitment and skill.
The Girls’ U18 Open was won by Millie Parry & Sienna Earles, beating an excellent Repton pair in a very close final.
Overall, the National Week at Repton has highlighted not only the depth of talent within Shrewsbury Fives but also the pupils’ resilience, teamwork and competitive spirit at every level.
Summer Term
On Tuesday 14th April the Fives season was brought to a fitting finale as we celebrated all that was good about our two terms of hard work.
The highlights of this event were the awarding of Silver Salvers to three distinguished leavers Emily Clark, Michael Draper & George Battersby. They each have a celebrated career that added greatly to the Fives achievements over five years.
Andy Barnard
Stowe
No report received yet
Summer Fields
The 2025-26 Eton Fives season was another busy and rewarding one for Summer Fields, with over 30 boys representing the school across fixtures and tournaments. Results were mixed against some very strong opposition, and schools such as Berkhamsted proved a little too strong for us on several occasions. There was, however, plenty of progress throughout the season, particularly as many boys adapted to playing away from the luxury of our indoor courts and into the colder, tougher conditions that often greet players elsewhere during the winter months. The U13s were highly competitive throughout, recording draws against Eton, Ludgrove and Harrow, while also producing some excellent tournament performances. We finished third in the Eton Three-Pairs Tournament, and one of the highlights of the season came at the National Schools Championships, where the third pair of O’Donoghue and Sun battled their way through the Plate A competition to become champions. At the 57th Annual Prep Schools’ Competition, our first pair of Holdsworth-Hunt and Wigan finished an impressive fourth overall, narrowly missing out on the medals after defeating Sunningdale’s first pair before eventually losing to a strong Berkhamsted pairing.
The younger age groups also had much to celebrate. Mutekwa was crowned U12 Individual Champion following an outstanding performance against a field of 60 competitors. The National Schools U11 Championships were another real highlight. Summer Fields entered five pairs, three of which included boys still in Year 5, many playing in their first ever matches. The experience gained, confidence developed and enthusiasm shown all point towards a very bright future for the club. Alongside tournament success, fixtures against schools such as St Bart’s, Newbury provided valuable opportunities to develop both skills and team spirit. We look forward to building on this momentum next year, with an expanded fixture list, including matches against Prestfelde and the exciting possibility of a tour. Particular thanks go to our captain, R. W. Holdsworth-Hunt, for his leadership, and to all the boys who represented the school with such enthusiasm and good humour. We are also very grateful to Gareth Hoskins for bringing a group North Oxford Fives players to Summer Fields on Monday evenings, giving the boys the opportunity to challenge themselves against adult players in a supportive environment.
Finally, a special thank you must also go to Andy Bishop for his coaching, support, and countless miles behind the wheel. His experience, encouragement, and PG Wodehouse knowledge have been invaluable throughout the season. Judging by the enthusiasm shown on court, the future of Summer Fields Fives is in very capable hands!
Phoenix Ashworth
Sunningdale
The school enjoyed their Fives this Lent term and performed well in all their fixtures. We had successful matches against Eton, Charterhouse, Summer Fields and Ludgrove. We also participated in the Prep Schools, U12s and U11s Championships.
In both the U13s and U11s age groups fixtures, we enjoyed convincing victories against arch rivals Ludgrove and lesser rivals Summer Fields! In the Teams Cup, the senior team of Logue, Lintott, Ugwu, Bathurst, Blundell and Hoare managed to retain the trophy for yet another year!
The take up of Fives in the school is always encouraging and it's great to see so much talent across the school. At the junior end of the school and I've been very pleased with all their efforts and potential. All the juniors represented the school in the U11s and will get better for the experience.
In the Prep Schools championships, our first pair of Logue and Lintott managed to reach the final before losing to the first pair of Berkhamsted, who were deserving winners.
In the U12s championships, our first pair of Ugwu and Bathurst performed well before losing to the Berkhamsted first pair in the quarter-finals. Our second pair of Blundell and Hoare ma also reached the quarter-finals before losing in a spirited display against the eventual winners, Ludgrove.
Overall, a good term and my thanks goes out to Mr Logue and Mr Dawson who spent so much time on court with the boys.
Seniors - Logue (c), Lintott, Ugwu, Bathurst, Blundell, Hoare, Sasegbon, Myles, Li, Stephenson and Mitchell
Juniors - Swain, Rous, Ross ma, Short, Corn, Holt, Pinchuk
George Thomason
Uppingham
Fives at Uppingham has this year been captained by Sergey Teliatnik and Eli Birch. The season has included a mix of local rivalries, exposure to a different version of the game, and the successful introduction of Fives to the Lower School.
With the arrival of Year 7 and 8 pupils at Uppingham, it was decided to introduce them to Fives as an extra-curricular activity. Early session was lively, with plenty of noise as they learned the basics and enjoyed playing with friends. As the term progressed, this developed into longer, more controlled, and more competitive rallies. Towards the end of the season, several pupils had the opportunity to showcase their skills in a fixture against Oakham Senior School. Although narrowly defeated, special recognition goes to Henry Lewis and Guy Stevenson, who won all of their matches against Upper Sixth players with significantly more experience.
The senior school competed in a number of fixtures against schools including Oakham, Rugby, and Repton. The season began with a closely contested match against Repton, which ended in a 2–1 loss, decided in the final game of the second pair. This was followed by a dominant performance against Oakham, where all three pairs won their matches by margins of at least five points. Two subsequent fixtures against Oakham were cancelled. It is safe to say spirits remained high regardless, and we stick to the fact that our performance in the first game spooked Oakham off.
The Lower School then had their opportunity to represent Uppingham, putting in a strong performance against Oakham Senior School. Despite the result not going in their favour, the matches were competitive and encouraging.
One of the highlights of the season was the annual fixture against the Old Uppinghamians and Jesters. This match is always memorable, combining competitive rallies with moments of humour, including the sight of veteran players returning to court.
Uppingham was also invited to Rugby School to experience Rugby Fives. The team included four novices alongside two experienced players. The day provided an excellent opportunity to learn a new variation of the game, and although Rugby emerged victorious, the experience was highly valuable. A few weeks later, the team travelled to Oundle for a formal Rugby Fives fixture. Despite this being only their second time playing the variant, Uppingham secured two match wins. Eli Birch performed particularly well in the singles, winning two of his three matches and narrowly losing 12–15 to the Midland Under-18 Singles Champion.
On 17 March, the Fives captains competed in the Boys Open Nationals. Their performance is best summarised as follows:
“We were placed into one of fourteen groups, with the top two progressing to the Cup and the bottom two to the Plate. We began against Saint Olave’s, losing 12–6, followed by a match against Harrow 2 which lasted 55 minutes and ended 12–3, a closer contest than the score suggests. We then defeated QEB 8, 12–4, placing us into the Plate competition.
In the Plate, we faced Ipswich 3, Aldenham 4, and Eton 5, with results of 5–8, 2–8, and 8–1 respectively. Finishing second in the group, we progressed to the Bowl. There, we defeated Eton 8, 8–0, and Aldenham 2 in the semi-final, also 8–0. This set up a final against Ipswich 3, whom we had previously lost to. In a fast-paced match, we secured a 12–7 victory to win the Bowl.”
This represents an outstanding achievement, particularly given the limited number of competitive matches played during the season.
Sergey Teliatnik and Eli Birch
Westminster
Match v St.Olave's; Top Shot winner; Andrew Aitken Cup; World Fives Day
It has been a positive season, marked by steady progress and a growing sense of confidence within the group. Results across the school fixture list have been encouraging, and the League 3 Abbey Club side has competed well, showing increasing composure and awareness as the season has developed.
Participation has been a real highlight. Afternoon Fives Station sessions continue to attract strong numbers, reflecting both the appeal of the sport and the positive environment around the programme. There is a clear willingness to train and improve, and that commitment is beginning to show in match performances. Top squad evening sessions have also established a reliable core of attendees, contributing to this overall improvement.
A committed group of U14 and U15 players has emerged as the backbone of the squad. Their consistency in both attendance and effort has provided a solid foundation, and they are starting to set the standard for others coming through.
School Fives Captain Alex Sergeev and vice-captain Thomas Ormond organised a highly successful internal House Tournament, with all 11 houses fielding a team - something not achieved for a number of years. Jasper Penderis won the annual “Top Shot Challenge,” claiming the highly coveted trophy and earning his place on the winners’ cup displayed in Ashburnham Garden.
Beyond school fixtures, a number of students have developed links with the Old Westminster Fives Club and taken part in a range of tournaments, including EFA individual events, the Turnbull Trophy, the Westminster “Andrew Aitken” Cup, and the Kinnaird Festival. These experiences have provided valuable exposure to higher-level competition.
Overall, this has been a season of solid progress, with increasing participation, a strong core of players, and encouraging performances. The foundations are in place for continued development next year.
Matt Wiseman
Wolverhampton Grammar School
A small group of Year 9 boys have carried the torch for Eton Fives at WGS this year with one of them enjoying attending the U14 individual tournament at Repton.
Sixty Year 7 pupils were also introduced to Fives during PE lessons last term bringing lots of enthusiasm and positivity with them which will hopefully be translated in to attendance at the after school club next year and hopefully some fixtures with the other Midlands schools.
Andy Husselbee
Wrekin
After years of attempting to get Fives underway in some meaningful format, finally we have seen significant breakthroughs in the game at Wrekin. Having stressed the need to open the courts more often, to encourage refurbishment and to remove the gates from in front of the courts, the reports written to the Head over the last two years have borne fruit. With the advent of the arrival in January a year ago of a new Deputy Head, David Blackham, who is a Fives player, learning his Fives at Malvern with Winchester Fives, soon recognised the joys and advantages of the Eton game and the possibilities open to Wrekin. He has ensured that the courts are open three times a week and clubs have been formed for different lower end age groups. It was great to see them play a couple of matches against Prestfelde and especially in their second contest, winning some matches and proving themselves to be a force to be reckoned with. David ensured that support was given for teams to enter the Festival at the Nationals at Repton at the end of the season, and the U13 boys fared extremely well, considering the little they had played to date and being a year young. It is hoped that the EFA will send some coaches to train up other staff during an Inset at the beginning of September so that the game at Wrekin can continue to flourish and develop it further up the school. Also there has been the promise of financial support from the Old Wrekenians with the EFA to start the refurbishment process. I am grateful to David for believing in the future of the game and for setting the ball rolling for such measures to take place.
Alex Aldous