Chris Cooley reports:
This year's Under 25s tournament was, though depleted by several last-minute illness cancellations, a well-contested and good-spirited event. Played on a cold but mercifully dry day at Eton, it was fortunate that eight pairs were taking part, since this ensured a maximum of on-court time and a minimum of frost-bitten spectatorship.
The range of standards was marked, but nevertheless the Fives was universally enjoyable even at the pools stage. There were some surprise results, and special mention must go to two newly-matched pairs: Anthony Theodossi and Billy Dennis; and Oliver Cooley and Stefan Muhl, who all played exceptionally well. In the end, however, the qualifying stages bore no surprises, with Dan Hawkins and Tom Dunbar drawn against Jake and T Walters in the semi-finals, and David Mew and Stewart Fautley coming up against Seb and Chris Cooley.
This left, in the Plate competition, Anthony and Billy playing Peter Cohen and Peter White, whilst Tom Fletcher and David Cox took on Oliver and Stefan. The Peters decided to retire at this stage, leaving the Emanuel/Olavian pair a bye to the final, where they met Tom and David who had prevailed in a hard-fought semi-final. In the title match, the latter pair won in three games a match which looked closer than its scoreline suggested.
The Main competition followed similar lines. Stewart having hurt his hand, he and Dave withdrew, leaving the Cooleys a bye to the final. Tom and Dan on the other hand had a very good match against the Walters brothers, eventually coming through in three games. There was debate at the beginning of the final as to whether three or five games should be played; in the end, five was agreed, a decision which was to prove crucial. The first three games all went to 10-10, Dan and Tom taking the first and third, before Seb and Chris won the fourth 12-0 and their opponents conceded the match, somewhat under the weather. An excellent match, at the end of a long day!
So, a good day's Fives all round, earning Seb his fourth consecutive appearance in the final and his second win. Many thanks to Mark Williams and Eton College for providing balls and courts, and to all who took part for making this an enjoyable event. May it grow in years to come!
Results
Pool 1
1st S Cooley & C Cooley
2nd J Walters & T Walters
3rd Tom Fletcher & D Cox
4th P White & P Cohen
Pool 2
1st D Hawkins & T Dunbar
2nd D Mew & S Fautley
3rd A Theodossi & B Dennis
4th O Cooley & S Muhl
Main Competition
Semi-finals
S Cooley & Chris Cooley beat D Mew & S Fautley scratched
D Hawkins & T Dunbar beat J Walters & T Walters 2-1 (12-6 7-12 12-5)
Final
S Cooley & C Cooley beat T Dunbar & D Hawkins 3-2 (10-13 13-11 10-13 12-0 ret)
Plate
Semi-finals
A Theodossi & B Dennis beat P White & P Cohen scr
Tom Fletcher & D Cox beat O Cooley & Stefan Muhl 2-1 (11-13 12-5 12-4)
Final
Tom Fletcher & D Cox beat A Theodossi & B Dennis 3-0 (12-10 12-4 12-4)