Mark Williams reports:
This year a record 350 pairs were entered for the Championships from a record 32 schools. First timers playing out of Westway included Sion Manning, Fulham Cross, Holland Park, Oxford Gardens, Ealing Tutorial, Selsdon High, St Charles College, Kingston College and Burlington Danes.
A successful dinner, courtesy of HSBC, was held at in the School Dining Room for the Masters-in-Charge, Members of the EFA Board and other guests. Peter Newnham, Managing Director of HSBC Insurance and successor to David Godfray, welcomed those present to the 21st Dinner and delighted the audience by confirming his and HSBC's continuing commitment to Eton Fives. Richard Barber, Chairman of the EFA, proposed the toast to the future of Eton Fives - coupled with the name of HSBC and Highgate School. Other speakers included the Headmaster - Richard Kennedy and Graham Dunbar, who thanked Brian Matthews and David Maughan on their retirement for their unstinting support of the game over many years. Seth Bolderow was congratulated for bringing Fives back to life at Uppingham.
OPEN
Shrewsbury 1 (T.D.Gerrard & T.W.P.Cox) beat Highgate 1 (A.Patel & J.O'Callaghan)
14-11, 12-7, 13-15, 12-7
UNDER 16
Highgate 1 (A.A.O'Callaghan & M.R.Little) beat Eton 1 (T.L.Redmayne & F.T.Burgess)
12-2, 12-2, 12-5
UNDER 14
Highgate 1 (J.R.Ho & J.T.Y.Meyrick) beat Highgate Junior 1 (S.Little & C.Ryan)
12-4, 12-7, 12-9
UNDER 12
Highgate Junior 1 (G.Sulkin & H.Hatchwell) beat Highgate Junior 2 (T.Cooling & A.Buchanan)
12-4, 12-4, 12-2
LADIES
St Olave's 1 (C.E.M.C.Cooley & A.D.Ganguly) beat Kingston College 1 (D.E.A.Redmond & J.M.Turner)
12-4, 9-12, 12-8
UNDER 15
Highgate 1 (J.R.Ball & T.D.Greene) beat Eton 1 (P.M.P.Eckersley & G.E.Bullard)
12-9, 12-9
UNDER 14 BEGINNERS
Harrow 1 (A.H.Webb & W.S.Jones) beat Shrewsbury 1 (M.M.McKeever & M.E.Tomley)
12-9, 8-12, 12-3, 12-0