Gerald Barber reports:
Eighty enthusiastic fives players assembled at Harrow to contest the 41st Prep School Championships, on a cold blustery morning.
The preliminary rounds were completed with the usual variety of expertise and great energy on display. Four Highgate pairs, 2 Summer Fields and one each from Ludgrove and Sunningdale made up the quarter finals. It was excellent to see both Summer Fields pairs playing with great skill. They disposed of Highgate 4 and 3 and looked promising as they faced the might of Highgate 1 and 2. Sadly for Summer Fields Highgate once again proved too strong and both Highgate pairs reached the final. The final was of an excellent standard as per usual with Highgate I winning comfortably. Some of the rallies in the final were remarkable in their length and quality. Congratulations are due to all four boys for putting on such an excellent display of attacking fives. All the more remarkable as the winner, Noble and Berriman, were the N/national Under 12 Champions as well. It was excellent to welcome the Chairman of the E.F.A. Richard Barber to present the prizes.
In the Jeremy Marston Plate the semi-finals were played between Orley Farm 2 and Cranleigh I in the top half of the draw and between Summer Fields 3 and Kingsland Grange I in the lower half of the draw. Particular mention must be made of Kingsland Grange who proved themselves a promising pair. The final between Orley farm and Summer Fields was a marathon affair with the Oxford team coming from behind to secure a well deserved victory in the third game.
I am delighted to report that the competition in the New Year is to be run by James Woodcock when it returns to the Eton courts. I wish him well and I would like to take this opportunity of thanking most warmly all the masters and mistresses in charge of fives at their schools for their unfailing support and good cheer in making this competition such a happy highlight in the Easter term calendar.
Semi-Finals:
Highgate I (C Noble & J Berriman) beat Summer Fields II (F Fairhead & G Taylor) 12-2, 12-3
Highgate II (J Willett & J Hosking) beat Summer Fields I (M Koe and C Courtenay) 12-5, 12-4
Final:
Highgate I beat Highgate II 12-2, 12-8
Jeremy Marston Plate
Summer Fields III (J Chaplin & D Barber) beat Orley Farm II 6-12, 12-7, 12-6
Quarter-Finalists Competition
Highgate III (G Mador & R Razaq) beat Sunningdale I 12-5, 12-2