Riki Houlden reports:
29/10/23: The tenth anniversary of the Cambridge courts was marked on Saturday by a huge gathering of players past, present, and future.
With ages ranging from 13 to 83, the event was a true celebration of the joy fives can bring regardless of one’s age. A strong turnout of CUEFC players was joined by Cambridge alumni, Cambridge Fives Club players (local players who mostly picked the game up as adults), Jesters, grandchildren, and significant others. With over 30 people keen to play, we had multiple short games set to step at 7, allowing everyone to get on court with lots of new faces as well as old friends. All the buzz acted as temptation for even those who had come intending only to spectate – Natasha and Katie picked up fives at the Mixed Tournament three weeks ago and despite initially declaring otherwise, they had donned gloves by the end of the day too!
Bob Dolby (President of the Cambridge University Rugby Fives Club) kindly arranged a CURFC vs Jesters match to take place at the same time to add to the festivities. We had a few Eton fives players wander over to join, perplexing players of our sister sport with slices, lobs, and drops; Gareth certainly caught a few opponents and his partner(!) off-guard with several walloping volleys.
An extended round of applause was held recognising the enormous contributions made by the donors and those who had driven the fundraising efforts over a decade ago. Without these courts, many of those who were present would not be the players they are today, myself included.
My thanks to Rodney Knight for generously sponsoring the catering. My apologies too, it seems it’s been too long since I was at university and I’d forgotten how quickly students consume free food – the canapés were devoured in no time!
Thank you as well to the Cambridge University Sports Centre for helping to host this event and maintaining the courts so well all these years, they’re still looking as good as the day I first set foot on them.
If you are interested in joining the Old Cantabs Eton Fives Club’s mailing list for future events, fixtures, and training, please contact me or Jessye Tu - we look forward to getting you on court!