Matthew Beard reports:
03/09/18: It was a busy few days for fives at Lancing recently, with a tremendous amount of fives being played at the college.
The first event was a Howard Wiseman inspired fives induction day for new pupils. 26 boys and girls enjoyed a full day of instruction and playing. Howard's Way simplifies the game so that complete beginners can have a go and having a good idea of what the game is about. Hopefully a good number will take up the game - certainly many had the skills to make good fives players.
On the following weekend the Annual Lancing Fives weekend attracted a total of 32 players - a record!
Players from as far as Birmingham, Ipswich and Jersey attended and had a thoroughly enjoyable time.
The fives was a mixture of social and competitive, with the Lionhearts, marshalled expertly by Richard Black having a parallel tournament.
The main competition for the Ladywell trophy, administered by Gareth Hoskins and Ashley Lumbard, enabled players to experience a variety of match situations.
Tournament results
Lionhearts
Winners: Mike Wood and David Cooper
Runners up: Tim Monckton and Nick Jones
Ladywell Trophy
Winners: Matt Davis and Matthew Beard
Runners up: Henry Steele and Tim Gregory
A splendid Gala Dinner was held at The Ardington Hotel Worthing , with honoured guests Chris Davies, Chairman of the EFA and Martin Todd, Chairman of the OL Club.
The weekend was what fives is all about - a welcoming environment, with some decent fives played by a variety of ages. It was particularly heartening to see some excellent fives being played by the younger contingent, including Nicholas Proctor from Dover College along with Natasha and Charlotte Gregory.
Thanks must go to the college for allowing the event to take place, to The OL club for very generous financial support and the team of Beard, Cooper and Black who did the logistics.
There are two thriving OL Eton Fives Clubs , one based in London and the other based in Sussex, which plays regularly on Tuesday evenings at the College. We need more players for both clubs - beginners are always welcome.
Contacts
London: Ashley Lumbard
Lancing Tuesday Evenings: Matthew Beard