Howard Wiseman reports:

The fourteenth Rossall Schools’ Championships took place on the 2^nd and 3^rd of October. 56 pupils entered from seven schools: Wolverhampton GS, St Olave’s, Rossall, Sedbergh, Tonbridge, Bedford Modern and Emanuel School. It’s a shame that regulars, Lancing College, Malvern College and Oundle School could not make it this year, but superb that Sedbergh and Tonbridge took part for the first time.

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The eight superb Victorian Fives courts at Rossall School were overflowing throughout Sunday; some of the congestion having been avoided by playing two hours of pool matches on the Saturday evening for those teams  that could arrive before Sunday.  As ever the clash of styles from  Rugby, Eton and Winchester Fives codes were all successfully brought together on level terms on these great hybrid courts. It was fascinating to watch.

All players strengthened various aspects of their game over the weekend, and fortunately the four categories were shared between four schools: Tonbridge (beating 1^st seed Rossall 1) won the open singles, while St Olave’s won the open doubles (beating Rossall 2 in the final). In the U15s Rossall defeated Sedbergh in the doubles, whilst Sedbergh defeated Rossall in the Singles.

Several of the competing schools had enjoyed time together on the way up on the Saturday playing arcade games in Blackpool together, whilst five of the schools enjoyed social Fives together for an hour prior to the tournament starting on the Saturday evening.

Many thanks to the resident REFCA Fives coaches at Rossall School for their help in running the event: Sam Newby and Ashley Lumbard. Special thanks also to the outstanding Rossall Master in Charge, Tom Root, and the Deputy Headmaster and Headmaster for their interest and support throughout Sunday.

Rossall School is a special place, and Rossall Fives is perhaps the most enjoyable and demanding version of Fives that there is… Any School, from any code of Fives, is most welcome to join us in future seasons.

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Results:

Open singles:

Tonbridge 1 (A.Ainsworth) beat  Rossall 1 (A.Lewis) 11-10

Open Doubles:

St Olaves 1 (T.Barker & H.Ravi) beat  Rossall 2 (A.Lewis & Holder-Williams)  15-5

U15 Singles:

Sedbergh 1 (B.Lawry) beat Rossall 5 (C.Andrews) 11-8

U15 Doubles:

Rossall 1 (J.Williams & M.Morrison) beat Sedburgh 1 (B.Lawry & T.Hoggard) 11-8

Open plate Doubles:

St Olave’s 2 (E.Phillips & D.Chandra) beat  Bedford 2 (T.Rees-Bidder and C.Milburn) 11-10