Why the above Championships, should command an article when in terms of absolute excitement, it comes second to the EFA Trophy, I do not know, but nevertheless it has been requested, and here it is!

Members will he reminded that there was an article last year from Tom O'Connor on Handball throughout the World, and its links with Fives. It seemed fairly logical therefore, that one should actually try to participate in this sport, and find out what it was all about.

The World Handball Championships, sponsored by Waterford Crystal were held in Dublin and Clare, between 1st and 10th October 1994. A small event one might think, but again one was wrong. When you received the Entry form, you found there were forty different categories ranging from "under 10 girls" to "over 75 singles". In addition, there was a further event which was being specifically organised for non Handball Countries, who played a variety of different sports with a hand, a ball and a wall. Thus, I found myself somewhat illogically representing England, Eton Fives and taking part over three days in a one walled Tournament, with a specially constructed court and rules which were different to any of the games presently played.

For those that are of course familiar with Handball, you will not need a description of the court or the technique. For those that are unaware, it is played primarily in a squash court, with four walls, a floor and a ceiling, and of course apart from the front wall the other three walls are made of glass. The ceiling of course is part of the court, and is essential in terms of defensive play, as fairly obviously when the ball hits the ceiling, it cannot easily be volleyed! One winning shot is to hit the ball in the crack between the floor and the front wall, ensuring that the ball does not hit the floor first. The ball is of a racket ball type composition.

Whether or not this sounds exciting, I can promise you that like most sports, when one is watching the World's best players in a packed auditorium, with all the hype of television, commentators, referees, timeouts and the rest, it is compulsive viewing.

The one walled event attracted entries from eleven Countries and was played singles and doubles with a plate competition. I cannot think it desperately exciting to reproduce the scores and results, but the matches were played at the Bray Handball Club, which is situated in a delightful small town just twenty minutes south of Dublin in virtual countryside and on the coast. The finals of the doubles and the plate singles were played as a curtain raiser to the World Championships on the semi-finals day, and quite why I found myself in the plate final I have yet to work out. Nevertheless the excitement of playing before a crowd on a specially marked out court had its moments! Surrounding all these events, was a degree of officialdom, hospitality and excitement. Receptions by Bray County Council, the Lord Mayor of Dublin and a very delightful informal banquet with Albert Reynolds the then Prime Minister in situ were long lasting memories. Above all one has to say that the event was organised with total precision yet with the charm and enthusiasm which is a national characteristic of the Irish. It all seems one happy party and the pace and attitude to life is a delight to experience.

The exchange of views between the two codes of fives, Rugby and Eton and the other Countries which were at that stage unaware of either was well worthwhile, and I have no doubt that at some stage in the future that some handball players will try Eton Fives.

I have to say that Handball players at the top level would make extremely good Eton Fives players although the game does not require the same quick fire volleying which Eton Fives demands.

Shortly after the Championships, the President of the World Handball Association Bob Pruden was a guest at the Strawson Memorial Dinner and had the opportunity of a coaching lesson prior to this from Richard Tyler. I understand he has now fully recovered!

If any Fives players are interested in playing Handball in various countries throughout the World, I would be pleased to help with appropriate contacts that I have made. It should not be forgotten that there are approaching 2,000 one wall handball courts in New York City alone.

A.H.

1994 World Handball Championships by Tony Hughes
Created 3rd June 2003
efa@etonfives.co.uk

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