Administration Officer's Report
(2000/2001 Season)
School Fives
Eton Fives is flourishing at school level with record numbers of boys and girls playing the game. The Association and the Charitable Trust, supported by Howard Wiseman's Coaching Agency, continue to provide coaching and financial support to some twelve schools and plans are in place to kick-start Eton Fives at Uppingham, the Wrekin and St. Bartholomews, Newbury. All in all a most healthy picture with an expected spin off in the near future for the adult game.
Club and University Fives
In the short term Club Fives is going through a quiet stage with several clubs finding it more and more difficult to raise sides on a regular basis. The main hope for the future of the game rests on the recruitment of boys and girls into Clubs, either direct from School or University, and a greater use of the match management system to ease the pressures on match managers in arranging teams. Perhaps a more pro-active stance is required from one or two Club Secretaries! Certainly there are encouraging signs for the future with school Fives on the increase and a very enthusiastic and active University Fives base.
Last season James Toop set up and organised a successful Universities Championship at Edgbaston; Cambridge organised a tour to Zuoz (July 2000); the Varsity match seemed more competitive; the Under 25s took place; and all the major competitions included large numbers of University players.
Courts
Four new courts have been built at Westway, one at Orley Farm School, one in Zurich and plans are at the advanced stage for the long awaited courts at Cambridge. Plans have been sent to the Royal Hospital School Hampstead and the Headteacher at St. Bartholomews, Newbury (formerly Newbury Grammar School) is to be approached with a view to re-opening their two courts.
Competition Fives
Reports on all tournaments can be found elsewhere in this publication. The encouraging news is the increased number of entrants in all competitions and in particular the Ladies Championship.
Malcolm Keeling, former Kinnaird winner and stalwart of the game for so many years, has handed over the reins of the Individual Challenge for top players, his brainchild of some nine years ago. Malcolm's enthusiasm, organisational skills and play will be sorely missed. Richard Tyler has kindly agreed to run the competition for the coming season.
Advertising and other Support
The production costs to the Association of this report have been reduced thanks to the generosity of those members and friends who have kindly agreed to take advertising space. Their contribution is much appreciated as is the valuable support given to me by Club Secretaries, Masters-in-Charge, members of the Board, the Charitable Trust, Howard Wiseman and others during the past twelve months.
M.R.F.
Constructed by Mike Fenn
10 September 2001
efa@etonfives.co.uk