International Report
(2000/2001 Season)
Links with the Irish Handballers have become increasingly strong in recent years. Each year the Irish Handball Council (a Professional organisation that oversees the game in Ireland) sends an increasing number of its youth players to compete in the National Schools Championships held in England at Rossall School. This has noticeably resulted in the thought of Tours to Ireland by British teams. Cambridge University Fives Club were hoping to go on tour to Ireland this year - a plan that has been temporarily put back for a future year, whilst Malvern College Fives Team is going on Tour to Ireland this coming Christmas.
Welsh Handball/Fives is strong at the moment, and it was good to see some of their youth players and adult representatives at the Rossall Championships too this year. It would be highly appropriate for any old Boys or school teams to travel to Wales in order to play fixtures on the Welsh Handball Association courts in Nelson. I believe that Handball has once again been placed on the sports curriculum in some of the schools in the Nelson area. Both the Welsh and Irish teams were very well represented in the recent World Handball Championships in Chicago. It would be good to see English players taking part in the next World Handball Championships. There is a one-wall category in these Championships which has been introduced as a version of Fives/Handball that players from all codes can take part in without too much prior knowledge being required (if you like, this would be the "Olympic" version that is common to all regional/national codes of Fives and Handball around the world.)
Eton Fives specifically has had a good year. Fives in Geelong Grammar school (Australia) has been serviced all year by Tom Dunbar (following the footsteps of James Toop and Sebastian Cooley). There was recently a highly successful tournament in Geneva at the Courts in Veigy, which are a facility owned by a Holmes Place Sports Centre. This Tournament was won by William Powell (Old Olavian) together with his Swiss partner. Geneva is not a thriving centre at all, but the courts are superb, and there is talk of REFCA supplying a Fives Professional to work there during the summer months in order to utilise this facility properly. As a result of the popularity of the sport in the Lyceum Alpinum, Zuoz, courts are likely to be built in the near future in Brazil and Indonesia. A private court was built very recently in Italy. Most of this court building represents private access facilities that will not on the whole have an effect on the spread of Eton Fives - but may well make for a very exciting touring circuit!!
The second court that has just been built in Zurich is of course excellent news. The court itself has been made to the highest specifications, and the existence of two well maintained courts that are in constant use in Zurich will only help to encourage Zuoz old Boys and Girls to continue playing this sport as adults. This court was oficially opened in April, and our Chairman, Michael Constantanidi, was present to represent the EFA. It will now be possible for schools and clubs to visit the Zuoz old boys for fixtures in Zurich if they so wish. A joint team from Emanuel and St.Olave's played an official fixture on the Zurich courts on June 30th, whilst en route to the Lyceum in Zuoz for a week's programme of Fives matches and holiday activities.
Fives at the Lyceum is progressing very well. A full-time Fives professional from REFCA was employed for the first time this summer, who was on site to give one-to-one lessons throughout the day time, and to run Fives club for three hours every evening. Members of the Lyceum Fives Club took part in the Northen Championships as well as the National Schools Championships, the Mixed and Ladies Open. REFCA officially ran a Fives Holiday Tour to the Lyceum this year that will be open every year for any young Fives players to take part in from any school. In this way, the Lyceum will benefit from a programme of home Fives matches, ant the touring party will enjoy sociable Fives and a Holiday in one of the most beautiful regions of the world - the Engadin Swiss Alps! There will be a large entry from the Zuoz Old boys Club in this years' London Tournament.
Anyone interested in arranging a tour to Ireland, Wales or Switzerland should contact Howard Wiseman. He will be delighted to help in any way that he can. Telephone 020 8778 0752.
Howard Wiseman
Constructed by Mike Fenn
10 September 2001
efa@etonfives.co.uk