Lancing had both a master-in-charge and a visiting coach for some seven or eight years before the Fives really took off as a popular activity, but it is now well established there, strongly underpinned by the investment in re-furbishing the courts which the school undertook last year. Oakham and Uppingham had completely dormant courts, but these have now been re-activated with a change of personnel. They have built on their re-emergence onto the Fives scene, and future prospects at both look very encouraging. At Uppingham, the enthusiasm of Chris Stevens (Brooklands) and David Kirk (Fircroft) together with financial support from the School and the Eton Fives Charitable Trust has helped to re-establish Fives on their boarding house courts.
James Birch is taking over as master-in-charge from Seth Bolderow , who will be moving to Oakham. A graduate Fives assistant was taken on for one term last year, and this coming season, Oakham will be taking on a full-time Fives' general sports assistant supplied by REFCA.
Another major re-entrant to the School Fives scene in the last season has been Cranleigh. Under the splendid leadership of Jon Carr, a school team strong in both numbers and skill has emerged, which performed well in the National Schools’ Championships. Regular REFCA coaching has been brought into Cranleigh, Jon himself has attended coaching sessions at Westway, and there is to be a REFCA staff Fives afternoon at Cranleigh next September at the start of the season.
WestwayThe EFA and REFCA share the twin aims of ensuring that all schools which possess Fives courts use them well; and that school players continue to play the game as adults beyond their schooldays, since Fives should be a sport for life. REFCA now works at some twenty-five schools, but there is still much more to do – especially in terms of coaching at Rugby Fives schools, and of creating more opportunities for schoolgirls and boys to play outside school. We are looking at ways of expanding without over-stretching what we can do at present. More full-time professionals in Fives is perhaps the right way forward.
H.M.E.W.
Rugby & Eton Fives Coaching Agency Report 2003-2004 by Howard Wiseman
Created 17th December 2004 by Mike Fenn
efa@etonfives.co.uk