The Eton Fives Association


    St.Paul's School Darjeeling

    A report from the Captain of Eton Fives, Arindam Chaudhuri, first published in the
    1983/84 EFA Annual Report.

    Origins of the Game

    Chapels, as we all know, present a site of inspiration. The case with Eton Fives was no different! As the name suggests, the game originated in Eton, with a few variations, and is most popular there, there being over forty courts currently in existence there, the first four having been simultaneously constructed in 1840.

    To return to Chapels, the Eton variation of the game originated outside the Etonian Chapel, at the foot of the stairs leading to its North door. An amazing arrangement of buttresses, drains, and ledges gave the court the form it has to-day.

    Arrival at St Paul's

    The game arrived at the hallowed portals of St.Paul's School, Darjeeling from Eton in 1899.

    The game at St Paul's has proved a valuable pastime to generations of Paulites. Its popularity could perhaps be attributed to the lengthy and pressing monsoons. In seeking to evade the 'Monsoon Blues' as is termed the general feeling of depression incurred, the Fives Court affords sanctuary.

    However the game is associated with a number of difficulties, these being as listed under:-

  • Equipment - the number of gloves as was being used did not come to the level required by the number of enthusiastic hands. Gloves freshly purchased were speedily demolished. We have lately solved this problem by obtaining more from the local cobbler as also from similar obscure sources of glove production.
  • Exposure - being, in comparison to very popular games like Cricket and Soccer, rather an obscure type of game, it seldom gets the backing enthusiam it should. In a school like St. Paul's though fixtures are held on a minor scale, the above mentioned being lacking does not give Eton Fives the forward momentum required. As a result, popularity wanes, and the familiar white ball bounces off the cream walls less often, though one cannot say any more that 1983 has been a dull year for 1983 St. Pauls Eton Fives. Boys even go to play at night! Yet, to prosper, one must have competition from nearby, which is lacking.

    • These two are the primarily problems the Eton Fives Club of St. Paul's has faced.

    Fixtures

    However, lately, we have been trying to have fixtures with schools abroad and in India (just one) and this, if it works, may provide essential propulsion. Having two of the three courts in Asia, thes are currently limited to games against Old Paulites. There is another in Kodaikanal, but we have been unable to keep in contact with the players there.

    This year we had an enthusiastic tournament between the Old Paulites and our current pairs. The Current pairs won the tournament yet had much to learn from the Old hands about the technique of the game. On the other hand, each pair must develop its own strategy and techniques. This gives the game a very individualistic flavour.

    Players

    The fives population of St.Pauls would amount to something in the neighbourhood of forty. Sadly enough, internal competition is limited to about twelve pairs, seven of the foremost being:-

  • Arindam Chaudhuri and Sanjay Jain
  • Anurag Bhatnagar and Kuo Hsing Chiang
  • Imanul Haque and Sanjoy Ray Chaudhuri
  • Ratul Sood and Tashi Tshering
  • Deepak Gupta and Sudip Saha
  • Anjan Roy and Shib Shankar Roy
  • Sanjoy Chatterjee and Lokenath Ghosh

    • One can in the near future look forward to some expansion and increased scope for Fives players. To be optimistic is certainly not to be unreasonable - the game is definately worth the candle.

    Arindam Chaudhuri Captain - Eton Fives

    Constructed by Mike Fenn
    4th April 2000
    efa@etonfives.co.uk

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