Eton v. Harrow Fives Centenary
(From the Eton College Chronicle No 3820 15th February, 1985)
Background
In March, 1985, the following notice appeared in the periodical destined to become The Harrovian: On Thursday, the 12 ult., the Hon. and Revd. E. Lyttelton, F. Thomas and C. Barclay paid a visit to our Fives Courts and showed us the way Fives was played at Eton. On Saturday 9th February 1985, this memorable event was amply celebrated at Harrow with a Fives match between the two schools of fifteen pairs a side at four age levels, followed by a six-pair match between the Old Boys; in the evening the Headmaster of Harrow was host at a Dinner attended by fifty past and present players at which Lord Home of the Hirsel (who was Keeper of Fives in 1922) proposed the toast 'The Future of the Game at the Two Schools'.
The Centenary Match
Early in the afternoon, after the members of the two sides had endured a bitterly cold photographic session, play started on all fifteen courts in spite of the snow that thickly covered the roofs: conditions in the six lit courts were good; in the others preternatural gloom caused difficulties for spectators and players, but some enjoyable if rather tentative Fives was achieved. It would be invidious to single out for special mention individuals in these courts, not least because your correspondent was as blinded as the rest! Suffice it to say that in all nine matches Eton was victorious, although in the under-14 first pairs' game Eton had to come back from 0-2 down to win an exciting tie - to judge by the scores Huntington's success in the Master-and-Boy tournament the previous Tuesday had given him extra steadiness and self-confidence - and the first under-15 Eton pair showed their customary vigour and variability, exhorting themselves and each other to a 3-1 victory.
In the courts with lights the third under-16 pair only just escaped disaster, where Fry and Wilmot scraped home 13-12 in the fifth game; the second pair, Headlam and Butler, proved too strong for the Harrovians, but in the first Lunt and Taylor were, at least initially, made to fight for their win. The three senior pairs all won by three games to one: Jenks and Banham often seemed their own worst enemies, frequently surrendering the advantage only to retrieve the situation with some fine recovery shots ... and their opponents' mistakes. Forwood and Colville appeared to find the Harrow courts at times disconcerting, yet their overall strength and superiority in the cut pulled them through. It was left to Prest and Leslie to provide the quality, although in truth it must be admitted that this showed but fitfully: some shots were worthy of the spectators' generous applause, whilst others should perhaps charitably be blamed on the comparitive slowness of the Harrow courts. At Eton the ball comes to you; at Harrow you need to go and meet it: it is hoped that this lesson will be appreciated for the future. It is indeed a matter for satisfaction that Eton were victorious in all fifteen contests, but much more pleasing to be able to record that all players showed a commendable degree of commitment; creditable too was the standard of turn-out, and the rare black look only served to emphasise the overall high level of courtesy: these qualities were much appreciated by the large number of spectators.
The Old Boys' Match
The match between the Old Etonians and the Old Harrovians started after a slight delay occasioned by the non-arrival of one Etonian and the need to take photographs for the records. It ended, as all good matches should, in a harmonious draw, each side winning three pairs, although perhaps by this time the thoughts of some were being drawn more to the prospect of dinner and an understandable reluctance to be late!
Organisation
The whole event was masterminded by J.D.C.Vargas, the ex-master-in-charge of Fives at Harrow, for whose fautless administration our sincere thanks are due.
Results
Eton won the series 15-0. Eton has won 60 and Harrow 40 since 1885.
M.J.S-J.
Constructed by Mike Fenn
24th January 2000
efa@etonfives.co.uk