Going on Tour - 2000
A Fives Tour of the Lake District and Switzerland
Last season I was involved in two Fives Tours. Both were very different - one to Zuoz in Switzerland, and the other was in the Lake District. Both Tours were immensely enjoyable, and I would thoroughly recommend either of them to any school, or old boys club.
The Lake District: we travelled by minibus to Sedburgh School on a Thursday evening, which was to be our Touring base. Sedburgh School very kindly provided us with accommodation. On Friday morning, we drove to St.Bees' School on the Cumbrian Coast. A most beautiful location, with a wonderful journey through the Lake District past Kendall and lake Windermere. At St.Bees, we coached various groups of youngsters during the morning until lunchtime. After a superb lunch provided by our hosts, our group consisting of four Old Olavians, and five girls and boys from St.Olave's School, commenced upon our own internal mix-around tournament on the three beautiful St.Bees Fives Courts, which none of us had ever seen before. After a very competitive, but enjoyable long afternoon of Fives, we drove back to Sedburgh to enjoy the meal in one of the village's superb pubs. We were joined by the master in charge of Fives at Sedburgh - our host!
The following morning we made a quick visit to Aysgarth School - we had not planned to visit but spotted it on the map the day before, and telephone the headmaster to see if we would be welcome. We certainly were encouraged to pay the visit, and were delighted to play on the courts, with a full audience at break time of young Aysgarth pupils - many of whom had just returned from the Eton Fives Prep schools Championships in London!
Back to Sedburgh for lunch, followed by the official Winchester Fives match between St.Olave's and the host school! Whilst this was going on, the old boys on the trip were all playing singles and then doubles against each other! Another relaxing evening in the Sedburgh pubs before bed.
Sunday - the last day. We arrived at Giggleswick School for 10am. Two matches were to take place. St.Olave's girls and boys were due to play an official match against the girls and boys at Giggleswick School. First of all, however, was the "Neil Roberts Challenge". Neil is one of the top three ranked Rugby Fives players in the country. James Toop, Seb Cooley and myself were each to play Neil one set of Rugby Fives. The deal was that he had to try not to lose a point. Whoever could score the most points was the winner! In the event of no points being scored, then the winner would be the player who stayed on court the longest! ......James won - he scored four points.
Within twenty-four hours we had all played Rugby, Eton and Winchester Fives. The best Tours to be had are possibly going to be variations on this one - you do not need even require opposition at all of the venues if you are prepared to run a contest amongst yourselves! There are many beautiful schools and Fives courts in wonderful locations well worth visiting.
The other tour - better named a Fives Holiday! Zuoz School in the Engadin Swiss Alps near the Italian border. A full itinerary of matches involving Fives, Cricket, and Volleyball (so what if you've never played!) against Zuoz, and other schools who are visiting at the same time. This year's tour included on-going matches during the week between St.Olave's, Zuoz, Zuoz Old boys, Cambridge University, and a Zuoz School Staff team! St.Moritz is just down the road, and the walking, mountain biking and cable car rides on the doorstep are amazing.
There can be no better motivation for any school team, no matter what the standard may be, to have the promise of a tour - perhaps a total one-off, or something that will be repeated every three years or so.
For any help or advice on arranging a Tour, please feel free to contact me. Howard Wiseman on 020 8778 0752.
Howard Wiseman
Constructed by Mike Fenn
5 May 2001
efa@etonfives.co.uk