Public School Fives in the Early Thirties
A 1989 report by Dr Peter Knowles (EFA Achivist)
In the archives there are some programmes and entry forms for "The Public Schools Eton Fives Handicaps" in 1930-2. These were held at the Queen's Club, West Kensington during April. Entries had to be "by letter, stating name, home address, age, School and some information regarding form." This would give to-day's Kinnaird seeding committee plenty to get their teeth into! The entry fee was 5 shillings per pair (£5-£6 in 1989 terms). Where did these riches go to one might ask? The Junior competition had a younger qualifying age than nowadays (Under 16 on April 1st) and juniors were ineligible for the Senior competition.
Only nine schools were represented in all three years - Aldenham, Charterhouse, Emmanuel, Eton, Harrow, Highgate, Lancing, Mill Hill and Repton. Berkhamsted, Shrewsbury, Stowe, and Wellington played in two of the years, while there were single appearances by City of London, Uppingham and interestingly, in 1930 by Dover! The programme cost sixpence and the competition was even longer than nowadays - six days in 1932!
The "Handicaps" were regularly reported in the Times, typically of twelve column inches per day. I have summarised below some of the more interesting comments made in the press reports for 1930. "Aldenham 1, a very big pair for under 16" suggests that the age limits were controversial even then! "Aldenham were continually groping for fast yorkers" and "P A A Lewis has beautiful wrists" would probably not get past the EFA Handbook editor. "The handicaps, in most cases, continue to work out satisfactorily" implies regular complaints from masters-in-charge. An observation on returning the first cut, "R Pulbrook goes under the front wall to take the first cut, which is forgivable only if, in a certain match, a player finds himself unable to take first cut; as a practice it is lamentable." Finally, fives at Eton has not changed much! "At Eton the player always does catch the ball if he can and his reason for doing so is to make the ball dead, so that his partner again has the advantage of hitting the first cut. The opponent of the player who is trying to catch the ball, and to save a point, has the right to hamper that player in any way he sees fit, short of striking him. He may, and does at Eton, pull the hand of the arm of his opponent away as it reaches to catch the ball. Several schools catch the ball and hold it, but handling an opponent is unusual."Constructed by Mike Fenn
1 April 2000
efa@etonfives.co.uk