The Rossall Open Championship 1999-2000
(Held at Rossall School, Lancashire on 11th/12th October, 1999)
Foreword
Following the highly successful Schools' Fives Championships held at Rossall School the previous season, an Adult Open Championship was set for early September. The standard of the entry was extremely high, with representatives from Rugby, Eton, and Winchester Fives. Indeed, the "Rossall Fives" specialists were out in force too! Rugby/Winchester rules were used, together with a leather-covered Eton Fives Ball. The eight courts themselves are the perfect hybrid between the three codes, having a wooden board at Rugby Fives height, a Winchester butress (a little further back than usual), and Eton Fives back corner butresses with a run-off due to the lack of a back-wall!. The courts are very wide, and therefore are non-standard in dimensions for any of the established codes - a very neutral venue that would certainly produce the best Fives players as Champions, regardless of their specialist Fives background.
Singles Championship
Pool Matches and Quarter-finals
The Singles Championships produced many fascinating battles. The closest Pools match tussle was between Ben Taberner (Rugby) and Howard Wiseman (Eton). Ben apparently had the match in the bag, until Howard spotted the part of the court that looked familiar, and began to relentlessly hit the butresses! Howard squeezed through 18-16. The top two players from each of the four pools qualified for the quarter-finals. Hamish Buchanan defeated Ben Taberner 15-10, 15-10. Matthew Wiseman defeated Philip Brown 15-6, 15-6. Howard Wiseman defeated Andrew Eastham (Rossall specialist!) 15-11, 11-15, 15-5. The fourth Quarter-final was a particularly close affair between James Toop and the tenacious Sebastian Cooley. Seb was slightly ahead in the third game before having to withdraw due to an aggravated ankle wound. The scores were 15-11, 12-15 to this point.
Semi-finals
Both Semi-finals were very fine matches. James Toop beat Howard Wiseman (his coach!!) 15-2, 16-14, displaying great creativity to use the full width and depth of the courts as well as amazing accuracy to consistently hit the butress (only four inches wide!). The other Semi-final was a fascinating match. Hamish Buchanan against Matthew Wiseman. Both players new each other well from their Rugby Fives practices in London. In their own Codes both players would struggle to gain a point from each other, but both are undoubtedly at the very top of their respective Fives worlds. Hamish won the first game 15-11, but was heavily defeated in the second game, 3-15. Matthew's accuracy on the serve ("cut" for you Eton readers!) was unbelievable - rolling off the base of the tiny 4 inch wide butress almost without fail. Hamish had to resort to bluff and double bluff with his serve returns in order to upset Matthew's accuracy. This tactic appeared to pay off in the third game. Hamish returned most serves, and played fautless Fives to take a large lead. 11-4 ahead, and it seemed as though Hamish had the match in the bag. The rallies had been very long and extremely draining on these large courts. The ball always had to be chased down since there was no back wall to keep the ball in court. Matthew showed great strength to dig in and claw his way back to 14-14, having saved several match points. Many long rallies later, Matthew ran out as the winner 16-14. It is noteworthy that both these players, who competed in the closest match of the tournament, both won their respective Open Fives Championships later in the season : Hamish winning the Open Rugby Fives Singles, and Matthew the Eton Open doubles with partner James Toop.
Final
Toop v Wiseman. As Eton Fives players (partners indeed!) Matthew and James
had never met in a singles context. Matthew's serving was ridiculous in the first
game - most were quite unplayable unless taken on the volley, since they hit the
very base of the butress almost without fail. James lost the first game 0-15.
The second game was very close, with James visibly making huge efforts to claw
his way into the match, and to break Matthew's composure and control. Matthew
managed to remain a point or two ahead throughout the game, and eventually won
16-14 to clinch the Singles title.
Plate "A" was won by
Chris Cooley, and Plate "B" by Peter White.
Doubles
Semi-finals
M.Wiseman & J. Toop beat H.Wiseman & S.Cooley, 15-11, 15-7
D.Mew & P.White lost to H.Buchanan & B.Taberner 9-15, 2-15
Final
The Final of the doubles was therefore Rugby Fives (Hamish & Ben) against Eton Fives (Mat and James). Given that Mat and James were both in the Singles Final, it was particularly interesting to see how the doubles would work out. The first game was close all the way. Whilst Hamish and Ben tended to play winners off the "nick" where the side walls join the floor, Mathew and James found their winners against the back corner butresses. Hamish and Ben won the first game 15-10. The second game saw planty of ferocious Fives with rallies that were truly exhausting to watch! The Eton players launched a massive attack on the back left hand of the court. Ben Taberner's defence of the back left corner and corner butress was astonishing. Taking numerous balls on the half-volley from inches in front of the back corner butress, and often returning the ball from up to eight feet out of the end of the court, Mat and James struggled to effect any winners. Hamish and Ben returned serve brilliantly, and played fautless Fives to take the match 15-4 in the second game.
Summary
How fortunate for the Competition Organiser that both Eton and Rugby Codes triumped! Indeed the whole Tournament triumped. The weekend away brought all the players closely together. The silver service meal in the Rossall Common room, hosted by the Headmaster and Rossall Old Boys, was a great evening, followed by drinks at the local pub along the sea front. All accommodation and food was provided on-site, and was of a very high standard.
Many thanks to Rossall Enterprises and The Headmaster at Rossall School for their hospitality. This Tournament is here to stay.
Results
Singles
Quarter-finals:
- H Buchanan (Alleyns) beat B Taberner (Paulines) 15-10, 15-10
- M Wiseman (Olavians) beat P Brown (Rossallian) 15-6, 15-6
- H Wiseman (Olavians) beat A Eastham (Rossallian) 15-11, 11-15, 15-5
- J Toop (Olavians) beat S Cooley (St.Olave's) 15-11, 12-15, w/o
Semi-finals:
- M Wiseman beat H Buchanan 11-15, 15-3, 16-14
- J Toop beat H Wiseman 15-2, 16-14
Final:
- M Wiseman beat J Toop 15-2, 16-14
Doubles
Semi-finals:
- M Wiseman and J Toop (Olavians) beat H Wiseman and S Cooley (Olavian/St Olave's) 15-11, 15-7
- H Buchanan and B Taberner (Alleyns/Paulines) beat P White and D Mew (Olavians) 15-9, 15-2
Final:
- B Taberner and H Buchanan beat J Toop and M Wiseman 15-10, 15-4
H.M.E.W.
Constructed by Mike Fenn
7th March 2001
efa@etonfives.co.uk