For several years now the Old Tonbridgians Fives Club has operated on a very sociable and friendly basis, meeting regularly on a Tuesday evening at Tonbridge for some enjoyable social fives. We are most fortunate to be allowed to use the facilities provided by the School and, with one or two rare exceptions, we have been able to play on every evening since the season began in September.
We regularly play on either Rugby or Winchester fives courts thereby varying the game and increasing the interest. Generally we do not worry about changing facilities for evening social events but, on the occasions when we have a fixture I usually arrange for a meal within the School ', most ably provided by the catering department. I remain indebted to Dr Ian Jackson, currently master in charge of fives and also house master of Ferox Hall, who very kindly liases with me and helps in providing changing facilities.
Our season essentially runs from October until May, extended beyond the traditional by mutual consent and certainly allows us to have games of a high standard against all of the local clubs. This includes the Bank of England, Old Whitgiftians, Masters of Christ’s Hospital, Old Eastbournians, and of course against the School. We also have a regular fixture against the Rugby Fives Association. Sadly our fixture with Sutton Valence no longer exists as their team has had difficulty finding a home at which to play following a change of use at their courts.
I am delighted to report that during the course of the last season we have done well and I have attached a résumé of the results of this time. Of the eleven matches played we have lost on two occasions winning on the other nine, sometimes by very close margin and sometimes by a slightly greater margin. On some occasions these matches are using the Winchester courts but on most are using the Rugby fives courts.
In past time we have often been joined by boys from the school wishing to improve their fives standard. We have always welcomed this, unfortunately in the last little while there appears to be less opportunity for them to join us. I suspect this is due to the pressure of work and an increasingly complex timetable. I know that Ian Jackson, the master in charge, has always been encouraging pupils in this direction – we certainly welcome their attendance and if anybody should be looking at this review please feel free to turn up on a Tuesday evening, possibly making contact with me first should you wish to confirm that the matches are on.
New players to the game are always very welcome and, if they wish to join in should contact me in the first instance so that arrangements can be made. Currently we have between six and eight people playing regularly on club night and it has been, by comparison to the last season, somewhat easier to produce a good team of four for matches. The evidence for this as you will see is in the results chart.
We look forward to an even better season next year.
Tel: 01732 750221.
E-mail: Neil.D.Arnott@btinternet.com