Celebrating the Eton Fives courts Centenary

Players past and present came together in June to celebrate a remarkable milestone in the history of Berkhamsted School Fives: the centenary of the Castle Eton Fives courts.

Eton Fives is a beloved cornerstone of sport at Berkhamsted, offering pupils the chance to play a traditional sport focused on integrity, teamwork and honesty. Berkhamsted has also racked up quite a few successes in the sport- already this year we have celebrated two national titles, one in Eton Fives and the other in Rugby Fives, a variation of the game.

The Fives courts were originally converted from bat fives courts in March 1926, and have undergone significant changes over the past century. A roof was added in the 1950s, and successive improvements and renovations have created the modern facilities enjoyed by today’s players. One hundred years on, the courts remain at the heart of a thriving Fives community.

The centenary celebrations were marked during Berkhamsted School’s two annual Fives tournaments, which brought together pupils, staff, Old Berkhamstedians and members of the wider Fives community.

First on the agenda was the annual Scholars & Rogues tournament, where pupils select a teacher of their choice to partner up with. Matches are quick-fire, with pupils from Berkhamsted Prep, Boys and Girls participating to win the coveted ‘Dossi Dish,’ named after an ex-fives coach at the School. For our most serious fives players (and teachers), this is a competitive affair, but for most, this is a fantastic way to bond with teachers, share a delicious BBQ and enjoy the Berkhamsted community coming together with spirit and camaraderie.

After an afternoon of fiercely contested matches, Mr Butcher and Austin C emerged victorious in a 3 -2 final score, defeating Mr Dawson and Theo A in the final.

Bowl Final: Mr Davey and James B beat Mr Fuller and Louis H on golden point rule following a thrilling 3-all tie.

Plate Final: Ms Bell and Charlie A defeated Mr Gillard and Dillon M.

The celebrations continued on Sunday 21 June with the Derek Whitehead Tournament, an event established in 2015 in honour of one of the school’s most dedicated supporters of Fives. The event is named after an Old Berkhamstedian who founded the OB Fives Club, and sees current pupils paired with either an Old Berkhamstedian or a member of the Tuesday evening Fives community.

Twenty-one pairs competed throughout the day, with experience and youth combining to produce some excellent matches. In the Cup Final, Adam and Shlok M narrowly defeated reigning champions Roland and Harry S to claim the title.

Bowl Final: Barney and Lucas diC prevailed over Quentin and Will L-E.

Plate Final: Dennis and Micah L defeated Adam and Josh B.

In reflecting on the event, Fives coach Andrew Stephenson commented,

“The centenary celebrations provided an opportunity not only to reflect on the history of the courts but also to celebrate the vibrant community that has grown around them. Over the past 100 years, generations of Berkhamstedians have learned, competed and forged lasting friendships on these courts.

We were delighted to have Derek in attendance who shared his memories of Berkhamsted fives and really brought the game to life. It was a pleasure to welcome Nigel who was the brainchild of the original event. The post Tournament BBQ enabled all to share stories of what could have been on the day and also exchanged memories of days gone by.

The success of both tournaments demonstrated that Fives continues to thrive at Berkhamsted School. As the courts enter their second century, they remain a place where tradition, competition and community come together ensuring that the legacy of the past 100 years will continue for many more to come.

Learn more about Eton Fives at Berkhamsted: