Marlborough History of Fives at Marlborough David Barnes delves into Marlborough’s past Marlborough College was founded in courts, AF Winnington-Ingram, was 1843, and only six years later the first destined to become the first President basic Fives courts had been built. of the Rugby Fives Association in 1927. These two free-standing walls didn’t In 1877, four courts were built in the last long, though – one was Field, on the north side of the Bath demolished in 1863 and the other Road. One of the 1873 courts was became the side wall of a covered removed to make way for the new rackets court. Porter’s Lodge, but with nine courts in In fact the early days of Fives at all, plus some house courts, Fives was Marlborough saw a lot of change. Two well catered for. When the College three-walled Fives courts were built in celebrated its 50th birthday in 1893 by 1853 – although one was removed in building the North Classroom Block, 1863 to make way for the Bradleian the remaining 1873 courts were building – and three courts were demolished, but in compensation, six erected against the south wall of the more were built in the Field adjacent rackets court. The first singles prize to the other four. was given in 1863, and Fives gloves, These 10 courts grouped together previously scorned – and on one should have stimulated interest, but legendary occasion even ceremonially little change was recorded in The burned – started to be accepted. Marlborough College ‘Court’ Courts brought in line ABOVE Marlborough College Increase in interest c.1890. 1873 Fives courts on right. The first school match was in 1908 1853, Fives courts on left RIGHT House Fives Doubles In 1869, The Marlburian carried an against Cheltenham. “As our opponents Champions 1876 article entitled ‘Fives Playing,’ which were accustomed to a larger court with said the following on the game: “It is a back wall, they were considerably true that we have no covered courts, handicapped,” said The Marlburian. no court with a back wall, or with a “The doubles resulted in a draw, but we of the old courts. For the buttress... but of courts adapted for won both the singles matches.” first time in Marlborough’s plain, good, honest play we have a fair The First World War interrupted history Fives could be played supply.” Part of this honest play matters, and although the Cheltenham on covered courts. included doubles, which at fixture (usually won by Marlborough) Marlborough consisted of two players had been played regularly, it was 1923 The benefits of coaching playing the rally, while their partners before Clifton was added to the list. No Fives reports were published from Marlburians now had a first-class stood back. The writer said: “By this The standard at Marlborough in the 1933 to 1938, leaving us to guess at the player to learn from. Knight was system a match is often lost which 1920s seems to have declined. Both level of activity. The RFA sent sides in runner-up in the Amateur Singles in might have been won; the interest of matches against Cheltenham and 1937 and 1938, but no results appeared. 1936, and on its resumption in 1948 the two out-players is lost, and the Clifton in 1927 were lost. The College lost heavily to an Oxford he became champion. game is robbed of half its variety and By now, the courts were showing IV in 1938, and three pairs suffered a The effect on Marlborough’s Fives charm.” Perhaps unsurprisingly the their age. A letter to The Marlburian big defeat at Clifton the next spring. was immediate. A match against system was soon abandoned. ‘In 1907 there were Marlburian. Internal competitions in 1929 asked for back walls, “to make Fives was clearly stronger in the Oxford in 1948 was won easily. That The Bradleian building was extended chugged along, with entries small and the game as we play it here conform to Common Room, for, when a five-pair same year PC Clemmow became the in 1873, bringing the destruction of the 27 entries for the details erratic. A team played a the Rugby rules, instead of existing in match took place that year, the masters first Marlburian to represent three 1863 courts. In compensation, six Common Room IV in 1901, and the the nature of a bastard half-caste, as it won by almost 100 points. Cambridge at Rugby Fives. courts were built between the gates to Open Singles and masters won every game. Things does at present”. During World War Two, games of The 1948-49 captain, AMB Salmon, the College and the rackets court. 13 pairs for the picked up in 1907, however: there were The appeal was not in vain. That both codes were played against boys was later to play two successive years Competitions proliferated and games 27 entries for the Open Singles and 13 same year, the Martineau family gave from the City of London School, for Cambridge. No fewer than seven were played to 11 or 15, with no deuces. doubles’ pairs for the Doubles, plus Junior and the College eight four-walled Rugby evacuated to Marlborough in 1939. In pairs played the Common Room, and A boy who learnt his Fives on these House competitions. and four Eton courts, built on the site 1945, RJ Knight joined the staff, and the school won 370-290. >> 16 RFA Annual Review 2014-15 RFA Annual Review 2014-15 17 Marlborough School matches return ‘Plenty of boys lob, and the use of the side wall for Inter-school matches started again in carefully placed shots. They also 1949. Over the next decade Canford, were playing, advised us to get some new courts.” Bradfield, Rugby, Sherborne, Clifton, The fact such men were coming to Malvern and Winchester became among them one Marlborough was praise enough, regular opponents; and the Jesters, CDA Martin-Jenkins’ though. AF Elliot was an enthusiastic Oxford Beavers, Bristol University and coach, and the occasional appearance Alleyn Old Boys brought sides to by the resident Amateur Doubles Marlborough. Names which stand out champion did no harm. As well as new from this period are CC Simpson, who Bristol Grammar and Dauntsey’s were lighting in four courts in 1963, two represented Oxford in 1953, and CJ added to the list of opponents. The floors were relaid in 1964, and plenty Harvey, the first captain under AF Marlborough side was led by a future of boys were playing, among them one Elliot, the master-in-charge from 1956. National Doubles champion, MJ Elliott, who was to play Fives twice for In 1957, Clifton were beaten for the first destined to win the Cyriax Cup in Cambridge and become famous in time, and a strong pair of Harvey and partnership with JT Watkinson (BGS cricketing circles, CDA Martin-Jenkins. MG Harrison reached the fourth round and Oxford) three times from 1962-64. of the Schools’ Doubles, losing to the Elliott played three times for Oxford Repairs and demolitions eventual winners from St. Dunstan’s. (1960-62), was captain in the latter two The courts were re-roofed in 1970, and The 1st IV were unbeaten in school years and had the pleasure of selecting when AF Elliot’s long spell as master- matches in 1958, and the next season two other Marlburians, RL Ormond in-charge ended in 1974, Gordon Woods (1961) and PG Howard (1962) to took over. The courts were repainted, represent the University. and three masters, Woods, John CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE CLOCKWISE FROM BELOW DRW Silk, winner of the Cyriax Cup Osborne and Martin Harrison played a courts were demolished to make way Tom Kiggell, co-winner of the Veterans’ S Rolls and K Bowyer-Knight with Doubles Plate 2015; Marlborough courts with JF Pretlove from 1956 to 1959, big part in keeping Fives on the road in for squash courts. Even so, matches the Winchester Plate in 2009; The in October 1970; A Montagu-Pollock and J came to teach at Marlborough in 1955. the mid 1970s. The response was good, were won against the RFA Club and Marlborough College Boys’ Fives Davies with the Winchester Plate in 2004; Consequently such players as Pretlove with four teams playing Radley in 1977. UCS Old Boys, one Marlburian being squad in 2012; S Smith and C Bugel, The Martineau Plaque and R Birmingham, both winners of Fives reports took on a literary the one-armed Richard Olver, a future 2014 U14 Girls’ National Champions National Singles and Doubles titles, flavour from 1977, when JD Byrom RFA Club stalwart. came to play for the Jesters or Alleyn became master-in-charge. “If the Old Boys against the College. After welkin did not often ring to the Modernisation many schools, the pressure of a range losing one of those matches by the whoops of victory, the games were In 1981, John Byrom reported another of sports and activities had begun to respectable score of 64-110, CRN Clark, conducted in an enjoyable and accident-free season. “Recently tell on some of the smaller games. Fives captain in 1960, wrote in his gentlemanly fashion. One asks for little released statistics reveal that As John Osborne said: “Edward report: “Afterwards the opposition, at more,” being one entry. “The world of proportionally more actuaries play Gould saw an enormous our request, criticised our game and, Fives is a quiet one, being, in every Fives than any other professional class, improvement was needed to revive without being asked, our courts! sense of the word, courteous. Rackets so the chances of survival must be the game; thanks to his initiative and They recommended the use of the are left to other games,” read another.