The annual OT Rackets tournament took place in early December. The OTs and several of our current top schoolboy players competed in three tournaments, Doubles, ‘A’ singles for the top 10 players, and ‘B’ singles for the others.

The ‘B’ was a much stronger competition than usual this year, comprising of many top-class OTs and several talented current boys, including one of our Foster Cup players. He lost in the final to OT Tom Woodthorpe (CH). OTs Jonny Calow (PH) and Alex Judd (JH), both previous winners were defeated in the semi-finals but showed they can still play great rackets, Calow as competitive as ever!

The ‘A’ produced an upset with OT Tommy Shields (last year’s champion and top seed), losing in the semi-final to current LVI pupil Sam Seecharan, son of Kurt. In the other semi-final, OT Ed Hyde defeated our Captain of rackets Alex MacPherson. The final was of genuine high quality and though Ed Hyde had 5 match points he lost the match to Sam.

As well as those already mentioned, the doubles pairings contained many OT stalwarts, including Will Shields, Cam Ellis, Malcolm Hilliar, and Alf Shankland. The final was won by the energetic duo of Hyde and Olly Howick. They beat MacPherson and Seecharan, our current 1st pair, and deservedly so.

After presentations were made, we popped into town where Will Biddle, Kurt Seecharan and several other staff members entertained the OTs before we sat down for dinner. The usual gig at The Rose & Crown was unavailable this year so we tried The Gatehouse. Not a place we would normally choose but it actually worked out extremely well and the food was superb value. Not only were there 6 screens showing World Cup quarterfinals, but also a DJ playing some dance tunes. He too was an OT, Ali Jeerooburkhan, a legend in the dance scene in our area, and a fantastic man.

Another wonderful OT rackets tournament, thoroughly enjoyed by all came to an end. We would like to thank the OTs for giving the boys some high-quality practice in preparation for their upcoming National Schools’ Rackets Championship at Queen’s.

The evening ended with Gibbo and Jonny C meandering back up the high street as they have done for many years, and a few of the younger OTs moving on to another local pub for some lemonade.

Dave Makey (CR 80 - present day) 

PHOTO - From left to right:
Jack Francis (PS 14-19) , Finn Kirkland (WH 17-22), Ed Owen-Browne (WW 14-19) , Marcus O’Riordan (FH 11-16), Ed Hyde( FH 11-16), Tom Woodthorpe (CH 12-17), Will Shields (CH 12-17), Dave Makey (CR), Alex Moen (FH 13-18 and CR), Charles Sale (CR),  Malcolm Hilliar (WH 85-90) Jonny Calow (PH 83-87), John Gibbs (FH 56-61), Barney Todd (WW 15-20), Tom Astley (WW 15-20), Alfie Shankland (FH 13-18)