Shorrocks Brothers’ Success at Eton Fives Veterans Tournament

We are thrilled to share the success of our very own Mr Jon Shorrocks and his brother at the recent Eton Fives Veterans tournament held at Aldenham School. The duo, with a combined 50 years of Fives experience, participated in the highly competitive Tony Walters Trophy for Over 60s.

Eton Fives is a hand-ball game, played in a three-sided court. It is only played as “doubles” (i.e. by two teams of two players), there being no official “singles” version of the game. Players wear padded leather gloves, since the ball (which is slightly large than a golf-ball and made of rubber and cork) is quite hard. It is in the same sporting “family” as other hand ball games such as Rugby Fives, Winchester Fives, American Handball, Irish Handball, and the various Basque games, Pelota Vasca.

The tournament commenced with the Shorrocks brothers displaying their exceptional skills. Starting strong, they dominated their first match with an impressive score of 15-5. They continued their winning streak in the second match as they triumphed with a 15-0 victory.

In the final group game, their opponents, with an average age of 73, were granted a 7-point advantage. However, the resilient duo swiftly overcame the deficit and emerged triumphant with a final score of 15-10. It was a testament to their unwavering determination and spirit.

The final showdown proved to be the most closely contested of the tournament. Fatigue had begun to take its toll on all the players, but the Shorrocks brothers continued, leading them to a hard-fought 15-11 victory. Their left-handed playing style and expert volleying skills proved advantageous, leaving their opponents with limited time to react.

This triumph marks Mr Shorrocks’ return to the winning trail after an impressive 46 years since his victory in the Public Schools Championships. Their success at the Eton Fives Veterans tournament sets the stage for their next challenge, the upcoming Northern Tournament in October.

In this competition, Mr Shorrocks encountered a player he defeated back in 1977 during the semi-final of the Public Schools Championships. He also had the honour of meeting a distinguished gentleman who was familiar with Mr Shorrocks’ former Eton Fives coach. Such encounters serve as a testament to unique bonds forged in the world of Sport.

With this victory, the Shorrocks brothers claimed they earned 50 Wylde House points! Congratulations to Mr Shorrocks – an RGS triumph in an unusual Sport.