President's Cup 2009
On Sunday 13th December, The MTS courts will once again proudly host the President's Cup. Now in its 51st year, it is probably the most exhausting tournament on the RFA calendar. With four trophies to play for, and with all matches the best of three to 15, it is easy to see why! A right of passage for most fives players - many of whom come back year after year - "The Pres" is supposed to be the RFA Christmas friendly with no ranking points at stake...but try telling that to the names etched on the trophy!
President's Cup Draw
The committee has again done their best to be fair with the seedings and thus create the best possible pairings. The final draw was carried out on Monday 7th December by Gareth Price and was verfied on cameraphone!
The pairings and first round draw is below, and will be confirmed , along with timings for the first round matches on Thursday 10th December (to allow for any drop outs). It is expected that all competitors will be at the courts for 9am, with the first round underway on or before 9.30 am. Travel distances have been taken into account and matches will be scehduled accordingly.
President's_Cup_2009.xls
OMT Fives enjoys Lord's hospitality at Society dinner
A table consisting of many current luminaries of OMT fives had a brilliant time at the Long Room dinner, Lord's Cricket ground on Friday 20th November.
Speeches and toasts were just a small but fun part of a great occasion designed around making an impression on the attendees whist simultaneously putting all at ease in what was a buzzing but relaxed atmosphere.
Not one OMT Fives player failed to cut a dash in dinner jacket attire, and we are proud to say that we ate, laughed and especially drank more than any other sports team involved!
Highlights of the evening were numerous, but standing in the heart of such an historic building as the pavilion looking out over the famous ground at the almost spaceship like media stand which was lit up in blue and flanked by scoreboards welcoming OMT's had to be one. Another was of course finding ourselves later in the evening wandering upstairs into the unlocked players changing areas and eventually out onto the player's balcony. For certain, no other OMT sports team managed that! Photos of Bhas, Jeremy, Kamalesh and Dan posing in front of the honours board will be published soon, no doubt.
For Dan, Gareth and Rich, there was a further thrill as the assembled rose to honour their achievements at the recent Handball World Championships. To be recognised in such a place held so dear to so many was most likely a "once in a lifetime" occurrence.
Thanks so much to David Thomas and the Society for organising a wonderful evening. Thanks to Philip Newfield for smoothing the way with MCC. Can an evening like this be topped? Watch this space for November 2010...
OMT's Rich Price, Gareth Price and Dan Grant experience huge success in One Wall Handball World Championships 2009
Rich, Gareth and Dan all represented Team England in the recent Handball World Championships in Portland, Oregon.
Hilights for the 12-person squad included Gareth's 4-wall quarter final, Rich Price reaching Singles and Doubles Semi-Finals and Dan Grant winning England's first World Championship trophy in the One Wall Doubles.
England moved up to 5th in the World standings by winning the ELA Cup (With England women moving to 4th in the World) and also won back the Handball Ashes.
Full reports will be published here in due course and in the OMT Magazine, but more can be seen on the England Handball Website.
www.englandhandball.co.uk
OMT Fives on Twitter
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RFA Singles And Doubles Rankings
http://www.rfa.org.uk/rankings.html
2009/2010 official rankings see Dan Grant and Gareth Price climb, with Bhaswar Baral and Rich Price falling slightly.
OMT Courts Now Refurbished!
In time for the 09/10 season, MTS has kindly refurbished all four courts. If you have not seen them yet, get on court - training is in full swing every Wednesday from 7.45pm.
OMT Dinner
Long Room, Lords Cricket Ground, November 20th 2009
