Sam wins Foster Cup as Tonbridge boys compete in National Schools’ Rackets Championships

In the final week of the Michaelmas Term, 21 Tonbridge boys took part in four different singles tournaments at the National Schools’ Rackets Championships at Queen’s in London.

There were several outstanding performances from Tonbridge players at Queen’s, culminating in Sam Seecharan (OH5), pictured right and below, winning the Foster Cup (Senior Cup).

In the Jim Dear Cup (Junior Colts), Charlie Skarbek (FH2), seeded fourth, made it to the semi-finals, where he was beaten by the top seed.

George Vassilev (WH2) had a good run to the quarter-finals, but was beaten at that stage by the third seed. In the Incledon-Weber (Colts), only Seb Cox (PH3) got as far as the quarter-finals, where he lost out to the fourth seed.

There are two senior cups, the Foster (for the top 16 players) and the Rennie (for all others). Tom Launder (Sc5) had a fantastic run in the Rennie before being beaten in the semi-finals by the ultimate winner, putting in some superb performances along the way.

Other notable Rennie Cup performances came from Will Lacey (PH5), who played his best Rackets to date, and Jack Kirkland (JH4), who reached the quarters, where he was beaten by the ultimate winner.

Of the School’s four participants in the Foster Cup, Sam Pike (JH5) had a tough first round draw against Sam Seecharan, putting up a good fight before bowing out to his fellow Tonbridgian.

Jake Hazari-Webb (OH5) and Hugh Jacobs (FH4) both won their first round games. Jake had a long and hard-fought tussle in the quarters, but lost in five sets, and Hugh was defeated by a strong third seed.

Dave Makey, the School’s Rackets Pro / Coach, said: “Sam (Seecharan) seemed to get better and better with each passing round. In the final and in front of a big crowd, made up largely of Tonbridgians, Sam came out firing on all cylinders.”

Congratulations are due to Sam and to all Tonbridge’s boys taking part in the Championships.