Last Monday saw a first for the school – an inaugural trip to play Real Tennis at the University of Middlesex. The ‘Sport of Kings’ probably originated over 500 years ago but really only ‘took off’ as a sport when it was championed by Henry V and then Henry VIII.
Indeed, Henry VIII’s involvement with the sport was peppered with deceit, back-stabbing and making up the rules as he went along, and it is even claimed that he was playing Real Tennis when news of his second wife’s execution (Anne Boleyn) was confirmed. A sordid history indeed and therefore a good idea for a school trip.
A ‘Real Tennis Professional’ taught the boys about Chases, The Dedans, Galleries, The Plate, after which the two-hour session ended with a round-robin tournament involving the eleven boys and the two MTS staff members who had accompanied the students. The tournament was eventually won by Jack G and Jenson I – well done boys.
Hopefully this will be the first such trip of many!
Mr T Greenaway
