February 27th 2025
The Oratory Real Tennis Masterclass & Festival
This week six of our Under 10 pupils had the fantastic opportunity to take part in The Oratory Real Tennis Masterclass & Festival, experiencing a brand-new sport under the expert guidance of Claire Fahey, the current Ladies’ World Champion. The boys learned the fundamentals of Real Tennis, including the unique techniques required to play shots such as the boast, cut volley, and the famous railroad serve, which challenged their accuracy and control on the court.
In the afternoon, our players were split into three pairs—Dedans, Grille, and Tambour—and competed against teams from St John’s Beaumont, Rupert House, Bruern Abbey, and Caversham Prep. The Moulsford pupils demonstrated great skill and adaptability, winning all their group-stage matches and progressing to the semi-finals.
The knockout rounds saw Moulsford Dedans face Moulsford Tambour in Semi-Final 1, while Moulsford Grille took on OPS Tambour in Semi-Final 2. Both matches were thrilling contests, with Tambour edging out Dedans 10-8 and Grille narrowly losing 10-9 despite holding a four-point lead at one stage.
The final was an intense affair, with Moulsford Tambour putting in a valiant effort but ultimately falling just short, losing 10-9 in a match filled with impressive rallies and excellent shot-making.
A huge well done to all the boys for embracing a new sport with such enthusiasm, to the parents for their fantastic support, and to The Oratory for hosting such a brilliant day of Real Tennis. We look forward to more exciting events throughout the academic year!
