Double hat-trick for Ed Kay at the South West Open

Blundell’s School, Tiverton
Saturday/Sunday, 12-13 July 2025

Stop Press Three in a row for Ed Kay in the Singles and also in the Doubles, partnering Ben Beltrami — their second together. Several three-gamers in a high-quality Doubles competition.

Wayne Enstone reports: The 2025 Championships were played in possibly the hottest conditions ever, with my car thermometer showing 28 degrees at 9.25 am. All credit to the players for producing many fine performances throughout the weekend. With train cancellations and hold-ups on the motorway we did have a rather later start than scheduled — hence the last match of the day finishing at 8.15 pm.

The Singles started the championships. The first contest of the day was a three-game match, Nick Geere winning that against Shinan Zhang and having then to play Ed Kay! That was followed by the other 3-gamer, with Theo Vernacchio taking the first game 12-10 against Dan Grant. Unfortunately the next two games, whilst hard fought, were won by Dan’s dominant shot-making, wonderful to watch. In the lower half of the draw Penn Chai and Dwight Murdoc blasted the ball around the court, with Penn winning in two very entertaining games. In the quarter-finals, Ollie Arnold, who has been in Australia for the past two years but showed no sign in his previous match against Archie McCreath of having not played for a while, made too many errors in his next match against Ed Kay to get close to beating the in-form first seed. The closest quarter-final was between Dan Grant and Lewis Keates, seeded four. Dan had been there in the past, so it was no surprise that, when he turned on the magic, he won their brilliant match 11-8 in both games. In the lower half of the draw Julian Aquilina kept Penn Chai under pressure, which resulted in Penn rushing his shot choices and losing both games in their match. Ben Beltrami did the same with Cameron Low, showing wonderful court coverage in winning in straight games. Despite their loss both Penn and Cameron are certainly improving, and it was a great experience for them to get to play at that level.

In the semi-finals Dan’s first game against Ed was very closely contested with Ed under pressure many times; however, Ed’s ability to adapt during rallies and his superb movement around the court enabled him to win that game and then dominate the second game, winning through to the final. Ben and Julian met in last year’s semi, and unfortunately for Julian, whilst his game has certainly improved, Ben again was able to produce that extra special power shot or short shot to again make it through to the final. That concluded Singles play for the day and lined up the final between Ed and Ben for the Sunday once more.

While the Singles rounds took place the Doubles matches were interspersed among them. As with the Singles there was an upset of the seeding in the quarter-finals, Ollie Arnold & Lewis Keates beating Cameron Low & Archie McCreath in three hard fought games. That set the scene for two semi-finals that produced fireworks, both going to three games. In the lower half of the draw Julian Aquilina & Penn Chai won the first game convincingly; however, Charlie Brooks & Dan Grant were very determined not to allow the second game to go the same way and reversed the score just as comprehensively. In the third game they sustained their level of performance and battled through for a place in the final. Ben Beltrami & Ed Kay similarly lost the first game against Ollie Arnold & Lewis Keates; however, as defending champions Ben and Ed showed their resilience and brilliance and battled back in the second to level at one game each. It was 7.45 pm by that time and the organiser had to leave to explain to the Nawab restaurant in Tiverton that four of the group would be late for the meal. The third game, according to the players, was as one-sided as the score suggests, remarkably won to love by Ben and Ed. The final was set to be played after the Singles on Sunday morning.

As usual, the Plate competitions took place alongside the main competition. The Singles was a straight knockout, with Archie McCreath eventually playing Theo Vernacchio in the final. Theo played ever so well; understandably, though, he looked rather tired by that time of the day and Archie just had that extra energy to win 15-8. A great match to watch. In the Doubles it was decided to organise a round robin between the five pairs. That round robin was won by the Bristol pairing of Angus Armour & Rob Mason, whose victory over fellow West of England Club players Sammy Dansie & Peter Grant 11-9 showed how closely contested it was. As usual the Plate prizes of two Gin and Tonic Glasses, from Devon glassmakers Dartington, were presented to the winners.

Sunday’s finals were played again in high temperatures, 27 degrees at 10 am. The Singles final started procedures, Ed taking a 4-1 lead and showing his usual high energy of movement around the court, often returning what looked like winning shots from Ben. Ben’s excellent shots eventually paid off and at 4-3 he was certainly back in the game. Ed continued to miraculously return Ben’s brilliant power shots and get to his front court shots, so slowly, with several changes of serve, he moved to 9-3. Ben did rally and at 10-5 very much remained in the game, and it was only after three changes of serve that Ed won the first game 11-5. In the second game Ben looked even more determined to level up the match and went 2-1 up. After numerous changes of serve and wonderful attack and defence by both players Ed managed to head the game 4-3 and, remarkably, at that point did not serve again, winning 11-3. Some of the play was breathtaking and certainly a pleasure to witness. Ed’s footwork was exemplary and his ability to recover from what looks like a losing position in rallies is what made the difference in this final. Ben certainly played well enough to win on another occasion and I look forward to seeing the season’s future results.

In the Doubles final, Charlie Brooks & Dan Grant had won this event three times each previously with Will Ellison as a partner, so would this be number four together or would this be Ben & Ed’s third win in a row? In the first game, after many changes of serve, Ben and Ed moved to an 8-0 lead, and it was only at this stage that Charlie and Dan won their first point and managed another at game-ball down. Unfortunately, as well as Charlie and Dan played, Ben and Ed did look superior and won the first game 11-2. In the second game, Charlie and Dan looked far more dangerous and adventurous and moved into a 3-2 lead, only to have Ben and Ed then go up 6-3. Unlike in the first game Charlie and Dan produced the shots to win numerous rallies and from 9-6 down came back to level the game 9-all. This game at this point could really have gone to either pair; however, Ben and Ed managed to get on top in the last few rallies, win 11-9, and notch up their third South West Doubles title in a row. A fantastic end to this year’s Championships.

At the same time as the finals, the Fun Doubles was taking place. Four pairs competed in a round robin, with a scoring system of winning a point on every rally. At the conclusion it was decided by the players that, although Harry & Gus Rackham won it on points-won over Dwight Schultz & Chris Blakeley, the two pairs would have a final game to 15 with normal scoring, which Dwight and Chris won in the true spirit of ‘Fun’.

It is worth emphasising what makes Fives so special as once again throughout the weekend, considering the pressure players put on each other in their efforts to win matches, all players maintained the spirit and wonderful standard of fairness we have in this fantastic game of Fives — all credit to them.

Presentation of Trophies followed, with Ed Kay doing the ‘Double’ again, his fifth Singles and Ben & Ed’s third Doubles in a row. Thanks as always went to all the players for supporting the Championships and to Lesley Enstone for her continued and highly valued help with catering and refreshments.

Do remember: all players of any standard are welcome to play in next year’s South West Open Championships 2026.

Scores

Singles

1st round: N Geere bt S Zhang 12-11, 7-11, 11-0
2nd round: E Kay bt Geere 11-3, 11-0; O Arnold bt A McCreath 11-2, 11-1; D Grant bt T Vernacchio 10-12, 11-2, 11-3; L Keates bt M Raynor 11-0, 11-4; J Aquilina bt H Rackham 11-2, 11-1; P Chai bt D Murdoc 11-7, 11-5; C Low bt K Wiseman 11-0, 11-0; B Beltrami bt J Savery 11-1, 11-5
Quarter-finals: Kay bt Arnold 11-0, 11-1; Grant bt Keates 11-8, 11-8; Aquilina bt Chai 11-2, 11-5; Beltrami bt Low 11-7, 11-1
Semi-finals: Kay bt Grant 11-8, 11-2; Beltrami bt Aquilina 11-3, 11-4
Final: Kay bt Beltrami 11-5, 11-3
Plate: McCreath bt Vernacchio 15-8

Doubles

1st round: K Kennerley & T Vernacchio bt N Geere & A Smith 11-‘9, 11-2; O Arnold & L Keates bt A Armour & R Mason 11-0, 11-0; C Low & A McCreath bt H Rackham & D Wiseman 11-5, 11-1; D Schultz & J Savery bt S Dansie & P Grant 11-4, 11-4; M Raynor & S Zhang bt C Blakeley & K Wiseman 12-10, 11-2
Quarter-finals: B Beltrami & E Kay bt Kennerley & Vernacchio 11-2, 11-0; O Arnold & Keates bt Low & McCreath 11-4, 6-11, 11-6; J Aquilina & P Chai bt Schultz & Savery 11-2-11-0; C Brooks & D Grant bt Raynor & Zhang 11-4, 11-1
Semi-finals: Beltrami & Kay bt Arnold & Keates 6-11, 11-7, 11-0; Brooks & Grant bt Aquilina & Chai 6-11, 11-3, 11-7
Final: Beltrami & Kay bt Brooks & Grant 11-2, 11-9
Plate: 1st Armour & Mason 33 pts; 2nd Dansie & Grant 31 pts; 3rd Geere & Smith 16 pts; 4th Blakeley & Rackham 14 pts
American Doubles: Blakeley & Schultz bt Rackham & Rackham 15-10