Court refurbishment
Loretto School, Musselburgh, 5 May 2021
The RFA is delighted to announce the complete renovation of the Roger Whait Fives Courts at Loretto School in Musselburgh, near Edinburgh, writes Richie Murby. With consultation and support from the RFA, the school has overseen the complete refurbishment of both the viewing area and the courts themselves – reflooring, replastering and painting the playing areas to create a thoroughly rejuvenated venue for fives.
Due to Covid restrictions, this writer has not been able to test out the courts as yet. However, Loretto’s captain of fives, Nathan, has had a chance to try out the new surfaces, enthusing that “the new courts are fun and a lot faster than the old ones – and definitely more grippy underfoot”.
Though one or two traditionalists might mourn the overhauling of the rough, mottled, and at times almost unplayable ‘end’ court, the benefits outweigh the nostalgia – with all the other current Scottish fives venues having two courts each, Scotland now has, for the first time in many years, three top-class courts all under one roof.
These are exciting times for Loretto, the home of the Scottish Open, and we are confident that these good-as-new courts will make a huge contribution towards keeping players learning and enjoying the game for many years to come.
