Alleyn’s School, Dulwich
Saturday, 13th June 2026
STOP PRESS 9 pairs entered the fourth staging of the National Open Mixed Doubles Championship at Alleyn’s, organised by Helena Tunks and Savanna Leboff. Yet again a new pair — Helena Tunks & Ben Beltrami — wins the trophy, but defending co-champion Camille Beattie has been in the final every year since the event’s inauguration. Lizzie Ware & Terry McElvaney won the final of a 5-pair Plate, beating Martha Nugent & Patick Harrison 16-15 in the final.
Savanna Leboff reports: A lovely sunny day was perfect backdrop for this year’s National Open Mixed Doubles tournament, which saw the largest and (arguably) the strongest turnout to date, with approximately half of the top-ranked female and male doubles players competing.
In the group stages, pairs played to earn 3 points for a win and 1 point for a draw, with the 2 pairs topping the groups (Mathias/Arnold and Tunks/Beltrami) earning the maximum number of points available. The semi-finals and final were tightly fought and were a delight to watch! In the end, Tunks & Beltrami won the final 15-12, 15-0 to claim their first victory in this tournament. The Plate was likewise a thrilling match, with Ware & McElvaney beating Nugent & Harrison 16-15 in a nailbiting end.
A group dinner rounded off the day, with many aching limbs and a surprisingly high proportion of pasta was consumed. As the tournament becomes further established in the Fives calendar, it is hoped that the quality and quantity continue to go from strength to strength!
Scores
Group A: 1st L Mathias & O Arnold; 2nd Z Elliot & P Chai; 3rd M Nugent & P Harrison; 4th L Ware & T McElvaney; 5th A Brown & T Green
Group B: 1st H Tunks & B Beltrami; 2nd C Beattie & F Hammond Giles; 3rd S Leboff & T Watkinson; 4th F Butler & C Low
Semi-finals: Beattie & Hammond Giles bt Mathias & Arnold 15-4, 16-15; Tunks & Beltrami bt Elliot & Chai 15-8, 15-12
Final: Tunks & Beltrami bt Beattie & Hammond Giles 15-12, 15-0
Plate: Ware & McElvaney bt Nugent & Harrison 16-15
The medallists
Ben & Helena record their first win
The four finalists
Camille & Freddie runners-up
Plate winners Lizzie & Terry
Organisers at work