News of the Cambridge and Oxford Past versus Present

News  University

London and Cambridge
Saturday, 11th February 2023

Nick Whitney reports for Oxford University: The 37th Oxford Past v. Present match took place at St Paul’s School on Saturday with fixtures for the Men’s VIII, Beavers IV, and a Women’s VI.

Proceedings started with Singles for the Men’s VIII. All 8 games were closely contested — a highlight being a marathon grudge match between brothers Dan Whitham (Past) and Aiden Whitham (Present) eventually going the way of Dan 15-10. This contributed to the Past winning 5 of the 8 singles games, and taking a 3 point lead going into the doubles.

The afternoon’s Doubles games were similarly fiercely contested. The top two pairs for the Present, Teddy Monro-Davies & Louis Odgers and Aiden Whitham & Jamie Dare each picked up wins against their opposite Past pairs of Sam Roberts & Sid Bhushan and Tom Owen & Dan Whitham. However, the depth of the Past team came to the fore in the 3rd and 4th pairs, with all match going to the Past, despite some very close run games — notably Present’s Vivek Thakrar & Harry Turner narrowly missing out to the Past’s Matt Hale & Nick Whitney 16-14 in both games. The final score was 302-263, meaning that the Mackenzie Bowl was won by the Past for another year.

The Beavers fixture also went to the Past, led by Brian Elfick, who was returning to playing after about 10 years away from the game.

The Women’s Match was contested as a set of exhibition singles matches followed by a round-robin tournament, including some mixed doubles pairs loaned from the Past. The winning pair was a Past-Present hybrid of Phoebe Thornhill & Tami Erdenebulgan, who dropped only a single game across the course of the day.

The day was rounded off with a dinner at Queen’s Club, where we gave the Present team our best wishes for the upcoming Varsity Match.

Bob Dolby reports for Cambridge University: The 74th Past versus Present was notable not only for the large number of Past players who volunteered to play but also for the number of young players attending, and playing in, their first PvP. With George Crawley and Ben Yass unavailable to play, the Present Men fielded 6 first-time players out of 9.  With top-ranked players like Matt Shaw and 4 former Captains playing for the Past it was no surprise that the 8 Singles went the way of the Past but only by 5 contests to 3.

Inevitably the Doubles likewise favoured the Past’s greater experience and also the usual fact that the Past were able to give match time to 13 players while the Present VIII necessarily played every game. Andy Olliver & Rupert Mathieu were the only past pair asked to play four games of Doubles, which they did undefeated, while Ian Steed also did the full quota, partnering first Jack Malde, then Tim Hennock. For the Present Emrys Thursfield & Marcus Cloke Browne, Zhanibek Pernebayev & Ben Burgess, and Jack Pyman & Robert Menhart did their bit in winning substantial points but in the final analysis the match was always destined to go the way of the Past.

In the Women’s Match the Past were able to field 4 players and the Present 6, so various contests were concocted, the outstanding one of which was Holly Nugent taking on Helena Tunks: this match was predictably close, Holly winning for the Present 15-13. Not all results of games were recorded, as a great deal of coaching went on, but the Past were predictably the stronger, with Savanna Leboff, Cameron Roker and Sophie Kenny passing on their knowledge and experience to the Present, four of whom were new to the fixture. A Mixed Doubles tournament was also slotted in, with Savanna Leboff’s V winning the Ted Isaacs Trophy.

The Dinner was held once more in Pembroke College, with 46 people enjoying superb food. A few words were spoken by the President and the Captain, and a toast was raised to absent and departed Sparrows, with Jock Burnet foremost in mind.

Two courts for the Light Blue Men’s Match, Court One for the Women

Dan Whitham and Tom Owen perform for the Dark Blues

Cambridge Women’s Match in full flow

Cambridge Past’s Andy Olliver serves to Jack Pyman

Oxford’s Matt Hale demonstrates flawless serving technique

Cambridge’s President reads out a letter from Chris Metcalfe, who played in 1949!

Oxford’s Hon.Sec. Teddy Monro-Davies in magisterial mode at Queen’s Club

Cambridge Captain Ben Burgess looks on, as does his Tonbridge mentor Ian Jackson

Oxford’s organiser Nick Whitney with former Captain, Matt Hale

Cambridge’s Derby Moor Sparrows: Messrs Steed, Kirby, Dolby & Cleave

Two Past Captains and the President

 

 

.