Titles for Grant, Hebblethwaite and Munn at the SE Open 2026

Christ’s Hospital, Horsham

Saturday, 15th August 2026

STOP PRESS A one-day event in which Singles and Doubles were played out on the 5 courts at Christ’s Hospital under the direction of Michael Lacewing. Dan Grant won his second successive regional Singles title, while Tim Hebblethwaite & Giles Munn took the Doubles cup. A good day for Giles, who also won the Singles Plate.

Rupert Mathieu reports: Under fresh management (Michael Lacewing, excelling), the South East Open benefitted from slightly cooler (than the surface of the sun) temperatures, with a strong field for both Singles and Doubles, notwithstanding the absence of last year’s Champion, Ed Kay (and indeed Ben B and Dan T). Dan Grant was hoping to follow his victory at the South West Open, but would Julian Aquilina gain his revenge? Or perhaps last year’s finalist Penn Chai or Tom Watkinson, recently returned from the USA, could upset the top two seeds.

Credit to all players for coping with the heat and bringing sufficient quantities of shirts into which to change. With play starting on time (!), the first hint of a surprise was Julian Aquilina’s match against Giles Munn, the latter taking 8 points off Julian, who needed the first application of ice to cool down. Which said, seedings then went to plan other than Tom Watkinson, looking ominously powerful with tremendous serving, doing for Charlie Lacewing. In the quarters, unfortunately Terry McElvaney had to retire injured against Penn (who also was carrying a tendon issue), while Dan did for Theo Vernacchio and Lewis saw off James Tilston; but one of the most fiercely fought games of the day was the quarter-final between Julian and Tom, with the latter upsetting the seedings by winning in the third.

With his main rival knocked out, in the first semi-final Dan quickly went one up against Penn, the latter making some uncharacteristic errors (he had been waiting a while – and was injured); Penn nevertheless came out fighting in the second, a much more competitive affair, but Dan had enough in reserve to get the job done. The second semi-final between Lewis and Tom was titanic. Tom, having needed an extended recovery after his quarter-final against Julian, couldn’t quite keep up with Lewis, who took the first game 11-8. While Tom fought back to win the second, it was Lewis who started the third strongly with some excellent angles and lengths to go 5-2 up. As both began to tire, however, hitting got harder and Tom hauled Lewis back to take a lead, eventually winning the third 11-6. In the Plate, there were nine players, with Giles Munn, James Milburn and Jeremy Hughes each winning their respective round robin and facing off in a three-way final. Giles proved victorious, with decisive wins in both games.

The Singles having taken so long, it was seen fit to prioritise Doubles before Dan and Tom battled it out in the final. Furthermore, Dan kindly stepped in for Tom in the doubles handicap pairings – he needed something to do to pass the time while Tom recovered. With nine pairs mostly present and able to play, the first round was three round robin groups of three, with the winners of each forming a round robin group for the ‘final’. Tim Hebblethwaite & Giles Munn, Charlie Lacewing & Morgan Spillane and Jeremy Hughes & Guy Harman each won their first round matches. By the end of the final, the fancied duo of Tim & Giles remained the only pair unbeaten all day and rightfully lifted the Christ’s Hospital Cup, with local heroes Charlie & Morgan runners-up. The Doubles Plate went to John Keyes & James Milburn, who narrowly beat Rupert Mathieu & James Tilston 15-13.

Back to the Singles. Tom’s form in his return to competition was looking ominous, while there was a sense that Dan had not yet hit his stride. In the first game, however, a couple of unforced errors from Tom (perhaps the extended break again playing a part?) gave Dan an early lead. 10-3 down, Tom defended three game points and then started to fight back, before Dan finally hit a nick and took the first 11-6. The second game followed a similar pattern, with Dan storming ahead 6-1 before being clawed back to 6-4, with both players serving outrageously well, several aces in succession. A mistake from Tom and two winners from Dan then took it to 9-4, before a huge (27 shot) rally, won by Tom, led to Dan taking a time out. Fatigue and heat were now properly playing their part, but Dan’s consistency saw him over the line, 11-6, 11-4, to take his second consecutive Singles title, and his first ever South East title.

Much fluid having then been consumed, trophies and medals were presented and photographs taken (thanks to Penn and Lewis for the media coverage!). The South East Open, with its President’s Cup style of Doubles, taking place in high summer, has not always been considered a must-enter competition. However, there was a strong sense of renaissance, both in the turn-out and in the quality of Fives played (in Singles and Doubles). Its future is surely bright.

Singles

1st round D Grant bt O Zhou 15-3; T Vernacchio bt E Thursfield 15-10; T McElvaney bt J Milburn 15-6; P Chai bt J Hughes 15-7; L Keates bt M Ord 15-0; J Tilston bt N Geere 15-3; T Watkinson bt C Lacewing 15-8; J Aquilina bt G Munn 15-8

Quarter-finals: Grant bt Vernacchio 11-2, 11-0; Chai bt McElvaney 11-2, 11-0; Keates bt Tilston 11-4, 11-9; Watkinson bt Aquilina 6-11, 11-4, 11-7

Semi-finals: Grant bt Chai 11-5, 11-7; Watkinson bt Keates 7-11, 11-6, 11-5

Final: Grant bt Watkinson 11-6, 11-4

Plate: 1st Munn W2; 2nd Milburn W1; 3rd Hughes

Doubles

Group A: 1st Lacewing & Spillane w2; 2nd Keyes & Milburn w1; 3rd Ord & Vernacchio

Group B: 1st Hebblethwaite & Munn W2; 2nd Keates & Zhou W1; 3rd Mathieu & Tilston

Group C: 1st Harman & Hughes W2; 2nd Grant & Katz W1; 3rd Geere & Thursfield

Round 2: Hebblethwaite & Munn bt Harman & Hughes 15-9; Lacewing & Spillane bt Harman & Hughes 15-10

Final: Hebblethwaite & Munn bt Lacewing & Spillane 15-5

Plate: Keyes & Milburn bt Mathieu & Tilston 15-13