Teams consisting of former Repton School pupils have won two public school alumni tennis tournaments. The men’s and women’s teams representing the Old Reptonian (OR) Tennis Society reigned supreme in the 2023 D’Abernon Cup and the first old girls’ tournament.
Repton offers one of the country’s strongest tennis programmes. The Derbyshire independent school consistently produces players of a county and national standard. Many ORs continue to play tennis after leaving the School.
Repton’s Reigning Champions Hold on to the D’Abernon Cup
The OR Tennis Society’s men’s team has now secured the D’Abernon Cup for the third time in a row. The team has won the tournament six times in the last eight years. Its members include:
- Jamie Muirhead.
- Dan Cottier.
- Richard Harrison.
- Alex Grocott.
- Phil Brindley.
- Harrison Birch, who made his debut in the 2023 D’Abernon Cup.
The tournament featured a new format for 2023, involving a round-robin box in the quarter-final and a play-off in the semi-final.
As the D’Abernon Cup defending champions, the OR men’s team received a bye directly to the quarter-finals, which took place at Eton College in July. The team defeated Reeds, Eton, and Bromsgrove (the 2022 finalists).
The D’Abernon Cup final took place at the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) in SW19 on 3 September 2023. The ORs’ team beat the Old Georgians’ team, with three pairs each playing three doubles matches throughout the day.
Muirhead, the captain of the men’s team, said the ORs felt “thrilled to have retained the D’Abernon Cup trophy” for the third year running.
Repton’s OR Women’s Team Crowned Inaugural Champions
Meanwhile, the OR Tennis Society’s women’s team won the first-ever ladies’ event at the AELTC centre in Raynes Park.
ORs Isabelle Suddes and Millie Devey Smith played a similar format to the men’s event, with a round-robin of the best of seven games against the other six teams. These teams included Bedford Girls’ School, Talbot Heath, and Marlborough.
Muirhead said of the women’s team’s victory: “This fantastic Repton double is a real testament to the strength in depth and commitment of our squad.”
“We’re very grateful for the support of the OR community throughout,” he added.
Repton School’s Director of Tennis James Rushby congratulated the men’s and women’s teams on their success. Rushby is a former world-ranked player.
“The strength of both teams highlights the legacy of the School and the passion our pupils have to continue to represent the School even after they have departed Repton,” he said.
Tennis For All Abilities at Repton School
The UK advice platform Which recognises Repton as one of the top six tennis schools in the UK. Repton’s tennis programme caters to players of all ages and abilities.
Recreational players, who form the School’s development squad, have the opportunity to train twice weekly and represent Repton in regular fixtures.
In addition, the School offers a performance tennis programme that provides exceptional athletic development coupled with academic support. Repton’s elite performance players often travel on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and Tennis Europe (TE) circuits. This squad trains daily and includes internationally ranked players.
Repton also has a performance squad, consisting of players who have the potential to compete at county, regional, or national levels. Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) accredited coaches lead all of Repton’s tennis squads.
To date, Repton’s tennis programme has helped teams win:
- The Boys’ National Schools’ Championship 11 times.
- The Independent Schools’ Championship 15 times.
- The Girls’ National Schools Championship four times.
Repton’s boys’ and girls’ 1st teams competed at the national finals at Nottingham Tennis Centre in June 2023.
Repton Tennis and Rackets Club
The tennis programme at Repton School has grown even further thanks to the launch of the Repton Tennis and Rackets Club. This new, LTA-accredited club offers high-standard coaching, social play, and competition at Repton’s sports centre, which has 2 indoor acrylic courts and 12 floodlit outdoor hard courts.
Currently welcoming new members, the club will provide fresh, year-round opportunities for Repton pupils to compete in external matches. Reptonians involved in the club will get the chance to play in various tournaments and fixtures against other clubs and university teams.
Repton’s sports centre boasts some of the Midlands’ top tennis facilities. The School also has several hockey and football pitches, two multipurpose sports halls, and a 25-metre indoor swimming pool with a spectator area.
