The Present regain the Trapnell Tankard

Cambridge, Saturday 11th February 2017

Despite the best efforts of the Churchill Boys (above) Cambridge Present regained the Trapnell Tankard at this year’s Past versus Present.

A Present 1st IV of Ed Kay, Ben Beltrami, Matt Shaw and Andrew Boyd built a lead of 60-21 in their Singles matches against Charlie Brooks, Jacob Brubert, Jack Malde and Elliott Malone respectively.

This being the traditional pattern in these annual encounters the Past looked forward to clawing back a chunk of those lost points in the first round of doubles. This was not to be, as the Present VIII set about defending their lead with the introduction of Aurelien Gueroult & Jeremy Manger and Nathan Turnbull & Charlie Constable. The four Present pairs managed to add a further 22 points in the first round, for which the Past threw in Charles Compton, Andy Pringle, Martin Wilkinson and Luke Rowland.

The second round of doubles did go to plan for the Past, as they picked up 28 points. Match of the afternoon was undoubtedly Shaw & Boyd at 2 against Brooks & Brubert, won by the latter 15-16, 15-4. Old hands Mathieu & Gribble and Caroe & Olliver were irresistible at 3 and 4, but the Past’s 1st pair of Pringle & Malone were no match for Kay & Beltrami, practising together for the Varsity Match and for the National Doubles.

Match result: Present 214 Past 181

Meanwhile an inaugural Mixed Doubles Match took place in which Georgina Shepherd’s squad, starring Lottie Simpson, Rupert Mathieu, Andy Olliver, Wilson Lau and Martin Wilkinson, beat Cassi Henderson’s team of Jane Coombs, Charles Compton, Tim Caroe, Luke Rowland and Joe Gribble. The match went to the very last game, which Lottie & Andy won 11-6.

Mixed Doubles Result: 81-74 to Georgina’s squad.

Luke & Elliott – the Churchill Boys

Georgina in action in the Mixed Doubles

Perhaps the camera does sometimes lie!