Oratory side retain Berkshire crown

THE Oratory School’s racquets U18 fourth team have retained the Berkshire Schools’ Invitational tennis title for the second year running.

The annual tournament took place earlier this month between The Oratory School, Pangbourne College, Shiplake College and Leighton Park.

The Oratory team consisted of Joseph Bradley in U6th form, Nathan McGarvey in fifth form, Cameron Firth in third form and 12-year-old Charlotte Gosling-Evans in the second form, who played at fourth seed and won all her singles matches convincingly against U18 boys. Claire Fahey, head of Oratory racquets, said: “It’s been brilliant to see first class tennis played by Nathan, Joe, Cameron and Charlotte — all the more impressive considering the younger ages of two of the team.”

Oratory racquets has enjoyed plenty of success this year. Last month, fifth former Archie Watson secured the French Open U17 and U19 titles. This summer, three Oratory students will be heading to Bordeaux having been selected for the Junior Real Tennis World Championships 2024.

All players are coached by Fahey, who is also the reigning real tennis ladies’ world champion, who has an impressive 43 open title wins to her name.