January/February 2026 report

The draw for the 2026 Halford Hewitt took place at the East India Club on Wednesday 7th January. Whitgift will play Wellington in the first round, the match being played at Royal Cinque Ports GC, Deal, on FRIDAY 10th April, starting at 8.20am. Note this is one of a very few matches not to be played on the opening day (the Thursday), which means that if Whitgift get through, they will play a second round match later on the Friday. So if you want to come down to Deal to watch, you might get to see two matches instead of one ……

Two interesting ties elsewhere in the draw; Eton v Charterhouse and Tonbridge v Harrow. Between them, those four schools have won 50 of the 94 Hewitts played since 1924, so two of those many-time past winners will not make the second round!

************************

The final of the 2025 knockout was played between the Captain, Mark Chatham, and the Secretary, Peter Gale.  Unfortunately for the Secretary, rank was pulled, and it proved to be a very one-sided affair. But at least it was played in fairly dry conditions, which is remarkable given the weather we have suffered in early 2026. Congratulations to Mark.

************************