THE SPORT OF REAL TENNIS

Real tennis is the original indoor racquet sport from which the modern game of lawn tennis is descended. It is also known as “jeu de paume” in France, "court tennis" in the United States, "Royal Tennis" in Australia. It is still played by enthusiasts on 47 existing courts in the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, and France. The ball can bounce off all the high sloping roof surfaces.

Lucinda Maxwell (2015, Farnley Lodge; second from left in photo below) took up this sport for the first time at university, and this month captained the Oxford University Second team to a 6-0 victory over Cambridge, playing on the MCC’s Real Tennis Court at Lord’s Cricket Ground.

She also partnered Maggie Henderson-Tew (Tew, 1976, St Margaret's; furthest left in photo) in representing CLC for the first time in the Cattermull Cup in January, which is the National Alumni Doubles tournament.

Charlotte Cornwallis (1988, St Margaret's) is the former Ladies World Champion for Real Tennis.