A talented rackets-playing teen champion is being forced to watch his teammates compete in a public school tournament from the sidelines as he has been barred from playing - because he attends a state school.
Ben Cawston, who at 14 years old became the first state-education pupil to win a national public schools competition, is not allowed to play in this week's doubles tournament, due to being a pupil at a comprehensive. The teenager attends Westgate Comprehensive School in Winchester but trains at the prestigious Winchester College alongside his professional rackets-playing father.
Despite winning the under-15 singles competition at Queen's Club in West Kensington, Ben was told he could not compete after 14 public schools, including Eton and Harrow, voted to exclude state school players for the first time.
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Talented Ben, left, also plays table tennis
Dr Peter Cramer, Winchester College’s master-in-charge of rackets, told the Independent: "We live in a worryingly divided society and charity legislation says public schools should have outreach programmes and connections with state schools – but we all feel this is something a school like ours should be doing anyway, because it is morally right.
"Rackets is a hugely exciting minority sport but, if more state school players came in and a few more courts were built, the game would open up to the rest of world, and that could only be a good thing. This ban is a great shame, but I’m sure it’s something we can set right."
Ben, who is also a talented table tennis player, will now have to be content watching his Winchester teammates from the sidelines, instead of competing for the doubles title.
The Tennis and Rackets Association has been contacted for comment but has yet to respond.
Ben Cawston, who at 14 years old became the first state-education pupil to win a national public schools competition, is not allowed to play in this week's doubles tournament, due to being a pupil at a comprehensive. The teenager attends Westgate Comprehensive School in Winchester but trains at the prestigious Winchester College alongside his professional rackets-playing father.
Despite winning the under-15 singles competition at Queen's Club in West Kensington, Ben was told he could not compete after 14 public schools, including Eton and Harrow, voted to exclude state school players for the first time.
Dr Peter Cramer, Winchester College’s master-in-charge of rackets, told the Independent: "We live in a worryingly divided society and charity legislation says public schools should have outreach programmes and connections with state schools – but we all feel this is something a school like ours should be doing anyway, because it is morally right.
"Rackets is a hugely exciting minority sport but, if more state school players came in and a few more courts were built, the game would open up to the rest of world, and that could only be a good thing. This ban is a great shame, but I’m sure it’s something we can set right."
Ben, who is also a talented table tennis player, will now have to be content watching his Winchester teammates from the sidelines, instead of competing for the doubles title.
The Tennis and Rackets Association has been contacted for comment but has yet to respond.