TEN teenagers from Malvern College qualified for the National Schools Rackets Championships.

The school's senior title holder James Shepherd plays in the elite singles championship for the top 16 players in Britain.

Shepherd is the first Malvern College pupil to reach the standard in nearly a decade in the sport which is the ancient forerunner of squash.

He played his first match against the powerful Sam Hawkesley, of Rugby, for the right to face favourite Sam Northeast, of Harrow.

Shepherd's doubles partner Chris Elsden made a bright start, winning his opening match of the Renny Cup Senior Singles with a stylish victory over James Ohlson of Marlborough.

In the under 16 championship, Felix Black stormed through to beat Harry Snape, of Tonbridge, for the loss of just eight points.

The Malvern squad train at least three times a week on the college's historic high black-walled courts where the small white ball flies around at speeds of up to 160 mph.

Rackets began in the 18th century in the two big London debtors' prisons, the King's Bench and the Fleet and it is now played at 20 clubs and schools in Britain, mainly the big boarding schools.

But most of the school professionals, including Malvern's Tim Roberts, a former Lancashire and Northants professional cricketer, now run evening clubs.

Despite its relative obscurity, rackets is thriving with a record entry for the National Schools championships of nearly 230 boys plus the first female competitor.

Because of the speed and fast reflexes the game demands, the top competitors often tend to be outstanding all-rounders, including county cricketers such as Matt Windows and Richard Montgomerie.

Both Shepherd and Elsden play Worcestershire junior county cricket and also represent Malvern College at a range of different sports.