Eustace Hamilton Miles was born in 1868. He went to Heath Mount school (near Whitestone Pond) and Marlborough College followed by Kings College Cambridge in 1887. At Cambridge he began his distinguished career in racquets and real tennis, playing against Oxford. Eustace won an amazing number of English and world titles, including a silver medal at the 1908 Olympics in real tennis.

• 1898-1903: amateur real tennis champion of England
• 1898-1903: amateur real tennis champion of the world
• 1900: the first non-American winner of the real tennis US Championship
• 1900: amateur racquets champion of America
• 1900: amateur racquets champion of England
• 1902: amateur racquets champion of England
• 1902, 1904, 1905 and 1906: amateur racquets champion of the World (doubles)
• 1905: amateur real tennis champion of the World
• 1905-1906: amateur real tennis champion of England
• 1906: amateur racquets champion of the World (singles)
• 1908: Olympic Silver Medal. He had coached the winner, Jay Gould II, during his stay in America in 1900-2.
• 1909, 1910: amateur real tennis champion of England

Eustace was still playing competitively in his 40’s and winning tennis matches against far younger players. In 1910 Miles wrote to the Times,

People seem to imagine that after 30 a man is no good. I am in my 42nd year, and am thoroughly fit, I hope. Men ought to be in their prime – at least for strength and endurance and nerve – at 35.

A few years later he said,

Some sports are best given up at an early age. Football would be the first to go, and that when a man is about 25 years of age, racquets should follow. To cricket and tennis, however, I would by no means place any limit.

Well spotted Gerald! Source and more on Eustace WestHampsteadLife.com…

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