Video: first XI hockey keeper on the way to Edinburgh after losing fives

Aussie fresher loses annual Edinburgh Fives…he got the 6.22 from St. Davids this morning

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Ever woken up regretting the night before?

No matter how bad you’re feeling this morning, it could be a lot worse. At least you didn’t have to get up at the crack of dawn to get the train to Edinburgh and back…for absolutely no reason.

Exeter men’s hockey first-team keeper and Tab writer Jack Banister is currently on the 6.22 train from Exeter St Davids to Edinburgh after losing the annual game of Edinburgh Fives.

The Australian fresher is palpably tense in the final game of ‘tens’ – he attempts to take his go THREE times when it is the other player’s turn.

A return trip to Edinburgh costs around £170 – paid for by the rest of the club after a whip-round.

Jack Banister left Exeter at 6.22am this morning

Following last year’s game, Ben Sully was greeted at Edinburgh station by Edinburgh University hockey players. The club heard of the Exeter fresher’s journey on Twitter and were on the platform to present him with a bottle of wine, chocolates and a bunch of flowers.

Christmas come early for 2012 winner Ben Sully

Inspired by Sully’s journey, Edinburgh’s hockey boys pledged to send a fresher of their own to Exeter and back in one day. In February, Edinburgh hosted their game of ‘Exeter Fives’. Fresher Max Abott lost in a well-organised final (their referee had a bow tie!) and made the journey to Devon.

Edinburgh’s Max Abott en route down to Exeter in February

In Exeter, Abott was greeted by a delegation from EUMHC – including Ben Sully. The two freshers played an historic game of fives in the Imperial, the venue that played host to the Exeter game last year.

Giants collide: Sully takes on Abott in the Impy

This year, Banister will take in the sights of Burton-on-Trent, Wakefield, Darlington and Dunbar en route. The Edinburgh hockey boys (or ‘the other EUMHC’), apparently intend to welcome him with open arms.

The first-year English and Politics student pulled into Chesterfield at 10.02am, but, he told The Tab “the fog is ruining my view of the countryside.”

First-year and Tab writer Jack Banister

Messages of support have been pouring in from around the country.

https://twitter.com/simonjamestyson/status/410512844934103040

The hockey club also live-tweeted Banister’s reaction immediately after his defeat.

Speaking exclusively to The Tab, Banister felt that he was destined to lose, describing how he “realised I was doomed during my English seminar yesterday arvo, where I sat with a raised heartbeat and beads of sweat running down my forehead, trying to work out a way of avoiding the inevitable.”

We’ll be following all the action live today – check back on the live blog for updates.