picking up wins in their first two matches. They eventually finished second in their group, which took them into the third place playoff where they outplayed Trinity to claim third position. In the U14 tournament we were able to put out two full teams – this was the first time in 10 years that we have fielded two separate full teams in the same age group (the first of many historic moments in the season). It was brilliant to see, and shows how the popularity of the sport is growing at the College. Both U14 teams picked up wins in the group stages, but it was DC Blues who topped their group, winning in the semi-finals but narrowly losing a tough final against Charter North. As we continued through the Michaelmas term, all age group teams (U14/U15/U16 and Seniors) gained plenty of game time action in their London Independent Schools Basketball Association (LISBA) league matches. At the start of the Lent term it was all to play for, with all age groups still in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs. The U15 team needed to win both their remaining games, against Royal Russell and Alleyn’s, to progress, but were unfortu- nately unable to do so. Though they were disappointed, the team has come together, more determined than ever, and they are already planning how they can improve for next season. The U16 team suffered the same fate as the U15s and were unable to progress to the playoff show- piece, but they are a group of players with a fantastic skill set and will certainly make a positive impact on the Senior squad next year. Strong LISBA seasons at U14 and Senior level meant that both teams progressed to the playoff tournament. The Seniors secured third place by beating Whitgift, and the U14 team were crowned champions, beating Sevenoaks in the semi-final and following this up with a victory against KCS in the final (full details follow). The U14s and Seniors also performed well in the National Cup; it had been 10 plus years since a Dulwich College team had progressed out of the group stages of a national competition and it was an unbelievable achievement to see both teams make it to the last 16 in the country. The U14 team went a step further and managed to reach the quarter-final stage, as detailed below. It really has been a year to remember, with two teams making it to the National Cup knockout stages, the U14 team winning the LISBA playoffs, the strongest win per- centage for many years (53% up from 36% last year) and
U19 MARCUS IP (YEAR 13)
The 2023–24 season has come to an end and it is my time to pass on the role of captain to the promising juniors. The results of the fixtures this year were not quite as strong as last year, nor were there as many games due to changes in competition format. Seeing our juniors play at such a high level, however, assures me that the future is bright for DC Badminton. It is also very pleasing to see the sport getting the popularity it deserves in Games and after-school sessions. Although it might be unlikely that we will have another national champion in the near future such as Felix Wright from last year, it is not impossible, and what is of more importance is that everyone continues to have a great time playing badminton. The season ended in April with Dulwich hosting a senior singles and doubles tournament for eight teams from the region. Our A team took second place after a very close final, and our B team fought hard to win seventh place. It was an excellent reflection of the quality and depth of badminton at the College. ◉
BASKETBALL JAMES FAIERS
We began the 2023–24 Basketball season by hosting Southwark Schools tournaments at U14 and U16 level. With eight local schools joining us for each afternoon, it was a fantastic way to start a busy season. The U16 team, led by Ollie Tulk-Hart, Max Karg and Ola Meldad in the back court, and with Ranveer Rauniyar and Badshah Shah in the front court, made a strong start to the tournament,
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THE ALLEYNIAN 712
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