SPORTS NEWS
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ALLEYNIAN SAILING SOCIETY
In the late summer of 2020 when there was a relaxing of the restrictions, the Alleynian Sailing Society were able to organise a week-long outing. Two 37’ yachts were chartered from the Hamble. One was skippered by the Commodore, Richard Sainsbury (63-72), and the other by the Hon Secretary, Anthony Frankford (62-69). Helping Richard were Al Capon (73-80) and his partner Michelle along with Tommaso Quaglia (15-20) and William Holmes (12-19).
OLD ALLEYNIAN ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL CLUB
This trip did show that there was room in the Society’s calendar to have a separate trip and take recent College leavers out, hopefully going further afield if the weather allows. This would allow time for training for Competent Crew and Day Skipper examinations and allow the next generation of sailors to prosper. My personal thanks to Richard Sainsbury for his navigational expertise (and dinner on the last night), Al, Michelle and Harry for all their help and bonhomie, but more especially to the younger crew members who showed us that the future of the Society is in safe hands. Special mention should be made of Matt’s photographic prowess and the introduction of drone flying off his boat to capture spectacular images.
relegations being awarded, from which I am pleased to say we were beneficiaries. The 2nd XI were champions elect of Division 4 under the masterful direction of midfield dynamo John Harvey (04-11) and defensive lionheart Anu Ogunbiyi (02-09) and were consequently rewarded with promotion to Division 3. With both 2nd and 3rd XIs leading their respective divisions in the 20/21 season the much-anticipated Dulwich derby does not look like happening any time soon. For the 1st XI it was a first season without any silverware, though it can still definitely be considered a success after a strong showing in the highly competitive Premier Division. When the season was drawn to a close, the 1st XI were comfortably inside the ‘Champions League’ spots holding onto fourth place, and so it looks like the new regime of James Barrie (01-11) and Andy Moss (04-11) will have the backing of the ‘Board’ and lead the side into a second season. While we made it through to the quarter finals of the Arthur Dunn Cup, we were edged out in extra time by Arthurian League behemoth Charterhouse.
I think it is fair to say that across Europe the 2019 -2020 football season was a strange one. This was no different in the Arthurian League who went against the precedent set by the Premier League, Serie A and La Liga and instead followed Ligue 1’s example in deciding that, as the world was increasingly gripped by the pandemic, there was not a viable commercial case to continue playing. The OAs had enjoyed another stellar season up until the point at which the government called a halt to organised sport, and I am delighted to report promotions for both the 2nd and 3rd XI. Indeed, such was the 3rd XI’s dominance of Division 5 in their inaugural year that they had already been crowned Champions by the time we went into lockdown. A huge congratulations to co-captains Ife Runsewe (04-11) and Jake Warren (98-07) in overseeing such a successful first season and proving that, unlike at Liverpool in the late 1990’s, the Roy Evans and Gerard Houllier model of joint management can be made to work. Ife’s withdrawal from the Committee for the 20/21 season is purely a coincidence! Despite, or maybe because of, the uncertain end to the season, the League’s authorities decided to restructure the divisions for the 20/21 season, resulting in several unofficial promotions and It seems strange to watch England play Rugby and realise that our most dangerous sport of Golf is banned. Our golfing in 2020 has been severely curtailed by Coronavirus. After titanic struggles against Old Cranleighans and Royal Cinque Ports, acting as Halford Hewitt trials, the last society outing before the first lockdown was held at New Zealand on 19 March. We then had to endure a six month wait for our next outing during which time all the big alumni school events were cancelled, including the Halford Hewitt, Cyril Gray and Grafton Morrish. There was however a silver lining; golf’s popularity increased after lockdown with WFH (working-from-home) becoming the new normal and we saw an upsurge in interest and availability from the U30’s, an age group we had focused our efforts on attracting before the pandemic. Our youth policy was reflected in the first fixture post lockdown, a match against Old Johnians in September, again at New Zealand, where I am very pleased to say that 5 of our 10 players were under 30, but sadly we lost. In 2020, we launched our website at oags.co.uk where you can join, see and book all our forthcoming fixtures and contact other OA golfers. We are optimistic for 2021, although we do not know how they may be able to play the Halford Hewitt with
The other yacht carried Harry Willetts, Master i/c Sailing at DC, Matt Gorvett (06- 13) and Alex Waring (13-18), also recent leavers. A great week, despite not having the College boys with us. We hope next year it will have all calmed down and we will safely be able to take boys out sailing again.
Anthony Frankford (62-69) Secretary anthonytfrankford@gmail.com
OA CROSS COUNTRY
Adrian Low (83-90) and Dan Wade (92-99) raced each other across the Bristol Downs, cheered on by their families. Youth prevailed, with Dan finishing in 36:54, less than one minute ahead of Adrian. It may not have been the classic alumni course across Wimbledon Common, but it further goes to show how modern technology, in this case Garmin and Strava, can bring us together in the COVID era.
With Cross Country events unable to go ahead this year, the ‘Old Boys’ race, like so many things, went digital. On 12 December, Old Alleynians joined
alumni from schools across the country in a virtual race. The idea was that everyone should run 5 miles ‘across country’; the organisers requested that ‘some mud and hills should be included!’ Seven OAs took up the challenge with courses mapped out and ran at locations across Europe including Ireland, Berlin, Epsom Downs, Leeds and Kent.
Ben Precious (02-07) Secretary preciousb1@hotmail.co.uk
OA GOLFING SOCIETY
so many competitors and spectators. We have some excellent fixtures, including two new ones against Old Harovians at The Berkshire and against Old Sennockians at Littlestone. All players are welcome to join us. Please contact me. You can find the fixture list on the website. The Society has presented two trophies of 400th anniversary Dartington rose bowls to be played for at Royal Cinque Ports and Royal Ashdown. Sadly, we lost Tony Brewer (60-67), who captained our team to the final of the Halford Hewitt in 1982 and was part of the Grafton Morrish winning team in 1971. The match against Royal Cinque Ports will be known as the Brewmaster Trophy in his memory. The match against Royal Ashdown will be played for the Deakin Bowl to be presented by Bob Deakin (42- 45) our most successful Halford Hewitt golfer. The
Jerry Watson (71-78) Secretary thewatsonsroundhay@gmail.com
OLD ALLEYNIAN LODGE
planning a grand Centenary event at the College in December, but this has had to be postponed: we have rearranged our Centenary meeting, thanks to the good offices of the Master and the Events team, for October 2021. Apart from the masonic stories and moral principles imparted in our ceremonies, and the good-fellowship provided by membership of the Lodge, charitable giving is also an essential part of Freemasonry, and the Old Alleynian Lodge has supported the COVID-19 related charitable activities of the Metropolitan Grand Lodge of London and Dulwich College. One day we shall return to form - though, as a sociable organisation, we know we shall have to wait. Nevertheless, if you are interested in learning more about Freemasonry, or might like to join the Lodge, do get in touch - we would be delighted to hear from you.
The first meeting of the Old Alleynian Lodge - known in Freemasonry as the Consecration meeting - was held on 14 December 1920 at the Hotel Cecil in the Strand. The hotel was demolished many years ago, but the Lodge has just been able to mark the occasion of its Centenary - if only via Zoom. The Lodge has not been inactive. During the first lockdown, we held Zoom sessions every two weeks, to raise a glass to the Lodge and to each other. Experiments with singing "Pueri Alleynienses" via Zoom, however, were not a success! During the "Rule of Six" period, we were able to hold a COVID-secure, masked and socially- distanced meeting in the Old Library. This enabled us to appoint new Lodge officers for the year - an important aspect of the life of every Lodge. We were pleased to be able to hold a special Zoom session on 14 December 2020, the precise date of the Lodge's Centenary. The Lodge had been
accompanying image is of Old Alleynians at Deal Golf Club with Tony Brewer in the middle standing and Bob Deakin kneeling just left of centre.
Happy days let’s hope they return soon.
Duncan Anderson (64-71) Secretary oags2013sec@gmail.com
Sergei Subotsky (78-86) Secretary oalodge4165@gmail.com
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