dispatch two mammoth sixes at Harrow – one into the road, causing a dent in the Volvo it hit – the other sailing over the spectators’ heads as they looked on in admiration. Another highlight has been the increase in participation in the Junior School. Mr Davies tells me that by the time the term ends, every boy in the Junior School will have represented the College at Rugby, Football, Hockey and Cricket. The hope is that this will inspire boys to go on and continue to do so with enthusiasm as they continue up the school. The success of Water Polo has been amazing this year, with all three teams making it through to the National Finals. The silver medal that the U14s brought back was a real highlight, with Ethan Staunton deserving a special mention for his performance on the day and throughout the season. Finally, the opportunity to watch the U13s Rugby team win the Rosslyn Park National Sevens live online was another fantastic moment in the year. The fact that the 1st XV, who were playing at Twickenham the next day, turned out to support them was again a demonstration of how the pupils support each other on daily basis. There are so many other moments that are worthy of mention: the National Schools Regatta win for the J16s, the 1st XV making another Twickenham Final and that drop goal, the U18s Basketball boys winning the LISBA league final and the whole of China Olympiad are all moments to remember. None of the above, or any of the other of the vast array of sporting activities, would happen without the dedication and commitment of the staff who give up a huge amount of their time to help prepare, organise and transport the boys. By the end of this year, the College will have competed in nearly 2,000 fixtures, galas, regattas or events. I am extremely grateful to both the academic members of staff and those dedicated Sports staff for all their hard work throughout the year. A special mention needs to go to those staff who are leaving us this year and, in particular, my thanks and best wishes go with Mr Lock, a true Dulwich stalwart, Mr Quilter, a proud and passionate OA, Mr Swift, Miss Gill and Mr Rayner. All go with our best wishes. ‘By the end of this year, the College will have competed in nearly 2,000 fixtures, galas, regattas or events’
I cannot quite believe how quickly the year has gone. The time has come to once again reflect on a year of Sport here at Dulwich College, and as my second year as Director of sport draws to a close, my eyes have once again been opened as to why sport is such an important part of College life for boys, staff and parents. Every pupil who has represented the College across a number of sports has done so with pride, honesty, integrity and selfless dedication. My particular thanks must go to those boys leaving the College, who have been remarkable ambassadors. I wish them every success in their future careers and I hope that sport continues to play a significant part in their lives – as a Games department one of our major goals is to give every boy the opportunity to find a sport or activity that allows him to lead a healthy lifestyle. I also hope that they keep in touch and come back to support the College. The year began with the opening of the new pitches on the far side of the Pavilion. The break in tradition wasn’t taken lightly, but it has been fantastic to see the atmosphere that has been generated as OAs, parents and visitors now enjoy the privilege of an excellent balcony view and some high-quality sport. Both Rugby and Football have embraced the change and the Pavilion is now seen as the spiritual home for three of our major team sports. September also saw the completion of the new International Standard Hockey Astro and both of these developments demonstrate the College’s continued commitment to sport by providing facilities that encourage participation and excellence. Last year, I provided an overview of the year and tried to cover all sports; this year, I thought I would just give a couple of my personal favourites to sit alongside the excellent reports that follow from staff and boys. My apologies if I have left something off the list, but these are only my opinions and, after all, sport is riddled with them. despite their defeat to Hampton in the semi-final of the ISFA cup spoke volumes to me about the community here at Dulwich. The crowd gave every member of the team a standing ovation from the crowd, which I hope eased their disappointment in some small way. Watching Akil Greenidge score a century away at Harrow was also a special moment. Akil is someone who works hard on his game and it was a pleasure to see him First, watching the pride with which the whole College continued to support the Football 1st XI
SPORT
Mr Phil Greenaway introduces The Alleynian ’s sporting coverage with a personal reflection on the year’s successes
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