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THE ALLEYNIAN 709
SPORT
1st XV captain Sam Fleming (Year 13) reflects on a school career in which sport played a major part
We were able to get back on the water in early March, starting training for the National Schools’ Regatta and Henley in the summer
LESSONS
LEARNED
PITCH ON THE
National Schools’ Regatta and Henley in the summer. Our new head of rowing, Tristan Mayglothling, has brought new aspirations to the boat club, with his many years of rowing experience and a good outlook on student-athlete welfare. I have a personal goal this year, which is to get through the first round of the Henley Royal Regatta heats; this would be a step forward for DCBC, and a huge achievement for our crew. It would put us in the top 50% of schoolboy crews in the country, something we could be very proud of. After Dulwich, I am planning to continue rowing at either Bristol or Durham universities where I have applied to read Physics. I hope to see the boat club continue in its improvement, aiming to be competitive with some of the historically fastest school clubs, such as Eton, St Paul’s and Radley. There’s no doubt that I’ve experienced one of the most eventful five-year periods DCBC has ever had, encompassing three different heads of rowing and two years of a global pandemic. Nevertheless, I have really enjoyed my time rowing with Dulwich and I’m sure the next generation will, too.
Over the years since I joined the College in Year 7 as a fresh- faced pupil who hardly dared to step onto the rugby pitch, my love of sport, particularly rugby, grew tremendously. Thanks to the fantastic staff, facilities and teammates, sport at Dulwich became incredibly important to me, and at certain points, I felt as though my whole life revolved around it. Progressing from the U12C team to captaining the 1st XV is a journey of which I will have fond memories for the rest of my life. As I progressed, I grew in confidence, making leaps and bounds with regard to my general mental health. The countless lessons learned in terms of leadership skills and communication, and the resilience I developed through playing sport at the College, will be forever helpful to me in whichever pursuits I decide to undertake. Though a Covid-struck 2020 meant all fixtures ground to a halt, the year certainly didn’t go to waste, with hard work from students and staff alike going into training. We managed to maintain our resilience and sense of optimism, from the Lower School students getting involved
in Saturday morning strength and conditioning sessions, to the staff, who were able to arrange several fixtures in the final weeks of the year, to the benefit of the students. The year was capped by an away-day at Warwick, in which several players made their 1st XV debut, showing courage and heart in a very close game, and coming away with a narrow loss and several injuries to show for it. Having the opportunity to lead my friends out as captain for the first and last time was an extremely emotionally charged moment for me. The few tears shed at the full-time whistle were representative of what rugby, sport and school itself mean to me, as well as to those who have dedicated equal amounts of time and energy towards it. To have been part of several successful teams throughout the years fills me and my teammates with pride. We are happy to know that we have contributed to a legacy which I have full confidence will last for many more years. My thanks go to the dedicated staff, who have given us so many great opportunities over the years, and to my fellow students, who have grasped those opportunities.
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