In a light-hearted moment during Monday’s Astley Cup assembly at Dubbo College, a video showed a student purchasing a novelty-sized boot.
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The message was the current team has big shoes to fill but the boot was purchased to also fit “eight years of mistakes and disappointment” in it.
While that moment brought about some laughter, it also shows the mood of Dubbo College heading into the 2018 edition of one of the most proud school sport traditions in the country.
The last time Dubbo College defeated it’s Orange and Bathurst counterparts in the multi-sport competition was back in 2011.
But each year brings with it fresh hope and a new-look Dubbo College starts its 2018 campaign at Bathurst’s Denison College, the defending champions, later this week.
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“It would be amazing (if we won the cup) because it’s been such a long drought,” sports captain Hamish Grant.
“For (fellow sports captain) Milla (Ross) and I to hold the cup for the rest of the school and the captains, it would be great.
“It would be great for the community and a personal achievement that not many captains have had in the last few years.”
As always, the annual launch assembly was an example of the kind of school spirit the Astley Cup creates each year, with plenty of noise and colour on offer.
For many of the students taking part this year it will be their first time competing in the time-honoured competition, now in its 96th year, and Ross said that’s something to savour.
“It’s a lot of fun,” she said of the launch assembly.
“I remember my first one when I was in year 10. It was so hyped and it got me excited about a tradition I didn’t know a lot about.”
In terms of strengths this year, the rugby league side is always a standout and will be tasked with keeping the College’s runs of victories going this year while Ross said there is also plenty of expectation around the athletics.
The school’s sports organiser, Craig May, spoke much about the school spirit and pride involved with the competition during the assembly and it was clear Grant and Ross are all too aware of the tradition they are upholding.
“Everyone gets around it, the Dubbo community as well, and it’s been a tradition for a long time so the alumni and others get around it and everyone gets excited so hopefully this can be the year we bring it home,” Grant said, the annual ‘esse esse quam videri’ chant rang around the hall to close the assembly.
Dubbo travels to Bathurst for the first leg of the 2018 Astley Cup with the competition being played out on Thursday and Friday.
Orange High plays host to Bathurst next week while Dubbo College welcomes the Orange school to town to close out the campaign on July 4 and 5.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
