During half term our senior Hockey, Netball and Swimming Squads travelled to Barbados for our Senior Sports Tour. The trip gave our students the chance to train as a team and experience the different cultures that the island has to offer. The tour involved four hockey and four netball matches and various training sessions. The swimmers had daily training sessions, including dry side sessions, and finished with a competitive gala at the end of the tour.

By Adeline M-S, netballer

“I absolutely loved going to Barbados this half-term not only because it brightened up the slowly darkening evenings that October brings every year but also because of the amazing netball we all played along with some other very fun activities. I played netball on the trip and we managed to win all our netball matches! The Bajan teams we played were great sports and so, were very enjoyable to play with.

It seemed that every day there was something going on. Whether that be an intense volleyball game on the beach followed by a dive in the sea or a much needed cool swim in the hotel pool after a successful day of fixtures. Our training sessions were filled with energy and motivation despite the very draining and dizzying heat- although I can confirm it took some getting used to the thick, humid air! However, smiles and enthusiasm remained and the lunches we were about to make ourselves in our rooms most definitely pulled us through those gruelling training sessions!

The highlight of the trip for me had to be forming solid, inter-year group friendships because everyone seemed so relaxed and up for anything which lightened up the trip and made it one we would never forget. I am sure the catamaran trip was a highlight for many of us as many of us had not yet been on one before. It was filled with joy and crystal clear waters although a few people (including myself) were stung by something awful on one of the scuba diving trips (I am telling myself it was the most dangerous jellyfish in the world) but I know that those Bajan scars only made us stronger and the memories even sweeter. All in all it was a really incredible trip and definitely one to remember!”

By Maddy C, hockey player

“On the Barbados sports tour I played hockey and waterpolo. The tour started off with hockey for me where I participated in three games and two training sessions. We started first with the training session which was led by Miss Newman and our holiday guide Junior who also played hockey. We then went on to a game later that day where we bonded with the Barbados team and won with the score of 6-2. Meeting the team for the first time was an amazing experience as they were all really kind to our team and gave us a warm welcome to hockey in Barbados. Then after the next game we had another training session with another member of the Barbados team in which we developed many of our shooting skills. Later that day we went on to play the next game, and then another the next day after where we met with new players on the other team including the national goalkeeper for Barbados.

After the hockey had finished I also participated in a waterpolo training session, which like the hockey was extremely fun yet challenging for the team. On top of doing sport we also took part in extra activities including a jeep ride, visiting a fish market and a catamaran experience. The jeep ride was first, and was a thrilling experience, as we were driven from one coast of Barbados to the other we experienced many off road adventures with bass boosted music inside the jeep. We visited many places along the way including a beach, a haunted house and a cliff side which gave us a beautiful view over Barbados.

On the last day of our journey we went with Tiami Cruises on a catamaran experience with sessions of snorkelling and lunch provided. When snorkelling we saw many different fish and corals including a sting ray at the bottom of the ocean floor! When not doing either a planned experience or sport, many of us would go to the beach beside the hotel, visit the pool or rest in our rooms. Over the trip I met many new people across the years who I hadn’t spoken to before and also got closer to some of my existing friends. On top of this, I also encountered many new things such as the kind personalities of the citizens of Barbados and some Barbados food which I had never heard of, including the McDonalds lookalike Chefette. As stated, the citizens gave us such a nice experience as every time we walked along a road we would be greeted by the locals and wished well upon our travels. Every tour guide we had also adopted these traits making the experience of Barbados so much nicer for our teams.

My favourite moment of the trip would definitely be the night of Halloween where all the students dressed up in costumes (including an Alice in Wonderland theme) as well as the teachers adopting a Hawaiian theme. We then went on to go trick or treating at the teachers’ rooms where we experienced many laughs together. Overall I really enjoyed the Barbados trip as I have so many memories with everyone and additionally got to discover a new kind of culture and place where I had never been to before.”