In October this year, we set off to Holland for our 4th girls hockey tour. It was a first for us to travel at this time as we normally make the trip in April, so with the girls six months younger and different weather to look forward to, we were unsure what to expect!
Even in the early hours of departure, there was huge excitement in the camp and this 'buzz’ around the girls continued for the whole week we were there. It was the biggest touring party we had taken and it meant that for the first time, we added in some 2nd team fixtures to the itinerary too. With the addition of an extra fixture to the normal itinerary too, there was a huge amount of hockey played by all the girls, as everyone featured in the matches everyday. Hockey is the national sport of Holland so the opposition were strong everyday. Yes our results weren’t fantastic but every girl showed huge progress across the course of the week and we were competitive in all the fixtures we played. We were lucky to be hosted by some lovely hockey clubs. The coaches, parents and children were all very hospitable which makes the touring experience all the better.
Touring is not all about the sport. The girls had some excellent trips, and mixture of cultural, fun and educational, which they all seemed to enjoy. We were incredibly lucky with the weather, enjoying two of the hottest days in Holland’s history for that period, two days in a row. It made the canal cruise and shopping even more enjoyable!
Seeing the girls on tour is very different to seeing them around school. You really get to see them in their friendship groups and get to know them that bit better. It was lovely to watch them interact with each other and create memories that I’m sure will last a lifetime.
They were all very good company for the week and I hope they all enjoyed it as much as we did!
The girls definitely returned from the tour with new skills and motivation and the Ist VII scored an amazing 19 goals in the following three matches, conceding only one!
Mr Hanley, Mrs Sutcliffe and Mr Whitehouse
