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T R I P S A N D V I S I T S
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Hit with the humidity and heat the moment we stepped off the plane, the two
netball and hockey teams sent to the Caribbean realised just why we had been given
complimentary ice-creams before leaving check-in at Gatwick airport 12 hours prior.
At the start of the summer holidays I, along with twenty six other Bancroft’s athletes,
had the privilege to embark on a ten day excursion to Barbados, home of flying fish and
sunny skies.With every morning beginning with a student-led beach workout and evenings
ending with an assortment of local cuisine, it was truly an experience that I will fail to find
elsewhere. Hospitality, sporting talent and souvenirs galore: Barbados had it all.
We started straight away, no hesitation for this Bancroft’s lot, running headlong into both
the sea and into the scorching 28 degree heat for our first (and subsequently last) training
session of the trip. A silver lining to Charlotte Peters’ horrific sunburn was definitely the
kitschy bandanas bought by every pupil. Armed with our touristy purchases, we took
every match by storm, hockey and netball alike, resulting in an impressive sporting feat all
round. Most impressive was the undefeated second netball team who ran circles round
their opponents, much to the delight and dismay of the locals who came to watch and
support us in our sporting triumphs. Faced with high intensity, rough and naturally skilled
teams, a sense of community was inevitably felt by each member of the squads. The
relentless sun forced us to cultivate a different level of teamwork which we had never
before experienced, with each player supporting her fellow Bancroftians.This type of team
spirit was not felt solely on the court or pitch, with my personal highlight of the trip being
that of ‘White Night’ at Blakey’s on the Boardwalk, where personal anecdotes from the
tour about every girl were shared, making everyone feel recognised and included for their
own skills and attributes.
This notion of community was already something very important to all of us even before
embarking on our Caribbean experience; we held weekly bake sales which allowed us to
donate £200 to a turtle sanctuary to preserve and aid the egg-laying process in the face
of urban sprawl and tourism, some of the many issues we learnt about on a late night
turtle spotting adventure.
From a catamaran ride and swimming with turtles to a nature safari, on which Rhianna’s
birthplace was one of the many important features of the landscape, each athlete
experienced Barbados to its fullest potential. I am sure I don’t only speak for myself when
I say just how grateful we all are for being lucky enough to experience such an amazing
island.Wethank all the staff who made the trip possible; it would not have been the same
without them..
Senior Girls’ Sports Tour
Victoria Morgan Couch, U6E