Spanish Sunshine and Sport!

Immediately after the end of term students from Years 10 and above headed to Marbella for a few days of sport and fun in the sun from 7^th to 12^th July!

The girls enjoyed training in Spain as they prepared for their first overseas fixtures, encountering local teams in both netball and hockey matches. In addition to the competitive sports, they were able to try out beach-based water sports including paddle boarding and to thoroughly test the hotel’s swimming pool facilities. On the social side a trip to Gibraltar, a cable car ride and a magic show all offered great entertainment for the girls.

Head of Netball, PE teacher and trip organiser, Zoe Macpherson, enthused, “The sports tour was a wonderful experience for the students to be challenged in netball and hockey over the week. Each of the students’ skill development progressed for next academic year, they were able to build upon a stronger team ethos and create long lasting memories from the sports tour. Linking to the Quaker values the community was brought together with the different year groups building a rapport and team values to take forward into next year, new friendships grew and team building was developed in the sports.”

Flying from Gatwick at 4.30am was an early start but once the group had landed at Malaga airport and checked into the hotel there was time for some hockey training in the glorious sunshine before dinner and a good sleep! The second day saw our students on the beach with single, double and in some cases five-person paddle boards, building up their water sports skills in the Alboran Sea. After a splash in the pool the teams went up against CHP Benalmadena A teams for hockey, a great start to the competitive element of the tour. The matches continued the next day, this time in Gibraltar with an hour’s hockey training in the morning at the at Gibraltar Stadium and Sports Complex and the game against the Panthers later in the evening. The afternoon involved travelling by cable car to go up the famous Gibraltar Rock. The views from the top were amazing, as was the welcoming party of Barbary Monkeys who were not shy in saying hello! Netball in Gibraltar completed the tour’s series of matches and the girls also got to experience a magic show after dinner on their final evening.