Year 8 Hockey Trip
As we finished school on Thursday 4 April, 30 excited Year 8 boys jumped onto the aeroplane to Belfast for five days of fun. We began by checking into the hotly anticipated paired rooms, followed by dinner, which provided the group with a moment of brilliance from one boy who, after being bumped into by a waiter, dropped his bowl of chocolate pudding! However, as the bowl smashed on the ground the pudding was caught brilliantly in one sweeping movement… the early signs were good!
On Friday morning, Belfast’s notorious weather closed in: rain fell as we walked to the Ulster Museum and continued to fall during our first matches versus Wallace High School. Both matches resulted in defeat but some excellent hockey was played – resilience is a key part of sport, and we were extremely resilient. Hot dogs were devoured after the matches and we made our way to the ten pin bowling alley and burger restaurant.
Saturday brought sunshine, glorious sunshine and with it a wonderful victory from our exuberant B team against Grosvenor School. The A team managed a goal, but sadly lost their match 3-1. The magnificent Giants Causeway entertained the boys that afternoon, concluded by a meal at the York Inn, Portrush. Back to Belfast for the quiz night at the hotel where both Mr Ansley and Dr Rhodes were blown away by the stunning answering abilities of the boys. Thank you to Mr Ansley and Dr Rhodes for organising the quiz and for putting in a late shift the previous night writing quiz questions.
Sunday was perhaps the toughest day on the pitch. The Lisburn Lions’ representative side gave an educational performance to our boys, followed by a similar outcome for the B team versus a Lisnagarvey team full of expert players. Again, our boys tried their very best and should have learnt many new things playing against such excellent opposition. To compensate for a hard day’s play, the boys watched a movie and ate pizza before enjoying some time in their rooms before bed. On Monday, avoiding the hockey pitch, we visited the best of Belfast’s cultural offerings, the Titanic Experience and the Crumlin Road Gaol, and enjoyed a tour on the Belfast city sightseeing bus.
As we touched down, slightly delayed, in Birmingham at 21:30, I think it is safe to say that all boys (and staff) were exhausted, but well educated, exercised and more importantly extremely well behaved. The boys were a credit to the school, their families and themselves.
Mr Jez Clarke
Head of Year 13
