Marlborough School's Football and Netball Tour to Barbados

Report by Abbie Nicoll from Marlborough School's Netball Team

July 2009

The school sports tour to Barbados was a truly unforgettable experience – I never thought it could be better than what I expected, but I was wrong. Now I look back on it, I can’t quite believe it’s all over, but the never-ending laughs and exceptional team spirit of those two weeks are memories I hope not to be forgotten. 

We were told about our sports tour to Barbados at the end of Year 9. At first it sounded too good to be true, would it ever happen? We soon realised that as a team our need to commit to the trip was essential, if our Barbados experience could even start to happen.

Inevitably, the pictured thought of white sandy beaches beneath a bright blue sky was just enough to spur serious enthusiasm amongst 27 14 year olds.  Although, with the stress of upcoming GCSEs, I don’t think any of us could really begin to appreciate what such a break would feel like.

But time seemed to fly by, and on the 10 July 2009, we were flying 4,000 miles across the vast Atlantic Ocean to the pleasant parish of St. James. Once we’d landed in Barbados, I remember stepping off the plane and being hit - not only by a drastic change in temperature, but a sense of achievement. After our two years of anticipation we had finally arrived.

Barbados was an incredible learning experience, and for most of us withheld many new opportunities. We went to Barbados to play sport – netball for the girls, football for the boys. The ability to familiarise with another culture in the heat of competition was without doubt my most irreplaceable experience. Our opposition was strong-willed, energetic and quick off the mark. It soon became apparent to me that these girls had unbelievable tactics, and on many occasions we were outsmarted – they only ever play as a team, and their teams only played to win.

However, away from their sporting passion, off the court Bajan’s acquire an extremely chilled out lifestyle, with no real account of time. It was soon discovered amongst ourselves that in the Caribbean you are never too late – but only too early. With us being used to the impatience of the UK – it was quite an adjustment. Barbados is a beautiful island, but what made it so special was the welcome. That’s why so many of us are enticed to return, it became so easy to make friends.

One of the groups’ most special friends was our daily bus driver, of whom we first met on our island tour. Sheldon, a loveable Michael Jackson enthusiast, gave us our first real insight into Bajan culture – “No maybes about dat”. With Billie Jean pumping through our ears and the sight of a tropical paradise stretched out in front of us, the beginning to our Caribbean experience was fantastically overwhelming.  

Throughout the trip we indulged in many more excursions, including regular trips to idyllic local beaches, a shopping trip to the capital – Bridgetown, and nights out – such as the Harbour Lights Beach Party. On the day before our departure we were in for one final venture, a catamaran cruise. As we voyaged around the western coast, many of us took the opportunity to snorkel over the ancient ship wrecks, swim amongst the incredible presence of giant sea turtles, and commemorate the past two weeks. It was the perfect way to spend the day.

As a note to finish on, I think all of the team valued such a terrific and fun-filled learning opportunity. Barbados provided everything we needed for the ultimate sports tour in abundance, and on behalf of all of us that went; I would like to say a big thank you to Miss Malloch for all of her hard work. It could never have been such a success without her patience and co-ordination.

On the 10 July 2009, 27 students left for Barbados as individuals.

On the 24 July 2009, 27 students returned home as a team.

• See all our tour reports