Excitement is Mounting!
The official tour photograph has been published and, in a matter of days, we will be on our way to Holland. Needless to say, staff, pupils and parents alike are getting increasingly excited.
Winning Logo and Shirt Designs
Congratulations to Lydia, whose wonderful logo will be used on all of the tour kit, and to Lizzy and Hector, who designed the fantastic hockey and football shirts respectively. Certainly, everyone is going to look very smart!
The First Few Tour Items are Unveiled!
This afternoon, the children were given their first tour items. The girls received hockey stick bags; the boys received boot bags. Everyone was also presented with an initialled rucksack. The captains of hockey and football didn’t take too much persuading to pose for a photo!
The Tour Begins
Despite having left school at 7am, we are still (at 6pm!) on our way to Holland. The journey has been rather a long one, having been delayed by some extremely heavy traffic around Antwerp, but we are finally moving and getting ever close to our accommodation in Soest. The children have been amazing; we could not be prouder. They have enjoyed some films, played some games . . . and tucked into a good selection of snacks.
We are desperately trying to reschedule our evening hockey and football fixtures around our amended supper arrangements. We will post again later.
An Unbeaten Start
The clubs kindly agreed to rearrange this evening’s fixtures, meaning that, after a quick supper and change, we headed to Soest Football and Hockey Clubs.
The boys enjoyed a great evening.
The 1st XI dominated their match. By half time, despite missing a penalty, the Junior King’s players were leading 2-0, thanks to goals from Kit and Ayo. In the second half, they continued to work very well together, with Kene adding a further goal as a result. The Player of the Match was Harry O-R.
The 2nd XI’s match was both close and exciting, with Alexandre scoring the first goal. Soest equalised with a penalty, meaning it was 1-1 at half time. Junior King’s dominated the second half and Johnny scored the winning goal. The Player of the Match was Rex.
The girls likewise performed very well tonight.
The U13A team played a fiercely competitive game from start to finish. Both teams had numerous chances and, at half time, thanks to a goal from Honor, the score was 1-0 in our favour. It was clear to see from the start of the second half that Soest Hockey Club was keen to level the score; the players did so in the first couple of minutes. Junior King’s responded well, and Honor and Grace managed to convert a further two goals. Soest managed to claw one back but it wasn’t enough. The match ended 3-2, to Junior King’s. The Players of the Match were Honor and Leah.
The U13B game was very evenly matched; it really was end to end, with impressive saves from both goalies. The girls worked tirelessly in both attack and defence. Unfortunately, however, they couldn’t quite find the goal! The eventual result was a fair one: 0-0. The Players of the Match were: Chloe B and Nina.
The children had a wonderful time this evening, and all of the coaches were so impressed by their efforts after such a long and tiring day. Needless to say, everyone is ready for a good night’s sleep!
A Morning of Matches
The children slept well and enjoyed a good breakfast! They were then
delighted to be given some of their new kit: a hoodie, a shirt, some socks and
a water bottle. After a quick change, everyone was on the coach and on their
way to Amersfoort.
The girls played first today, and it was lovely to have the support of both the boys and some parents.
The Under 13As enjoyed a tough, physical game; it proved to be an absolute thriller. Both teams were evenly matched and created several goal-scoring opportunities. All of the goals scored, by both teams, were the culmination of tremendous teamwork. The defence was put under a great deal of pressure and worked incredibly hard throughout. The attack also worked tirelessly.
With two minutes to go until the final whistle, the score was 3-3. Amersfoort got a lucky break, however, and managed to score the winner in the final moments.
Honor scored two of the Junior King’s goals; Grace scored one. The Players of the Match were Saskia and Dasha.
The Under 13Bs began strongly; within the first five minutes, Daniela and Hewina had both managed to find the backboard. The opposition came back well, however, and replied with a well-taken shot from the top of the circle. The game continues, with both teams having chances, right up until half time.At the start of the second half, the Junior King’s girls came under immediate pressure, and the home team’s efforts were rewarded with two goals. For the first time, we found ourselves trailing. We showed huge determination, however, and dominated the final few minutes of the match. Daria was particularly impressive; she fully deserved to score the equaliser.
The final 3-3 draw was a fair result; the team remains unbeaten. The Player of the match was Daria.
Having been treated to some refreshments in the club house, it was then time for the girls to support the boys.
The 1st XI boys performed extremely well from start to finish; the team as a whole looked very strong. By half time, the Junior King’s boys were leading 2-0, thanks to two wonderful goals from Ayo. Ayo added a further goal to his tally in the second half, with Kit scoring the fourth. A special mention should go to Rex, who played his first game for the 1st XI today; he should be very proud.
The final 4-0 victory was thoroughly deserved. The Player of the Match was Ayo.
After their winning start yesterday, the 2nd XI faced a far sterner test today; the opposition was much tougher. The boys began well and held their own for the first quarter but, after conceding from a free kick; they lost concentration slightly. Before they knew it, they found themselves down by three goals.
The Junior King’s side showed real fight in the second half, and a goal from David brought the team back into contention. The boys tired towards the end, however, and two late goals took the match out of reach.
The final score was 5-1 to Amersfoort. The Player of the Match was Milo.
Bowling and Pizza
Having enjoyed a little ‘down time’ this afternoon, everyone was pleased to
board the coach once again and head to a local ten-pin bowling alley. The games were fast and furious, but some impressive scores were accumulated (by both pupils and staff!).
It was then time for a delicious pizza supper. We did manage to stop at a supermarket en route, however; everyone was keen to purchase a few favourite snacks ahead of tomorrow (another action-packed day!).
The lights are now out; it is time for some much-needed sleep. We will be back with more news tomorrow!
The morning was spent playing hockey and football against MOP.
MOP Hockey Club is one that Junior King’s has visited many times before; we have built a wonderful relationship with them over the years. The hospitality that we received today was as impressive as ever.
Before the matches began, the teams came together to sing their respective National Anthems. It was a special moment for everyone, and one that certainly helped to set the tone.
The U13A team approached the game with a great level of focus and commitment from the outset. All of the players worked incredibly hard and it was lovely to see them gelling together so well. Certainly they played some exciting, attacking hockey. All seven goals were thoroughly deserved, and special mention must go to Honor, who scored a total of five – two from a penalty corner routine that we have been working hard to perfect.
The final score was 7-1, with Saskia and Lydia adding to Honor’s tally. All of the girls should be congratulated on their convincing victory. Players of the Match were Honor and Hannah.
The Under 13Bs also started very well, with Hewina scoring an early goal. The game was then quite tight until half time, with both keepers making good saves. Despite some lovely movement and passing from Junior King’s, the girls were unable to add to the score in the first half.
They dominated the second half, however, and looked in control throughout. The defenders distributed the ball with confidence, and the midfield players worked tirelessly. Hewina’s hard work was rewarded with two further goals, earning her a hat-trick, and, in the final five minutes, our fourth goal was scored by Chloe, who made a guest appearance on pitch (usually she plays in goal).
The final score was a brilliant 4-0. Players of the Match were Eloise, Lili and Hewina.
At the end of the game, both the A and B teams were invited to take part in a ‘penalty shuffle’ competition – an exciting, albeit nerve-wracking experience for one and all. It came as no surprise that both Hannah and Sophia made some excellent saves. Hannah, who loves the challenge of penalties, was quite awesome, diving to the ground on more than occasion. Sophia, meanwhile, blew everyone away with a skilful stick save.
The 1st XI enjoyed their most exciting game of the tour so far. Despite starting well, the boys were unable to score during the first half and, when the final whistle blew, they found themselves down by two goals.
The fight that they showed during the second half was exemplary, however;
they showed huge resilience and proved that, when faced with a challenging
game, they have the capacity and attitude to turn it around. Their hard work was rewarded with two goals (one from Ayo; one from Cyrus). They also managed to prevent the opposition from scoring any further goals.
The final score was a very commendable 2-2. The Players of the Match were Tom and William.
In what was their toughest test of the tour so far, the 2nd XI found themselves up against a highly skilful and well organised team. They battled hard throughout the first half and, by the interval, had only conceded two goals.
We were not helped today by the loss of our keeper, Finn, due to a small
injury. Although Rex and Alex did a sterling of standing in for him, we missed
their combined presence out on pitch.
In the second half, Rio scored a consolation goal for Junior King’s, but a
flurry of well-taken goals from our opposition took the match well out of our reach. By the time the final whistle blew, we were relieved to have kept the
score line to single figures (just!).
The final score was 9-1. The Player of the Match was Johnny.
Fun in the Pool and Tasty Pancakes!
After the morning’s fixtures, everyone was glad to head to a local leisure
pool. Staff and pupils alike made the most of the slides and wave machine.
The final treat of the day was dinner at a Pancake House. This offered a great opportunity to taste some of the local cuisine. The pancakes really were enormous; goodness knows how we all found room for an ice-cream! The restaurant staff were extremely complimentary of the children’s behaviour; they were a credit to the school.
Good night one and all!
A Day of Dutch Culture
It was another early start for all of us this morning, as we set off for a day of culture in the capital, Amsterdam.
Our first port of call was the Anne Frank Museum, where we were treated to an educational workshop, ahead of our guided audio tour through the house where Anne and her family hid. The children made the very most of the opportunity, sharing their existing knowledge and asking some excellent questions.
We then headed to the Van Gogh Museum, where we learnt some interesting facts about some of Van Gogh’s most famous paintings. Did you know, for example, that he painted the sunflowers because he wanted to decorate his studio to welcome one of his artist friends? Also, if you look closely, you will see that some of the sunflowers in his painting are actually dead. This is because Van Gogh liked things that were worn down; he felt this was more reflective of real life.
A Brilliant Evening of Sport
Tonight’s hockey and football fixtures were against Hilversum, two fantastic clubs about half an hour from our hostel. We received a lovely welcome from our hosts and the level of sport was very high in both locations.
The Under 13A girls took a while to find some consistency, after a rather long day of walking. However, it was pleasing to witness the team supporting each other so effectively. At the half time break, Junior King’s was leading 1-0, thanks to a great goal from Honor.
We used the half time talk to consider some small adjustments, and it was fantastic to see such a positive response from all of the players. Indeed, when the girls returned to the pitch, their teamwork was impressive. Five further goals were scored, one by Grace and another four by Honor, taking her total to King’s. We were extremely proud of the girls tonight and the tenacity they showed. We are very much looking forward to the final game tomorrow.
The final score was 6-1. The Players of the Match were Honor and Grace.
The Under 13B team also enjoyed another successful evening. The girls played two halves against two different Hilversum squads.
The first half was very even; the scores were level at 0-0 after thirty minutes. Both keepers made some commendable saves.
The second half was more challenging, with the new opposition dominating from the outset. Despite this, however, the Junior King’s girls soon found themselves 1-0 up, after a well-taken goal from Hewina. Some good play from Nina and Chloe J also helped to keep the Hilversum wingers at bay. Before long, Hewina found the net again, and we found ourselves two goals to the good with ten minutes to go. Things quickly changed, however; in the space of just five minutes, we conceded two goals. The score stood at a very tense 2-2. Our heads went down a little, but we knew that we still had time. Despite letting in another goal, we kept working hard, and a tactical move from a five-yard hit worked perfectly, not just once but twice. Hewina managed to score a further two goals. With the score at 4-3, Hewina’s outstanding play was then rewarded with a fifth and final goal, to secure a brilliant victory for Junior King’s.
The final score was 5-3. The Player of the Match was Hewina.
The boys enjoyed a similarly exciting and successful evening.
The 1st XI played against a very strong and skilful Under 14 side. The opposition was physically quite a lot bigger than the Junior King’s boys, but the latter were not deterred.
At half time, the score stood at 2-2; the boys knew that there was everything to play for. The quality of the boys’ football in the second half was quite remarkable; the Junior King’s youngsters managed to score a further three goals. All of them should be congratulated, and particular mention should go to our three goal scorers: Ayo (2), Cyrus (2) and Kene.
The final score was 5-4. The Players of the Match were Cyrus and Daniel.
The 2nd XI’s evening was also a good one. After some key positional and tactical changes, the boys regained their old mojo and played a great game of football. The team spirit was excellent, and the boys ran themselves into the ground. Mr Jamieson was particularly pleased with the players’ defensive organisation, as well as our passing and inter-play in midfield and attack.
Tonight’s teams were well matched, and the result could have easily gone either way. In the first half we were possibly guilty of giving the opposition a little too much respect, and they managed to go 1 – 0 up on the stroke of half time, with an unfortunate mix up at a corner leading to an own goal.
During the second half, it is fair to say that we dominated possession; our goalkeeper, Jeffrey, had very little to do, whilst the Hilversum goalkeeper played a ‘blinder’ to maintain the opposition’s lead. The result of 1-0 was disappointing, but the boys came off with their heads held high, and they should feel extremely proud of their overall performance.
The final score was 1-0. The Player of the Match was Ferdie Clarke.
It has been a busy but great day. Everyone has appreciated a relaxed evening in the hostel, and a slightly earlier night. We are looking forward to returning to Amsterdam in the morning.
Amsterdam by Boat
This morning, after a slightly slower start to the day, we headed back to Amsterdam, to explore the city by boat. It was a wonderful trip, during which we learnt a number of interesting facts. We discovered, for example, that there are approximately 1.5 million bicycles in Amsterdam, with each inhabitant of the city owning an average of two. In addition, an average of 15,000 bicycles fell into the canals every year. Last year was an exceptional year: 18,000 bicycles found themselves in the water.
It was lovely to have some of the key landmarks pointed out to us as we travelled through the city’s waterways; our guide, Delia, did a wonderful job. It was also good to have an opportunity to sing to birthday girl, Lili, with Kene leading the way on the microphone.
The birthday celebrations continued once we had disembarked; Lili’s parents kindly treated everyone to a delicious dessert (poffertjes, a Dutch speciality) in a local restaurant.
Finishing with a Flourish!
This evening saw the final matches taking place. And what great matches they were!
The U13 hockey girls played against Leusden, a club visited by Junior King’s many times before.
The A team finished its campaign with an emphatic win. Indeed, a total of six girls scored during the course of the match: Honor (4), Lydia (2), Leah (2), Grace, Katie and Dasha.
The final score was 11-0. The Players of the Match were the whole team. It was lovely to see the girls playing with such versatility today; they switched positions quite effortlessly.
The B team likewise enjoyed a compelling victory. The girls played one team during the first half, and another during the second. The Junior King’s girls were the deserving winners of both, however, with a total of six goals being scored: Hewina (4) and Daniela (2).
The final score was 6-2. The Players of the Match were the whole team. The Under 13B team should be congratulated on remaining unbeaten for the duration of the tour. The girls really did get better with every game.
The football matches, which took place at Baarn, were similarly successful. The A and B teams mixed up this evening, and put the opposition through their paces.
Thanks to all of the boys’ efforts and skilful play, one Junior King’s side won 6-0, and the other won 4-3. Of the ten goals scored, Ayo scored five. The remaining goals were scored by Ewan, Daniel, Kene, Rio and Cyrus.
The Players of the Match were everyone . . . and deservedly so!
Celebrating in Style!
To round off the day, and our time in Holland, we dined out at a local Tapas Restaurant this tonight. It was lovely to be joined by some of the parents and siblings who have been supporting us over the past few days.
At the end of our delicious meal, we sang again to Lili, before presenting her with a special tour-themed birthday cake, together with a few tour momentoes.
We also gave the owner and chef two pennants: one from this tour, and the other from the tour that was sadly cancelled back in 2020.
In the morning, after an early breakfast (and once the last few things have been packed!), we will be heading off to Paris. It is therefore time to say a fond farewell to Holland; what a wonderful time we have had. Vaarwel en tot ziens!
Safely Installed at The Explorers Hotel
The morning’s pack up went well and we were on the road relatively early. The journey was a smooth one (helped along by a few more films!) and we arrived at The Explorers Hotel in time for a quick breather before dinner. Some of the children even found time to do a little shopping!
After dinner, it was time for ‘French Bingo’ and a quiz. There was an interesting round about the staff (but the children have been told that what goes on tour stays on tour!) and there was also a fun foil challenge. The eventual winners were ‘Les Gastons Simps’, a talented team comprising of Daria, Daniela, Nina, Finn, Tom, Poppy and Cameron. Congratulations to them . . . and to all of the teams. It was a close competition but a fun one too, with some pirate hats and crazy hair styles thrown in for good measure!
The lights have been turned out and the tourists will soon be asleep. Needless to say, they are all pretty excited about the day that lies ahead . . .
Disney Delights
What an amazing day we have had at Disney! Staff and pupils alike made the very most of the rides, with Hyperspace Mountain proving one of the most popular. The Parades were another highlight. Finishing the day with dinner at Planet Hollywood ahead of the final light show and fireworks was incredibly special, and something we will all remember. We even managed to sing an early happy birthday to Johnny!
Final Few Hours of Fun
We have had our breakfast and have packed our bags. We are now heading back to Disney to make the most of our last few hours.
It will then be time to head for home. Our eta is 8.30pm . . . unless we manage to get an earlier tunnel. Watch this space . . .
The Curtain Closes on an Awesome Tour
After a final few hours in the Disney Parks (and a lunch of Mickey Mouse shaped sandwiches!), we boarded the coach and headed for home.
The journey went well and we arrived back at Junior King’s on time.
The children are now back with their families, very tired but extremely happy . . . and with many tales to tell. It has, indeed, been an amazing week with so many highlights. We look forward to reuniting when we return to school and sharing our many photos and memories.
We wish everyone a restful remainder of half term. It is now time to say goodbye and . . .
JUNIOR KING'S EUROPEAN SPORTS TOUR 2022 