tour report written by Onkaar Nijjer. Photos by Dylan Patel.

After the end of year assemblies, the U12 waterpolo team set off for the End of Season Waterpolo Tour. There was a palpable buzz of excitement amongst us all and after loading the (overpacked!) bags onto the minibus we embarked on an experience of a lifetime.

Lead by Mr Brkovic and Mr Kerry, the team made it to Folkestone and boarded the Eurotunnel. We were well entertained with Mario Kart and the excited team chatter as we crossed the border and drove from France over to Belgium! We checked into the hotel and everyone was assigned their roommates. Although everyone was knackered after a long day of travelling, everyone’s sprits were high and we watched and cheered for the Euros and then got some much needed sleep.

A new day arose and after a hearty breakfast (and experimenting with the waffle machine!) we all headed down for the beach. The sun was shining and the waves were glistening, but little did we know that it would be windy. We braved the wind and had a great time on the beach!

Then, back in the minibus and onwards to Bruges - the most visited city in Belgium. We tucked into a fantastic lunch of burgers and chips all round, and before heading off we squeezed in some Belgian Waffles! We explored the city, seeing sites, taking photos and having a great time. However, we had somewhere to be…our match awaited us! So we hopped back into the minibus and set off for Brussels.

Upon arrival, we swiftly checked in and made ourselves at home. Then, the great moment was upon us. It was time to play against the local team.

We trooped out and gave it our all!

The game was fantastic, split into quarters we battled it out. There were some cracking goals and fantastic saves. It was a real moment for us to bond as a team. Not only that, we got mixed up for a game at the end which allowed each of us to showcase our versatility in the pool within other teams.

After working up an appetite we took a short walk to the restaurant where we had dinner with some members of the Brussels Team.

After another fantastic day of bonding, growing in confidence and developing experience as a team, we returned to our new hotel and got some well-earned shut eye.

The next day came around fast with a few of us oversleeping! We had breakfast (mostly made up of chocolate waffles!) and headed off for our sight seeing where we explored Brussels and some of us took up the role of tour guides and taught about the city’s history.

After a quick pit stop at McDonalds we were refreshed and went to find famous landmarks such as Mannequin Pis, a statue of a young boy urinating. Seemingly planned, Mr Brkovic and Mr Kerry gifted us Mannequin Pis magnets to remember this trip! We too had a thank you token to give as well. We gave a box of macaroons to Mr Kerry and Mr Brkovic received an assortment of Belgian chocolates.

We then headed off to do some souvenirs shopping. After weighing up what was worth what, we all rushed to the Chocolatiers and emptied our pockets there! Loaded with grub, we headed back to the minibus and began our return back to England!

Overall this trip was unforgettable. The tour was a perfect blend of sports, sightseeing and team bonding, leaving everyone with deep memories and a sense of accomplishment.

A massive thank you to everyone involved in making it happen and especially Mr Brkovic and Mr Kerry.

Written by Onkaar Nijjer