Preparing to leave Michaelhouse
Early morning 19 June saw 30 young men and three staff assembling in front of School prior to their departure for Johannesburg on the start of the Water Polo Tour to Holland and Croatia.
The boys flew from Johannesburg to Amsterdam via Paris and the tour got off to a kick start with a two hour training session the afternoon they arrived, followed by three matches in the evening against some very strong club teams. No time for jet-lag especially as the Dutch teams play 4 x 12 minute chukkas and we usually play 4 x 7 minute chukkas.
Most of the Dutch players practice twice a day, and six days a week, and as a result we were outclassed in the water, but the boys benefited immensely from the expertise and exposure.
B Blockers in Den Hague Cycle Tour of Amsterdam
After three days in Amsterdam, and an overnight visit to Paris, the tour moved on to Croatia, home of the current Water Polo World Champions. Here the boys practised and played for several hours on some days, sometimes for an hour and a half at a time.
Paris
Although the programme was exhausting the improvement in the boys' play and fitness was noticeable on a daily basis and if they had played in Holland after Croatia, the results against the Dutch clubs could have been very different.
The boys' behaviour whilst on tour was exemplary and on a day of kayaking in Croatia, the guide mentioned that the Michaelhouse boys were the best group he had worked with in his five years of guiding. On another occasion one of the hotel receptionists approached Mr Drysdale and complimented him on the politeness of the boys.
The boys and staff returned to South Africa on 2 July after a successful tour where they upheld the name of Michaelhouse with pride.
Kayacking in Croatia Sea polo in Split