Hurstpierpoint College has a long and strong tradition of both boys’ and girls’ sporting tours and 19 boys from the Prep School, led by their captain, Edward Zeidler and staff members John Bettridge, Tim Cattaneo and Rob O’Grady have just returned from what proved to be a wonderfully successful South African adventure during which they played cricket and hockey against some remarkably strong local teams.

Sport in South Africa, very much an open air country, is a serious business. The cricket was always going to be hard work, arriving as the team did at the end of a six month South African season to play against schools and clubs much larger than Hurst. With the hockey, the Prep School was at least on the back of its home season so that a two all draw on the day of arrival, almost as they alighted from the plane, against the formidable Wynberg Boys School was a feather in their cap. The programme was intensive and by the end of the first leg the boys had fulfilled 9 fixtures in 7 days and had had a day off to enjoy some of the Cape Town sights including the summit of Table Mountain; an awesome place.

Johannesburg saw the party meeting up with friends who have been to Hurst over the years as well as a trip into a game reserve. The Jo’burg Cubs XI will be visiting Hurst later this month for the return fixture and all look forward to cementing a strong link.

The real privilege of the tour, the significance of which will undoubtedly grow on the boys as the years pass, was to play the final game against a Gauteng development side in Soweto. The pitch was remarkable (much of the money generated during the 2003 World Cup IN WHAT SPORT? has been ploughed back into Township projects including the Soweto cricket ground) and the warmth of the welcome and hospitality was lost on no one. “It was”, said John Bettridge “an eye opening experience for all”.

This is the second time Hurst Prep School has embarked on such a sporting venture and the staff and team were able to renew old friendships and make new ones. “These friendships are of immense value and some children continue these contacts for many, many years” commented the Head of Hurst Prep, Heather Beeby. “Children return with a great understanding of other cultures and traditions and that is one of the real benefits that the international language of sport is able to provide.”