Unbeaten Across Europe | Charterhouse School

This year's Hockey tour took our 1st XI squads to Belgium and Holland for a week of competitive fixtures, as well as culture and unforgettable experiences. From thrilling victories and inspired play to city tours, theme parks, and team bonding, spirits were high on and off the pitch. The two 1st XI Captains shared their thoughts on the incredible week.

Boys' 1st XI Captain, Tom:

Our Hockey Tour began in Belgium, where our first stop was the vibrant city of Antwerp. We were given a guided tour, offering the perfect introduction to our week abroad. After exploring its medieval streets, impressive cathedral, and huge statues, spirits were high as we prepared to cross the border into the Netherlands for the hockey ahead.

Our first fixture was against HC Barendrecht, and the team wasted no time announcing their arrival. We scored with the very first play of the entire tour, showing some truly liquid hockey, setting the tone for a dominant performance. The match ended in a comfortable 7–1 victory, a statement start and a showcase of the quality of hockey we could produce.

That evening, we had the chance to watch some of the world’s best players as Kampong faced Schaerweijde in a thrilling clash. Kampong edged it 5–4 in a nail-biting end-to-end game. We were ready to replicate what we had seen in the pros in our games to come.

The next day began with a visit to Utrecht, where the group enjoyed time to explore, shop, and eat some amazing food along the canals of the city. In the afternoon, we headed back to Schaerweijde for a training session to sharpen up before our evening game. The match proved to be a testing and feisty encounter, but we showed maturity and control to come away with a 4–1 win, extending our unbeaten run.

Evenings at the hotel quickly developed a familiar rhythm: an intense and often loud series of card games, followed by the much-anticipated presentation of the players of the matches to round off each night with plenty of laughter.

On the penultimate day, we visited a local amusement park. After a morning of rollercoasters and rides, we travelled on to our final fixture against HC Hilversum. It proved to be the closest contest of the tour, a tight and competitive match that finished 3–3, ensuring we remained unbeaten across all games.

Girls' 1st XI Captain, Violet, also looked back on the tour:

Our senior hockey tour to Belgium and Holland was an unforgettable experience, filled with competitive hockey, culture, and team bonding. We opened the tour in Antwerp with a tough fixture, where the girls showed exceptional resilience and teamwork to secure a 4–3 win. Looking and feeling confident in our new tour kit, kindly sponsored by The UK Vein Clinic, the team played cohesively from start to finish.

Away from the pitch, we enjoyed a guided tour of Antwerp, full of unique history and hidden stories, before indulging in traditional Belgian chocolate waffles, which quickly became a team favourite.

We then travelled to Holland for the remaining fixtures, where we continued our winning streak with a dominant 5–0 performance, followed by a strong 4–1 victory.