Book of tour

The tour book with 70 pages is now out. This book is a pictorial record of the 19 days in July 2007 from start to finish, covering all aspects of the tour from the visit to the Langa township to all the rugby matches.

Day 18-19

Proud, originally uploaded by simongman.

This is a two day blog as it featured our travel back as well as our last tour adventure.

Day 18 was a big day for two reasons, one it was our last day of adventure in the African bush and the day we make the 6,500 mile dash back to Kirkham. So starting with first things first, after an early breakfast we once again mounted our rangers' vehicles for the last time in pursuit of big game, we were after the big 5 as they say out here. Well sure enough we did manage to see a vast amount of game on this sunny morning at Kariega Game Reserve. The highlight of the day was tracking a pride of lions whilst in our open top vehicles. It really was a heart pumping moment when the lions passed by our vehicles just meters away, then paused to watch a herd of impala some 400m behind us, who were in turn watching the lions. After this close encounter we continued to see more and more game as the crisp early morning warmed to the glowing African sun. This was a perfect end to our South African tour.

After being dropped off by our rangers at 11.30am we then started the long trek home that lasted over 24 hours from door to door travelling on two coaches, and three aircraft, flying enitially from Port Elizebeth to Johannesburg then on to Heathrow and finally Manchester airports.

On Day 19 at London's Heathrow Airport our group was split with the main party (36) going on ahead on an early flight closely followed by a smaller group (7) on a later flight. This smaller group bumped into the Arnold rugby touring group who were also travelling home to Blackpool. Many of the boys knew each other and swapped stories of their adventures that they had had over the last 19 days. Finally arriving at Manchester airport and met by their parents the boys relived their adventures. I am sure many a bath bore witness to the tide mark of our travellers as they wound down and relaxed within their own homes, thinking about the many experiences that they have had. This reporter is set to do that himself, but over the next few weeks will get a book and poster together that fully illustrates the "South Africa Tour 2007". If any boys have anything to comment about their experience please email it to me via the school website, as I will add it as an appendix blog to our South African story.

Click on the top image to see a large number of game park animals plus the whole South African set of photogaphs, some 188 of the thousands that I took over 19 days of adventure.

Day 17

Gentlemen start your engines, originally uploaded by simongman.

It was once again an early morning for our tour party as we all met at Nico Malan High School. As the staff arrived the boys appeared from all directions with their host families. It was evident from the boy’s attire that a lot of clothes swapping had gone; they were now wearing the home side’s uniform and kit as mementos of their stay. After some firm hand shakes and big hugs our merry band of travellers were on the road again bound for Kariega Game Reserve. Some two and a half hours later we were tucking in to a buffet lunch in the reserve’s resaurant, high up in the hills looking down on a distant water hole. After filling ourselves we had an hour to acclimatize to our luxurious game reserve chalets and surroundings. Wrapped up ready for the late afternoon game drive there was an air of excitement as we dove off into the bush in our open top Toyota Land Cruisers. The five vehicles we had split up in pursuit of Elephant, driving up and down hills, stopping occasionally to watch Wilderbeest, Impamla and Nyala. An hour into the drive a small herd of elephant was spotted just off "Ambush Alley" (all dirt tracks have a name), a group comprising of three females and two males, one being a large bull. It was a fantastic sight to see these magnificent creatures in the wild. The vehicle was parked up within twenty meters of the beasts. Suddenly the engine was fired up and quickly put into reverse as the big bull, ears flapping made a move towards us. It was time to move on. We climbed to the top of the hill where we met up with the other vehicles, parked up and had a few snacks and drinks. The bright red African sun was slowly dissolving into the distant hills. It was time to move on. Travelling a short distance we came across a small herd of giraffe in a small revine, then a large bull Black Rhino and its mate. The dark of night was upon us, our imaginations only exaggerated what was beyond the reaches of our vehicles . The temperature had dropped, we definitely needed our warm clothes. We were now in pursuit of the Hippo down by the Kariega river. With the aid of our ranger’s torch light we spotted further antelope and could hear Black Backed Jackels calling to each other in the distant thicket. Above us the last remaining clouds cleared revealing the Southern African night’s stars, shinning brightly on this cold evening. A few boys caught a glimps of Hippo as they left the safety of the cool pool below and moved on land to graze. Driving in the dark with the stars shining brightly made this evening quite magical especially when we made for base camp which was directly in line with the brightest light in the sky, Venus. The evening ended with another fantastic meal accompanied by a local African “Boma” that included singers and dancers. A perfect end to a real African adventure.

This blog was uploaded with the accompaning photos at Heathrow airport in between flights prior to the Manchester flight. Click on the above photo then the South African set to reveal more photographs.

Day 16

Close support, originally uploaded by simongman.

All the boys flooded into Nico Malan High School for the final fixtures of the tour. The U15XV were up against a well prepared side but were not put off by the task in hand. Watched by half the school from their magnificent stand the home team were ahead on the 8th minute with a blindside move from a clean catch off a maul that Kirkham failed to cover. Once again our boys were playing a catch-up game! The team created a number of good try scoring chances but unfortunately were not able to convert pressure into points. This pattern remained for the rest of the half with Nico Malan scoring a further two tries. After an inspirational team talk by Mr Wu and the introduction of Charles O’Flaherty returning from injury, the forwards stepped up a gear. With the team deep in Nico Malan’s territory the boys fought back and were rewarded with a fine try by Michael Gyi well supported by Charles O’Flaherty that was converted by Jamie Roper. The final score was 24-7.

The U16XV were clapped and cheered onto the pitch by all supporters from both sides in this their final game of the tour. Kirkham started the game with real purpose as they attacked the home side with some excellent multi phased attacks. The home side had to call upon their stand off to scramble the ball into touch on numerous occasions in the first ten minutes. Eventually Nico Malan broke away, but a fine cover tackle from Lewis Russell saved a try. The home side continued to put pressure on Kirkham and five minutes from half time they scored, even though it seemed that a fine tackle from a Kirkham player had knocked the ball forward. The second half started with Kirkham under extreme pressure, time after time Kirkham made last gasp tackles which prevented Nico Malan scoring. Excellent defence again from Lewis Russell well supported by young centre Chis Travis and outstanding number eight Richard de Carpentier were the reason for Nico Malan’s failure to score. During this period fly half Ashley Wilding kicked well and allowed Kirkham to enter their opponents half. Gradually Kirkham’s pack with Phil Berry and Kieron Brookes becoming more and more dominant and drove Nico Malan backwards. After a well worked penalty move Kieron crashed over for a fine try in the corner, unfortunately the conversion was missed. The final minutes of the game was evenly contested with both sides having opportunities to score. Disappointingly with two minutes left Nico Malan managed a drop goal from distance to win the match 8-5.

It is now 01.15 am and I have finally got the photos from today's matches online, I have yet to pack for tomorrow's early departure of 07.00 am to the game reserve. This might be my last blog until I get back to the UK (Heathrow?) as I doubt that I will be able to post anything from the lodge. I am looking forwards to capturing some big game. Keep looking for my next post.

Click on the images for the South Africa set of photos.

Day 15

J-Bay Super Tubes am1, originally uploaded by simongman.

Today’s entry is rather short as all the boys have been billeted in and around the Humansdorp area. The boys have had a great time enjoying numerous activities . They are now experts in a wide range of pursuits that includes fishing, hunting, surfing, fruit picking, reading, relaxing and most of all eating their hosts out of house and home. For many this has been the highlight of the tour as the boys have really enjoyed a real Afrikaans experience.

Staff have been based in Jeffereys Bay, hence the early morning surfing photo and have been able to recharge their batteries and prepare for the final game of the tour tomorrow.

Click on the images to reveal this tour’s other photos.

Day 14

Super Tubes J-Bay 4, originally uploaded by simongman.

Today we packed up and changed accommodation for the fifth time in this tour and travelled some 180km to Nico Malan High School in Humansdorp (20km inland from Jeffreys Bay). This is where the boys were informed as to which family they will be staying with for the next few nights. The boys waited expectantly as the school’s administrator called up a host family and Mr Whalley called out a pair of boys (some threes) to join them. In some cases the boys were welcomed by an elder sister which put a smile or two on the boys’ faces. The host Afrikaans families came in from all around the Humansdorp area, some up to 50km. This was the first time that the boys were parted with Kirkham’s staff and should be a restpite from the hectic schedule we have been following over the last two weeks. The next time we will all gather together will be on Tuesday just prior to the matches via Nico Malan.

Where are the staff? Well we are staying in a Boarding House in Jefferys Bay so we can also catch our breath on this whirlwind tour of South Africa. For those observant blog readers (Mr Harvey) this was a town was where we stopped over at on Day 12, and like last time we went down to the Beach to where the Billabong Pro Surf Competion was being held. This time the surf was up at Supertubes so I was able to catch some interesting shots. I say interesting as once again Mr Harrison (Billabong Bob) showed us his skills on the board and mounted the winner’s rostrum to demonstrate his surfing skills (see photo by clicking the above photo).

The next day’s blog (Day 15) will appear after Tuesdays match (Day 16) in the evening I hope. I will try to get some stories from the boys (and photos), so I have a day off from blogging, but not photographing as we as a staff find somewhere to visit.

This is your South African reporter signing off for today.

PS. Any new blog followers, click on the images to reveal this tour’s other photos.

Day 13

On the burst, originally uploaded by simongman.

Match Day was an earlier start than previous occasions with the U15XV kicking off at 10.30am on the first cool and cloudy day of this tour. From the very start the boys realised that they were up against the strongest side that they have faced so far in South Africa. Kirkham made some good thrusts into the opposition’s half but to no avail in the opening ten minutes of the game. It was Graham College that scored the first try with their open style of play from their fast backs orchestrated by their large inside centre. This seemed to be the pattern of play for the first half with the College leading by three tries and three conversions at half time. In the second half Kirkham seemed to quell this open play as they scored a well worked forward try with Matthew Bennett breaking from a maul to cross the line. Graham College hit back with two more tries with a final score of 28-5. A tough encounter that the score line did not reflect the compatibility of the two sides. Our boys found the open style of play a little too much at times. They will learn from this encounter.

The U16XV like the younger team played a match on a hard pitch with spectator stands on both sides over looked by a fantastic club house. The home side had some good support as their team trotted onto the pitch. Like the junior side they knew that they had to step up a gear against a well drilled side. It was the home side that scored from a penalty on the 9th minute followed by try shortly after. Throughout the half Kirkham’s pack were dominant but were given no quarter by a referee who allowed the home side to infringe and handle on the ground. Our boys stuck at it and were finally rewarded a penalty that Richard de Carpentier calmly slotted between the posts, followed by another just on half time. Half time score 8-6. The second half went well to start with, with our forwards working well but all that hard work came to nothing as Graham College scored a break away try (off side) from a Kirkham line out 5m from Graham’s try line. It was all up hill from here with penalty after penalty going to the opposition. Again Kirkham made a mistake and Graham College pounced on the bouncing ball and scored. The finally score of 18-6 did not reflect the game.

Both sides have a lot to think about and hopefully raise their final game against Nico Milan on Tuesday. All boys are fit and at the time of writing about to go out for their evening meal and watch a movie.