Training - Less than 48 hours to lift off...

30th December 2013

It was great to see everyone turn up to training eager and ready to go.
A couple of special guest appearances by Mr. "Gilly" Giltrap and Mr. Macoustra added to the sense of occasion and that the boys were just hours away from embarking on a truly memorable journey.

Under the watchful eyes of Coaches Thomlinson and Toth, the Tour Squad flushed out any cobwebs associated with too much festive feasting and watching the Big Bash on the box. Though there was much to talk about with a pleasing Ashes scoreline leading into the Sydney Test (well, at least for those following the Green Caps...)

Tour kits were given out, as well as some additional fare to take to Soweto for the first few days of our adventure. There is a book running on which tourist will forget essential items and remember at the airport - at the time of posting Brad and Brendan are favourites to leave an item or two, closely followed by Coach Toth.

Thank you to all the parents, Cricket Club committee and staff such as Mrs. Randall that have helped get us to this point. All that's left is to turn up to the airport on time - 7:30am (7:00am for Max)

South Africa Tour Trivia Night

Please join us at Barker College and support the upcoming South Africa Tour.
Purchase your tickets at www.trybooking.com/DPRG
See you there.

 

South Africa Tour Itinerary

It's been finalised...

The Barker South Africa Tour Squad will depart on New Year's Day and play 9 matches across 17 days. Our main ports of call will be:
- Pilanesbreg
- Bryanston
- Grahamstown (Port Elizabeth)
- Cape Town

The full itinerary is as follows:

Wed 01                Arrive at O. R Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg at 1535 (own flight    arrangements) and transfer to the Bakgatla camp in Pilanesberg Game Reserve where your accommodation has been booked for 2 nights on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis. Overnight at Bakgatla camp.

 Thu 02                  Morning game drive. After breakfast, you have most of the day free at your leisure, before your late afternoon game drive and boma dinner. Overnight at Bakgatla camp.

 Fri 03                     After breakfast, transfer to Sun City where you will have some free time to enjoy this world famous resort. Late afternoon transfer to the City Lodge Bryanston where your accommodation has been booked for 5 nights on a bed and breakfast basis.  Overnight at City Lodge Bryanston.

 Sat 04                    Match 1 vs. Soweto Cricket Club. Overnight at City Lodge Bryanston.  

 Sun 05                  Morning transfer to Soweto for a tour of this historical town (lunch is included in the tour). Afternoon visit to The Lion Park.   Overnight at City Lodge Bryanston.

 

Mon 06                Match 2 vs. St Albans (TBC). Overnight at City Lodge Bryanston.

 Tue 07                  Match 3 vs. Parktown Boys High School.  Overnight at City Lodge Bryanston.

 Wed 08                Transfer to O R Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg for your flight departing to Port Elizabeth at 1110 (own flight arrangements). On arrival, you will be met by your coach and transferred to the Kwantu Elephant Sanctuary for a visit. Late afternoon transfer to St Andrew’s College in Grahamstown where you will be participating in a cricket festival. Overnight at the school’s boarding house for 4 nights with all meals included.

 Thu 09                  Match 4 – St. Andrew’s Festival

 

Fri 10                     Match 5 – St. Andrew’s Festival

 

Sat 11                    Match 6 – St. Andrew’s Festival

Sun 12                  Early morning transfer to Port Elizabeth Airport for your flight to Cape Town which departs at 1100 (own flight arrangements). On arrival, you will be met by your coach and transferred to the Breakwater Lodge where your accommodation has been booked for 5 nights on a bed and breakfast basis. Overnight at Breakwater Lodge.

 Mon 13                Morning visit to Table Mountain (weather permitting). Thereafter continue to Langa Township where you will have lunch and play Match 7 vs. Langa Development Team (TBC). Overnight at Breakwater Lodge.

 Tue 14                  Match 8 vs Wynberg High School. Overnight at Breakwater Lodge.

 Wed 15                Full day tour to Cape Point, Boulders Beach and Hout Bay. Overnight at Breakwater Lodge.

 Thu 16                  Morning tour to Robben Island. Early afternoon transfer to Bishops Diocesan College for your day/ night match. Match 9 vs Bishop Diocesan College. Overnight at Breakwater Lodge.

 Fri 17                     Morning transfer to Cape Town International Airport for your flight to Johannesburg which departs at 1220 (own flight arrangements). Your flight from Johannesburg to Sydney departs at 1750 (own flight arrangements).     

 

Signing out.

JT

 

 

The Final Squad has been selected.

The squad of 18 Barker Boys to tour South Africa has been finalised (clearance of cheques pending).
The lads have already been visiting the nets in preparation for the tour. There has also been some talk that one of the opening batters may be called to Lord's at any moment. Apparently the only skills you need are to:
1- not call your dismissal into question if you get out, and
2 - be able to hit a rank full toss off a spinner as opposed to taking it on the box.

We'll wait and see if the SOS from Boof Lehmann arrives...

"That's gotta hurt!"

Staffing for the South African Tour has been finalised...

After much campaigning from possible candidates and much speculation from insiders of the Barker College Cricket community, First XI coaches, Steven Thomlinson and Joshua Toth have been selected to accompany 18 of Barker's finest young cricketers to the powerhouse region of world cricket, SOUTH AFRICA.

Both coaches were delighted when told of the news...