Earlier this month, Rayburn Sports’ team member, Zoe, was lucky enough to head out of the office and jet off to sunnier climes, accompanying Emmanuel College on their Sports Tour to Malta.
Here’s a quick day by day account of what Zoe got up to on her travels…
Day One
I arrived in Malta the evening before the group to scope the area out! Even though it was the end of November, the weather was still very pleasant – around 23/24 degrees.
I decided to take a walk around St Paul’s Bay to get my bearings and visited the group’s hotel, The Soreda, which was just down the road from where I was staying. The rooftop terrace provided some breath-taking views and I spent a fair amount of time taking it all in.
Day Two
I met the group at their hotel to help with check in, before accompanying them for a big buffet lunch.
After filling our stomachs, we took a stroll around the beachfront promenade to Bugibba Square, giving the girls some free time to go shopping and buy snacks from the local souvenir shops. We then travelled back to the hotel and made use of the hotel’s 3 swimming pools!
After another tasty dinner, we spent the evening quizzing in a meeting room which the hotel had kindly put aside for us.
Day Three
Whilst Emmanuel College hopped on a bus for the short drive to Golden Sands Beach for a morning of beach games and touch rugby, I separated from the group to go on a whistle-stop tour of the Island, visiting the various sports venues which are used by our groups.
I also had time for a quick lunch stop in the beautiful, fortified, pedestrian town of Mdina – where I got to watch traditional glass blowers at work. It’s possible for our groups to come to Mdina for a fantastic scavenger hunt activity.
I met the group back at the hotel in the early afternoon, just in time to get ready for the first Netball fixture of the tour. We boarded our transfer to kirkop Indoor Netball Courts and were met with the Malta U16s team. The teams were evenly matched but Emmanuel ran out eventual winners with a 29-21 victory. Well done girls!
Day Four
Today we visited the Bird Park in St Paul’s Bay, complete with parrots, flamingos, peacocks and more. Some of the girls even got to hold a boa constrictor snake! After walking back through the beautiful Kennedy Grove gardens, it was time for lunch at a local pizzeria.
The girl’s played their second fixture of the tour in the evening at Kirkop, against Malta U18s. A score line of 32-25 meant another victory for Emmanuel College!
Day Five
It’s time for me to say goodbye to the group and return to Rayburn HQ. I’ve had a great time in Malta and have broadened my knowledge of the area greatly.
The group still have a few days left of their tour however, where they will visit Malta’s capital, Valletta, visit the beach again and soak up the last of the sunshine before heading back to the wintery UK.
Thanks again to Emmanuel College for letting me accompany your tour – I hope you had an amazing time!