Tours
The desire to provide a complete pupil has driven DPHS to enthusiastically pursue away fixtures, tours and festivals.
Highlights of every year are the sports tours that are undertaken. Each year Prep takes a selection of open and under 11 teams to play against school in Cape Town, while cricket teams from under 10 up to the open age group participate in a tour to Johannesburg every second year and host in the year when they do not travel. In addition they receive invitations to attend numerous festivals for a number of codes from schools around the country.
“For a primary school, we engage in more trips than most but we believe that this gives the learner more in return,” says Michael Dick, DPHS Director of Sport.
“Travelling educates the players on a range of different levels. Not only do they benefit from the sporting experience, but they also gain valuable life skills from being exposed to different environments, and from being out of their comfort zone. It’s a great way to meet and learn about people, and places, and it makes for greater understanding, even at younger ages.”
Gaining experience through sport, particularly by playing away from home, is a practice that is encouraged across all team sports and one that sees tennis, water polo and hockey teams all make expeditions throughout South Africa to play against the best.
2011 Sports Tours and Festivals
Grey (PE) Water polo Tournament – 1stXV took part
GlenwoodHigh School Rugby Festival – 1stand 2ndXV took part
Summerfields (UK) – Hosted for two nights and played rugby against them
Rondebosch Rugby Festival – 1stXV took part
North Durban Rugby Trials – DPHS hosted one leg of these trials
SA Prep Schools Hockey Festival (PE – Grey) – 1stXI took part
Kwa-Zulu Natal Coastal Cricket Trials – DPHS hosted these trials
Trinityhouse Cricket Festival – 1stXI travelled to part
U/10A & B rugby teams toured Gauteng and played against Trinityhouse, Rooihuiskrall and Fairlands
U/11A team took part in the Kingsmead Mynahs 20/20 overs cricket festival.
The 2011 Cape Town Rugby Tour
The Cape Town rugby/tennis tour was extended to a group of 137 boys and 15 staff, the biggest by Prep in 100 years. The tour has become a highlight for so many boys and parents. The support on the side of the fields for every team was another example of the tremendous spirit between the boys that prevails at Prep. The 2011 tour was another very successful one and one that each and every boy played a part in. The results were particularly pleasing, almost as pleasing as the sound of the boys in doing the war-cry at the end of each fixture.
2011 SACS Water Polo Tournament
The 1stWater Polo team travelled to Cape Town to take part in the SACS festival. The boys achieved the “in possible” feat by beating hosting SACS in the final. It was a “champagne” moment and one that reflects so much about the character of the school and that particular group of players and coaches. The SACS water polo festival is certainly the premiere tournament in the country and achieving gold medals was a most pleasing result.