STUDENTS from Malvern Girls' College spent a week playing hockey in Barcelona during the summer holidays.

Eighteen girls (aged 16-18) and two members of staff (Mrs Jane Smallwood and Miss Liz Bray) spent a hot week playing hockey in temperatures of 75F and decided that all the squad should play in all three matches, using the tour as an opportunity to develop the team play for next season.

Mrs Smallwood, head of PE said: "It proved to be a useful policy as it was very hot and dehydrating and it enabled all the Upper 5's a chance to gain valuable experience and increase their confidence playing with the Sixth Form."

Although the results to some extent were irrelevant, the girls won one, drew one and lost one, and they did get to play in the Olympic Hockey Stadium and were invited back to play in a European Invitation Tournament next year.

Helen Richards and Liz Cooper were given Player of the Tour Awards, but all should be congratulated for the tremendous improvement in play over the week.

The group also managed to enjoy a real mixture of culture and relaxation as well as sport, as their hotel was right in the middle of the old city and central to many amenities. Many galleries and museums were visited, as well as the beach, and a tour of the city on an open top bus, plus a visit to the amazing Sagrada Familia Cathedral all impressed the girls.