This was our longest day yet. We've been on the go from 09:45 to literally 23:50. Breakfast was followed by the team meeting, which was at 12:30 in our usual spot. This is where we discussed our game plan and scouting report on today's opposition. We then had lunch, which definitely filled us up and gave us lots of energy for the uber-fun team building games that lied ahead.
The team building games were planned by the enthusiastic Emma, Laura, and Sheena. First on our list was the pool game killer. Meabh, the pool shark won the first game and the quietly confident Dave won the second. Our organisational skills were tested with the card game invented by Emma. After some brain teasers, we all eventually became members of the secret polo bear club headed by Laura. We then put on a fairly brilliant display of dancing as we attended classes, which were held beside the pool. Dave and Danny perfected their synchronised swimming routine with the official opening show of both our dancing and their swimming to be held tomorrow.
Before we left for our game, we had dinner in the hotel. We arrived at the gym at 19:35 for our game at 21:00. We were already pumped for the game and knew what we had to do. The gym was as humid as ever, but we started really strong and played really excellent defence throughout. We won the game convincingly and dominated on both ends of the floor.
Take that Henry!!!!!!!! After a quick snack, we are heading off to bed in preparation for our final tomorrow. We will let you know how we get on.
All for now,
Love, Team Ireland aka The dancing polo bears
Score:
Ireland 34 (16) (M Buckley 10, M O'Driscoll 6, S McNulty 6) Chelle Ille of France 2 (2)(A Nicumba 2)
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Barcelona: Day 3
Aqua aerobics started at 9:00 sharp. Luckily, no one drowned in the cold water as Sheena led us jogging, punching, and hopping. Rushing to breakfast (punctuality is key), the milk was warm, but we will survive. For the rest of the morning, we worked on our tans (or lack thereof).
At 1:00, the last of the girls were greeted by some stern faced coaches, and our all important team meeting started. After our secret tactics were discussed, some girls went for a snooze and others went for a wonder. After a team vote, we decided to head up to Santa Suzanna to spy on our opposition for the game tomorrow (another aggressive French team).
We went back to Hotel Papi for lunch, then a quick change before heading back to the gym for another brilliant triumph. Could the winning magic have come from Heather’s French plat talent?? Who knows . . . but one thing is for sure, we were all sweating like monkeys from the lack of air conditioning. The final score was 75-12, and we celebrated with cannonballs into the pool (cheers Danny).
We had a huge dinner with crepes for desert. What a treat! At the moment, we are all here in Sorcha’s and Cliodhna’s room banging out the tunes and watching the sun go down. What will the night bring???
Adios por ahora,
Team Ireland
Score:
Ireland 75 (38)(H Meagher 16, M O'Driscoll 13, A McSweeney 10, C O'Rielly-Marshall 10) Basket Fooaecam Maigrat, Spain 12 (6)(L Martin 4, L Villa 3, T Herranz 3)
At 1:00, the last of the girls were greeted by some stern faced coaches, and our all important team meeting started. After our secret tactics were discussed, some girls went for a snooze and others went for a wonder. After a team vote, we decided to head up to Santa Suzanna to spy on our opposition for the game tomorrow (another aggressive French team).
We went back to Hotel Papi for lunch, then a quick change before heading back to the gym for another brilliant triumph. Could the winning magic have come from Heather’s French plat talent?? Who knows . . . but one thing is for sure, we were all sweating like monkeys from the lack of air conditioning. The final score was 75-12, and we celebrated with cannonballs into the pool (cheers Danny).
We had a huge dinner with crepes for desert. What a treat! At the moment, we are all here in Sorcha’s and Cliodhna’s room banging out the tunes and watching the sun go down. What will the night bring???
Adios por ahora,
Team Ireland
Score:
Ireland 75 (38)(H Meagher 16, M O'Driscoll 13, A McSweeney 10, C O'Rielly-Marshall 10) Basket Fooaecam Maigrat, Spain 12 (6)(L Martin 4, L Villa 3, T Herranz 3)
Monday, June 28, 2010
Days 1 and 2 of Our Trip to Barcelona
Day 1 – Under 16 Women’s Development Squad trip to Barcelona.
Leaving Dublin Airport as the Irish Under 16’s, we were finally getting our big break! After all our hard work, we are finally going to be put to the test!
There was a little bit of trouble before boarding the flight, but the lovely Ryan Air lady was nice enough to check each and every bag to see if it fit in (even though they were all the same).
Upon arriving in Barcelona Airport, we got on the bus and arrived to Hotel Papi. It was a very nice hotel. They left us food, which we were grateful for, as the restaurant had closed, and it was getting late.
After all this, we held a team meeting to discuss the rest of the trip and had an early night.
Day 2 – Game Day!
Today, we woke up early and went down for breakfast all in our new bright orange shorts (and some even had legs to match!!) courtesy of Azzurri Sport.
We had a team meeting, where we were reminded of the house rules, which we will have to TRY our best to keep!! We weren’t playing until 8 in the evening, so we had some time by the pool and checked out the gym for the competition.
Back at the hotel, we had dinner of spaghetti, chips, fruit and lots of watermelon.
After dinner, we got our gear and met the bus again to return to the Pavilion Santa Suzanna for our first match.
When we arrived, Emma took us for a warm up, and the other team eventually followed suit. We discussed our tactics, game plan, and goals that we had previously set.
We then shook the other team’s hands and gave them a wrist band as a token. Then the game kicked off with 10 minutes in each quarter. Everyone was happy with our team performance, beating Basket Comminges Salies Du Salat 39-34.
After our game, we did our warm down, went back to the hotel and ate dinner as a team. We would like to thank our supporters for all their cheering and encouragement.
Overall, today was a great day, especially with our first win.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Ireland!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Leaving Dublin Airport as the Irish Under 16’s, we were finally getting our big break! After all our hard work, we are finally going to be put to the test!
There was a little bit of trouble before boarding the flight, but the lovely Ryan Air lady was nice enough to check each and every bag to see if it fit in (even though they were all the same).
Upon arriving in Barcelona Airport, we got on the bus and arrived to Hotel Papi. It was a very nice hotel. They left us food, which we were grateful for, as the restaurant had closed, and it was getting late.
After all this, we held a team meeting to discuss the rest of the trip and had an early night.
Day 2 – Game Day!
Today, we woke up early and went down for breakfast all in our new bright orange shorts (and some even had legs to match!!) courtesy of Azzurri Sport.
We had a team meeting, where we were reminded of the house rules, which we will have to TRY our best to keep!! We weren’t playing until 8 in the evening, so we had some time by the pool and checked out the gym for the competition.
Back at the hotel, we had dinner of spaghetti, chips, fruit and lots of watermelon.
After dinner, we got our gear and met the bus again to return to the Pavilion Santa Suzanna for our first match.
When we arrived, Emma took us for a warm up, and the other team eventually followed suit. We discussed our tactics, game plan, and goals that we had previously set.
We then shook the other team’s hands and gave them a wrist band as a token. Then the game kicked off with 10 minutes in each quarter. Everyone was happy with our team performance, beating Basket Comminges Salies Du Salat 39-34.
After our game, we did our warm down, went back to the hotel and ate dinner as a team. We would like to thank our supporters for all their cheering and encouragement.
Overall, today was a great day, especially with our first win.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Ireland!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
U16 Women's Preparation Tournament in Luxembourg
On July 16th - July 18th the U16 women's national team will be going to Luxembourg to participate in a tournament in preparation for the European Championships in August.
Information and dates are subject to change
Information and dates are subject to change
U16 Womens friendly games versus England
On the 9th, 10th, and 11th of July the U16 Women will be playing friendly games against England in preperation for the European Championships.
Infornation and dates are subject to change.
Infornation and dates are subject to change.
U16 Womens Development Squad trip to Barcelona
The U16 womens development squad will be taking a trip to Barcelona on June 26th - July 1st.
More information to follow and don't forget to keep an eye on the Basketball Ireland website: http://www.basketballireland.ie/
Information and dates are subject to change.
More information to follow and don't forget to keep an eye on the Basketball Ireland website: http://www.basketballireland.ie/
Information and dates are subject to change.
U16 Womens European Championship trip to Macedonia
As school has come to an end and the summer holidays have started the U16 women's national team are preparing for the European Championships in Macedonia. They will go from August 11th - 23rd.
More information to follow and don't forget to to keep an eye on the Basketball Ireland website: www.basketball ireland.ie
Information and dates are subject to change
More information to follow and don't forget to to keep an eye on the Basketball Ireland website: www.basketball ireland.ie
Information and dates are subject to change
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)