Spado Dutch Exchange

Some members have been known to take a detoir before / after the official exchange. For example, in 2003 we went to Amsterdam and visited the Anne Frank Museum and bulb markets. In 2001 we took a detour on our way home spending 3 days in Germany then 3 days in Paris!

This year was our fifteenths exchange trip to Holland or rather The Netherlands and to be precise Bergen op Zoom. Firstly a bit of history on the exchange which will hopefully will entice you to come next time round in 2007.

I joined the athletics club Spado in Bergen op Zoom in 1969 and left unofficially in 1980 to move to England. It wasn't till 1991 that I suggested the idea of an exchange to the club and the first pioneers set of to Bergen op Zoom, amongst those were Mandy and Wooster, Graham Hunter, the Stobarts, the Grists, the Kertzman's, Leigh and Lucy, Adrian and Morris. (See gallery for pictures) Some of those are still around others you won't remember. We did races in and around Bergen op Zoom, ranging from orienteering in the woods to a 10km and half marathon in Breda.

As time went by the group in Bergen op Zoom lost their sharp edge on running, apart from Corne and Fred and the visits became more socially orientated with fine gatherings of Palm drinking nature. Culture education was always high on the agenda with visits to Antwerp, Brugge, Willemstad, Oosterschelde Dam and many more. Always something different. The compulsory race became a friendly banter between friends firstly mimicking the Grizzly and later just a social gathering with a canter in between chats.

As for this years event it nearly became a flat pancake even for Dutch standards, for various reasons our regular pack of Channel Travellers had other engagements and it was down to the hard core of the Youngs, Kertzman's and Gristy to make representation. Thanks goodness that Mark and Miriam came along to show them we hadn't totally died off.

After Friday's welcome drink at Rinus and Rina Saturday was 'culture' day led by Jack van Tillo an excellent guide of the most interesting parts of the old merchant town of Antwerp. After many coffees, beers ane pastries the party ended up in the evening in the Irish bar just to make sure the beer was still up to scratch there as well!

Sunday was a most peculiar day, with temperatures in the 15 degrees celcius an outing to the beach was a must and under the expert guidance of Ko a lifesafer's hut was secured to enable the party to practise their Mountain Rescue Skills. Note: Dutch people don't have mountains they have to use sand dunes or come over here and do the Grizzly!

An array of various games was concocted by Ron to test everyone's skills, even a dip in the water was on the agenda. Wooster recalls that the water was soooo cold holding his thumb and finger about 1½ inch apart, but we think he was being a bit of a wooz and it was quite normal for the time of year.

It was a close race all the way in who was going to win the competition and we saw some excellent displays of skills and foolish spectacles but if it hadn't been for Miriam's hoola hoop skills we would have been send packing.

Which is just what we did on Monday and we left Bergen op Zoom a safer place till 2 years time. But just how are we going to persuade you lot to come along and make it a proper raiding party next time!!!