KENT PETANQUE ASSOCIATION

Transcription

1 KENT PETANQUE ASSOCIATION ISSUE No.78 DECEMBER 2012 A HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO KENT PETANQUE PLAYERS Another year of petanque comes to an end, with the last major open competition at Meadow P.C. in December. Generally 2012 was a good year for petanque in Kent. The Regional Triples Qualifiers were a success and well supported, and for those players who represented Kent at the EPA Finals at Mill Rythe Holiday Village found a great improvement over the previous events at Brean Sands, which should be an encouragement for continued popular support of the Regional Qualifiers next year. A team from Meadow P.C. will represent England at International Competitions next year, Kevin Spillet, Greg Davenport and Rowland Jones, and deserve the support and encouragement from fellow Kent players. The K.P.A. Management Committee chaired by Martin Eggleton continues to contribute to the game, and results in a well supported series of management meetings throughout the year, usually with a sprinkling of Kent petanque members to observe the proceedings, or to put forward a specific point of view. There are possibilities of a couple of break-away groups next year, who will leave existing Clubs and venues to form new Clubs at new venues. A difficult consideration during last year, and will continue to be for the coming near future, is the financial assistance given to Clubs by the KPA and the KPL. The funds of both organisations are in a healthy condition, and there is a general willingness to use some of these funds to provide assistance to Clubs to generally improve the Petanque facilities in Kent..however there have been a couple of instances in the past few years where funds have been given to Clubs only to find that the venue has been shut-down with apparent loss of petanque donated funds, through no fault of the Clubs involved. A couple of long serving Kent members are giving up their involvement in petanque...annette Eggleton who has been the KPA membership Secretary for several years and has been present at most of the KPA competitions to assist in the organisation, come rain, cold and shine. Colin Senneck, was a member of the KPA Management Committee until his promotion to Chairman of the KPL.the efforts of both have been appreciated and will be missed by KPA members. There is a strong junior involvement of petanque centred around the Duke of Wellington PC, Ryarsh, and the present junior Kent team continues to impress..would be good for the future of petanque in Kent if we could encourage more involvement of juniors at more Clubs. Page 1

2 K.P.A. Treasurer, Mr.Ken Buchan has provided a budget for the KPA Accounts for year INCOME. Membership (est. 600 adult members) 3600 KPA Winter League ( incl. for food for finals & trophies) 250 EXPENDITURE Player grants 500 Administration website fees 100 Travelling Exs (congress Regional Meets) 250 Committee room hire 25 Stationary, postage Inter Regionals Team prizes (competition bursaries) 500 Accom. costs team managers 405 Cost of team kit 1100 Chairmans cup & season trophies/prizes 800 Donation players accomm. (50 x 60) LESS Income from Regional Qualifiers 3500 Sale of kit Reg.Singles income 40 Income Reg. Doubles NORD MARITIME Cost of ferry & coach 1200 Presentation gifts Less match fees 1500 UMPIRING Courses Exs. 100 JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT Juniors accom. At Reg. Finals 270 Other KENT CLASSIC Prizes 1000 Sundries 50 Accomm. Costs for guest teams LESS entry fees TOTAL EXPENDITURE 4160 NET DEFICIT Values are based upon actual income and costs for the last couple of years. Not so long ago...kent Petanque could count on a membership of around 800 to 1000 members! Where have all the players gone? We..can however rely on Ken Buchan taking care of the KPA wonga for the coming year, without the need to follow the example of the Chancellor...hiring a lumberjack to oversee the Bank of England. Page 2

3 Thursday 29th November 2012 at Hartley Country Club. Attending.M.Eggleton, D.Baxter, C.Cooter, C.Mahy, A.Mills, M.Nash, T.Turner, M.Weston, R.Yates, N.Phillips, R.Spillet, P.Whatley. A few notes regarding the meeting.not minutes. Brian Stote is no longer the EPA National Coach and as a result there will not be a Junior weekend of excellence in November. The following KPA members are co-opted onto the Management Committee.CATHERINE MAHY, ANDY MILLS (as web-master), TRACEY TURNER, MICK NASH (KPL rep).and CORINNE COOTER was co-opted to the post o KPA Vice Chairlady. Also agreed that RICHARD KING will be the KPA Regional Umpire and Youth Development Officer. Agreed that ANDY MILLS will chair the KPA Playing Committee with committee members, ANNETTE EGLETON, KEITH ATKINSON, CORINNE COOTER and RICHARD SPILLETT, it was also agreed that a member from both Lordswood PC and Tovil PC would be requested to provide one member each. The first task of the playing committee is to present a draft calendar for 2013 at the next Management Meeting in January..noted that in the past several Clubs would apply to hold open events that required a certain amount of juggling with the playing calendar..not the case for last year, and sadly will not happen next year Agreed that Objectives for the KPA for year 2013, will be. 1) develop an integrated Junior Squad, and build on the Junior/Senior initiative. 2) Player Development. Continue with supported trips to Zeist and Dunkerquoise and add a 2nd team to the Zeist party. 3) Inter Regionals. To go one better, ie second and first (Div.1 and Challenge respectively) 4) Develop full feasibility on canopy with a view to taking a proposal for a full scale trial to 2013 AGM. EPA/KPA system of membership was discussed in detail, with several voices expressing concern that the EPA failed to accept that the system has many faults. Agreed that a simplified system incorporating the requirements of both the EPA and KPA would be investigated in particular photograph requirements and stamping and verification requirements and a sensible route for membership for those prospective members without access to a computer. As yet no member has stepped forward to take on the Membership Secretary for next year. Preliminary ideas from members for petanque at the Railway Tavern at Sole Street were discussed in outline. Presentation of full details is required for discussion prior to any agreement from the KPA or KPL. DATE OF NEXT KPA MANAGEMEETING is at MEADOW SPORTS CLUB 8pm on THURSDAY 24th JANUARY KPA Members are very welcome to attend.to either observe or to put forward any points of concern. Page 3

4 Year 2002 was the 25th Anniversary of Petanque in the South East. Firstly as THE SOUTH EAST REGION followed by the re-named KENT PETANQUE ASSOCIATION. To record and celebrate this 25th Anniversary.MARK COOTER produced an excellent quality Souvenir Brouchure. A few snipits taken from the brochure maybe of interest? At the front of the brochure, a Forward by the then Region President DAVID BAXTER, surely it was petanque that Albert Camus the French novelist and dramatist had in mind when he said Albert who?..a display of the high standard of literacy of petanquers prevailing at the time. The five founding Clubs of the South East Region in 1977 were.seal P.C., OPTIMISTS P.C. (Staplehurst), GUN & SPITROAST P.C. (Horsmonden), PORTEX P.C. (Hythe) and BLACKDOWN P.C. (Haslemere)..followed in the same year with new clubs WHEAT- SHEAF P.C.(Chatham), HOPPERS P.C. (Paddock Wood) and BOTOLPHS BRIDGE (Hythe). By 1998 a quarter of all the British Petanque Association membership resided in the South East corner of England.which increased to a third membership by year with a South East membership of around 1000 members for an 8 to 10 year period. The South East Region has been very influential in National Affairs, particularly in the BPA s formative years. Between the National Association was practically run by the South East with Geoff Hiles (Optomists), Laurie Brooks (Seal) and Mike Sharratt (Wheatsheaf/Fleet) holding the posts of President, Secretary and Treasurer respectively. Thanks to the sponsorship of PERNOD, the BPA even had the prestigious office address of New Bond Street in London s West End. Page 15 of the Brochure was a full page advert.headline ACHES & PAINS cured and solved by the purchase of some sort of magic magnetic wrist band from distributor Colin Senneck (Hartley)..a cure all device suitable for men, women, cats, dogs, horses and other animals at starting prices from only Men found the ready made use for establishing a northwards approach to petanque and the sense of smell was found to be increased by discerning dogs. The brochure contains short write-ups of clubs at the time, including this for the OLD SHEAF The original Wheatsheaf P.C. was the Region s dominant club of the early eighties when their members took several National titles and represented their country at International level. They also dominated the Kent Leagues taking 6 League Championships between 1979 & 88 as well as 5 cup wins amongst their titles. The club folded at end of 1991 when the new landlord decided to grass over the pistes and the players moved to Lordswood. Following the return of landlord MORTON AL- MOND in 1996 the club as well as introducing many new payers to the sport. Last year they had 4 squads playing in the Kent League and 3 in the Maidstone Winter League. Page 4

5 EUROCUP THE STORY SO FAR (and a little history) The EPA s EuroCup for Clubs competition for is well underway. The object of the event is to establish the top English club that will go on to represent England in next year s EuroCup Championships run by the CEP (Confédération Européenne de Pétanque). As well as having to meet the minimum player requirement this year clubs had to register to take part. As such 14 Kent clubs opted into the event (which is free to enter). At the time of writing (6 th December) 4 of Kent s top clubs are still involved in the event Lordswood, George, Tovil and Meadow. The George and Tovil face each other in a Round 3 match this month to decide who will go through to the last 16 and play in the group stages (in Group D) on 27 th January. The George had progressed to this stage with a 4-1 away win over Crowborough Social Club (Sussex), following a bye in round 1. Tovil s form has been quite impressive with 5-0 away wins over Share & Coulter in round 1 and Duke of Wellington in round 2.Both the George and Tovil have done well in this event in the recent past. The George made the 4 th round group stage (last 16) in the last campaign where they just missed out on a place in the finals, finishing second in the group to Meadow. In the previous event ( ) the George made the finals, finishing in fourth place. Tovil s prominence in the competition was between 2007 and 2010 when they were runners up (2009), losing semi-finalists twice (2007 and 2010) and losing quarter-finalists (2008). However with their recent import of two quality national players from Chiltern Region they again hope to challenge for honours this campaign. Lordswood have progressed to the fourth round group stages by virtue of a bye in the first round, a 5-0 win at home to New Ash Green in round two and a 3-2 away win over Hartley in round three. They have been drawn into Group C where they will face Brighton and Hove (Sussex), Ship Inn (Southern Counties) and Compton (Great Western) when the clubs meet on 20 th January. I think it would be fair to say that despite their strong player base Lordswood haven t taken the competition too seriously in the past having just reached the later stages twice before losing semi- finalists on 2009 and losing quarter-finalists in Meadow s route to the fourth round has been steady but uninspiring with 4-1 wins over fellow Kent clubs Sydney Arms, Villagers and the Lamb Inn. Along with the winners of The George versus Tovil the Meadow will also face the Hampshire Rose and the winners of Cobbetts v Bordon match (all Southern Counties) in the fourth round group stages. The Meadow (nee Plough and Chequers) pedigree in this event is second to none. Since they first entered this National competition in 1999 they have reached at least the last 8 in every competition. Their impressive record reads: Winners - 4 times, Runners up - 5 times, losing semi-finalists - 3 times and losing quarter finalists - twice. Like Tovil Meadow PC have also signed up a number of quality national players this year and are hoping to improve on their runners-up places from the previous 3 years. Other Kent clubs who have featured in the later stages of this competition in the past are Hartley, Old Sheaf and Ightham but perhaps surprisingly Kent s second best club in this competition is GRFC. They were Britain s first winners of this event back in and over the following 7 years they were also runners up once, losing semi-finalists twice and losing quarter finalists twice. This years finals of the CEP have just concluded, it was won by French Club RP METZ, who beat Italian Club BC Bocciofila Taggese. An indication of how highly regarded this competition is in Europe is that the winning RP METZ Squad included former Belgian World Champions from year 2000 Andre Lozano, Claudy Weibel, Michel Van Campenhout and Jean-Francois Hemon, along with Stephen Bourgeois who is one of the current French Triples Champions along with Weibel. Thanks go to MARK COOTER of MEADOW P.C. for providing this article. A special thanks go to..mark COOTER KEN BUCHAN & JACK MILNER for providing info. for this months Gazette Page 5

6 There was an excellent turnout of 34 teams for the Meadow PC s Christmas Hamper Doubles competition on 9 th December. This was despite clashing with a club event at Hartley and one of the indoor Grand Prix s at Whittlesey. The attendees travelled from all across Kent as well as from other EPA regions: London, East Sussex, Southern Counties and even Great Western (Bath). This included all levels of players including 8 current English Champions down to Kent League division 5 players. With the three levels of knockout competitions in the afternoon all were catered for with nearly half the attendees going home with prizes. There was even a guest appearance by Father Christmas (aka Rob Harvey). Despite the array of International players in attendance it was the home side of Corinne Cooter and Trevor Gordon who won the main event, and it wasn t down to an easy draw either. During their route to the final they knocked out the current English Veterans Champions, Angie and Lee Jamieson, in the first round and then one of the English Ladies and Mixed Doubles champions: Debbie Elcome, who was playing with Graham Elcome, in the second round. In the semi s they faced one of the current English Doubles Champions: Sean Prendergast, playing with Ashley Jamieson before rounding off a superb day beating the other half of the English Doubles Champions: David Plumhoff, who was playing with a former British Champion Barry Wing, in the final. The Spillett brothers, Richard and Kevin, from the Meadow were the other losing semi-finalists.alan Creegan and Richard King (Northwood/George) won the plate event beating Barry Soileux and Paul Collins (Tovil) in the final. S and M Pry from the White Hart in East Sussex won the Consolage competition beating Debs and Mike Capelin in the final. Despite the somewhat sticky conditions underfoot the day was played in the right Christmas spirit and everyone seemed to enjoy the day. A big thanks to Richard Spillett who made up the excellent array of hampers. REPORT BY MARK COOTER Photo by JACK MILNER Page 6

7 RICHARD & KEVIN SPILLETT ANGIE JAMIESON DEBBIE ELCOMBE DAVE HURREN GRAEME ELCOMBE RICHARD KING PHOTO S BY JACK MILNER Page 7

8 HOLIDAY VILLA AVAILABLE EMBROIDERY DEPOT are able to supply and machine embroider a wide range of polo shirts, T shirts, sweatshirts, rugby shirts, fleeces, jackets, caps, bags, towels, flags and other garments, sew-on or iron-on badges. EMBROIDERY DEPOT can offer up to 15% price reduction for PETANQUE CLUB orders. ALAN CREGEEN proprietor. EMBROIDERY DEPOT 28 MILNER ROAD ELVINGTON DOVER KENT CT15 4EQ Tel or sales@embroiderydepot.co.uk In the village of Diano San Pietro - fully furnished 2 bedroom villa is approx 2 miles from the Mediterranean beaches of DIANO MARINA nearest airport is Genoa for full details contact JOHN SUGUATO Tel See also Gazette Issue 50 for full report KENT & SUSSEX WINDOW CLEANING AND GUTTER- ING CLEANING COMMERCIAL & DOMESTIC RELIABLE & FRIENDLY SERVICE PROVIDED COMPETITIVE PRICES GIVEN FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR QUOTES PLEASE CONTACT or TO ADVERTISE IN THE GAZETTE CONTACT RON YATES ronyates6@btinternet.com FREE to all KPA MEMBERS All you need for petanque supplies from the on line brochure. Boule accessories trophies bags and clothing. Tel Shop and Sales Office at Pen-y-Coed Petanque Up Street Bradwell Bury St. Edmonds Suffolk IP31 1AA The KENT PETANQUE GAZETTE is edited by RON YATES. Any item of news for inclusion in future editions should be sent to ronyates6@btinternet.com The views expressed in the KENT PETANQUE GAZETTE are those of the editor and contributors only, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the KENT PETANQUE ASSOCIATON or the ENGLISH PETANQUE ASSOCIATION E & O E Page 8