KENT PETANQUE ASSOCIATION

Transcription

1 KENT PETANQUE ASSOCIATION ISSUE No.45 MARCH 2010 At lunchtime, almost a sniff of spring in the air, nice sunny day but still cold, and at night a different story as the VILLAGER hosted the KPA Winter League Cup and Plate Finals. The usual warm welcome, be it summer or winter, provided by landlord DAVE LITTLEY and his staff. Dave is a long time supporter and promoter of Petanque in Kent. The KPA Winter League and the Cup and Plate competitions are however organised by MICK NASH and comes at the end of a very cold winter braved by all the teams participating. Page 1

2 The WINTER LEAGUE MANAGEMENT MICK NASH I seem to remember as a kid biking to the Trosley Woods area, and the now site of Vigo Village which was then famed in kids folk lore for being a WW2 army base and a camp for Nazi spies and general no good foreign Johnnies who meant the good old British Tommy a lot of harm...and just round the corner and down the hill in Trottiscliffe village lived the artist Graham Sutherland who knitted the tapestry for Coventry Cathedral in his garden shed..and the kids would shout over the fence.. if we give you the wool, will you knit us one..or maybe I ve got it slightly wrong? Does some local villager know the real secrets OF VIGO VILLAGE. And then on the night, real drama, the village crowded with police, ambulances, Salvation Army, and people wrapped in blankets due the car explosion that tragically injured a local resident. Some local residents were evacuated from their homes, to spend the night in the village hall adjacent to the Villager pub and the Petanque WINNERS OF THE KPA WINTER LEAGUE CUP MEADOW P.C. pistes. The pub was very busy with the media and locals and the influx of petanque players, and late into the night Dave and Samantha Littley were still manning the telephone, answering queries from the media and those that needed to know! The emergency services were quick to assess the requirements of the needy, and offered the Petanque players carrier bags full of sandwiches, crisps, water and a banana. Another thought to add to the intrigue and mystery, I noticed as I stumbled in the dark into the area left of the main pistes and opposite the pub, that the ground under the trees resembled the RUNNERS UP FOR THE KPA WINTER LEAGUE CUP TOVIL PC contours of the ground at Vimy Ridge in Northern France, scene of one of the WW1 battles, undulations and ridges and some damaged trees that looked a bit like skeletons, and what I thought to be a hand protruding from the soil, was in fact a discarded Mars Bar wrapper. All this may be a fanciful flights of the imagination, but on the other hand it might make a good film. Page 2

3 And so.to the Petanque. All the games were played in a very good and sportsman like atmosphere. The nature of the game of Petanque produced some play of very high standard and also some of very mediocre standard. Two piste terrains were used, one smooth and flat suitable for the rollers and the other which looked reasonably smooth and flat, but was not, and not so easy for pointing. The matches were played with the first game on one terrain, and the second game on the other terrain. And it was cold, and got colder as the night wore on. One half of the RUNNERS UP OF THE KPA WINTER LEAGUE PLATE LORD-TOVIL WINNERS OF THE KPA WINTER LEAGUE PLATE HARTLEY ROMANS And the other half of the RUNNERS UP OF THE KPA WINTER LEAGUE PLATE LORD TOVIL THE TEAMS.. STAR MEADOW PC Dave Hurren, Kevin Spillet, Corrine Cooter, Jenifer Cooter Greg Davenport, Roland Jones, Richard Spillet, Tracey Turner TOVIL PC Dean Ashby, Sarah Huntley, Matt Whatley, Scott Ashby, Steve Brown, Neil Phillips HARTLEY ROMANS Mags Yates, Linda Bradley, Ron Yates, Ken Potter, Hazel Teale Barbara Potter LORD TOVIL Lisa Gilbert, Ben Thompson, Paul Mazza, Ben Owens, Kevin Kitchener, Les Clark THE SCORES. The Cup.. The Plate. TOVIL PC V MEADOW PC LORD TOVIL V HARTLEY ROMANS All finished by 10:30, tucked up, and inside the pub, stood by the open fire, get warm, enjoyed a cold pint or two and the generous buffet courtesy of landlord Dave Littley. A good night of Petanque at the VILLAGER P.H. VIGO VILLAGE. End of story. Page 3

4 Another view of the night. Kent s top two knock out specialists, Meadow Petanque Club and Tovil Petanque Club, contested the final of the Kent Winter League Knockout Cup at the Vigo Villager on the evening of 5th March. Teams from the same two Clubs had met a few months earlier in the Kent Summer League Cup and Plate finals and are also Kent s two remaining Clubs in the English Petanque Association s National Club Knockout European Cup Qualifier, in which both clubs have a good pedigree. Anyway..back to the final where the first two games were close, edgy affairs that finished 1 game all with Tovil taking a narrow one point lead into the second games. The change of pistes seemed to suit Meadow better and they raced into a lead in one of the games only for Tovil to claw the score back to 7 all. Meadow then took the initiative to run out winners At this stage the score in the other game stood at 7-7. Meadow then took the points they needed to secure the match when Tovil conceded the match with the score at 9-7 to Meadow. Report by MARK COOTER FIFTH ROUND. Victorians from Essex were the visitors to the Star Meadow Sports Ground, Gillingham to take on the local Meadow Pétanque Club for this quarter final clash in the English Pétanque Association s (EPA) National Club Knock-out to establish the top club in England who will go on to represent the EPA in this year s European Cup competition. This always promised to be the toughest test yet for the Meadow side with the Victorians being one of the top club sides in the country (having previously won the National League in 2005 and this competition in 2004, Both sides suffered in the very cold conditions with the shooters struggling to make an impact, however, the play steadily improved with the honours even in the first round of triples matches (9-13 and 13-8 Meadow scores first). A quick 13-2 win to Meadow in the mixed doubles followed by a 13-9 win in the second doubles left an exciting climax to the final doubles match. With the score at Meadow were sitting game with just one boule remaining for Victorians and just inches to take the point. However an excellent point by Raj Tupsy gave the visitors the game and took the match into the final round of triples matches. In a repeat of the first open triple the Meadow took revenge for their earlier defeat with some excellent play to run out winners 13-5 to secure the victory. With the match now over the final result went to Victorians (4-13) to leave the match score 4-3 in Meadow s favour. REPORT BY MARK COOTER Page 4

5 At Lordswood Sports and Social Club. Sadly to say there has so far been no response for a replacement for John Middleton, position as KPA Secretary. Although it is early days, it is quite likely that a member of Lordswood P.C. will be providing the means for a greatly reduced cost container for storage of KPA equipment. A cheque was handed over which eliminates the carry over debt from last years KPA accounts. A pair of new, charming, and tastefully coloured, babies first motion yellow, chess clocks were handed over to David Baxter for his trial runs, at timed petanque. Money...the Treasurer provided a revised breakdown budget for the coming year which shows a deficit of 1780 for funds raised for Kent competitions and qualifiers, against, expenditure for chalets at Brean and Kent county clothing kit costs. However the overall accounts for the year are budgeted to just break even or incur a small deficit. The up to date accounts of the KPA for this month remain unchanged and are the same as last month. Junior Fund...the management of the KPA Junior Fund was discussed, and the three trustees are to propose a clarification to the aims, purposes and definitions for awarding grants to juniors, accepting that by and large many juniors have benefited from the fund which at present stands at a healthy Petanque Calendar.a change of date for the 1st County Qualifier was reversed back to the original date of 18th April. reason for deliberation.there is a possibility of two Kent teams being required to play in Euro Cup Finals on the 18th April, but as yet the quarter finals of the Euro Cup have not yet been played, and the Committee have also been advised that there are several players (other than Euro Cup players) who have made arrangements for 25th April based upon the first issue of Qualifier dates. The Calendar for the year is now confirmed and will be posted on the web. E.P.A. European Cup for Clubs.it emerged from the discussions relating to the Euro Cup that there is allegedly at least one Club Team remaining in the competition that has been formed by players from different Regions with the specific aim of winning the competition and playing in representative games in Europe. The committee was split in opinions for the motives of this team, one being that that this team was operating within the rules and were following examples already set by teams in France and Belgium, the other opinion being that this arrangement is not within the spirit of the CLUB competition and next year so called lesser teams may not support and give credence to the competition. Richard King..to the rescue.is doing his best to provide umpires for Kent, and as a first step has agreed to umpire the Kent Triples Qualifiers. Andy Mills..in his role as Chairman of the playing committee is reading through all the minutes of meetings for the last few years and finding a few actions still outstanding, he is also resurrecting a League Handicap Competition in conjunction with the KPA Summer League, to be held in October. General...It was agreed that members are at liberty to request their address information to be removed from KPA data bases. Page 5

6 The only reason that you have not won a medal at the Olympics is because you do not have the equipment. Not to worry..if your Club is located in the MEDWAY area and you follow the advice of Mick Weston of Lordswood PC, you can get it. Jon Rees leads the MEDWAY COUNCIL SPORTS DEVELOPMENT TEAM at Gun Wharf Dock Road - Chatham Tel And....if you give him a call he will provide your Club with a comprehensive list of sports related equipment that can be hired FREE-OF-CHARGE. David Baxter reports that ab-fab flowers are prepared again to provide financial support for the Kent Classic. Good news for this prestigious event and follows on from generous support that ab-fab have provided in previous years. Further to our notification of the sad departure of Babe in last month s Gazette, Ken Osbourne of Seal PC, has kindly provided further information about Babe. Babe survived her husband Fred for some 15 years. Fred and Babe joined Seal PC in 1976 as founder members of the second Club to be opened in Kent a year after the Optomists, and both played for Seal whilst competing in nearly all of the Regional competitions and many National events. Both Babe and Fred were involved in weekend social petanque events with Seal and Montreux Sur Mer on an annual basis. Though never living in Seal, they were an integral part of the village community and stalwarts of Seal Petanque Club. They would both have been hurt by the demise of the Crown Inn at Seal where they had contributed so much. After Babe lost her Fred she played her petanque with Joy Drumey and Margaret Drumey who continued as a triples team when their combined ages were over 230. As mentioned...the demise of the Crown Inn at Seal, once the venue and home terrain of Seal PC., one of the oldest Club s in Kent, was also one of the biggest Clubs hosting many major open competitions and twining with Clubs in both France and Belgium. The Seal Club has now moved to THE WHITE ROCK P.H. at UNDERRIVER near Sevenoaks TN15 0SB KENT & SUSSEX WINDOW CLEANING AND GUTTERING CLEANING COMMERCIAL & DOMESTIC RELIABLE & FRIENDLY SERVICE PROVIDED COMPETITIVE PRICES GIVEN FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR QUOTES PLEASE CONTACT or Page 6

7 SUNDAY 14th MARCH...more or less the first day of Spring and an open triples competition organised by Meadow P.C. and Mark and Corrine Cooter. A total of 40 teams took part, probably the best attended outdoor competition for many a year, all games played in an enjoyable and sportsmanlike fashion. Still a relatively new experience for the Star Meadows Sports Club to host a large Petanque competition, but they proved they could handle it and provided all day hot and cold food in in a very professional Ees-a-Boy-alright? Richard Slim King displays a new tee shirt Very nice too! and competent manner. Meadow managed to provide 18 pistes, 2 short for the start of the competition, however this lack did not affect the progress of the competition. There was also a good raffle with imaginative prizes that certainly had not been seen, and passed on from previous raffles? Some teams had travelled from far and wide, and it was good to see ex-kent Roy Pemberton take a break from lambing to make the long tractor ride up from Cornwall to play with a couple from the Sherwood Oak, Roy s old Club. Probably more important for Petanque in Kent was the large number of Kent Clubs represented at this competition, maybe a good omen for the season to come. There you are... at least 120 people having a good time playing petanque, and it should be said, some triples capable of high standard of play. Good, also to see a wide spread of the younger Kent players supporting this event all, no doubt, remembering their sadly missed friendship with Rob Cooter. Page 7

8 WINNERS OF THE PLATE TROPHY Hazel Teale Ron Yates Mags Yates RUNNERS UP OF THE PLATE TROPHY Martin Edwards Andy Pucknell Michael Gear WINNERS OF THE MAIN TROPHY Jean Louis Guiot Joyce Nash Mick Nash The ROB COOTER TRIPLES petanque competition, that was held at Star Meadow Sports Club in Gillingham on Mothers Day Sunday 14th March attracted a better than expected turn out of 40 teams. The event was held to celebrate the life of Robert Cooter, a bright young talent in the sport, who tragically died in a car accident on Mother s Day last year at the tender age of just 17. The competitors who had travelled from the Midlands, East Anglia, Hampshire and London, as well as many local teams, were treated to some fine Kentish weather. After the morning leagues the teams were separated into three separate knock-out events in the afternoon based on their performances in the morning. In the Main competition the team of Sarah Huntley, Scott and Dean Ashby from Tovil, playing under the team name Cooterful in respect of their dear friend, lost out in the semi-final to the local Star Meadow team of Tracy Turner, Kevin Spillet, and Nic Baxter. In the other semi-final the Hartley team of Jean-Louis- Guiot, Joyce and Mick Nash bettered the fancied team of Richard Hannach, Sylvan Borsi and Bruno Bove. In a surprisingly one-sided final the Hartley team ran out convincing winners. Making it a double celebration for the Hartley club, Hazel Teale, Mags and Ron Yates won the secondary Plate competition beating the Harriers team of Martin Edwards, Andy Pucknell and Michael Gear in the final. In the Consolage final, the East Anglia team of Marion Halsey, Phil Boarder and Kevin Moss took the final title of the day beating The George side of Rob Harvey, Sheila and Richard King. With entry fees, raffle takings and donations, the event raised a total of 800 for the Special Baby Care Unit (Little Buds fund) at Darent Valley Hospital. Event organisers Corinne and Mark Cooter would like to extend their thanks to all those who took part and contributed to this worthwhile fund. Report by MARK COOTER Page 8

9 A cast of thousands, some old faces and some new faces, and some long forgotten faces, but the pictures tell the story of a well supported successful day at STAR MEADOW SPORTS CLUB, and the Rob Cooter Memorial Triples Competition Pictures by Jack Milner and Ron Yates. Page 9

10 to the GAZETTE Unfortunately I was unable to attend the Winter League Final night. However, word got back to me that there was some criticism of the timing and the location of the event. These decisions are made by the League Secretary in consultation with his committee ie. The President and the Hon Treasurer. It is traditional that finals are always played on neutral ground and the dates are sorted to try to please everyone. The Hon Secretary, Mick Nash, spends a tremendous amount of time running the Winter League for the KPA and the Kent Petanque League. He is not beyond criticism but those who complain should think before they speak and if they are not prepared to do the job themselves, keep their critical thoughts to themselves. We owe Mick and his predecessors a great debt of thanks for doing uncomplainingly a job we are not prepared to do ourselves. Petanquers in Kent are lucky to have Mick and we should support him to the hilt. The time to voice concerns about all matters is at the annual meetings. That is what they are for! Yours faithfully, Colin Senneck President KPA Winter League & KPL. SUNDAY 11th APRIL at Tovil Workingmen s Club Organised by HARRIERS P.C. Registration at 9.15am start of competition 10 And TROPHY Presentation Thursday 25th March 8pm Hartley Country Club CROWBOROUGH P.C. SUNDAY 25th APRIL Registration 9.15 start of competition 10am Crowborough P.C. Sunday 21st March Registration 9.15 am starts at 10am Which although true at the time, may now be somewhat different at your time of reading. Have heard third hand that it is a possibility that the Battle of Britain PC may be folding, although there appears to be 5 players that are still keen to play and may be tempted to join another Club. Contact Wendy Waller wendy.waller@hotmail.co.uk if interested. Good to see the SHARE & COULTER PC are returning to the Leagues, good pub, good bitter, and good venue not too far from the seaside. and even gooder to see one of the older Kent Club s, Gravesend Rugby Club PC rejoining the Leagues another new team for the Lordswood Club called Lordswood Sirocco. Both Lordswood and Hartley Country Club have seven teams in this Summers Leagues. The George pc, Meadow pc and Hartley Country Club pc, all have two teams in Division 1 Page 10

11 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 ELVINGTON ROAD DOVER KENT CT15 4EQ Tel or tel : Walderslade Road Walderslade ME59LW Florists with over 40 years experience traditional modern and bespoke designs and arrangements. Sample of bouquets and competitive prices on our web page. Flowers plus a variety of supplies for all occasions balloons mothers day funerals hampers Laura Ashley Flowers flowers sent abroad corporate anniversary colours weddings. All major credit cards accepted. 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 & OE Page 11