KENT PETANQUE ASSOCIATION

Transcription

1 KENT PETANQUE ASSOCIATION ISSUE No.71 MAY 2012 The DUKE OF WELLINGTON P.H. RYARSH. If there is a long term future for Petanque in the UK, it will come from the encouragement of youngsters and events similar to that held on Saturday 12th May. The D.O.W. Petanque Club has been successful over the past year or so in encouraging youngsters to play Petanque at regular weekly meetings. From this background, long time Petanque player and member of the D.O.W. Club, KEN PINDER, organised a competition for doubles teams, each team comprising one junior plus one adult. What a great and successful event. Well supported, including some adult members of the Club giving a hand, and manning a tea and cake stall. With nice weather, excellent village pub, the event had an atmosphere of a friendly community small village fete continued KPA GAZETTE Page 1

2 The pub has a good selection of beers and a very good restaurant, and is located in an ideal walking area of Kent..many walkers arrange walks that finish at lunchtime or in the evening for a very good meal at the pub. Jonathan, the landlord is a Petaque player and offers a warm welcome to the bars, and restaurant. KEN PINDER provides the following report of the Junior/Adult Doubles Competition. On the best day for weeks nine teams contested this inaugural KPA Junior (playing with an Adult ) Doubles, at the Duke of Wellington PC, Ryarsh. The DOWPC started a Junior Section in 2011 under the guidance of Ken Pinder, KenSays "It has been a long term Club ambition to start a Junior Section andthe ideal opportunity arose when the Local boys football team spent time after matches playing in the garden of the Duke of Welly. I approached one of the Mums, Lucia Amato, would the boys like to try Petanque. We had a come and try session and boys introduced sisters and then the parents got involved and we now have eight Juniors and four new Adult members. KPA Head Coach, Eric hatfield, attended a Saturday morning training session and suggested that Junior size boules would be better. I approached the KPA and the Junior Boules Loan Scheme was adopted. DOW Juniors have their own boules on free loan, all the while they are members of the KPA. "The level of skill shown by all the Juniors was quite amazing considering their ages range from six to 11 years of age. Pointing and shooting and backing their Adults. Ken Says" A huge spin off is that Dads/Mums/Granddads were playing with the kids in teams, probably unique in competitive sport. It was a fun day the wine flowed, afternoon tea was served and a super raffle brought much needed finance to the Club. A favourite training session, called 'Happy Hour Petanque' is on a Friday night from 5 to 7pm. Kids can let off steam play Petanque whilst parents can relax, have a drink wind down after a hard week. The next Junior event at the Duke will be a come and try session/tournament involving local boys football teams, watch this space. THE TEAMS FOR THE DAY...Back Row Stewart Speake, Adam Robinson, Steve Lamb, Mick Nash, Keith Atkinson, Lucia Amato, Melissa Rowley, Richard King, Martin Eggleton Front row Tom Speake, William Robinson, Rafe Lamb, Dominic Lamb, Aaron Nash, Amelia Bate, William Rowley, Ben Thompson, Oliver Bate. KPA GAZETTE Page 2

3 MAIN COMPETITION Runners Up AARON NASH and MICK NASH TOM SPEAK receives a brand new set of Boule AMELIA BATE also receives a new set of boule MAIN COMPETITION Winner OLIVER BATE PLATE WINNERS DOMINIC and STEVE LAMB RICHARD KING holding the baby There were a few reliable KPA members, and DOWPC members who turned up to help and play, and to make for a successful day.plus the ever reliable ANNETTE EGGLETON who gave up her time to run the competition. The event was also given help from the K.P.A. The day ended with a meal and a few drinks...and an impromptu game of football for the juniors in the pub garden.final score unknown! As applicable to Petanque has ben revised. Should you feel the need for some understanding go to the EPA web-site and click on insurance and low and behold you will find two NEW documents INSURANCE EXPLAINED and ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...thanks to Tony Mann the EPA National Secretary KPA GAZETTE Page 3

4 ANY OLD NEWS 1. Issue August the new B.P.A. Credit Card was launched in conjunction with MBNA International and VISA. With an introductory charge of 13.9% APR for the first 6 months, rising to the normal rate of 18.9%. Some KPA members enrolled at the time.and still hold the British Petanque Association credit card.mbna have not yet had the time to replace the computer login emblem of a skier on the piste, with a petanque player on the piste. Banker bashers will come to their own judgement as to the best deal for interest.1996 at 18.9% or 2012 at 16.9% APR? The BPA was awarded 10 for each new standard account and 20 for each new Gold account plus...a further 3 for every year the account remains in use, and 0.15% of the value of any purchases made on the card. 2. Issue August the following Kent Clubs first registered with the BPA...Bat & Ball PC Herne Bay PC Old Sheaf PC Sherwood Oak PC Vale PC Walnuts PC and a few others that are no longer operating. 3 Issue November reported on the BPA Inter Regional Championships held at Sandown Holiday Centre Isle of Wight, South East Region (Kent) came 4th and East Midlands came top. 4...Issue November 1996 letter.competition organisers of the SNAKE beware, it can hypnotise you with it s simplicity and leave you playing by yourself.(phil Boarder) 5 Issue November 1996 a team of 14 petanque players from the French naval vessel L Audacieuse found themselves in stormy waters when they were beaten 9 matches to 5 by A Lot of Boules the Brighton & Hove Petanque Club Thanks..MICK NASH provided old copies of the PETANQUE NEWS Kent players will wish a speedy return to health for two popular and well known Kent players, JOHN MIDDLETON of Tovil P.C. who suffered two heart attacks whilst visiting and playing petanque on the Isle of Jersey. John spent a short time in hospital in Jersey but has now returned home. DICK DEAMER one time landlord, with his wife JAN, of the Crown Pub at Seal, the original home of Seal P.C. latterly leaving the pub and continuing their petanque with Hartley Country Club P.C. Dick is at present undergoing treatment. From KPA members..get well soon, JOHN & DICK. This is the Kent Petanque Association SHOOTING CHAMPION for YEAR This is BEN THOMPSON playing for Tovil P.C. The KPA Shooting Competition was held at Tovil Workingmen s Club on Friday 18th May with fourteen Kent players taking part. NEIL PHILLIPS, also of Tovil P.C. came second. BEN THOMPSON is a Kent Junior and has only been playing for a relatively short period of time. This competition was resurrected by suggestions from the Tovil club, and was encouraged by Faye and Steve Golder with some help from the KPA. Trevor and Ruth Glenn and Becci manned the bar-b-que. KPA GAZETTE Page 4

5 Petanque relies heavily on the goodwill of others to provide ground space, lighting, edging and piste surface, either fully funded by the benefactor, or part funded, with the Petanque Club providing some funds and manpower. However this flow of assistance is not always one way. The above snaps were taken on the night of Wednesday 9th May when 6 matches were played as part of the KPA Summer League Knockout Cup, at Hartley Country Club. Hartley enter eight teams into the KPA Summer Leagues, and Cup, and on this particular night there were 6 of their teams playing at home. Six matches, 6 x 12 = 72 players plus a few supporters means 80 odd customers using the Club bar after the matches, plus the income made from the cost of the supper for the players. A not too small cash sum for a pub or club on a wet and grey Wednesday night in these hard times when many pubs are closing due to the lack of custom. Over the past few years, trade has increased at the White House, Duke of Wellington, Tovil, Meadow, and Lordswood Clubs etc. due partly to the number of members of the Petanque Clubs. It is not an easy time for Clubs and pubs to turn in a profit, and some are introducing activities that attract trade...witness a Wednesday night at Tovil where there could be three or four Petanque Matches taking place outside, plus a very serious well supported darts match inside the Club house. Support and use your Pub and Club..you know it makes sense! The first Qualifying Rounds were held on 29th April at Nottingham and Exeter. The Kent teams who qualified and go forward to the next round are LADIES.Team CORRINE COOTER, JENIFER COOTER and TRACY TURNER Team FAYE GOLDER, SHEILA KING, MICHELLE CREGEEN and M.ELDRIDGE MEN S..Team KEVIN SPILLET, ROWLAND JONES, and GREG DAVENPORT Team SCOTT ASHBY, NIC BAXTER and GARY ATKINSON ( DEAN ASHBY is also a member of a team that qualified) Not all was well with these qualifiers..and there is little to be gained in complaint coupled with the wisdom of hindsight. However there are lessons to be learned. maybe when the competition organiser explains the rules-for-the-day prior to the games being started, and the players accept these rules, then these rules-for-the-day should not be changed half way through the day, and competition! maybe competition organisers should be fully appreciative of distance travelled by players and costs incurred for accommodation and food, and weather on the day...when establishing rules-for-the-day...clubs, can be asked to host County and National competitions, it is therefore beholding upon the County and National organisers to appreciate the commitment and arrangements and possible costs made by the host Club, prior to any competition cancellation. KPA GAZETTE Page 5

6 The 16th annual FESTIVAL De PETANQUE for the over 50 s took place in Blanes on the Costa Kent ladies doubles team MAGS YATES and BARBARA POTTER with one of the organisers who presented a cheque of value 150 euros to the team. The ignominious Fast Fanny Team, gloating in their defeat...ron YATES (Kent), STUART PARKWAY ( ex-kent) and GEORGE PIXLEY (ex-pat ) KPA GAZETTE Brava during the week of 23rd to27th April. Strange as it may seem..no Spanish players.all French with a sprinkling of Brits and ex -pats. The Festival of Petanque is organised by three French players who arrange two festivals in the Spring and two festivals in early Autumn, one competition for open entry, and the other for the over 50 s, all four events held in Blanes. All big money competitions. The 16th Festival for the over 50 s was preregistered entry with 64 Triples teams in one competition, running alongside a Ladies Doubles competition with 43 teams.a total of 235 players. The Triples competition was organised into 8 leagues of 8, followed by a knock-out.and the Ladies doubles competition was organised into 5 leagues of seven plus 1 league of eight, followed by a knock-out competition. Teams from several clubs over the wide range of southern France are attracted to this cont. Page 6

7 The ideal venue and playing area.a large compacted sandy and bumpy lorry car park in the centre of Blanes. Continued Festival, and for several years NORMA PARKWAY has organised a small group of ex-pats and players from Kent to take part. Players stay the week in a very good hotel inclusive of food, wine at the table and evening entertainment, with a lively The team of NORMA PARKWAY (ex Kent) and JENNY PIXLEY (ex Pat) pleased to receive contribution from their prize money. the Petanque guests. The team of RHONA EWEN (ex Leatherhead) and BABS CARR (Kent) also pleased to receive their prize money. The total prize money for the Triples Competition was 12755euros, with a top first prize of 1525euros plus an enormous trophy..prize money was spread from the top down to team placed 32nd with prize money of 180euros. The total prize money for the Ladies Doubles Competition was 4230euros, with a top prize of 500euros and an enormous trophy...prize money was spread from the top down to 16th place with prize money of 150euros. The playing standard of the men was high.maybe a reflection of the prize money. The competitions were extremely well organised, without fuss and aggravation, tinged with the typically French loose rules compliance. The speedy progress was helped with timed games (of sorts), dead string lines, and only one chance to throw the cochenet, after which the opposition placed the cochenet where they wanted it. Boule and cochenet were not marked, but automatically replaced to their original position should the occasion arise. Games were played in the true spirit of Petanque! KPA GAZETTE Page 7

8 Sunday April 29th at the E.P.A. MENS and LADIES Triples First Qualifier, held at the NOTTINGHAM CITY P.C. A day to be remembered for probably the worst ever weather conditions for a Petanque Competition. The play started at 9:30 and the final game ended at 6pm. The weather started, bad, and varied throughout the day from bad to very bad.continuous medium to heavy rain, continuous gusting winds, with a temperature that felt to be just above freezing. These appalling conditions helped to produce some unpredictable individual match results. There were suggestions from some players that the Competition should have been cancelled on the Saturday..easier said than done.with players travelling as far as the extreme distances of Dover in one direction and York in the other, and most players booked into local accommodation for the Saturday night..not to mention a suitable re-arranged date should the Competition have been cancelled. Apart from the weather! Nottingham City P.C. have by and large a very good venue, and large it is.laid out for this competition with 27 pistes, 4mtrs wide x 15mtrs long with a 1mtr wide roll off area all round the extremes. With string adjustments A ladies team from Kent, almost recognisable and a Kent man s team equally nearly recognisable! KPA GAZETTE Page 8

9 a total of 36 pistes can be catered for, of sizes 3mtr wide x 15mtr long. The venue, apart from the petanque terrain also includes grass and clay tennis courts and a gym machine play area, all on a very large site originally part of Nottingham Hospital, the site runs between the hospital and a main road. Nottingham Hospital is huge.coming to the incorrect conclusion that there must be a lot of sick and ill people in Nottingham! Understand that the petanque facility and other sports facility on the site have been funded by the local council.not sure if the BPA/EPA gave some advice! The whole of the site is surrounded by 10ft high tennis court type fencing which offers some sort of protection from vandals and incontinent dogs, cats and foxes. Parking on the site is very limited, local roads seem to be the answer.and there is a very good pub of character opposite the site entrance gate. At one end of the site, 100yds from the petanque pistes is a small building with toilets and changing rooms, and a small office for managing events. Nottingham City P.C. has been in being for under two years and already has around 40 members, BRIAN FORBES is the President. Club games are on Tuesday evenings and Sunday mornings..beginners more than welcome...local league matches take place on Thursday evenings. For visiting teams and players there are plenty of accommodation possibilities in and around Nottingham to suit all tastes and pockets. Like the vast majority of petaque venues..reasonable fixed coverings and shelters against severe weather are few, including at Nottingham, however Nottingham Club members had erected a small marquee at the side of the pistes which proved to be valuable. The Club members also provided hot drinks and snacks from within the marquee all day, their efforts were greatly appreciated by the The morning shift.three Nottingham City P.C. ladies who gave up their time to make tea and coffee in the not so warm marquee...carol THORPE, DOREEN PEEL and CHRISTINE CARNILL visiting players. A new idea on the catering front first seen at Nottingham, and could be followed by Kent Clubs..early...and mid morning fresh toast with butter and marmalade.the smell of the toast cooking in the cold morning air is almost as good as the smell of the traditional bacon-sandwich. Thanks also go to ADRIAN THOMAS, representing the E.P.A. and organising the competition. KPA GAZETTE Page 9

10 URSULA FELTHAM & RON FELTHAM THE GEORGE PC MEOPHAM MARCUS HICKMAN & ALEX BRUCE MEADOW PC & NORTHDOWN PC At HARTLEY COUNTRY CLUB P.C. on Monday 7th May. No need to report upon the weather!..30 teams played in this competition representing Clubs across Kent and South London. All the entry fees were handed back as prize money, a total of 300, in all with a top prize of 100 in the Main Competition and top prize of 50 in the Plate Competition. The competitions were run on a league basis until the semi-finalists and finalists were played as a knockout, giving all teams at least 5 games for the day. A wide range of playing standards, and good to see that Ursula and Ron Feltham have started taking playing a bit more serious by playing in Sunday competitions, and they have also moved to join The George P.C. at Meopham. JOHN & LOIS ADAM provided the early morning bar-b-que and bacon sandwiches, whilst most of the players used the Club bar at lunchtime for meal and a drink or two. The day s competition was organised by MICK NASH and COLIN SENNECK. KEITH VINES & SEBASTIAN SIZUN CROYDON P.C. DIANE & PETER BRYANT HARTLEY PC KPA GAZETTE WINNERS OF THE MAIN COMPETITION TAKING HOME THE TOP CASH PRICE WERE ANGIE JAMIESON & LEE JAMIESON Page 10

11 And the results for the day were as follows THE MAIN COMPETITION Semi-Finals LEE JAMIESON and ANGIE JAMIESON beat JEAN L. GUIOT and BOB GAYWOOD And in other semi finals, Late out of the Traps-MARCUS HICKMAN and ALEX BRUCE beat COLIN and ANNE SENNECK The Final of the Main Competition was between LEE & ANGIE JAMIESON who beat MARCUS HICKMAN and ALEX BRUCE THE PLATE COMPETITION Semi-Finals SEBASTIAN SIZUN and KEITH VINES beat MICK and ANN JENNINGS And in the other semi-finals, PETER and DIANE BRYANT beat RON and URSULA FELTHAM The Final of the Plate Competition was between SEBASTIAN SIZUN and KEITH VINES who beat PETER and DIANE BRYANT The day finished just before 7 pm. At a recent overnight stay for a Petanque Competition...standing in the queue at the hotel reception...behind a scabby dog. What is this dog doing at the reception? was the question. We are a dog friendly hotel came the reply. How will I know if a dog has been in my allocated room? Was the second question.? You will know alright Came the reply. Jean Paul and his family of pets beg for spare euros for their supper booked at a table for three at a 6 *Michelin restaurant in Lyon to celebrate the election of the much taller and left leaning president. Mr. Hollande, is a well known pet and animal lover with a particular liking for veal cutlets, foie gras, and the lower limbs of frogs. Mr.Hollande is not for austerity but is going for growth.. something that the ex-president could have hoped for. KPA GAZETTE Page 11

12 Plenty of notice for a BIG ONE THE MAYOR OF GRAVESHAM S CHARITY - OPEN TRIPLES SUNDAY 22nd JULY at the Parrock St./Lords St. Car Park in the Centre of Gravesend Huge playing terrain free parking toilets Picnic or take-away nearby ENTRY 7 Per Person registration 9:15 to 9:45 play starts at 10 league system Several quality prizes including A TRIPLE STANDARD PREMIER RETURN TICKET ON EUROSTAR FROM EBBSFLEET TO PARIS, BRUSSELS or LILLE or For further information contact MIKE CUBITT gravesend.petanque@yahoo.co.uk SUNDAY 20th MAY KPA REGIONAL TRIPLES QUALIFIER # 2 At LORDSWOOD SPORTS and SOCIAL CLUB ME5 8YE Registration 8:45 to 9:15 EPA/KPA Licence required SUNDAY 10th JUNE KPA REGIONAL TRIPLES QUALIFIER # 4 At HARTLEY COUN- TRY CLUB HARTLEY DA3 8BS Registration 8:45 to 9:15 EPA/KPA Licence required FRIDAY EVENING 22nd JUNE K.P.A. SINGLES HARTLEY COUNTRY CLUB Culvey Close Hartley DA3 8BS SUNDAY 27th MAY KPA REGIONAL TRIPLES QUALIFIER #3 At TOVIL WORKINGMEN S CLUB Tovil Registration 8:45 to 9:15 EPA/KPA Licence required SUNDAY 17th JUNE HARRIERS NAF CUP TRIPLES TOVIL WORKING- MAN S CLUB Tovil Hill Maidstone ME15 6QS Play starts at 19am THURSDAY 24th MAY K.P.A. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING 8pm LORDSWOOD SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB ME5 8YE Representatives from Kent Clubs are welcome to attend SUNDAY 5th JUNE MARTIN POTTS MEMORIAL DOUBLES At Tovil Workingmen s Club Registration 9:30 start of play 10am Tovil Hill Maidstone ME15 6QS SUNDAY 5th JUNE MARTIN POTTS MEMORIAL DOUBLES At Tovil Workingmen,s Club Registration 9:30 start of play 10am Tovil Hill Maidstone ME15 6QS SUNDAY 24th JUNE KPA REGIONAL TRIPLES QUALIFIER #5 at STAR MEADOW SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB Gillingham ME7 3AN Registration 8:45 to 9:15 EPA/KPA Licence Required Cooked food available KPA GAZETTE Page 12

13 At LORDSWOOD SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB on Sunday 20th May. 30 teams entered this Qualifier, 2 less than the 1st Regional. Full results can be found on the KPA web-site. Thanks to Lordswood for hosting this event, with a special thanks to MICK WESTON for his organisation and hard work with the marquees, tables and chairs.. and excellent bar-b-que. OVERHEARD that rape gave me the sneezes cats are more intelligent than dogs He will wait a long time for a by-pass, borough green is still waiting for theirs JENIFER COOTER CORINNE COOTER and TRACY SPILLET The shortest KPA meeting was held at Lordswood Workingmen s Club on Thursday 24th May. Attending were.corinne Cooter, Mick Weston, Eric Hatfield, Ken Buchan, Ken Pinder, Andy Mills, Richard Spillet, Ron Yates, Faye Golder, Steve Golder and chaired by David Baxter. A few notes that may be of interest.not minutes! KPA funds stand at plus 1760 Junior Fund. Clubs and players KPA/EPA Data Base registration yet to be finalised, shows around 500 player members to date. KPA to order 500 car stickers from the EPA. Although the KPA Shooting Competition held at Tovil P.C. was deemed a success, agreed that some adjustments to the format will be required for next year, including possibility of combining with another KPA competition. Re-the Whitstable Oyster Festival..agreed that KPA Clubs events and competitions shall be given full backing and support over non-kpa Club events. Clarified...that the Playing Committee allocate KPA events and competitions to Clubs/venues on a shared basis, but normally restrict allocation to Kent s larger Clubs. The KPA storage container (located at Lordswood) has been given a protective roof and has been internally lined with plywood, awaiting the installation of racking. KPA cash sponsorship for the Zeist competition weekend will be awarded to the top team after three Regional Triples Qualifiers, which falls at Tovil on 27th May. A total of 250 will be awarded to the team to assist in travel and hotel costs. Should the top team not take up this offer.it will be made to the 2nd, 3rd etc. from top. The top prize money at Zeist for the Triples will be 1050euros. MICK NASH, COLIN SENNECK and KEN PINDER for providing info for this month s Gazette KPA GAZETTE Page 13

14 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 HOLIDAY VILLA AVAILABLE 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 GUTTERING RELIABLE & FRIENDLY SERVICE PROVIDED COMPETITIVE PRICES GIVEN FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR QUOTES PLEASE CONTACT or 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 KPA GAZETTE Page 14