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THE TALK IN ALL THEOF TALK THE OF THE TERRAINTERRAIN The T THE CIRCLE Follow us on This newsletter is also Edition No 8 available on our website @ JsyPetanque www.thejpa.co.uk December2017 The most famous pétanque player in Britain? Carrefour’s Keith Boleat became an overnight media sensation during the European Veterans Triples competition in Denmark. His story featured in national papers from the Sun to the Daily Telegraph and on radio networks including BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. And all because his boules went astray after checking in his suitcase at Jersey Airport. Customs officials temporarily impounded them because of fears they might be bomb-making equipment. However it’s not the first time Keith has made headline news in the national press: see Page 6 for details to all our readers Brave new world for Jersey trio Jersey’s reward for qualifying for the first time ever in the world pétanque triples competition is a trip to Canada. The men’s trio of Matt Pinel, Mark Nicol and Matt Buesnel made Island sporting history when they came 16th in the European Men’s Triples in St Pierre Les Elbeuf near Rouen last month. The top sixteen nations in the event qualified automatically for the men’s world championships which will be held in Canada next September. “This result is a major step forward for the sport of pétanque in Jersey,” said Jersey Pétanque Association chairman Andy Limbrick. “We established a The Jersey squad before their match against France and some of the rigorous new training programme for our top players this year and it’s certainly world’s top players including Philippe Suchaud & Henri Lacroix paid off. There have been a series of good The event will be played on September where he scored a superb 27 out of a results for us in European competitions 13th/16th at Desbiens in the Canadian province possible 100, putting him in 17th place out over the last few months but a trip to of Quebec. It’s not clear yet whether there of 36 overall (the winner scored 48) Canada, which as far as I know is will be an individual shooting competition. completely unknown territory for us, is Matt Pinel was Jersey’s representative at the To qualify for Canada the Jersey trio the real icing on the cake.” European championships in Normandy began with two very close matches, both Continued on Page 6 The ground rules Striking A regular series in which Elaine Paisnel looks at some of the laws pay-dirt in of the game that can lead to At least there was no argument about which way to head from the Vic in the Valley car park, At least there was no misunderstandings. argument about which way to head from the Vic in the Valley car park, the USA A PETANQUE PICK-ME-UP? Within two Parish matches recently no less than three queries have arisen because of people picking up either boules or circles – so this time my subject will be “When to pick up or more to the point – when not to! The first incident was in a triples game. Team A were out of boules while Team B still had four to play and were holding one point which put the score on the ground to 12-all. Having placed their next boule some players and spectators called out that the game was won as this boule too was holding. The players ‘at the head’ disputed this and the boules were duly measured. Team B were only holding one point. At this point both the holding boule and the cochonnet were picked up as were some other boules Columbus, Magellan, Drake, of the stars of the game. “The further away before it was realised that Team B still had three Cartier – just some of the great only disappointing thing for us boules in hand. Now, had it been just Team A who had picked up, explorers who discovered the was that all the European teams Team B would have won (scoring not only the boule on the Americas. Now you can add to were on one side of the draw so ground but also the three in hand). However, as they had also that list the names of Lahiffe, we didn’t get to play the top picked up, it became a ‘dead end’ with both teams at fault and Leathem, Limbrick and French guys,” said Alan neither team scoring. Scholefield. If they sound like a Lahiffe. “Otherwise we had a firm of solicitors, they’re not. fantastic time. The weather was The second incident saw Team C holding one point and their They’re the four Leathelimbs brilliant, the people were very player was just about to pick it up thinking all boules had been players who went west to see if nice and very welcoming; played, when Team D’s player called out and stopped him as he they could strike gold in the maybe because we were the had a further boule yet to play. Had the holding boule been USA’s largest pétanque only teams handing out pins, but picked up it would no longer have counted. And thirdly, a player tournament, the Amelia Island they were all very interested in from Team E picked up the circle thinking all boules had been Open (formerly known as the where we came from and played only to find Team F still had one left. As the circle was American Open). Amelia pétanque in Jersey (“No not marked it could be replaced and Team F could play their final Island is located off the north- New Jersey - Old Jersey”).” boule. Had Team E still had any boules in hand they would not east coast of Florida and boasts have been permitted to play them – as it happened on this 13 miles of beaches. It’s not to After each team had played five occasion they did not. be confused with Amity Island, rounds on the Saturday, the top the home of Jaws! 32 teams went into Concourse My point is: take great care before picking ANYTHING up as it A, and the next 32 into can cause all sorts of problems and can lost you points too! 180 doubles teams took part, Concourse B. Alan and Steve French/Californian pair but drove down to Orlando representing 19 countries, finished 59th and Andy & Mat rd th including some of the game’s 63 with three wins each, finished in joint 5 – hence the where we rented a house for top stars: Dylan Rocher, Marco meaning both teams qualified prize money. the rest of our stay, chilled Foyot, Claudy Weibel, Bruno for Concourse B. Both pairs out by the pool as the Le Bouriscaud and Philippe won their opening game on the “Amelia Island was beautiful. weather was stunning, we did Quintais There was $10,000 in Sunday but while Alan and W e stayed at the Days Inn for a lot of shopping, ate too prize money on offer and guess Steve won their next match to the weekend and made sure we much, drank too much but we what …Alan and Steve won reach the quarter-final, Andy got to see as many of the local were also on holiday so what $100 of it! Though by far the and Mat just missed out. Alan establishments as possible,” said the hell. We all agreed that bigger prize was meeting some and Steve then lost to a Alan. “On the Monday we we would definitely go again next year.” Steve with tournament Alan meets Bruno Alan and Steve chequed Mat & Andy with Dylan winner Claudy Weibel Le Bouriscaud out in style Rocher Inter Insular The At least there was no argument about which way to head from the Vic in the V Jersey Petanque Club 2017 Sarnian s’ suffering Seb Renaud concedes Rob Birch, Champion begins before even defeat to Rob Birch of Champions singles the Guernsey team had Guernsey. Birch won the first at least warmed up and leg 13-5 and, although the throwing a boule managed to reduce the gap by second leg was much closer, winning the first round of he went on win it to become doubles matches 7-5. How- the Channel Islands’ ever Jersey struck back in the Champion of Champions 2nd set of doubles, to win 8-4. The final match of the day It meant that Guernsey had to which ended in near darkness succeed in all four triples was for the Doubles matches in the final round to Champions of Champions win the competition. Their between Derek and Joy Hart chances weren’t helped by the for Jersey and Giles Cleal and fact that three of their team Brandon Ogier for the had to return home on a plane visitors. The Harts won the that evening and were first leg fairly easily at 13-3 replaced by substitutes. The and although the Guernsey The winning line-up match was decided in the first pair made a fight of it in the triples when the Jersey second leg the Harts came Nothing went right for the between Jersey and Guernsey. threesome of Mark Nicol, through to win it and clinch Sarnians in the inter-insular The ferry timetable was too Matt Pinel and Alan Lahiffe the title. competition – in fact it all restrictive and air travel too beat their Guernsey opponents started going wrong before expensive. The decision was 13-0. Jersey went on to win The following morning the they left Guernsey.