Indoor is a The Eighty teams competed in 20 leagues with 32 teams going into the Gold Competition, 32 in the Classic success! Silver and 16 in the Consolage. The Gold and Silver

Eighty triples teams and many spectators, as well as groups had a Main and Plate section so there were organisers, umpires, catering crew and members of five —winners“. The Winners of the Gold Main, the the press, turned out for the first Tetley‘s Indoor premier grouping, were España , with a team prize of Classic at Detling on Sunday 12 February 2006. £330. A report and full results on pages 2 and 3..

Kent and National Information - Page 4 International News - Page 5

Sister Sports - Page 6 1 Emails & Letters - Page 7 the enthusiastic support from the staff at the Showground. —Smiffy‘s“ snack bar did a roaring Match Reports trade and the bar provided by Carlsberg Tetley and run by David Litley from Vigo was always busy.

Naturally there were spectators too who despite the Kent Indoor heavy & continuous rain outside the Detling Showground‘s Cornwallis Building, enjoyed a good Classic day of boule played on an extremely difficult & Kent Showground, Detling œ Sun 12 February challenging terrain for experts and the ordinary club 2006 player alike œ it wasn‘t easy for anyone! Even EPA President Mike Pegg travelled all the way down to The Spanish invaded and plundered the —gold“ in the give us his support but also with an ulterior motive œ first ever Kent Indoor Classic Pétanque tournament, to review the terrain and facilities as a Grand Prix is held in the Stanley Cornwallis Building, Kent County to be held here in March. Marion & Phil of Pen-Y- Showground, Detling. The high class team from Coed were also present with their goods for sale. Granada ( Messrs Puerta , Bezat & Romero ) had a tough draw but came out on top, defeating a team Brilliantly organised by David Baxter of Gravesend from local champions, Plough & Chequers PH, RFC Pétanque Club, the Kent Pétanque Association (Messrs Jones , Gordon , Davenport & sub Wood ) can be justly proud of the success of this, the biggest 13 points to 4. tournament they have ever staged. No doubt the clamour for places will be huge for next year. Perhaps Of the 80 teams taking part many were from Kent, the Kent Classic will inspire other regions to find including the Plough & Chequers, Lordswood and similar venues around the country and, who knows, the Old Sheaf . Near by ”local” to Detling clubs were perhaps a grand prix indoor circuit can be established. represented, with teams from Tovil and Harriers - both Maidstone. From around Kent there were teams Reports from Colin Senneck and Jack Milner from the Gravesend clubs GRFC and Bat & Ball, Hartley , the George teams from Meopham and Vigo Villagers too, plus the Beauty of Bath from Statistics (from David Baxter) Sittingbourne and even as far east as Margate‘s Ye Olde Charles as well as a Singleton Barn team. 80 teams took part 255 Players were involved This, being the only large indoor event to be held in 41 teams were from Kent Great Britain in 2006, attracted most of the best 16 other counties were represented players in the country and they came from far and There were teams from 3 countries, England 77, wide, Wales, East Midlands, Chiltern, East Anglia Wales 2, Spain 1 and Sussex.. The occasion was graced with the presence of the British Pétanque Federation President, Dan Murphy , English Pétanque Association President, Mike Pegg and Dougal Kenny , Sales Development Manager from sponsors, Carlsberg UK. Following the success of the tournament it is hoped that it will become a permanent fixture in the Pétanque calendar.

The event was limited by space to eighty triples. However a fourth team member could be used throughout the day. Every team was guaranteed five games, three in the morning preliminary groups and at least two in the afternoon knock out stages. The £1200 prize money pool was distributed all the way down to the consolage, thereby providing incentives to do well in whatever section a team ended up. The Gold Main Finalists Spaniards carried off the first prize of £330, the runners up receiving £165. The sponsorship from Rolands at the rear, España in the foreground Carlsberg Tetley for this event was invaluable as was

PAGE 2 I.Heatcote, Semi Results Singleton A K.Wise, Finalist: P.Heathcote GOLD MAIN CONSOLAGE D.Puerta, C.Bezat, Winners: £ 330 España M.Smalley, J.Romero Winner: £ 84 US4 R.Woodwood, R.Jones, K.Wood, D.Mason Runners £ 165 Rolands T.Gordon, Runners E.Taylor, P.Taylor, Up: £ 42 Towers 2 G.Davenport Up: P.Way S.Mannering, Semi Walnut R.Smith, F.Webb, Semi Lordswood W.Mannering, £ 21 £ 83 Finalist: Tree 1 J.Breen Finalist: A W.Cook, J.Patrick, T.Burdett Semi £ 21 Nuns P.Bingham, Semi A.Jamieson, Finalist: £ 83 TriNations06 T.Bingham Finalist: P.Bradshaw, Moez Kent success is shown in bold. Results from kentpetanque.org GOLD PLATE N.Baxter, K.Spillet, Winners: £ 100 KNP P.Dennis, Dinesh R.Pemberton, Background to the Runners Lordswood £ 50 M.Dennis, Up: Oak 1 L.Belcher event T.Turner, Semi ICE D.Turner, Following a year without a showcase indoor season Finalist: S.Howarth opener, the first Kent Indoor Classic had a tough job emulating the glory days of Towerlands. Thanks to Semi P.Infantino, J.Luke, JPS excellent organisation and a turnout of teams from all Finalist: S.Infantino over the country (and even further afield) the Classic SILVER MAIN lived up to its name.

L.Jamieson, All Mixed Planning started several months ago and came to a Winner: £165 M.Hourcastagnou, Up head on Saturday 11 February when the five tonnes R.Silvay of sand top covering for the pistes arrived and the A.Emson, boards and strings, banners, scoreboards, tables and Runners £ 83 Desperado J.Huntley, chairs had to be set out. With men in cherry pickers Up: M.Huntley putting up bunting, Tetley‘s setting up their facilities, P.Winston, and Sam Smith from Northfleet setting up his Semi £ 41 Engine M.Eversden, catering stall, Saturday was a very busy day indeed, Finalist: th M.Gooda leading to an early start on Sunday 12 . The heaters S.Bunting, were turned on early Sunday and soon the smell of Semi £ 41 Seal W.Bunting, bacon filled the room. Pen-Y-Coed set up their stand Finalist: H.Sandom and Registration got under way. This was efficiently organised by Corrinne and Mark Cooter, Glenys SILVER PLATE Johnston and Martin Eggleton who also managed the pistes and completed the score sheets. Following a R.Patterson, presentation ceremony to the sponsors, Carling G.Elcolme, Winner: £ 50 Les Escargot Tetley, appropriately the bar opened at 12:00 and the J.Ingles, event then settled in to its —Classic“ moniker. M.Robershaw P.Bradley, Runners Pams Given the huge success and the demand of entries £ 25 J.Whitethread, Up: People which exceeded availability, it is hoped that this P.Rixon Classic will be the first of many at its new home. J.Paine, R.James, Semi Bat & Ball A.James, For those with a taste for the Indoor life, the BPF Finalist: th M.Pennell Grand Prix 1 is being held there on 12 March 2006.

PAGE 3 EPA Membership packs The membership secretary has distributed the EPA Kent Regional membership renewal packs to all affiliated clubs. Information from http://kentpetanque.org/ Information Highlights from minutes of Winter League KPA Management Committee Meeting œ 26 January 2006 . Update 2006

Coaching Maidstone & District Eric Hatfield, the president of Lordswood Pétanque Club has been co-opted to the management Winter Pétanque League committee and will act as the Association‘s coaching co-ordinator. He will be liaising with Dave Hurren With most teams now having played eleven games and David Lavelle, the new national coach, to this winter, Tovil still dominate the three leagues in organise training and assessment for grade 3 coaching which they play. Tovil Seniballs top the North candidates. Any member with at least one year‘s Division on points difference over Hartley playing experience who wishes to become a grade 3 Centurions . Tovil are three games ahead in the coach should contact Eric Hatfield. South Division and Tovil Treaclers are ahead of Beauty of Bath B in the West Division on points. In Youth Development the East Division (which has no Tovil team), George Colin Senneck has prepared a promotional circular A is leading Hartley Countrymen on points. letter for distribution to head teachers. He would like to hear from anyone who will volunteer to act as an With three of the four divisions headed on points —ambassador“ for the sport to assist in the running of difference only and all four divisions having three or —come and try“ sessions for schools groups and from four teams within three games of each other, there is any club willing to provide a venue for promotional still all to play for. events. The Cup and Plate competitions have reached the final stage with Hartley Countrymen meeting Mr Rob Harvey George A in the final of the cup and Hartley The committee has decided that it will accept a Centurions meeting White House Sents in the final membership application from Mr Rob Harvey for the th of the plate on 15 March at a venue to be decided. coming year on the strict understanding that should Source: http://www.mdwpl.co.uk/ he found guilty of any further upheld disciplinary offence under the Association‘s disciplinary procedure his membership will be immediately revoked. EPA Regions Junior Fund It was agreed that members should be made aware Anglia P.A. œ Jerome Morais has taken over as that the junior fund is available to support junior President of the Anglia Pétanque Association players who may need financial assistance to following Kevin Moss‘ election as EPA National participate in county or national events. Any Secretary. applications for assistance should be addressed to one Source: EPA Pétanque Quarterly of the junior fund officers, Ron Yates, David Baxter or Mick Weston . Devon Region œ As well as holding down the posts of Regional President and Umpire, hardworking John Stone Lodge Development Thatcher also took on the vacant post of Membership David Baxter is exploring possibilities regarding the Secretary last year. As if that wasn‘t enough John provision of pétanque facilities in this development at agreed to take on the EPA National Umpire‘s job this Dartford. year. Thankfully, wife Rose has agreed to take over the Membership Secretaries role. Source: EPA Pétanque Quarterly

PAGE 4

Eastern Counties Region - ECR Players Simon Bird & Sofiane Lachani teamed up with Phil Claydon Around the World (Thames Valley) as L'Equipe, to win the 3rd Indoor

Grand Prix at Whittlesey. Playing together for the first time since representing New —Young Adult“ International Great Britain in the North Sea Tournament last June, Competition L'Equipe showed they had not lost their by At the 2005 spring Board of Directors meeting the conceding only 10 points in 7 games throughout the Confédération Européenne de Pétanque (CEP) day's competition, culminating in a resounding 13-3 discussed at length the issue of outstanding juniors victory in the final over Chiltern 2. who turn 18 and move up to being seniors but then Source: www.ecrpetanque.co.uk lose interest because they are unable to remain at the top of their sport. The Board decided to introduce a Southern Counties P.A . œ An impressive 36 teams new European Championship aimed at the 18œ23 entered the popular Adur Snowboules Doubles year old players. playing for the Tony Croucher Cup. On a gloriously sunny but cold day, 5 teams won all 5 games. In a The Board is currently working on the format which very close finish last year's winners - Kath Knight should be finalised at at the next meeting in March, (Lamb) & Dave Stubbs (Cobbetts) - just managed to but it has already decided to hold the qualifying triumph again by 2 points. games in 2006 with the finals in 2007. The Board Source: www.southerncountiespetanque.org.uk hopes that this sort of event will retain some of our younger adult members giving them a realistic target to aim for and just may lead to a World Championship tournament. National News Source: Mike Pegg Member of the CEP board of directors

New National Coach Pétanque in Dublin The new EPA national coach is Dave Lavelle. Dave A French Boule (Petanque) club is forming in Bushy has done an excellent job as Junior coach over the Park, Terenure, Ireland. They play on Saturday last few years and we wish him well in this new and afternoons from 2pm during the winter months and important role. on Tuesday evenings from 6pm from April. A retired

group of players play three times a week from 10am EPA Newsletter to 12pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. New Former Gazette Editor, Mark Cooter, is showing off players welcome. his excellent talents in the new EPA Pétanque Source http://www.dublinpeople.com/ Quarterly newsletter. If you haven‘t seen it, you will find its familiar format and features at If you are travelling to Dublin and fancy a game, look http://www.englishpetanque.org.uk/documents/newsl at the Dublin Pétanque website for clubs, locations etter_q1_2006.pdf and contacts before you go http://www.dublinpetanque.com Membership packs out now! All club and individual memberships of the EPA North Sea Tournament expire on 28th February 2006. Membership forms for The 27th 2006-07 have been sent out to your Club Secretaries International North so watch out for yours. Attendees at the EPA‘s Sea Tournament annual general meeting voted for no change to the takes place this year membership fees for the coming year. in Fredrikstad, Norway from 22 to New EPA Ladies and Junior events 24 June. Full The EPA are introducing three new English titles details (and results events in 2006 œ The English Ladies‘ Triples, the when they happen) English Junior Triples and the English Junior Doubles. can be found at this th The Ladies‘ will be held at Harrow on 18 June and special website the Junior events will be held on the Isle of Wight on http://www.northseapetanque.com/ 23 rd and 24 th September.

PAGE 5 World Junior Championships In 2005 the event was held in Duisberg, Germany and over 30 sports were represented, including, in the —Precision Sports“ category, Boule Sports. This covers all Boule and sports. At Following problems with the organisation of this Duisberg Boule Lyonnaise and Pétanque were event in Neuchatel the Central Committee of the contested. In Pétanque, the Winners of the Women‘s Swiss Pétanque Federation withdrew the event and event were France, with Thailand second and moved it elsewhere. The Junior Petanque Germany third. In the Men‘s, France won, Championship of Europe will still take place in Madagascar were second and Belgium third. No Switzerland but will be organized by the Pétanque British teams took part. In 2009 the games will be in Club of Martigny (Valais). Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Perhaps we will be able to enter a team then? World Championships Below œ a Boule Lyonnaise player at Duisberg The —flashiest“ Pétanque website you probably will have ever seen has been set up for the 42 nd World Championships (and 10 th Women‘s World Championships) being held at the Palais des Sports in Grenoble, France from 20 to 24 September. See for yourself at http://www.palais-des- sports.com/petanque2006/index.php

Pétanque Manager On the subject of websites, the excellent Pétanque Manager online game has been revamped and relaunched as Version 2 Pétanque Manager is a free Internet game that puts you in the position of a pétanque team manager. As the manager, you make tough decisions that either make or break the success of your team. You can choose the coach, the training schedule, the terrain, the game strategy, and the team‘s financial state. Your team is part of a global league where the best can rise to the top and win top Sister Sports honours. In addition, your team can participate in smaller tournaments and win (virtual) cash prizes. We probably all know that the international Are you up for the challenge? All you need is an governing body for our sport is the FIPJP. Some Internet connection and a web browser linked to may know that this stands for Fédération http://www.petanquemanager.net/version2/ There are Internationale de Pétanque et Jeu Provençal . currently over 400 players. See you on the “virtual“ However, fewer will know that translated this means piste! —International Federation of Pétanque and Provençal Game “. So what is this —Provençal Game“? It is one of a number of games related to Pétanque. In the next Under the Patronage of the International Olympic few editions of the Gazette, we shall be exploring Committee, the World Games provides an invaluable these —Sister“ sports and hopefully will demystify opportunity for athletes from a variety of sports not them. currently on the programme of the to compete in their own elite multi-sport event and The FIPJP is itself a member of the CMSB represent their countries as members of a delegation, (Confédération Mondiale Sport ) which has with IOC and National Olympic Committee the responsibility for representing the various boule involvement and support in an increasing number of and bowls games on the International Olympic cases. It is held every four years, one year after a Committee. This Confederation includes the sports summer Olympics. of Boule Lyonnaise, Rafle and Lawn Bowls as well as Pétanque and Jeu Provençal.

PAGE 6 boule. This "run-up" allows the shooter to give the Development of the game in France ball the momentum and the force it needs to reach the The game is believed to have been introduced into opponent's boule and knock it out. In addition, if the Gaul by the Roman legions, in the Provence when shooter‘s shot falls short by more than 1 metre it Massilis (Marseilles) was founded in 600BC and doesn‘t count. subsequently in Lugdunum (Lyon) and in the —Gaule Cisalpins“ or Northern Italy. In the middle ages it became so popular that it was played in public squares and in the streets.

The way of playing the game developed with customs and traditions, there was the —Lyonnaise“ which later became —Sport Boules“, Jeu Provençal, la Raffa (or Rafle or ), and at the beginning of the 20th century, Pétanque.

The game was invented in the late 19th Century (Pétanque followed in the early 20th century) as a spin off of Boule Lyonnais (more in a later edition)

Fancy a game? Well, as far as we are aware, there are no clubs in Britain but the game is still popular throughout southern France. Jeu Provençal Information from Reputed to be the forerunner of pétanque, Jeu http://www.laboulebleue.fr/en/index.htm and provençal is also called "longue" in the French Midi. http://www.pentanque.org While the basic rules are the same as pétanque, it is claimed to be more difficult to play. The main difference between pétanque and jeu provençal is the length of the terrain, which can be up to 24 metres long, and the way the boule is thrown. Emails & Letters The balls and jack are the same as we use in pétanque and games are likewise played to 13 points. Your emails are very welcome and I will always publish your thoughts and comments (assuming they The jack must be thrown between 15 and 20 metres. are publishable and you wish them to be shared). To point, the player takes one step (and one step Please send your emails for publication to only) outside the [email protected] Letters are also welcome at circle, whether the address on Page 8 forward or to the side (see picture). After taking that Feedback on last month‘s article step, the pointer —When is a coche not a coche?“ can throw the From Ray Ager, Brighton boule with either I was pleased to see the article pointing out that 'jack' both feet on the is the preferred term to 'coche'. Personally, I've never ground (with one been terribly keen on 'coche' and much prefer 'jack'. foot in the circle and one foot outside it), or balanced on one leg (both feet are outside the circle, but only I've played quite a bit in France and I've hardly ever one is touching the ground). heard players referring to le cochonnet when playing. I don't know if I've understood correctly, but it Shooting requires great precision as the player has to sounds "too official" for the more informal talk on the take three steps from the circle before throwing the

PAGE 7 terrain. If you read any of the older French petanque books, le cochonnet is jokingly referred to as a "Parisian" term that no self-respecting player in What‘s on in Provence would dream of using! March? Le but (jack), le petit (little one) or le bouchon (cork) seem to be the most common. I've got a couple of French "Petanque Dictionaries" and they list several Crown Inn, slang/Provencal terms for the jack but I've never Sun 5 th Apetito Shield Seal, nr. Doubles heard anybody use any of them. Sevenoaks

Kent Has anybody come up with a good English equivalent Sun 12 th BPF Grand Prix 1 Showground, Triples for "Boule devant, boule d'argent"? Literally it's Detling "boule in front, silver boule", meaning of course, a boule in front of the jack is better than a boule Sun 19 th Clarion Doubles Crowborough Doubles behind. "Silver" more implying "it's worth its weight BPF Ladies Sat 25 th Crondall PC Triples in gold", i.e., valuable. Grand Prix 1

The French have a huge range of petanque expressions that have grown up over the years, that add very much to the "character" of the game. How THORNE about a competition with a prize for the best English expression? PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

P.S. Did you know, "Obut" is taken from au but, "to Fascia . Soffits . Guttering . Bargeboards the jack" and that the slogan for Olympique Marseille Double Glazing

(France's Man U) is Droit au but, "Straight to the goal". —If it‘s broken let us fix it“

Ed: I am not sure I can stretch to a prize but any feedback on English expressions (such as —a boule in 0800 977 5410 front is never a wasted boule“) will be published (if legal and printable!) Fax: 01634 408363 Mobile: 07817 911 716 SACRÉS BOULES! 17.5% Discount to pétanque members and their families

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Editor‘s Note The views expressed in the KENT PETANQUE GAZETTE are those of the editor and contributors only. They do not, necessarily, reflect the views of —Pétanque, a simple game for simple people“ the Kent Pétanque Association or the British The cartoons in Sacrés Boules are brought to you courtesy of Pétanque Federation or the English Pétanque www.petanque.org Association.

The Kent Pétanque Gazette is edited by: Martyn Fribbens

Any items for inclusion should be sent to: ThePA EditGor,E Kent 8 Pétanque Gazette, 16 Old Downs, Hartley, Longfield, Kent DA3 7AA Tel : 01474 707280 E-mail : [email protected]