ALL THETHE TALK TALK OF THE TERRAINOF THE IN TERRAIN THE CIRCLE This newsletter is also Edition No 1 available on our website www.thejpa.co.uk March 2016

player and she finally Handy Andy persuaded her husband to give the game a go. He’s now such It’s not often that being an enthusiast he’s agreed to nagged by one’s wife leads to take on the role of JPA vice- a happy outcome. But in Andy president, which has been Limbrick’s case it did. He vacant for some time. “Lorna discovered a new passion … Welcome to the Jersey had started playing in the alternative to the ‘voice of and among the beneficiaries lunchtime league and she kept are the JPA. Andy’s wife the balls’. It’s the quarterly Lorna is a keen pétanque Continued on page 3 bulletin for enthusiasts, whether you’re highly competitive - or Extra jewel in the crown for Toby? highly sociable. Or both. It’s about anything pétanque Toby Northern is to be nominated for the who won gold medals at the 2015 Island Jersey Sports Council’s annual award to the Games. Toby, the island’s top ranked player, related. If you want to talk Sports Personality of the Year after a year in completed pétanque’s grand slam in September about it, this is your forum. which he won the island’s ‘triple crown’; the last year when he and his partners Ross Payne Anything goes - from serious JPA singles, doubles and triples trophies. Last and Matt Buesnel won 13-7 in the triples final concerns to silly stories, from year the Sports Council gave the award to GB played at the Weighbridge. That made it a full diary entries to quirky events, international compound archer Lucy O’Sullivan house for the first time in the history of the from triumph to disaster … sport in Jersey, after Toby won the doubles title just let us know. Get in with Matt Pinel at the Jersey Petanque Club with any member of the JPA and the solo title back in April at the committee or e-mail: Weighbridge when he beat Andrew Bellamy- Burt 13-4 in the final. [email protected]

Toby said he was delighted to be nominated by the JPA as it could only help the sport achieve wider recognition. “It’s really good when you INSIDE THE do something well in your sport and then when CIRCLE it’s appreciated that you have achieved something worthwhile.” The ‘triple crown’ was THIS the icing on the cake in a terrific year for Toby which also saw him win many other trophies QUARTER including the Liberation Winter Singles Premier League title; the Liberation Doubles with Matt Pinel; the Liberation Charity Triples Turkish Delight Open for the third successive year, with Brian Richard Sowerby ‘fezzes’ Harris and Ross Payne and the St Helier parish up to a bazaar trip triples open with Ross Payne & Matt Buesnel. Underwater Pétanque The Jersey Sports Council is holding its annual Has the JPC gone in at awards Ceremony at a dinner to recognise the deep end? outstanding achievement in Jersey at the Take off your stilettos th Mayfair Hotel on Friday March 20 when the Giving the wrong winners will be revealed. Meanwhile Toby will footwear the boot have to defend the first of his ‘crowns’ when this year’s JPA Singles takes place at the Plus the event schedule Toby and his trophy collection Weighbridge in April 9th. for the next 3 months At least there was no argument about which way to head from the Vic in the Valley car park, At least there was no argument about which way to head from the Vic in the Valley car park,

Tony Morton receives Keith Boleat & Brian the Knockout Cup Mollet Oscars, Baftas & Dereks? A glittering, star-studded, red carpet awards event took place at the Ambassadeur Hotel in early February for the presentation of the Inter Parish League trophy – except that there were no stars, there was no glitter and the carpet was blue. There weren’t any Oscars either. The pétanque equivalents are the Dereks, but so far we haven’t been Inter-parish league champions, St Mary able to source statuettes with suitably resplendent people – one guest, Darcy He thanked Ron Le Herissier Tony Morton stepped up to moustaches. Beau, wasn’t quite one-year- and Jacquie Boschat for receive the award from old. Otherwise there weren’t organising the event and then Richard Sowerby. The But, apart from that, a too many participants who paid tribute to the family of opportunity was also taken to splendid time was had by the had to worry about getting Sean Guegan who’d hand over the trophy for 130 people who attended the back to work that afternoon. sponsored the Inter Parish winning the JPA veterans’ luncheon, at which every After a very enjoyable four League and donated its triples trophy to Keith Boleat table was identified by a course meal JPA chairman silverware, the Basil Guegan and Brian Mollet. The third clever napkin arrangement in Derek Hart said how pleased Memorial Trophy. He also member of the trio, Robert the colours of each of the ten with he was with the turnout thanked Stan Boschat for his Birch, was unavailable. parishes represented. St Peter which was probably a record help running the league last Finally it was the turn of St distinguished themselves by for a pétanque social event in year and Paul Le Moine for Mary captain Richard demonstrating how seriously the island. He said it showed f looking after the Inter Parish Sowerby to receive the Basil they took the JPA’s just how far the sport had Knockout Cup to the winners Guegan Memorial Trophy determination to extend the developed since it started in in its inaugural year, St and his squad to be given sport to the island’s young Jersey thirty years previously. Lawrence, whose captain their medals.

As far we know sub aqua petanque is a YouTube video showing it being Periscope depth hasn’t been sanctioned yet by the sport’s played seven metres beneath the sea, but governing body. However plenty of we don’t think the sport has ever been pétanque unlikely sports do have underwater played competitively. However Ken Le versions. for instance is played Brun tells the tale of some competitors in a swimming pool with both teams from France in Jersey for the first wearing snorkelling gear. The idea is to Tournoi being led up the terrain when move a rubber ball to one of two buckets the chat turned to play in heavy rain. The at either end of the pool, weighed down visitors pointed out that bad weather to rest on the bottom. Underwater ice wasn’t a problem for them because they is very different. It’s played had plenty of indoor facilities. Ken upside down underneath frozen pools or responded by saying that the Brits are a ponds using the underside of the frozen much tougher breed, prepared to play in surface as the playing area for a floating any weather. Although he accepted that puck. Players wear diving masks, fins sometimes adjustments might have to be and wetsuits but because they don’t have made, including the use of a metal breathing apparatuses they have to cochonnet, to avoid it floating away surface for air every 30 seconds. There’s during a game. Apparently the story was New JPC outdoor swimming also underwater wrestling called Aqua- swallowed hook, line and sinker until the pool at Les Quennevais? thalon, but underwater pétanque? There visitors were put out of their misery. unbeatable.” What the pair didn’t realise more like , with bigger balls but was that they were the only two Western without any bias. It was played on two TROTTING OFF Europeans taking part. There were some indoor courts, but it seemed very 400 players representing seventeen complicated. It’s very popular in Turkey TO TURKEY nations at the competition, for the most- and Russia apparently. We went back the At least there was no argument aboutpart from which Eastern way toEurope head and from North the Vic in thenext Valley morning car and park, again At least there was no-one there was no argument about whichAfrica. way “Virtually to head from no-one the spoke Vic Englishin the Valleyaround. car park, Then a taxi pulled up and three – or French for that matter – and that’s very agitated Lebanese players got out. where our problems really started. They said they’d been told to be there at 9 o’clock prompt or risk missing a match, but by this time it was already 10.15. We later played a game against them – they For a start we were playing in a triples were very good players and they went on competition and we’d been promised to win the tournament. Eventually other they would find us a third member for a people started turning up and eventually team,” said Richard. “We played three someone arranged for a young Turkish lad games in the end, one with a Turkish lad to play with us in a triple’s match. We and the other two with some Mongolians. played against a Mongolian trio but lost I’m not even sure what language they and were then thrashed by the Lebanese. speak in Mongolia. Added to that, it was The only game we won was against some possibly the most disorganised Bulgarians. tournament I have ever been to and you Gary Cowburn & Richard Sowerby get an idea of the state of confusion we found ourselves in.” On the Saturday Trotting off to Turkey to play a game morning there was a rickety old coach “Afterwards we went to watch some more of pétanque may seem a tad over the top waiting to take us to the playing terrain. raffa and another even more bizarre game but it’s what two Island players did in It was a bit rough. It was basically gravel called Volo, where one player would October and it proved to be a bitter-sweet but some of the stones were quite large. I stand by a metre-high post with a boule experience, a Turkish delight in many reckon that most of the time it was used sitting on the top and then fling it at ways, but a bit of a trial in others. Richard as a car park. The trouble was there was another boule sitting an another post at the Sowerby and Gary Cowburn took no-one there to welcome us nor any signs other end of the court about twenty yards advantage of an open invitation to play in a indicating what was happening. away. He then ran to the second post, tournament at Kemer, a seaside resort on picked up the boule there and threw it at Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. It was a the one he’d left behind. On the Monday four-day trip with all expenses paid (apart we tried playing raffa. It was utterly from the cost of the flights) and staying in I kept getting up to find out what was bewildering. You had to deliver the boule a 5-Star luxury hotel. going on but couldn’t find anyone who from one side of a line and shoot out your could help us. One Russian spoke opponent’s. Every time you knocked one English but he was incomprehensible. An out they shouted ‘raffa’ but if you didn’t hour or so later we were told there would they yelled something different. It was all “Why not, we thought,” said Richard. “It be no play that day because the weather good fun. The generosity and hospitality was a long way and neither of us had been forecast was for rain. Well it did rain, were first-class but the lack of there before but it’s quite warm in south- quite heavily, for half an hour in mid- organisation and the communication east TurkeyPETANQUE in October and we thoughtPECULIARITIES it afternoon, but nothing that would have problems made it very frustrating. All that might be fun. We’d had a very successful stopped us getting on with it in Jersey. way for three games of boules. Next time season and we thought it would be a new Not everyone was there for the pétanque. I go abroad to play pétanque I’m going experience ... and the offer was Some were playing raffa, a game rather somewhere where they speak English!”

that Derek was thinking of Pétanque peculiarities Handy Andy standing down – and would I find yourself playing in Continued from front page mind if my name was put Australia, be aware, high heels forward with a view to being are barred during tournaments. telling me how much she his successor.” Andy is This is what the rules enjoyed it and tried to positive about the future for apparently say: "Fully persuade me to take it up. pétanque in Jersey and is enclosed footwear must be After two to three years of keen to do his bit to help it to worn whilst playing. No high listening to her I decided to realise its potential. At the heel shoes permitted" give it a go and that was it. I age of 52 he’s a youth player Presumably wearing high was hooked. I enjoyed the by Jersey standards and it’s heels brings the possible fresh air and meeting new the games younger players danger of players having their people and there was also the where he sees the best eyes poked out. Their banter that went on.” It was opportunity for the sport to neighbours in New Zealand another pétanque player’s progress. “I think Jersey as it commented: “We do not play wife who ‘nagged’ him into stands has a lot of growth in important tournaments on getting more involved in the potential – we’ve got more As long as you stand inside the pogo sticks, roller blades, or inner workings of the JPA – than enough young players circle is doesn’t seem to matter wearing high heels - we like the chairman, Derek Hart’s who can hold their own in much what you wear on your comfortable shoes, moccasins, wife Joy. She persuaded me to Europe. We’ve got the feet in Jersey. However, if you sandals or gum-boots.” help out with a couple of experience. We just need to things and then mentioned take it to the next level.” Dates for your Diary Vagabonds still have (Please note this is only a guide. It’s drawn from the club web- sites and is subject to change. Please check with the host club the magic touch before attendingAt least there any event) was no argument about which way to head from the Vic in the Valley car park, At least there was no argument about which way to head from the Vic in the Valley car park, MARCH 2nd LPC AGM, Town Hall (6pm) 5th CPC last Winter Melee (1.45pm for 2pm start) 13th JPC Winter melee (1.45 start) 19th LPC end of season presentations 26th CPC Easter Melee (1.45pm for 2pm start)

APRIL 2nd CPC President v Vice-President (1.45 for 2pm start) 3rd JPC Special Spring Melee (1.45 start) 5th St MPC Open Melee out on the trophy by games 9th TDS Island Singles, Les Quennevais Vagabonds have made it difference, having also won th a hat-trick of hat-tricks in the 16 LPC Open Singles 4-2. Wrinkleys spoiled Fleur th Magic Touch Winter League 17 JPC Stableyard Doubles (1.45 start) de Lys’ outside chance of a 21st JPC St George’s Day Pétanque plus fish & chips (6.45 after winning the title for the ninth successive year. They promotion place by holding start) them to a draw. At the other 29th Vin d’Honour JPC ahead of a Bank Holiday weekend of had a game in hand when Mark Nicol secured the 4-2 win end of the table Mixed Bunch pétanque against Le Hocq Rocquers picked up the wooden spoon 30th JPC Open Doubles Day 1 (9.15 start) which clinched the title. It also in their first season. meant that their opponents were MAY relegated. FOR THE PETANQUE 1st Continuation of Jersey Open Doubles (9.30 start) PLAYER WHO HAS nd 2 CPC Open Triples In Division 2 Pink Elephants’ ALMOST 3rd St MPC Open Melee draw against Coin Tourgis in EVERYTHING 8th JPC Summer Melee (1.45 start) their final game was enough to 14th CPC Dave de St Croix Open Singles/Plate & Consolage clinch the title and a place in (9.15 for 9.30 start) the top flight next winter. They 15th JPC Colin Welsh Trophy (details tba) finished a point ahead of Les 16th Inter Club competition Papillons were also promoted. 18th LPC Liberation Cup (club only doubles) Heading in the opposite 22nd JPC Mens and Ladies Singles (9.15 start) direction are Coin Tourgis and 25th CPC Boules & Bite (6.20 for 6.30 start) the Golden Oldies. 28th TDS Island Doubles, the Weighbridge In the third division St Mary 30th Inter Club competition £1,450 won the title after a 4-2 home Louis Vuitton, Veuve If you know of other pétanque-related events on the island that win in their final game against Cliquot boules set - best don’t appear on the club web-sites, please let us know for Razzle Dazzlers. Grand Cru quality metal plus leather future editions of In the Circle. You can reach us by e-mail at: will join them in the second holder, complete with [email protected] division next winter only losing small ball and dust towel St Helier Winter League Kerplunk are the winter kings final standings There’s a new name on the Division Division 4 was quite open until the 1 trophy in the St Helier winter Division 1 Champions: Kerplunk final stages of the season when A lunchtime league after Kerplunk won Load of Boules pulled clear to finish 2nd place Great Balls of Steel their final game against Great Balls of 3rd place L'Homard Qui Rit 2 points ahead of Carey Boulesen Steel to take the No1 spot. and they will both step up a division in the summer. Division 2 Champions: Stone the Throws Division 2 saw the closest of finishes 2nd place Luce Men and Women with two teams level on 14 points, each A special mention for RBC Boule- 3rd place Boulebarians with 7 wins, but Stone the Throws took Fighters who rose rapidly from the top place on ‘points scored Division 4 to the top flight but found Division 3 Champions: Equiom Boules-Hitters difference’ over Luce Men and Women. the going tough. They never stopped 2nd place Lloyds Lions fighting and achieved their first win 3rd place Petazteque Equiom Boules Hitters topped Division 3 in their final game. and securing promotion for the second Division 4 Champions: A Load of Boules consecutive season and with the Thanks go to Saints and Sinners, the 2nd place Carey Boulesen following three teams all finishing on 10 Parish of St. Helier team, for their points, Lloyds Lions just edged it on 3rd place Biff Bash Boules continued involvement in the points to take the second promotion spot. Lunchtime League.