KENT PETANQUE ASSOCIATION ISSUE No.57 MARCH 2011 The “William Bunting Memorial Competition” organised by the Seal Petanque Club at the WHITE ROCK INN at Underriver. This could have been the first Sunday of Spring, but it was not, cold with a wind blowing. However a very good turn out of 27 teams from several Clubs, including Croydon P.C., Harriers P.C.,Meadows P.C. ,Seal P.C., Hartley P.C., Meadow P.C,Tovil, PC Lordswood P.C. A credit to the name of William Bunting that there was a very good turn-out that looked to be more than expected, with 8 pistes squeezed onto the terraine meaning a few sitting around waiting for a spare piste. However the White Rock Inn is a good pub with a large number of customers turning up for a Sunday Lunch. A very picturesque setting for Petanque in the Kent. KPA GAZETTE Page 1 Seal Petanque Club were delighted to host 54 players at their Doubles Competition at The White Rock, Underriver, Sevenoaks on a cold, grey Sunday morning on 6 th March. What used to be known as The Apetito Shield has now been re-named The William Bunting Memorial Shield to commemorate the long time Seal PC ex-Chairman who sadly died towards the end of 2010. It proved to be a day of intense competition eventually coming down to a tough final between Rashid Hannache and Dave Chalkley against Steve Tait and Didier Thaler from Seal, with Rashid and Dave winning the Shield by 13 points to 4. Corrine and Tracy of Meadow PC beat Mike and Howard of Seal PC 13-12 to take the Plate. Despite the cold, Susan Bunting kindly stayed to present the Memorial trophy to Rashid and Dave together with £100 prize money. Conditions at The White Rock would have been more comfortable had the weight of the Winter snows not brought down the normally heated outdoor marquee that usually covers the outdoor seating. A new marquee is due to be installed shortly. Dave Martin, Seal PCs Chairman said “ It was very pleasing for us to welcome so many friendly faces to play and commemorate William, who was one of the real characters of the game in Kent. Our apologies to those who were left in the cold after lunch. With only 8 avail- able Pistes we were to some extent victims of our own success, but it was a great turnout and thanks to all who came to remember our friend William. The event will be repeated next year … but warmer!” REPORT BY HOWARD SANDOM Not the full minutes………………..but a few notes for the information of KPA members. European Cup final date is 3rd April. KPA funds stand at £9160 plus a Junior fund of £1623. Following on from a meeting of the KPA Playing Commit- tee who deliberated on the 2011 calendar, it was now the turn of the Management Committee to discus and finalise. Likely to be rewards for the overall top team of the Regional Triples Qualifiers, after round 5, as being the entrant for the Champions of Champions and the team for a representative place at the Dunkerquoise. Definite that The George P.H. at Meopham will not be hosting a Regional Triples Qualifier this year. New for 2011 will be a “10/ten” Tournament on 4th September at Hartley. Sponsorship for events was discussed with a suggestion to aim at “small” sponsorships amounts for individual events, to be investigated. Recorded that there are still vacancies on the KPA Management Committee, and ways to fill these posts will be investigated. Recorded that Jenifer Cooter (Star Meadow P.C.) is due to compete in the European Fe- male Espoirs Qualifier. Lordswood P.C. has been approached to run four 1 hour sessions on the sport for a local youth group. Next KPA Management Committee meeting will be 14th April at Lordswood Club at 8pm. And yes you CAN-ALL-JOIN-IN….as a KPA member you are welcome to attend. KPA GAZETTE Page 2 The “COLYERS ARMS P.H.—Betsham, the starting place for a nice morning drive very early on a cold spring Sunday on the way to Underriver. As many will remember, the Colyers Arms P.H. was a top venue for petanque in North Kent, and many of the top players played there. At a quick glance over the picket fence you can just about make-out where the pistes were under the piles of rubbish, rusty metal and general throw-away consumer crap. The pub is closed and re- cently boarded up. The pub bearing the proud name of Cpt. Thomas Riversdale Colyer- Fergussen V.C. of the “Northamptonshires” killed in the First World War at the age of 21, and buried in the Menin Rd. South Military Cemetery, Ypres. Cpt. Thomas was the third son of the Colyer-Fergussen family of Ightham Mote. Local hero name for a pub ! On the road, through Longfield, Hartley and Ash, onto the old A20 and a quick right turn down the lane to Ightham. Local knob- head fly tippers have used light blue plastic bags that will colour co-ordinate with the bluebells that will be out in a couple of weeks . KPA GAZETTE Page 3 And into the village of Seal and the sad looking “CROWN P.H.” boarded-up with nowhere to go. The Crown, home to SEAL P.C. was one of the original petan- que venues in Kent. Twenty years ago, a large Club with twinning arrangements with Clubs in France and Belgium. The Crown was never a swanky trendy pub and is doubt- ful that it could be reborn as a smart gastro pub. The Crown was an honest-to-goodness local where regulars would go for a chat, a few pints and a smokoe ! Notice the pub a few doors away has also closed down in sympathy…...you can hear them now ….”we like to drive out to a country pub and have a half pint of their best bitter and a ploughman’s ,glad to see that the smoking ban has discouraged the local ruffians”, They never did drive out to the Country pub very often, even less now…...guess the ruffi- ans congregate at the local bus shelter now…..for a can or two of “export” and a few fags and a top up with recreational chemicals. At one time village pubs were part of the origi- nal “big society”, even if your clothing was minging from cigarette smoke, and even if a few drunk drivers were let loose at closing time. Times they are-a-changing ! And on the road through Seal, down a very long lane to Underriver, this lane has got to be one of the delightful rides in Kent, either by car, bike, motor bike, or just a long walk……. and by the looks of it the fly-tippers give it a miss…..however not guaranteed….and the hidden voice from the sat-nav announces that you have reached your destination that is the very nice pub, The White Rock Inn, in the equally nice hamlet of Underriver. KPA GAZETTE Page 4 The KPA Winter League Cup and Plate finals at the VILLAGER P.H. Vigo Village Thursday 3rd March Landlord and Petanque supporter Dave Littley and petanque player daughter Samantha who was responsible for League organiser Mick Nash (right) gets some preparing the excellent buffet, with a welcome advice on gardening from an enthusiastic little help from brother Josh. player. Mick is absorbed, but hates gardening. Richard King has a reach between Michelle and Alan Cregeen of the George P.C. Gord….it was cold. When does Spring start ? 3rd March freezing cold, with a biting wind for the Finals. However for some there was the welcome warmth in the bar and the presence of a very good rock band, to restore circulation Hilda Griffiths and Jean Olley eat for back into cold tapping feet and toes. Hartley to ward off nightly shivers. Credit goes to all the players for competing, doing their best against the elements. Dave and Samantha Littley provided an excellent buffet in the back bar. Also….the rock band playing in the main bar are a feature of live music at the VILLAGER every Thursday night, and if the band playing on this night were typical of the standard, then an odd visit may be worth your while. Noticed that as Dave Littley gets older….he looks for ever like his son Josh. KPA GAZETTE Page 5 The Teams were, Hartley Countrymen ….. John Adam— Jean Olley—Vanessa Layton— LoisAdam—David Baxter—Bob Gaywood—and Margaret Baxter. The George ….Keith Atkinson—Gary At- kinson—Brian King—Michelle Cregeen— Alan Cregeen—and Richard King. Hartley Centurions ….Mags Yates—Shirley Freear—Ron Freear—Colin Senneck— Ann Jennings—and Hilda Griffiths Tovil Titans ….Steve Brown—Trevor Glenn—Becki Brown—Poppy Whatley—Dean Ashby— and Neil Phillips And the Results were….. CUP COMPETITION. PLATE COMPETITION Hartley Countrymen 13 8 George Dragons Hartley Centurions 13 4 Tovil 12 13 13 11 3 13 3 13 13 12 7 13 The GEORGE DRAGONS are the 2011 winners of the K.P.A. Winter League CUP, and TOVIL TITANS are winners of the 2011 K.P.A. Winter League PLATE INTERPRETATION. Approximately 50mm from the bottom of the EPA 2011 “Membership Application Form” is a line “ LICENCES REQUIRE A PASSPORT SIZE PHO- TOGRAPH TO BE ATTACHED” it is therefore fair to assume that this means “LICENCES REQUIRE A PASSPORT SIZE PHOTOGRAPH TO BE ATTACHED”. Final placings… DIVISION “A” - Winners “Bat & Ball” (nice hats !) and runners up the Tovilliers DIVISION “B” - Winners “Tovil Titans” and runners up the Lordswood Moldavians DIVISION “C” - Winners “George Dragons” and runners up the Hartley Centurians Yes Mike Pegg is excited to an- Have heard tell that nounce a new system for EPA mem- SCOTT ASHBY of Tovil bership registration.