Pétanque + rain = fun

Four of us braved the persistent rain on Saturday, to play a game of pétanque.  Unusually, we played first to 13 points... took almost an hour.  Darren and Les beat myself and Luke, 13-11... an enjoyable game in an odd sort of way.  There were a few puddles but no floating coches.

Other news... we have also had permission from the chairman of the village hall, to use some old aluminium poles (once used for a marquee), which Darren hopes to splice together for the floodlighting.

Xmas joy to all.

Dave (and Lindsay).

Fair Play Winter League - result (limited ends)

Bressingham 6, Kettleburgh 0

The scorecard looked a right mess, as I had to juggle people around to fit certain players requirements but luckily it all turned out well in the end.  There were a couple of very close games and our opponents had one or two key players missing, even so, a very good result for us.

Partly frozen piste didn't stop play

Les/Russ won 7-4, Pat/Lindsay won 12-5, Darren/Luke won 10-7, Dave/Russ won 10-9, Darren/Les won 8-7, Dave/Luke won 10-1.

Thanks to Richard, Deborah, James and Geoff for making the trip down... next match in January sometime.

UK based pétanque links

Below are a couple of interesting links that have been passed onto me by fellow team mates.  So if you are thinking of buying some boules or perhaps looking into building a piste, you may find them helpful.

http://www.completeboules.com/

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-33103-petanque

We have a home match this Sunday against Kettleburgh... should be interesting.

Just the ticket

Framlingham 2, Bressingham 4

It was 'all aboard' for a First Class trip to Framlingham on Sunday.  The Railway Inn was hosting the first match of Dave's experimental mini winter league, where two more of our novice players were gaining their Bressingham 'caps'.

Iris, Derek and their friendly team pulled out all the stops to make us feel very welcome at their newly-built terrain, officially opened only the day before.  Tea, coffee and biscuits on arrival, sandwiches & chips before our departure - British Rail was never this good!

Derek and his gang have done a great job on creating the new terrain.  Photograph supplied by Derek and Iris.

The match included a few amusing diversions, including swirling smoke across the playing area. In keeping with the location, I half expected to see the Flying Scotsman appear out of the mist but instead was broken out of my reverie by a loud peal of bells from the church next door.  In comparison, Bressingham is very mundane - our only excitement being when 'Lady' the neighbouring cat, strolls by.

Some excellent play from the new boys, Russ and Les, who obviously did not get side-tracked by the various distractions as I did. Dave's format of playing seven ends kept the games interesting and fairly even in length - a major factor in winter league matches.

Thank you Framlingham, we look forward to welcoming you for the return match on January 6th.  Any volunteers to organise the entertainment?

Lindsay

Experimental winter league

I have organised a (mini) winter league for three teams, as we didn't make it into our local(ish) one.

The matches will be a limited number of ends (probably seven) but with an extra round of games (three instead of two).  Pairs throughout, six games in total (two per round).  Matches should take around 1½ hours.  Draws are possible, not only for the overall match score but games within a match.

In the Norfolk & Norwich Winter League teams either win 3-0,2-1 or lose by the same scores.  In ours, results can be... 6-0, 5-1, 5-0, 4-2, 4-1, 4-0, 3-3, 3-2, 3-1, 3-0, 2-4, 2-3, 2-2, 2-1, 2-0, 1-5, 1-4, 1-3, 1-2, 1-1, 1-0, 0-6, 0-5, 0-4, 0-3, 0-2, 0-1 and 0-0 (twenty eight possible scores as opposed to 4)!  So, a 3-1 result would mean that two of the games were drawn (3+1+2=6).

Dave.

... by 'eck!

Visited Heckmondwike Petanque Club on the way back from Keighley, West Yorkshire.  Formed in February this year, they now have over 50 members!  They're a friendly bunch and very well organised.  Nice playing surface too.  Coffees, teas and biscuits at the end.

Lindsay and I couldn't work out the logic behind the numbering of the pistes though.  It went something like... 5-6-4, 1-3-2.  Update: See comment by Steven Penny for a plausible explanation.

Award

I went along to the Adnams Suffolk Coastal League Finals at Badingham, a couple of Sundays ago.  It was Meadlands who mastered the surface, defeating Cotton (their only loss) in the Grand Final.  Afterwards, the nine preliminary group winners and runners up, were awarded prizes.  We finished 11th overall (see below).

Thanks Simon!

Dave.

New recruit

Here is a picture of a little girl playing pétanque... actually it is Darren's daughter Izzi (5) who is just starting out.  She has her own circle, that she can position much nearer the cochonnet than the regular players to make for a fairer game.

Sometimes we would just mark a line for her to throw.  She won the match for us!

Metre lines

I have glued on some 1 metre marker sticks onto the timber surround as a distance aid.  It have also found it helpful for improving my accuracy when pacing out.

 

Very boring photograph

Not the best of pictures (the ground doesn't slope that much and the boulders are actually small stones) but you get the idea.

We now have eight regulars with others appearing here and there.  There is an end of season meeting tonight at the Village Hall (6.30) as there is lots to talk about.

Dave.

New scoreboards

I made up a couple of large scoreboards some time ago (details in a previous post) but they were a little cumbersome.  They have now been superseded by smaller, yet more practical ones.

Available in golden brown, aubergine and turquoise.

Pretty standard really but they will be much easier to lug about and incorporate an innovative 'end' count at the top for shorter games (play 5, 6 or 7 ends).  I'll probably paint the wooden pegs black or something.  I used a cut up coat hanger for the 'post' which will slide into a couple of eyelets on the back of the timber surrounds.

Dave.

Bob Bruce Memorial, Open Pairs Perpetual Trophy

Ten pairs turned out on a hot day at the Morley Buck at Morley St. Botolph.  For each round, three matches were played on the car park area (large stones) and another two in the beer garden (small granite chippings). There were five rounds in total, with the eventual winners being Graham and Fleur.

We took along four players with Luke and I, winning two games out of five.  Lindsay and Darren won two and lost two with one game drawn.

Luke enjoying a well earned lunch break.

A really enjoyable day with proceeds donated to the East Anglian Children's Hospice.  I'm hoping that Ray Beales can supply me with a couple of photos soon...

Dave.

Extension... updated

I got the go-ahead to extend the terrain, around 1½ metres... may not sound much but it will enable us to play three games instead of two.  It works out at 2.55 metres per piste, a little narrow but I have played on much skinnier lanes than this and survived.

Sharp sand  is to be kindly donated by Mervyn Lambert.  He has also offered to deliver it for us... yay!  Darren is going to bring along some reflectors for the timber surrounds, so that it will clearly be visible for vehicles and will look high tech... many thanks to you both.

I have marked out positions of scoreboards, one metre markers (along the length) and reflectors.

Update - all done now, this is how it turned out...

Now enough room for three games

After the success of playing shorter matches at the 'Festival of Boules 2012' we have decided to play the same format on club days.  This means we play '6 ends' instead of the usual 'first to 13 points'.  Games finish more or less at the same time and it means we have more changeovers.

Dave

Bressingham bow out

Suffolk Coastal League - Last 16

The Dicky II 3, Bressingham 1 (played at Crettingham)

Lindsay and Pat almost staged a late comeback in their game, which would have taken the match into a decider. Our opponents bought us drinks at the end, so our thanks go to them.  Also, a big thank you to the Crettingham Bell, for letting us play on their grounds.  I did take a couple of photos but I have yet to see them.

Last 16 and all that

We were awarded a win in our last group match, as our opponents were unable to raise a team.  Our next match will take place at The Crettingham Bell against The Dicky II, on September 2nd at midday (last 16 knock-out stage).  Team will be Myself, Lindsay, Pat and Darren.

The following Sunday, most of us will be attending the Bob Bruce Memorial, Open Pairs Perpetual Trophy at the Morley Buck.  Looking forward to it, as Lindsay and I haven't played there for some time... 10.30 for an 11 o'clock start.

Hold the front page

Ten local ladies from the Red Hat Society sportingly volunteered to be guinea pigs on Friday, to try out our new piste and experience our Grade 3 coaching.

Colour dominated the day from the start:-

The ladies all arrived in their 'uniforms' which in addition to the red hats, included various items of purple atire.

As the golden sun shone down on us, from the blue sky, we put our green coaching skills to the test.

Newly painted white coches littered the piste as the silver boules started flying at them.

Added to this came an array of mouth watering snacks at the break including two wonderfully contrasting sponge cakes of cream and chocolate.

Despite the sun lotion and hats, I know my face at least, was quite pink by the end of the session.

Who needs Fifty Shades of Grey when you can have colour like that??  Thank you ladies for brightening up our day and for your kind donation to the village hall funds.

http://www.redhatsociety.com

Wanted - junior boules (update)

Does anyone have any junior boules they have grown out of?  Luke (7 years) is looking for a better set, as the Obut ones he is using at the moment are like Christmas baubles.  Ideally, the boules should weigh in at 650g and have a 70.5mm diameter.

If you have some you no longer need, please leave a comment, thanks.

We've found some - Thank you to Jessica Shoesmith and Fleur Guilman-Beales for passing on their junior boules to Luke.  

Circle(s) in the sand

Dave and I look forward every year to our beach trip for 'Circle in the Sand'. The emphasis of the day is usually on having fun rather than it being a formal petanque competition.

This year was especially nice, as we were introducing our new Bressingham players, Darren and his son Luke (age 7) to the event.

After a hot and sunny morning, excitement came in the lunch break as dark clouds began to loom in the distance, followed by some flashes and a few cracks of thunder. We all held our ground as the rain started, whilst many of the holiday-makers packed up and headed for their cars. Luckily, we were only on the edge of the storm and the afternoon session commenced with a little more room for us to manoeuvre!

The rest of the identity parade haven't arrived yet!

Our beginners (who had a +6 start) put on a creditable performance, winning one of their five games and coming close in another. They managed to notch up eleven points against the eventual winners, Peter and Sally, a formidable pair from Suffolk.

We upheld our tradition of starting dismally - with a 13-3 loss to Jane and Les but improved as the day progressed, eventually equaling our last year's position of fourth.

Thanks to Lynne, Bob and Louise for organising the day - a refreshing interlude from the humid conditions inland. Oh well, back to the fans and air conditioning...

Lindsay.

County match at British Sugar (2nd leg)

I was asked to play for Suffolk at the weekend as they were short of players.  I teamed up with Steve Batt from Bury Greyhound, who I had only played against before.  We didn't do too badly, winning two games out of a possible six (one loss was 13-12).

It was an enjoyable day with good weather and great to meet up with so many of the Norfolk crew again.

Final score... Suffolk 25, Norfolk 23. 

Dave.

Bressingham qualify for playoffs

One result missed...
Laxfield B 4, Yaxley 0

and one other that I know of...
Laxfield B 1, Laxfield A 3

With only one round of matches to go, Bressingham cannot be caught.  We will either go into a play off, or go directly into the last 16 (depending on results elsewhere).

Matches to come - Laxfield B v Cotton, Laxfield Ladies v Yaxley and Bressingham v Laxfield A (new date to be arranged).

Explorer Division - results and scorecard

Bressingham 4, Laxfield B 0

Other results...
Laxfield Ladies 0, Cotton 4
Laxfield A 1, Laxfield Ladies 3

Very pleased with the win.  Lindsay puts it down to our lucky mascot, Luke (age 7).

Well done to Pat and Darren as it was their first ever league game.  Laxfield Ladies surprise win against Laxfield A, means that we qualify for the next stage.  Thank you to Adam and Jordan for playng in the earlier matches and helping us get this far.

Summer Olympics but no pétanque

Can someone tell me why pétanque isn't at the Olympics?  It didn't even make it as a demonstration sport.

We entertain Laxfield B on Sunday 29 July at 12 noon.  Jordan is having a rest and Adam has retired from the game (age 16).  It'll be myself, Lindsay, Pat and newcomer Darren.

Festival of Boules 2012

This event was spanned over two days at six different venues (four teams at each).  At least one novice per team had to be given the chance to play.  Team captains were allowed to give advice during games.

We took with us three newbies (those that had not played in any league games).  All did pretty well -  the only player not to win a game was me (of course)!  Each of us played at least two games.  The new mini format of only six ends, worked well.

Rookie Steve throwing while Lindsay looks on.

Overall, we drew two matches (against Kettleburgh and Framlingham) and lost one (Aldeburgh White Lion). Took along my home-made circles but a few players preferred not to use them.  This meant that some of the foot drawn circles turned out to be the size of small planets!

Thanks to Pat, Steve and Loretta who made the trip and to Simon Fletcher, who not only organised the whole event but was present at all venues to record scores etc.

In memory

Lindsay and I were greatly saddened recently to hear the news from Yaxley,  that Geoff's wife Therese had passed away.

In our season with the Cherry Tree team last year, we were always made to feel exceptionally welcome and our thoughts are with them at this time.

Trowel & Hammer blow

Cotton 4, Bressingham 0

Cotton pickin'...  Me/Jordan got fannied in just three ends... I couldn't hit a thing while Jordan was chucking boules before I had time to assess the situation.  Lindsay/Adam (who was forced to play) led 10-0 in the other game but didn't score a point after that (something to do with the scoreboard pegs moving up and down).  The next games were a little better but we were always second best.  Cotton have some very good players and should get to the finals. Good crowd, nice pub.  Lindsay was our best player.

Dave/Jordan lost 13-0, Lindsay/Adam lost 13-10, Lindsay/Jordan lost 13-9, Dave/Adam lost 13-5

Cotton are runaway leaders.  We might get second spot (and a chance of qualifying for the last 16) if we can pick up a win in one of our remaining two matches.

Latest results

Cotton 4, Yaxley 0
Laxfield Ladies 4, Laxfield B 0

Last nights match...
Bressingham 4, Laxfield Ladies 0

Game was interrupted by a heavy rain shower.  We had a couple of supporters this week (Darren and Pat) although one had to leave early.

Dave/Jordan won 13-5, Lindsay/Adam won 13-1, Lindsay/Jordan won 13-5, Dave/Adam won 13-5

These matches are due to be played on this Sunday...
Cotton v Bressingham
Laxfield B v Yaxley
League table will be updated once I have these results.

Up and coming matches/events

Suffolk Coastal League


We play host to Laxfield Ladies - Tuesday evening 10th July, then away at Cotton on Sunday 15th July.

The Sunday after that, is the Festival of Boules 2012.  This is a new event organised by Simon Fletcher - more details here... http://suffolkcoastalpetanque.blogspot.co.uk/ (older posts).  We opted to play at Kettleburgh this year and will be joined by Framlingham and one other - 10am kick off.  The format is all play all, with a limited number of ends... should be fun!

Pétanque at Saxmundham

Bit of a trek for us but was worthwhile.  We were split into pairs and played mini (or should that be micro) matches.  It worked surprisingly well with everyone getting to play four games.  I took along my home-made circles that everyone seemed to like.  The pistes were great to play on and the weather held up.

Thank you to Jenny the organiser and the gang for welcoming us and laying on cakes and drinks.  We hope to go again sometime.

The latest blue/black circle.

Results...

Laxfield A 1, Cotton 3
Yaxley 2, Laxfield Ladies 2


Last nights game...
Laxfield A 0, Bressingham 4


Without doubt, our best all round team performance this season.  Thank you to Alistair and his players for their co-operation in the rearrangement of this match.

Dave/Jordan won 13-4, Lindsay/Adam won 13-11, Lindsay/Jordan won 13-3, Dave/Adam won 13-1.

Pétanque sweets

I had some spare time so I made candy hearts.  It was hard not to use swear words.  Go here to make your own.... http://www.acme.com/

Match result with pictures

Yaxley 0, Bressingham 4


Jordan/Steven won 13-7, Dave/Lindsay won 13-4, Lindsay/Steven won 13-5, Dave/Jordan won 13-8.

Lindsay waving to someone in the crowd.

Jordan.

Steven in the circle.

My first set of boules, still with some tread left.

This is me, attempting an incredibly high lob.

Jordan brushing his teeth.

Thank you to Nikki & Andy for laying on some delicious food and Steven for filling in for Adam.  Yaxley play again tomorrow while Bressingham are at Laxfield on Wednesday evening.

Fun pairs

Lindsay and I played up at the St. Faiths Centre on Sunday, in the Russell Harris Fun Pairs.  The event was well supported as usual on a boiling hot day.  Derek and Jessica Shoesmith were in first place - well done to them.  We (somehow) lost all our five games but it was just nice to meet up with people who we hadn't seen for some time.  The red and black ring made its debut and nobody tripped over it.

We forgot to take the camera again!  Did anyone take any pictures?

Handmade throwing circle No.2

The circle is pretty accurate size-wise (within a couple of mm) and has turned out better than okay.  It is a bit time consuming though, especially the cutting out part which was done with a surgical scalpel.  I have noticed the red Gaffa tape didn't cover the black as well as I would have liked.  The underside of the ring doesn't look as good either but then it isn't on view.

We gave the circle a test run today but it had a tendency to curl upwards a little over time.  I blame the sun for this.  Not a problem though, as it can be used either way or moulded back.

Match score(s)

Laxfield B 2, Bressingham 2 (details below)
Cotton 4, Laxfield Ladies 0

Dave/Jordan won 13-2, Lindsay/Adam lost 13-9, Lindsay/Jordan won 13-7, Dave/Adam lost 13-6.

The weather was good and our opponents were a nice crowd.

League table below has since been updated.

League table and results

Cotton 4, Laxfield B 0
Yaxley 0, Cotton 4
Laxfield A 4, Laxfield B 0


Other results that slipped by...
Laxfield Ladies 0, Laxfield A 4
Laxfield A 4, Yaxley 0


League table includes anything else since.

Results courtesy of  http://suffolkcoastalpetanque.blogspot.co.uk/

Friendly match result

Bressingham 2, Kettleburgh 2

I didn't bother writing down the scores, although I can remember losing heavily in my second game.  Lindsay and Jordan won both theirs.  Thank you to the Kettleburgh team for venturing out our way.

Special thanks to newbie Pat who filled in at the last minute.  Our next match against Laxfield B away, is now due to be played on Thursday evening, 17th May.  Thanks to Trevor Keeble and the pub landlord for their co-operation in allowing us to move the original match date.

Coming event

Russell Harris Fun Pairs on Sunday 27th May at the St Faiths Centre.  12.30pm for a 1.00pm start.  We go along every year.  Click the link below for more details.


http://wandererspetanque.webeden.co.uk/

Scores - Explorer Division

Bressingham 1, Cotton 3

Our first defeat.  Josh did very well, considering he had only played the game once before (he goes back to Uni soon).  I was substandard as usual.  Also, no one brought a camera so no pictures.  It was nice to meet up with Steven again.

Dave/Lindsay won 13-11, Steven/Josh lost 13-9, Steven/Jordan lost 13-3, Dave/Josh lost 13-6.

Yaxley 1, Laxfield B 3
Laxfield Ladies v Laxfield A - result not in.
Laxfield B 3, Laxfield Ladies 1 (from 11th April).

Bressingham v Yaxley Cherry Tree

A few pictures from last Sundays match.

Some old codger measuring.

Adam steadies himself.

After match shoot.  Back row, Lindsay, Jordan and myself.

Ring of success

After reading that someone had made a pétanque circle from an Ikea shower mat, I thought I'd have a go at my own.  I couldn't find any rubber mats cheap enough, so I used 6mm thick (double corrugated) cardboard instead.  Lindsay suggested I use gaffa tape to protect the ring from the rain and make it stand out.  Here's the result...

It works fine, doesn't blow away in the wind and can be folded.  I might make more of these, using different colours and designs.

Explorer Division result

Bressingham 4, Yaxley Cherry Tree 0

Nice to meet up again with one of the teams Lindsay and I played for last season.  The weather was perfect and the result went our way.  Luckily for us, Steve and Charlie were missing from the Yaxley line-up.


Dave/Jordan won 13-4, Lindsay/Adam won 13-5, Lindsay/Jordan won 13-2, Dave/Adam won 13-11.

The benefits of playing the sport of pétanque

Although pétanque is not an aerobic sport, it does demand a high degree of physical stamina to play throughout an entire day, a requirement of many tournaments and competitions. Equally, it does not require speed or athleticism but precision and consistent rhythm to achieve good results. For these reasons, it allows players who may not feel able to compete in more physically explosive sports to experience the enjoyment of taking part in a genuinely competitive environment, often for the first time in their lives.

If players are not physically capable of racing around a football field or a tennis court they often 'switch off' sport at a very early age and never return. Pétanque gives them the opportunity to compete on level terms because the emphasis is on skill and accuracy, rather than power or reaction time. It requires judgement of distance and line and the ability to vary your technique and delivery depending on what type of surface or slope is being used, in many ways having more in common with golf than most other sports.

The sport was developed from Jeu Provencal, a game which required players to run several steps before releasing a boule in shooting style or to balance on one leg whilst trying to get close to the target jack.  An experienced player, so affected by arthritis that he could no longer play, devised a version in which you had to stand in a circle whilst delivering your boules and so the sport was born at La Ciotat in France in 1907.

 Thus one of its merits is that it was devised for, and can be played by, people with any of a number of disabilities which would otherwise debar them from competition. The rules actually incorporate clauses for those who need to play from a wheelchair or who suffer the loss of a lower limb.Asthmatics, amputees and even those with cerebral palsy can enjoy a social, yet competitive involvement.
 
It is also one of the few sports in which men and women, boys and girls, the retired and their grandchildren can compete on equal terms, either in discrete competitions or altogether. It is promoted as a family sport. Particularly with youngsters, it helps to develop the ability to concentrate for long periods, a quality less obviously employed in today's culture of instant gratification and rapid technological response.

In England, it is played, with one exception, in an outdoor setting so, at the very least, it gets people outside breathing fresh air away from the computer environment in which they may be obliged to work and live. It is also a very social sport which encourages and enables interaction with others.

To succeed in pétanque, as in any other sport, the self-discipline of practising technique to produce accuracy and consistency is important.  Another benefit is that it puts teamwork, strategy and tactical awareness at a high premium. Decisions have to made constantly about which team member should play next (as there is no predetermined sequence of play as in, for example, bowls), what shot should be attempted, when to defend and when to attack, etc.

Players have to learn to observe the relative strengths and weaknesses of their own and the opposing team and to create strategies which give them the best opportunity of winning the game. Many of these skills have their application in the decision-making which may be needed in careers later in life.

The heightened importance of the role of psychology in modern sport, in particular the process of finding out about your own capabilities and limitations in terms of mental strength, is just as prominent in pétanque as any other competitive situation.  World Championships are won as much in the mind as with the body and, occasionally, a team with lesser skills can beat one deemed to be generally stronger because of their better preparation, concentration and mental strength – and maybe the odd bit of luck!

                                                                                               Brian Stote – November 2010

We are here...

Bressingham Pétanque Club

Bressingham Village Hall

High Road

Bressingham

IP22 2AT

View Bressingham Petanque Club in a larger map

Note, the village shop is in the wrong place.  It should be more or less opposite the entrance to the car park

Surrounded!

While the Diss club were re-surfacing their piste, I was busy putting together the timber surround at ours.

The fence posts came from the auction rooms at a cost of £30.  A few smaller lengths were salvaged from Lindsay's old fence.  Half-lap joints were used to connect the timbers, and then screwed together.  Still need to finish off (I ran out of screws) but it is looking neater and hopefully will stop boules from running away.

Results...

Laxfield Ladies 0, Bressingham 4

Could easily have ended in a draw as there were a couple of close games... Dave/Jordan won 13-4, Lindsay/Adam won 13-12, Dave/Adam won 13-10, Lindsay/Jordan won 13-8.  Adam and Jordan hadn't played for years, so well done to them.

Yaxley Cherry Tree v Cotton - match moved.

Next match is at home against Yaxley on April 1st at 1pm... just hope the weather is a little better then.

Suffolk Coastal League - Explorer Division results

Well it's more a case of non-results...

Bressingham v Yaxley Cherry Tree - rearranged for 1st April
Trowel & Hammer Cotton v Laxfield A - rearranged for 1st April
Laxfield B v Laxfield Ladies - postponed

Bressingham will be away to Laxfield Ladies on Sunday March 18th.  Start due at 1pm.

Finishing touches

We've had no luck so far with obtaining some sort of wooden surround, to prevent boules from escaping.  I've worked out that we would need twelve, 4" square timbers to enclose three sides.  Buying from new would cost around £100, so we might just go with what we have.

At last years Suffolk Coastal League Finals in Blyford, I noticed there was nothing to prevent boules from rolling out.  I still hope to get at least one end of our pistes sealed off though, as boules sometimes end up underneath vehicles.

The earth on the side nearest the fence, has now been flattened and is ready for seeding.  Lindsay's car came in useful for this, as it wasn't worth hiring out any more machinery.

Coastal League Team venues

Here is a little something I made up using Google Maps. It shows the locations of this years Suffolk Coastal League teams, relative to one another. Some of the addresses were taken from the Captains Handbook that Simon Fletcher had put together. Others I worked out myself.



View SCL-2012 in a larger map


Teams are colour coded to show their respective division. Multi-coloured pins, indicate teams that play at the same venue but in different divisions. Please let me know of any errors.

Dave.

Bressingham Pétanque Club fixtures (revised)

Cotton and Yaxley have both kindly agreed to move their matches against us to a later date.  This means our first match will now take place on March 18th.  Here is the full list...

Mar 18 - Laxfield Ladies (a)
Apr 1 - Yaxley (h)
Apr 15 - Cotton (h)
May 13 - Laxfield B (a)
May 27 - Laxfield A (a)
June 10 - Yaxley (a)
July 1 - Laxfield Ladies (h)
July 15 - Cotton (a)
July 29 - Laxfield B (h)
Aug 19 - Laxfield A (h)

Thanks to the teams involved for their co-operation.

Dave.

Suffolk Coastal League 2012 update

Bressingham have been drawn against Yaxley, Cotton and three teams from Laxfield in the preliminary group stages of this years Sunday league.

I am very grateful to Nikki and Andy Watts from Yaxley Cherry Tree, for allowing us both to play for their team last season.  They made us very welcome and provided delicious food during the home matches.

Cotton are a new team.  I'm assuming they will play at the Village Hall recreational grounds.  I will find out more when the handbooks are issued.

We have played a few of the Laxfield crew before.  A friendly bunch that also have an all ladies team.

Fixtures to follow soon.

Dave.

Club day

Lindsay and I were out playing pétanque on the snowy terrain.

After one of the coldest nights I can remember, the sun made an appearance first thing and some parts of us soon warmed up.

Lindsay (aka the Snow Queen) adapted to the conditions far quicker than I did.

Dave.

Terrain update

I decided to even out the grassy/weedy area near the fence (on the left), the day before the snow fell.  I dug out the clumpy areas first and then set about transporting earth from nearby.  The arrow in the picture indicates a mound of earth that wasn't being used for anything else (right near the tall hedge).

The wheelbarrows had long gone, so I had to improvise with a corrugated plastic box and Lindsay's cycle.  It took more than a dozen trips backwards and forwards, balancing the box on the back of the bike.  Once there, the earth was raked in to cover over any low points.  The sandy area to the left of the white line, may be used later on, if more lanes are needed.

It is now Thursday and there is still a couple of inches of lying snow, although the surface underneath is not frozen.  We'll be along there on Saturday and Sunday to see who (if anyone) turns up.

Dave.

Suffolk Coastal League 2012

The league is run by Simon Fletcher with more and more teams entering each year.  Matches are played on Sundays (one match every two or three weeks) between March and September .  I'm guessing that the format will be more or less like last term.

Teams are made up of a minimum of four players.  It is also possible to take along eight players with everyone getting a game.  A match consists of four doubles games, so you could end up with a 'Desmond' (2-2).

The preliminary stages are mini leagues (maximum of six teams) which are geographically sorted.  If a team finishes high enough, they then proceed into the last sixteen, where a knock-out competition will take place (obviously no draws at this stage).

We have played in the leagues previous two years with Sunset Boulevards (Diss) and Yaxley Cherry Tree.  It's a great way of meeting new people, making new friends, going to places you've never been before and you get to play pétanque.

More info here... http://suffolkcoastalpetanque.blogspot.com/

Snowboules

Were any of you playing snowboules today/yesterday?

Have you seen this hat?

This is me, playing at the Morley Buck near Attleborough.  The hat followed me nearly every where I went.  I didn't go much on the colour but it was a perfect fit.  It was last seen at the Hethersett Social Club.  Thanks to Steven Penny who supplied the picture.

Dave

Game for all

We wanted to find a sport that all the family could take part in. Two 40-something parents and a pair of pre-teenage boys. Diss Pétanque Club was holding an open day to drum up some new members so it seemed

an ideal opportunity.

The sport is advertised as being suitable for all ages, both sexes and all abilities. How right that claim was – we were hooked. Unfortunately, the boys had better things to do with their time and it was their parents who saw their lives change dramatically. Warning: Pétanque is addictive!

Despite the wet day, the warm welcome and picnic lunch soon had us wanting to learn more about the club and the sport. We were soon playing in the team and competitions across the county, expanding into Suffolk and beyond as the game got a grip.

It is an enthralling battle of wits and skills. Picking the right shot, the best landing spot, when to shoot, when to point or when to close things down were all soon intense topics of conversation. Smooth or 'pineapple' boules, bar towel or duster, tape measure or extendable rule – nothing was too trivial to discuss at great length. Best of all, the social side with new friends made across Norfolk, eager to welcome new players and pass on their own knowledge and useful tips.

Hospitality is always friendly, no matter what the score, although the variety of after-match fare varies – from the virtual full meals at Strumpshaw and Eccles to the soggy biscuits and out-of-date supermarket pasties at other clubs I'd better not mention.

It's an easy game to play, fairly simple to master but capable of delivering crushing blows to your confidence when a complete novice trounces you with an embarrassing 'fanny'. Speaking of the infamous 13-0 defeat. The first time Dave and I played a county competition, we were soundly beaten by a veteran pair in just four ends on the undulating Cottage terrain at Thorpe. It was the only time we faced outright gamesmanship – the old guard showing the cheeky young upstarts how it's supposed to be done. Revenge was a while coming but a few years later that same couple were 'fannied' in just three ends on the smooth surface at Diss - they didn't take kindly to it at all!

Like all sports, there are plenty of ploys to put off your opponent. I've suffered from opponents who manage to drop sweet wrappers just as you're about to throw, or suffer a sneezing fit, start moving behind your target or decide to query rules and break your concentration. It's all part of the game unfortunately.

Surfaces vary enormously but the secret is to stick to the basics and plan your shots to make the most of anything you can. Corners of bricks, deep shale, puddles, motorway-smooth lanes and even beer barrels and lamp-posts all need to be negotiated.

For variety, try playing in the snow – the boules are turned into snowballs and the coche is buried. For even more fun, go to the beach. A well-placed boule a fraction away from the coche can suddenly turn tail and disappear to the distant waterline. Even watching pétanque can be addictive.

The different styles of play are enormously entertaining.

The ponderer – takes for ever to prepare for the shot and is seemingly unable to release the boule from clenched fingers.

The entertainer whizz – bang! No foreplay here, wallop and a tight game is scattered across three pistes.

The magician – one lady plays in a long skirt and always throws the boule from between her legs – one day I'm convinced it won't come back down…

The clockwork man – a couple of players have a very rigid style of play which is almost like a ratchet as the boule is delivered.

The chicken – A bizarre pre-delivery that looks for all the world as if the player is about to lay an egg.

There are lots more – feel free to add your own favourites.

Steven Penny

Scoreboards

Have you ever wondered why, in nearly all cases, the numbers on a vertical pétanque scoreboard go from top to bottom?  It is far more logical to have a higher number above a lower number don't you think?

When I first joined the Diss Club, I noticed that their scoreboards went from 0 to 15 (bottom to top).  This makes perfect sense (although I don't know why it was 15 and not 13).  When the club moved in 2009, I decided to design better and bigger scoreboards with the following criteria... 1) the numbers could be easily read from a distance, 2) attractive looking, each one displaying a different colour and 3) posts to be permanent fixtures (less setting up).

I cut stencils out for the numbers and did the spray painting.  Mick Clarke did all the DIY and created pegs for scoring (not shown).  I also numbered them (using Roman numerals) but I don't think many people noticed! This is how they turned out...

A few years on and the posts are looking a bit weather-beaten but I think that it adds character.  In hindsight, perhaps some sort of plastic cover with vents may have helped.  Also the peg holes attract many insects and arachnids, which means almost certain death unless they set up home at number 13!

Since starting up a new club at Bressingham, I decided to make new scoreboards from mainly scrap materials. The scoring pegs are actually drawing board clips.  They don't stick out, so cannot be knocked off.  They slide up and down easily using a special technique.  If pulled off accidentally though, you have to use both hands to fit back on again.  Take a look below...

The picture is not the best and doesn't show up all the imperfections.  The stencils for the numbers were almost perfect but the spray paint somehow got underneath, spoiling the effect.  There is room at the top for the Bressingham Pétanque Club logo and I intend to incorporate smaller numbers at the bottom (0-7) when playing a specific number of ends (an experimental feature and possibly unique).  Poles will be added last.

Bressingham Pétanque Club

Saturday mornings from 10.30 at Bressingham Village Hall car park  Also Sunday mornings from 12.30 throughout February.

Equipment and instruction provided free of charge.

Coaching

Last year, after playing pétanque for around seven years, Dave and I decided we would like to learn more about coaching in the sport.  Previously, our only experience in that direction had involved three of us from the Diss club, volunteering to do a ten week after-school club.  We were introducing a dozen, 7 and 8 year-olds to the game. Keeping them interested between squabbles and toilet trips (them, not us), was indeed a challenge. After this initiation, things could only improve we thought!

If we were going to set up our own club, we were determined that new players would be taught the correct way of doing things, from the outset.  Unlike ourselves, who learned by imitating anyone who we thought looked good - leading to us picking up bad habits early on, which are very hard to break.

The ground at British Sugar, Bury St. Edmunds hosted the grade 3 training day and was attended by three other players apart from ourselves and the EPA head coach Brian Stote.  Although everyone else seemed far more experienced in the sport than us, they were all so friendly, we immediately felt at ease.  An interesting morning was spent in the 'classroom' learning about the history, rules, roles of a coach etc.

After the lunch break came the practical session, including demonstrations by Brian and individual assessments of our techniques.  I found that my boules, which I have been using for about five years, are slightly too big and heavy for me to grip correctly.  This is another area where beginners need advising, to avoid costly mistakes when buying their first set.  Day one over - that was the easy one!

Neither of us were looking forward to taking an exam again after a break of over thirty years.  I hasten to add that we were both very conscientious, revising in every spare minute and making up cards to test each other (note to my son Adam, doing his GCSEs - if I can do revision at my advanced age, then you have no excuse!).

July 2nd, 11am and the written test was over.  Normally known for my neat handwriting, my hand had been shaking so much when I started, I'm surprised that anyone could read my answers.  Despite this, I was quietly confident that I had managed to get the required percentage correct.  We both knew which part of the day we were least looking forward to....

Picking out pieces of paper from a box, tombola-style but instead of winning a box of chocolates, we had to 'coach' everyone present on the subject mentioned.

Nerves got the better of both of us - I immediately had a mental block and couldn't think of a single occasion when I would need to 'shoot out the jack'.  Dave rallied to my aid discretely but then froze in mid explanation of his own subject.  Things weren't looking too good.

Thankfully an improvement ensued in the second phase when Dave somehow managed to pick out the star prize - his favourite subject.  Any of you who are acquainted with Dave, will know that he could talk for England on 'the landing spot'.

The exam finished with us demonstrating our grips, stance, etc., alternating with finding any faults in our partner's techniques.  Whilst waiting for our turn in this, we took part in various challenges which would be useful in our future coaching sessions.

The two days were hard work but they gave us a wealth of information and hopefully the confidence to be able to pass it on to our keen beginners.

Now we are fully qualified, all we want to know, is where are you all??


Lindsay.

Building the terrain (part two)

We picked up a vibrating plate from Jewsons (£35).  These machines move about on their own with little persuasion.  With all the larger stones now out of the way, the area was compacted.  Knicker elastic was used for the dead ball lines.  It is very strong and has a lower profile than string but it sags over time.  I have since been back to the terrain on a few occasions to pull it taut again.

Whacker plate been and gone?

Next up was the sharp sand (one metric ton).  This was used to blind the tarmac surface which was a little tarry. It also looks nice and allows the surface a little give.  Allan helped with hammering in the wooden stakes to cordon off the area.

Keep off.

One tonne of golden yellow gravel (10mm down) soon followed and was spread (see below).  Not all of it was used as I didn't want it thick.  Aggregate price total was around £90 delivered by Whitton & Frost.

Almost ready for some action.

We still have to think about the timbers for the surround.  I am also in the process of making up a couple of scoreboards from bunk bed slats, which would have otherwise been chucked out.

Another angle.  

I am really pleased with how it has turned out.  Thanks go out to Allan and the rest of the committee, for letting me go ahead with the project.  Also Mick and Lindsay for lending me their tools.

  

Building the terrain (part one)

Location - Bressingham Village Hall car park, Norfolk.

The area was roughly marked out to allow for two games (shown in picture).  There was plenty of weeding to do especially along one edge and top left hand corner.  Most were pulled up easily (we avoided the use of chemicals) whilst others had to be dug out with my trusty old mattock.

In the beginning... there was a car park.

In-between weeding, the surface (mainly crushed road tarmac) was disturbed with some heavy raking.  I must admit, I went a bit crazy at first and ended up with a small crater.  The flimsy rake I was using wasn't up to the task and was rendered almost useless after only the first day.  Luckily, Allan let me borrow his heavy duty rake which was far better.

Would seed potatoes be the better option here?

The photo above shows a mound of small stones after sieving.  This was only the start as two more piles followed in the days ahead (and more weeding).   The bigger bits of tarmac had a heap of their own and were used later for filling pot holes in the car park.

No sign of Tony Robinson yet. 

The next stage was to disperse the smaller stone back from whence it came.  Can you see that puddle in the photo below?  Luckily it was only in one of the corners but it was at this point that Allan suggested I increase the length of the terrain at the top by one metre.

Bike not for sale.

I also decided to take out more weeds nearer the fence to create a better standing/observing area. There is also an option of using this extra width as an extension of the playing area to allow for more games.  That's the worst bit over with.  To be continued...