Author: Mike Woodward

City of Bath Pétanque Club
Newsletter No 33 October 2017

Note from the Chair – Chris McGinn

We are now drawing to the close of the competitive part of the year and overall, I think it can be said that the Club as a whole has progressed.

The number of members is gradually
increasing and this is likely to continue as we all take the opportunities to welcome and encourage friends and family across the board.

I have been very pleased to hear from new members, how pleasant an experience it was in joining the Club and being made to feel so welcome.

Queen Square continues to be a positive recruiting ground and our weekly sessions have been well attended. Unfortunately, this year the weather has not been kind and we will have reduced income from this source, but sufficient to cover the Councils hire cost.

Your Committee plan to hold a one day session at Larkhall, in the winter, to take a good hard look at all facets of activities at the Club. This is necessary if we wish to continue to progress.

Executive Committee

There will be no meeting in October. The meeting referred to above by Chris will take place on 20th November, with a 10:00 start. Please watch out for further details in next month’s newsletter.

Flagpole

Don’t forget to return your flagpole designs to Terry – t.basson@btinternet.com by December 31st 2017.

Information on Playing Events 2017

Melees

The next melee will be on the 7th October at LSC – Registration 9.45 start at 10.00. Entry fee £3, Winner receives £20. All members welcome together with friends and family.

Summer Doubles

The Summer Doubles is now up and running. Please see www.cobpc.leaguerepublic.com for details.

Thursday Night League

Now the Thursday Night League has drawn to a close perhaps it’s the ideal time to consider getting together with friends and entering a team of your own for next summer. If you are not sure what that entails then have a chat with Chis McGinn and see the Tante Agonie article later in this newsletter.

GWR Winter Doubles

GWR Winter Doubles will take place again this winter with the format of 8 competitions at various venues, 3 before and 5 after Christmas with initial competition on Nov 5th at the Red Bull Inn, Malmesbury. Other
dates and venues to be announced later.Games played in all weather except thunder & lightning, or piste is unplayable eg. due to flooding.

Entry fee is £40 per team with a maximum of four players per team. Entries to lee@3points.co.uk by 28th October.

Social Events

The LSC are holding a New Year’s Eve party in the club house starting at 20:00 at a cost of £5 per head, (bring and share your own finger food). Contact cliveburge57@yahoo.co.uk for further details.

Umpire Course

There will be an Umpires Course on Saturday Nov 18th at Cricklade Leisure Centre 9.45am – approx. 17.00.

This is a refresher course for existing umpires but also new candidates are very welcome. It is mandatory for all existing umpires to attend at least 1 refresher course this year, and this is the last one, otherwise your umpire licence may be suspended.

Course fee – existing umpires free, all other candidates £20 payable on the day.
This will be followed by an Umpires exam the next day also at Cricklade Leisure Centre starting 9.45am prompt. This will consist of both written and verbal/practical elements.

If you would like to enter for the course and/or exam or would like further details please email : susannemckechnie@hotmail.co.uk Closing date for both 10th October.

Tante Agonie

We have another letter seeking advice from our very own Tante Agonie:
“I am keen to set up a new team to play in the Thursday Night league next summer but don’t really know that much about the format and level of commitment that will be required. Could you explain the basic points to me.
Newcomer Queens Square”

Dear Newcomer

The season runs from May through to August. You will need a minimum of four players in your team, but it’s best to have a squad of say six or seven that way you can cover for holidays etc. Matches start at 7pm with two doubles games running in parallel, followed by one game of triples and one game of singles. Games are not timed so occasionally the match may finish a little after 10pm if all the games are closely fought.
In terms of standard, all new teams start in the lowest league, which was League 4 this summer, but who knows with the continued popularity we may need an extra league next season. Generally there are eight teams in a league, matches are played home and way so that is a commitment to play on 14 evenings across the summer months.

Last season was my first and I found it both great fun and an opportunity to visit the other venues and play on different surfaces.
I hope that helps.

Tante Agonie

Facebook

Please note that new postings have been made on the club page, you do not have to have a Facebook account – just click on the link http://www.facebook.com/bathboules

Weekly times of play

Larkhall Sports Club
Saturday 10.00am – 12.00pm
Tuesday 10.00am – 12.00pm

Queen Square
Wednesdays11.00am – 1.00pm

Dates for your Diary
7th October – Melee, LSC, Registration 09.45

Editor – David Knight
david@bathboules.co.uk

City of Bath Pétanque Club

Newsletter No 35 December 2017

Note from the Chair:

We are coming to the end of an eventful year, in which we as Members can be justly proud. Membership has grown to over 100, making us the largest EPA club in England.

This can be partially attributed to the excellent camaraderie shown by you all when welcoming new members into the Club. Several new members have been complimentary about the kindness shown to them.

2018 will bring new challenges, but I’m confident we can pull together to overcome these. As the Club continues to grow we need your support to help run it. Any offer of time or services will be greatly appreciated. Please contact a committee member if you are interested.

As we are now a bigger club, one of our goals was to appoint a Playing Manager,Clive de Silva, to improve our playing status, so that we achieve results in line with our size. Please give him your whole-hearted support and I feel certain that if we do, we will all benefit from his experience and knowledge of the game.

The Festive season is now round the corner and on behalf of COBPC, I wish you all a very happy Christmas and a prosperous 2018.

Executive Committee

The next Committee meeting will be held on 18 January 2018. Please email sally@bathboules.co.uk   if you have anything you would like the EC to consider.

Information on Playing Events 2017

Melee

The next melee will be on the 9th December at LSC – Registration 9.45 am start at 10.00 am. Entry fee £5 to include mulled wine and a mince pie. Winner receives £20. All members welcome together with friends and family.

New Doubles Ranking Competition

The club will be holding a competitive doubles league starting from 1st January 2018. As each league will comprise of six teams, each team will be required to play five matches over a three month period. If you would like to enter please contact Clive with your entry. All details can be found at www.petanquebath.co.uk. Please also note that the current and recently updated documentation for the doubles league and the new rankings system can be found on the website.

Thursday Night League

All members who have not been part of a team in the Thursday League may wish to consider getting together with other like-minded members and form a new team, in this very enjoyable competition. It is quite low key and taking part can only improve your play, whilst enjoying the camaraderie of your team members and the opposition. A meeting of the Thursday League, prior to the season, will take place in March 2018 at Larkhall. Prospective teams are encouraged to attend and join in the formulation of the plans for the forthcoming season.

Tea and Coffee Rota

 A bank of helpers are needed to take turns on a rota, to set out tea & coffee, every Tuesday and Saturday morning at Larkhall. At present one person does this and it would be a great help if this task could be shared. If you can help, please email Mary at mary@bathboules.co.uk .

Social

Queen’s Square Xmas Special

Our final game of the year at Queen’s Square will be on Wednesday 20th December. On that day it has become something of a tradition for  members attending to wear something festive  and to bring along Xmas nibbles and/or drinks.  If wet we will meet at Bonghy Bo, 2 Barton Court, Upper Borough Walls, BA1 1 RZ, but don’t be late as we are obviously not able to book tables in advance.

New Year’s Party

Larkhall Football Club and City of Bath Petanque Club are jointly hosting at LSC, a fun evening of games and a quiz. Complementary glass of fizz at the stroke of midnight on the terrace to watch fireworks over the city of Bath. Bar open from 8 pm. – 1 am. Music to dance along to. Bring along finger food to share. Tickets £5 each, see Terry or Clive for tickets.

 New Year’s Day boules and a meal

There is a New Year’s Day tradition of playing boules in Queens Square, at 12 noon, followed by a meal at Brasserie Blanc, Francis Hotel at 1.15 pm. Players usually bring along wine and light nibbles to share on the piste before the game, (fancy dress optional). A limited number of places have been booked  so If you want to go please give your name to Christine Cox by Friday 15 December, at the latest. If it’s too wet to play, the meal in Brasserie Blanc will still go ahead. Her email is: chris57@blueyonder.co.uk .

Sweet Pea Competition 2018

Following on from the success of the last two years, our third Sweet Pea & Party day will be on Sunday 24th June, 2018.  Seed is already available from the shed at LSC.  Price £5 for ten seeds of three varieties. You don’t have to purchase seed from the Club to enter, you can buy your own seed by all means. Seeds can be planted now or in the New Year.  Speak to Richard Patrick to purchase seeds and for a few tips on how to grow them.

Tante Agonie

Dear Confused from Bathampton,

Thank you for your question,

Q. “Can you explain this? Some people insist on putting the ring over the Cochon at the start of

each game but others don’t. I am confused , what should I be doing?”

A. Article 7, Valid distances for the thrown jack

The team that is going to throw the jack must erase all throwing circles near the one it is going to use.

For the thrown jack to be valid, the following conditions apply:

At the following end the jack is thrown from a circle drawn or placed around the point where it finished at the previous end, except in the following cases:

– The circle would be less than 1 metre from an obstacle.

– The throwing of the jack could not be made to all regulation distances.

In the first case the player draws or places the circle at the regulation distance from the obstacle.

In the second case, the player may step back, in line with the previous end’s play, without exceeding the maximum distance authorised for the throwing of the jack. This opportunity is offered only if the jack cannot be thrown to the maximum distance in any other direction. If you want more clarification either speak to one of our coaches or look at the EPA website:

http://www.englishpetanque.org.uk/information.html

I hope this has gone some way to alleviate your confusion.

Weekly times of play

Larkhall Sports Club

Saturday 10.00 am – 12.00 pm

Tuesday 10.00 am – 12.00 pm

Queen Square

Wednesdays 11.00 am – 1.00 pm

Dates for your diary

Melee – 9th December, LSC, registration

9.45 am.

___________________________________

Editor – David Knight

david@bathboules.co.uk