Petanque 1
Weekly, Tuesdays at 11am & 1pm Twickenham Embankment.
This group has circa 50 players.
Group Leader: Caroline Cunliffe
If you wish to make contact please use the email connection on the right hand top corner of this webpage.
Basic tuition for the game of Petanque (French Boules) with friendly games organised. We are a large informal social group but many of us do regularly play at competition level. In retirement playing Petanque regularly is not only good exercise in the fresh air but the fun, laughter and joy it generates is a bonus and many of our group feel it has definitely enhanced their lives.
Petanque is the quintessentially French version of the game of boules. Metal balls are thrown close to a jack. Simple and easy for beginners but be warned, it can take a lifetime to perfect the deft art of the game.
Our History: I started the group in March 2013 but by June 2015, nine members from the Pétanque group took part in The Londonaise International Pétanque Festival held at Barnard Park in Islington, competing with teams from Gibraltar, Hungary, Belgium, Sweden and France. English teams from Kent, Chilterns and the London Region, including French-London teams also played, 64 teams in all, including 3 World Champion Pétanque players. We returned to Londonaise in 2016 when one of our triples beat a young Swedish team.
April 2016, twelve members from our group travelled to Malmesbury, Wiltshire for a few days to take part in inter-friendly competition games with U3A Malmesbury, Cirencester, Fairford and Highworth (Swindon). We have built a close association with U3A Malmesbury and visit annually. We were also invited to play at the Upper Thames Boules Club at Royal Wootton Basset.
June 2016 Sherston Boules (Wiltshire) 192 Players took part overall. The village is closed to traffic, covered with sand forming 32 pistes and games played throughout the day. We continue to take part in this annual event and will be there again in July 2019.
September 2016 twelve members from our group took part in the first ever U3A National Petanque Championship held on Hayling Island and distinguished themselves by taking the Gold Trophy as overall competition winners. 162 players took part. Other members of our group won the 'Leisure Boules' category also receiving an award.
May 2017 seven members were invited to La Turballe France for 7 days to take part in daily competitions including playing with the French club Esto-Petanque La Turballe. We have returned in 2018 & 2019. Players from various groups attend but Richmond players achieved best overall male player and two best joint overall female players. This year 2019, Richmond again achieved best overall male player and best female player.
We also take part in a U3A Top Pig Competition which was held at Crondall and then this year 2019 in Malmesbury. We also took part in The London Cup 2018 held at Vauxhall. In September 2018 eighteen members took part in the U3A National Petanque Championships again. These occasions are always great fun and although we did not do as well as last year, we did come away with 6 medals. There were 175 players competing within 52 triple teams from 16 U3A's. Competition is stiff but we are delighted with a little success once in a while.
October 2018 we travelled to Bournemouth where we were invited to take part in competition with U3A Bournemouth. We will return October 2019. We will take part in the London Cup again in August 2019. July 2019 return to Oxshott in competition.
We have attended various petanque charity events with the Oxshott Petanque Club. Have also connected/played with the Hurst Park, East Molesey group and the West London Bowls Club (Petanque Section).
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