150th Post: Springing into Action

Hardy Guys n Gals:

Saturday January 3rd and the pistes filled up with eager beavers bouling and snacking the morning away.  Not quite Meditterranean conditions but all enjoyed the opening salvos of 2026.

Defibrillator Installation: 16-01-26

Following a near year-long project involving grant applications, permission from the school Board of Management and sourcing an electrical installer the Defibrillator was finally unveiled on the rear wall of the school, adjacent to Alden Park.

It will be available for the school community, the local community and the users of Alden Park, including members of BBC.  Bayside First Responders will manage the unit and provide instruction in its use in the near future.  The various groups in the area will spread the word regarding the availabity of this third unit in the area, following the units at the Bayside DART Station and the one at Bayside Community Centre.

BBC were represented by Committee members Chris Grehan, Ciarán Walsh and Tom Donnellan.  Gertie Gilbert represented the liaison between BBC and the School and John O'Connor kindly took the photos. 

The school was represented by the Senior School Principal, Janet Lynch and P.E. Coordinator and the teachers BOM Represenrtative, Jennifer Sharkey.

The BOM were represented by Oliver Flynn, David O'Shea, Máire Costigan and Pamela Carbery

Mid-Sutton FC were represented by Fergal O'Kennedy, Bryan Tiernan and James Brogan.

Bayside Community Association were represented by Secretary Eileen O'Connor and Tom Donnellan.

Bayside First Responders sourced the Defibrillator following their fundraising plus the €500 portion of Fingal Local Enhancement Programme Capital Grant via the BBC.  Their representative, Ruairí Phelan acknowledged the Ciarán Carr Foundation for their proactive grant-aiding of these units in memory of Ciarán Carr. [ https://roundtower.ie/ciaran-carr-foundation/ ]  Also in attendance for BFR were Eric Flanagan, Ronan Swan and  Lucy Cannon.

As Oliver Flynn noted we hope never to have to use the unit but for some cardiac incidents it can be a life-saver.

Oliver Flynn and Ruairí Phelan unveil the Defibrillator.

Weather Woes:

January 2026 will be remembered for the volume of rain.  Despite the precipitation many of our members braved the elements on many of the days.  The Umbrellas were in demand but drying them was not easy....

BBC 3rd AGM 19-01-26:

31 members attended. Chris [Chairperson], Ciarán [Treasurer] and Tom [Secretary] presented their annual reports.  All in all a successful year.  The accounts are inorder with a surplus carrying over from 2025.  Ciarán suggested a rise of €5 from €20 to €25 for the annual sub.  All agreed.  Membership is still less than 60 members above which would move us into a hight band for Insurance purposes. A major challenge over 2025 was the choosing of colours,/ logo/ wording,  finding a producer, sizings,  payment and delivery of the Club Gear. When a sufficient pool of demand exists we can revisit a fresh order.

We spent grant monies from Fingal LEP Capital [€1000] on the Defibrillator, Gazebo and Fly Flags.  The Fingal LEP Current Grant [€300] on IPA Insurance . The Age and Opportunity Grant [€290 ] on a Shooting Mat. The Women in Sport Grant [€250] on gear for running events e.g. Clock, Loud hailer, electric whistle, calipers, etc.  Socierty funds paid the balances due on the above and miscellaneous items such as  The First Aid Kits, the 3 Urns, Wine for Bastille Day and various prizes over the year.  Without the Grants from Fingal running and advancing the club would be much more difficult.

We had 20 members who signed up for IPA membership in 2025.  We would hope to be more competitive in 2026 so the Committee, using stats from 2025 and 'form' in 2026 will be more involved in team selections for IPA events, with a view to being more competitive and develop team combinations that better reflect the strength of the club.  Internal qualifiers may be needed if limited slots are available at IPA events.  Players practicing together should be more obvious this year along with 'shooting' practice, tactical play and rules engagement.

Inter Club [non IPA ] Social Boules will continue with as many players as want hopefully representing the club, especially as we now have our identifying kit.

The Committee were unanimously re-elected [ with the caveat that other members should become involved to avoid long-term occupation of roles.  Hopefully others will consider serving ]. One of the first roles of the incoming committee will be to organise the Saturday / Monday joint competition/s in such a manner to reflect the consensus of the meeting.  

Various members thanked the Commitee for their governance over 2025.

Good News:     # Fingal Sports Office      #Fingal County Council

Bayside Boules Club  were recognised at the Fingal Sports Awards 2025.  The event was held in the Carlton Hotel on Monday 26-01-26.  Multiple sports clubs were in attendance from the Fingal region.  Chris Grehan and Mary represented BBC at the event and duly accepted the award on behalf of all at BBC.  Many thanks Chris.  Here is Chris's report:

A pleasure to attend the Fingal Sports Awards for 2026 in the Carlton Hotel on Monday last. The Fingal Sports Development officer Robbie Corr and Director of Services David Storey were on hand along with the MC for the evening Olympian David Gillick. Over 85 awards on the night across a diverse range of sports. The 3 main awards were Sports Inclusion Club of the Year - won by Howth Yacht Club, Green Club of the Year - won by Balrothery Tennis Club, Community Club of the Year - won by Sutton Lawn Tennis Club. It was an honour for me to accept the volunteer award for Bayside Boules Club on the night presented by David Storey in the presence of the Mayor of Fingal Tom O’Leary and the Chief Executive of Fingal County Council Ann-Marie Farrelly. Congratulations to Fingal County Council for a great night and their continued support for sport in the community.

Maintenance:

Over the next month we will call on voluinteers 

• to pull weeds and grasses from the path; 
• to trim the hedgerows between the the pistes and the school boundary before March.
• weed and prune the flowerbeds.
• in March we will treat the timbers.

RULES [ Some rules information in each Blog in 2026]

Article 5, Area of play and terrain rules

Pétanque is played on any surface. However, by the decision of the organising committee or an umpire, the teams may be required to play on a marked and defined terrain.

In this case, the terrain for National Championships and International Competitions, must have the following minimum dimensions: 15 metres long x 4 metres wide. For other competitions, the Federations may permit variations relative to these minimum dimensions, subject to them not being below 12 meters x 3 meters.

A playing area comprises of an indeterminate number of lanes defined by strings, the size of which must not interfere with the course of play.

These strings marking separate lanes are not dead ball lines except for those marking the end of the lane and the exterior of the terrain. When the lanes are placed end to end, the end lines connecting the lanes are dead ball lines.

When the terrains of play are enclosed by barriers, these must be a minimum distance of 1 meter from the exterior line of the playing area.

Games are played to 13 points, with the possibility of leagues and qualifying heats being played to 11 points.

Some competitions can be organised within time limits.

These must always be played within marked lanes and all the lines marking these lanes are dead ball lines.

Article 6, Start of play and rules regarding the circle

The players must draw lots (toss a coin) to decide which team will choose the terrain, if it has not been allocated by the organisers, and to be the first to throw the jack.

If the lane has been designated by the organisers, the jack must be thrown on this lane. The teams concerned must not go to a different lane without the umpire’s permission.

Any member of the team winning the draw chooses the starting point and places or traces a circle on the ground of a size that the feet of each player can fit entirely inside it. However, a drawn circle may not measure less than 35 cm or more than 50 cm in diameter.

Where a prefabricated circle is used, it must be rigid and have an internal diameter of 50 cm (tolerance: + or – 2 mm).

Folding circles are permitted but on condition they are of a model approved by the FIPJP with regard, in particular, to the rigidity.

The players are required to use the regulation circles provided by the organisers.

They must also accept the regulation rigid circles or the FIPJP approved folding circles provided by their opponent. If both teams have one of these circles, the choice will be decided by the team that won the draw.

The circle must be drawn (or placed) more than 1 metre from any obstacle and at least 1.5 metres from another throwing circle or jack in use.

The interior of the circle can be completely cleared of grit/pebbles etc. during the end but must be put back in good order when the end is over.

The players’ feet must be entirely on the inside of the circle and not encroach on its perimeter and they must not leave it or be lifted completely off the ground until the thrown boule has touched the ground.

No part of the body may touch the ground outside the circle.

Any player not respecting this rule shall incur the penalties as provided in article 35. As an exception, those disabled in the lower limbs are permitted to place only one foot inside the circle, but the other foot must not be in front of it.

For players throwing from a wheelchair, at least one wheel (that on the side of the throwing arm) must rest inside the circle.

If a player picks up the circle when there are boules still to be played, the circle is replaced but only the opponents are allowed to play their boules.

The circle is not considered to be an out of bounds area.

In all cases the circles must be marked before the jack is thrown.

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

The team winning the toss, or the previous end will have only one attempt to throw the jack.

If this jack is not valid it is handed to the opponent who must place it on the terrain at a valid position.

If the jack is not placed in a valid position by the second team, the player who placed it shall be subject to the penalties outlined in article 35, In the event of a repeat offence, a new card will be issued to the whole team, in addition to any cards previously received.

The throwing of the jack by one member of the team does not imply that they are obliged to be the first to play.

The players must mark the position of the jack initially and after each time it is moved. No claims will be allowed for an unmarked jack and the umpire will rule only on the position of the jack on the terrain.

Article 7, Valid distances for the thrown jack

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

1) That the distance separating it from the internal edge of the circle must be - 6 metres minimum and 10 metres maximum for Juniors and Seniors. - For competitions intended for younger players, shorter distances may be applied.

2) That the throwing circle must be a minimum of 1 metre from any obstacle and 1.5 metres from another circle or jack in use.

3) That the jack must be a minimum of 50 cm from any obstacle and from the end line of the lane, it must also be a minimum of 1.5 metres from another circle or jack in use. (note: no minimum distance is required from the “side” line that separates the lanes or the dead ball lines at the side of the lanes).

4) That the jack must be visible to the player whose feet are placed astride the extreme limits of the interior of the circle and whose body is absolutely upright. In case of dispute on this point, the umpire decides, without appeal, if the jack is visible. At the following end the jack is thrown from a circle placed or traced 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, 1.5 metres from another circle or jack in use.

- The throwing of the jack could not be made to all regulation distances. In the first case the player places or traces the circle at the regulation distance from the obstacle or object in question. 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 the jack has not been thrown in accordance with the rules defined above, the opposing team will place the jack in a valid position on the terrain. They may also move the circle back, in accordance with the conditions defined in these rules, if the first team’s positioning of the circle did not allow the jack to be thrown the maximum distance.

In any case, the team which lost the jack after the invalid throw must play the first boule.

The team that won the right to throw the jack have a maximum of one minute to do so.

The team that won the right to place the jack after the unsuccessful throw of the opponent must do so immediately.

Article 8, For the thrown jack to be valid

If the thrown jack is stopped by an umpire, an opponent, a spectator, an animal or any moving object, it is not valid and must be thrown again.

If the thrown jack is stopped by a member of the team the opponent will place the jack in a valid position. If after the throwing of the jack, a first boule is played, the opponent still has the right to contest the validity of its position except in the case when the jack has been placed by a team member.

Before the jack is given to the opponent to place, both teams must have recognised that the throw was not valid, or an umpire must have decided it to be so.

If the opponent has also played a boule, the jack is definitely deemed valid and no objection is admissible.

Article 9, Dead Jack

During an end The jack is dead in the following 7 cases:

1) When the jack is displaced into an out of bounds area, even if it comes back on to the authorised playing area. A jack straddling the boundary of an authorised terrain is valid. It becomes dead only after having completely crossed the boundary of the authorised terrain or the dead ball line, that is to say, when it is entirely beyond the boundary when viewed from directly above. A puddle, on which a jack floats freely, is considered to be an out of bounds area.

2) When, still on the authorised terrain, the moved jack is not visible from the circle, as defined in article 7. However, a jack masked by a boule is not dead. The umpire is authorised to temporarily remove a boule to declare whether the jack is visible.

3) When the jack is displaced to more than 20 metres (for Juniors and Seniors) or 15 metres (for the younger players) or less than 3 metres from the throwing circle.

4) When on marked out playing areas, the jack crosses more than one lane immediately to the side of the lane in use and when it crosses the end line of the lane.

5) When the displaced jack cannot be found, the search time being limited to 5 minutes.

6) When an out of bounds area is situated between the jack and the throwing circle.

7) When, in time limited games, the jack leaves the designated playing area.

Article 10, Displacement of obstacles

It is strictly forbidden for players to press down, displace or crush any obstacle whatever on the playing area. However, the player about to throw the jack is authorised to test the landing point with one of their boules by tapping the ground no more than three times.

Furthermore, the player who is about to play, or one of their partners, may fill in a hole which would have been made by one boule played previously.

For not complying with this rule, especially in the case of sweeping in front of a boule to be shot, the players incur the penalties outlined in article 35.

Article 11, Changing of jack or boule

Players are forbidden to change the jack or a boule during a game except in the following cases:

1) The one or the other cannot be found, the search time being limited to 5 minutes.

2) The one or the other is broken: in this case the largest part is taken into consideration. If boules remain to be played, it is immediately replaced, after measuring, if necessary, by a boule or a jack of identical or similar diameter.

At the next end the player concerned can take a new complete set of boules.