58th Post.....Let's Park that for a while!!...

Alden Park is getting a facelift....the paths are being restored to their original width.  The council operatives arrived with all the relevant gear this morning and despite the atrocious forecast they managed to completely clear one path and started on the second one.

 Not too much to report on the boules front as we have stalled the competition while we are in Phase 3 restrictions.  We are playing at our normal times with masks, social distancing and restricted numbers.

Ciaran is in the process of organising our first Matchplay Competition.  He is seeking names and creating pairings where necessary.  The knockout competition will be played mainly in casual times with the best of three games deciding the winners.  A small fee will cover a prize and a voucher to support a local business.  We'll keep you posted.

Ciaran and Tom met with the Principal, Ms Lynch, and Sports Post Holder, Ms Reddin, in Bayside SNS today after school.

They are happy to be included in the timetable being created for the weekly use of the boules pistes.

• We outlined the potential benefits of this outdoor activity.
• We gave them a copy of the provisional timetable allocating Fridays and each afternoon for the school.
• We game them the Decathlon brochure identifying the relatively reasonable start-up costs.
• We offered to introduce selected staff members to the sport at their convenience.
• They hope to start play with SEN pupils and find out for themselves the nature and benefits of the game.  Through this they will discover how to adapt play with the current Covid Restrictions.
• If the school is using the facility at allocated times adults should not play at those times

Rules:

BOULES Article 16, 

Throwing of the first and following boules The first boule of an end is thrown by a player belonging to the team that has won the draw or has been the last to score. After that, it is the team that does not hold the point that plays. 

The player must not use any object or draw a line on the ground to guide him/her in playing a boule or mark its landing point. Whilst playing his or her last boule, it is forbidden to carry a boule in the other hand. The boules must be played one at a time. Any boule thrown cannot be replayed. 

However, boules must be replayed if they have been stopped or deviated accidentally from their course between the throwing circle and the jack by a boule or jack coming from another game, or by an animal or any moving object (football, etc.) and in the case defined in Article 8, second paragraph. 

It is forbidden to moisten the boules or the jack. Before throwing his/her boule, the player must remove from it any trace of mud or whatever deposit, under threat of penalties outlined in Article 35. 

If the first boule played goes out-of-bounds, it is for the opponent to play first then alternately so long as there are no boules on the designated terrain. 

If after shooting or pointing no boules are left on the designated playing area, the arrangements concerning a dead end as defined in Article 29 apply.