131st Post: Summer's coming.....the rain is stopping, hopefully!!!

 Friday Night Social Boules:

Ciarán started the 2024 Friday Evening Social Boules last Friday 26th at 7:15 pm till dusk.   The weather, though cool, permitted play for the 17 players.  We got two timed games and a couple of tipples before dusk.... don't examine the tables too closely!!

Saturday Coaching:

Our new initiative of having a half hour of coaching before play on different aspects of the game started yesterday.  Since 'shooting' is the skill least often performed, Ciatán concentrated on that with a group, while Tom focused on accuracy of 'pointing'.  We will change about and try other skills each Saturday. The 16 players enjoyed the novel activity before the normal Saturday morning play from 1100 to 1300 hours.

General play after coaching....

Concentration on Pointing control.....

Concentration on Shooting....

Schools Coaching:

Ciarán started coaching a fourth class group on Thursday afternoon, by arrangement.  It was very successful and the pupils loved the engagement and the teacher was learning also, with a view to incorporating best practice into the P.E. curriculum in the future, without assistance.  Out thanks to Ciarán for devoting time to this expansion of interest in a new generation.  He definitely thinks that a single class suffices per session with greater benefit to the participants.

Other classes will continue to avail of the timetabled, weekday slots from 1300 to 1500 hours until holiday times and afterwards.  We still hope to have a Parent/Grandparent and Child option in the near future... When we are playing match play we will need to avoid this slot  to prevent any overlap.

BBC - Teacher Meetings: 

We have been in contact with the Principal and PE. coordinator in Bayside SNS with a view to having a session or two with some staff so they are more familiar with the game and how best to organise their class groups.  When the two new Pistes are installed there will be even more scope for school involvement.  Watch this space....

Update on New Pistes:

We recently received an email from Fingal Operations to say that the installation is budgeted for and gone out to tender.  The original hoped for start in April could not happen because of the exceedingly wet Spring.  Works will hopefully start in early May!!

BBC in IPA Competition:

Following Ciarán, Dirk and Tom Ds exploits recently in the IPA Singles Qualifier ,  Dirk and Ciarán entered the Leinster Doubles Qualifier.  They performed very well on a beautiful day in Marlay Park.  They were fifth when four teams qualified from Leinster.  By their own admission they let one game go away from them where a victory would have meant qualification.  We are not far off the mark in the standard required and we would like to see others play in 'Open Club Competitions', if not IPA events, to come out of our comfort zone and test the waters..... below Ciarán in action v Dirk!!

Park Petanque Open Mixed Triples - Sat May 11th - 10 a.m. start

BBC has entered two teams in this non-IPA open competition.  

Team A: Joan, Maureen and Dirk

Team B: Sharyon, Terry and Tom D.

It will be a great opportunity to play competitively against players from other clubs.  Spectators who want to see the setup and standard are welcome to come and view.  If it is held in the newly refurbished Bushy Park, Terenure where there is a market and food stalls on a Saturday to distract.  Bring a foldable chair.  More anon....