156th Post: Scorchio.....in July

 BBC - St. Anne's Memorial Event:

Nigel ran the annual event in St. Anne's Park very efficiently.  We had 23 participants, in total - a great turnout.  We remembered Mike Deegan, Kitty Rowley, Shay Coyne and Seán Mahon and had a moments silence for them and former players who would like to be playing but can't, currently.

Ciarán was the worthy winner of the Mike Deegan Memorial Trophy with 38 points out of a possible 39!  Sharyon was the runner-up on 34 points and four players Terry, Dirk, Kevin and Tom D were joint third on 32 points.

Thanks to those who set up the area for the event and Yvonne who brought along the gear. We retired to Olive's Room for coffee afterwards where they had set aside four benches for us.  The weather was glorious and the trees provided much needed shade.  Bayside availed of the opportunity to wear their club colours to great effect.

Potential new members:

We are receiving enquiries via email, text and personal engagement from potential new members. A couple attended last night [ Friday Social Boules ] and really enjoyed themselves.  The two Johns from Sutton Park are becomming regulars, also.  Mary arrived from a distance last Tuesday and was welcomed by the Tuesday Group and Deniz [ a very able player ] will hopefully be a regular, in time.  We are expecting Camille to call and play next Wednesday. 

 If a trialist arrives there are spare boules in the store that they can use to try the game.  Please collect them afterwards for others to use.  If committee members are not present please get their contact details for us to follow up.

[ L to R: Martin Cooke, David Kingston, Frank Duffy, John

Doyle and Irene.]

IPA Ladies Doubles Final Sat. 25th July:

BBC entered three teams into the finals in Marlay Park.  There were nine teams in total.  The Tournament director, Kevin, aided by umpires, David Rolland and Dermot Carroll, ran the event extremely well.

Well done to our teams who put themselves forward for the competition.: Irene and Maureen; Sharyon and Terry and Eileen and Yvonne.  Irene and Maureen just missed out on a semi-final place.  We played and looked well.  The winners were able to shoot....not powerfully, but consistently.  The weather was wonderful and we learned much especially as David [umpire] spent a lot of time supporting our players rather than carding them!

Some points to note from David's communication:

• some part of both your feet must remain in contact with the ground, inside the ring, when throwing
• the circle and the coche must be marked in competition
• it is good practice to mark boules that are close to the boundaries
• in competition, if the teams cannot agree a measure, call the umpire
• stand two metres to the rear of the thrower or beyond the coche, not alongside
• no talking, or clacking boules or other distractions when players are throwing
• you cannot contest an umpire's decision
• the score must be agreed before any boules are lifted
• practice stepping out a metre at home......massive variation depending on strides, otherwise
• make a habit of checking the lie of the land and 'fix' one hole, if needed
• good practice for the 'non-thrower' in doubles to go forward to the head and watch the behaviour of the boules and discuss tactics for the next shot.
• you have a minute to throw your boule

Griffeen Valley Pétanque Club - St Vincent de Paul Charity Event on Sat 19th July:

Four BBC players atttended the event in Griffeen, Lucan.  Eileen, Irene, Ciarán and Tom travelled and played well.  Each player contributed to the charity as did other BBC members who coudn't attend. We were pipped to a semi-final place in the Triples Competition.  The ladies played every second game.  Ten teams were involved and though a 'Charity / Fun' event, the competition was serious.  A fraction more attention to the 'team tactics' and we probably would have progressed.  Lovely day in very warm conditions and well hosted by Griffeen.  Owen requested a visit from us to them and we will oblige on Friday 7th August.  We have 15 players signed up to travel.

Open Day: Sun 20th July:

I've learned that we will  need to broadcast the event more widely and creativelty, in future.  Nonetheless, it was very enoyable and members showed up to support.  

Most unusually, a couple from England, Paul and Liz Hanson, who retired to Spain some years ago left their home there for the summer months and were camper-vanning around the more temperate  UK and Ireland.

They had stayed in Howth the previous night and looked up the IPA site map to see where they could play their chosen sport 'Petanca' or Pétanque.  They saw that there were two pistes in the small park, Baltray Park, opposite the entrance to Deer Park but they couldn't park close by.  

They then looked up the map again and saw Bayside Boules Club and drove down. The played casually on the Sunday morning and met Irene who was out dog walking.  She advised them that the 'Open Afternoon' was on later so they remained parked in the cul-de-sac until we began playing at 2 p.m.  They were relatively recent converts to the game but were obsessive enough to look for any areas to play in on their travels.

They were decent players, very affable and delighted to be part of our event.

Bastille Day Boules on Sat. 11th July in Alden Park:

Once again, we were blessed with the weather for our Bastille Day Weekend Event.  As previously, each piste had a different skill in focus with players playing four rounds, in rotation.  Each discipline had a bottle of French Rosé as the prize and an independent judge chose the 'Most French' dresser. Sharyon won that particular prize and it took an 11 person play-off to separate the 'Throw with the non-dominant hand' discipline!!

For most it was a very enjoyable, different day and we also raised €115, by way of a €5 entry fee, to supporting the Irish team due to travel to Thailand for the world Championships in November.  Many thanks one and all for those who set up and dismantled the arena.

Cabinteely Pétanque Club visit to BBC Wed. 8th July

We had a lovely home outing v Cabinteely in Alden Park midweek.  We had nineteen players and they had seventeen....so we lent them a player each round.  After Round 1 it was 'all square' with 54 points each and three wins apiece.  We pulled away in Round 2 leading 54 to 45 with equal wins and losses.  However they won the last Round 54 to 40 points and 4 wins to 2 for BBC.  Thus, they won the overall outing.  Congratulations to them.

In keeping with our tradition we don't have 'Prizes' for these 'friendly' interclubs but we do present the Club or an individual with a presentation pack of HOPE beer.  On this occasion we presented it to Barbara Lyons who recently represented Ireland on a mixed team in the Europeans in Spain.

Maintenance:

Firstly, we wish James well in recovery.  He's missed at the boules but also in his maintenance role.  We hope to see him at the pistes even as a spectator in the near future.

Our thanks to Sharyon, Tom B, and Sean J for the works on the planting beds before the drought.  Hopefully they will recover with the forecast rain.

Next Events:

Monday / Saturday Competition is in full swing in second phase.  

Tuesday , Wednesday, Thursday play

Tuesday evening 'Shooting Practice'.

Friday Night Social boules.

Friday 7th August friendly v Griffeen in Lucan 11 a.m. start.  There for 10:30.  Lunch after for anyone interested in a local hostelry. 

Saturday 15th August IPA Precision Shooting in Griffeen....entries by tonight!

Saturday 30th August Park Pétanque Open Ladies Triples in Bushy Park [ not IPA ]

Saturday 5th September Celtic Challenge Qualifier [for Wales 2027 ] in Sligo. Entries by August 22nd.

 We may have a friendly club match......

Saturday 19th September IPA National Interclub.  Entries by September 5th.