TY Start Up for 2026/2027:
We restarted the TY Project in conjunction with St. Fintan's HS on Friday 2nd October. Ms Davenport, the TY coordinator, attended with 23 students to start the playing season. They will start the Friday school day with the Boules returning to school for 11:00 a.m. They depart Alden Park by 10:30. Over the course of the academic year there will be three or four groups.
Our thanks to Tommy, Agnes, Larry and John who volunteered this morning. The students started playing after a short introduction on a lovely morning and within a short space of time their competitive instincts shone through plus their general sporting prowess and notable skill levels.
Any members who wish to support the project please contact Tom D as we are trying to create a group of about 8 BBC volunteers with 3+ available each Friday. Various school holidays and 'weather' days mean the committment is not too onerous across the school year. [ Photos by agreement with the school]
Maintenance:
We greeted two volunteers who were litter picking in Alden Park last week. They are part of a Bayside Community Association volunteer litter picking group who look after the various parks in the Bayside region. Our thanks to Philly and Theresa for their unsung work.
We continue to maintain the area around our own pistes. Recently we edged the pathways:
Next we will be facing off the hedge by the school yard where the growth is encroaching towards the pistes. We will also prune / maintain the flower beds. We will get the leaf litter collection baskets ready for the aurumn leaf fall. LetTom D know if you are available for occasional maintenance work.
Compound and Defibrillator:
We are in ongoing communication with the school / Fingal and MSFC regarding the use of the Compound; the relocation of the Defibrillator at the rear of the school and the condition of some of the Standing Stones. Hopefully, all will be resolved by the next Blog!
IPA Crossroads:
The Irish Pétanque Association is at a cross roads in its management of the growing organisation. Some of the long-serving officers have retired or are planning to leave office by the AGM next Spring. From 5 affiliated clubs in 2015 to 24 affiliated clubs in 2026 the scale and complexity of the operation requires fresh inputs and officers.
Tom and Eileen D will represent BBC at the proposed conference / think-tank being organised in Athlone, shortly. Should any BBC members wish to become involved please let me know. Check the attached posters for grearer detail.
IPA Interclub Competition in Bushy Park on Sat.19th Sept:
BBC Team: Ciarán, Dirk, Irene, Kessen, Gerry, Larry, Tom D.
We competed in the IPA Interclub competition. The day-long event was a challenge with players playing singles, doubles and triples against each of the other clubs across the day. Ciarán chose the teams for each round with Irene having to play continuously as our only lady participant. The Sligo/Longford amalgamation which was formed just a fortnight previously, at the Sligo CC event were the eventual winners. While we weren't in the winners enclosure it was a good learning experience judging by Gerry and Kessen's comments afterwards on the BBC WhatsApp.
Strategy, communication, deliberation and division of roles and development of 'Shooting' skills are all involved.
IPA Celtic Challenge Qualifier in Sligo on Sat 5th Sept:
Ciarán, Hamed and Dirk represented BBC at the the CC Qualifier in Sligo on Sat 5th Sept. They had mixed fortunes pitted against some of the regular CC teams in the country. Four teams qualified from the nine teams competing. The CC is in Wales next year in early May. Like many of the teams present they would have liked better outcomes particularly in some of the games where a slight misjudgement or a chance happening skewed the game towards the opposition. A learning experience in a beautiful location. Well done to the players for taking the chance to participate.
Nerja 2027:
A group of BBC Ladies have organised to link up with Lucan players in Nerja in March 2027. Sharyon got the boule rolling and Irene, Patricia, Gertie and Eveanna are travelling. We wish them well on this social / pétanque venture.
Tom Walsh Trophy Competitions:The Monday / Saturday competition has reached the finals stage. Ciarán will organise a day when the Quarter, Semis and Final are played within a two hour time frame with the opportunity for spectators to be present and generate some excitment at the end of the tournament.
Those who qualified through the random pairs on each competition day now have the chance to play true singles leading to our eventual winner.
If for any reason a quarter finalist is not available on the chosen date their slot goes to the next available candidate to enable completion of that quarterly event. Good luck all.
The next competition starts shortly [Ciarán will advise] and is open to all BBC members who wish to participate on one or both days as there are two pathways to the finals of each Quarter.
Lucan rematch:
The Lucan rematch that was scheduled for Friday 4th Sept was cancelled at their request as they couldn't muster enough players for a Friday match and between holidays and internal Griffeen events they requested an agreed date in October. More anon.......
Random photos of play on different days in sunny September:
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