KENT PETANQUE ASSOCIATION

ISSUE No.56 FEBRUARY 2011

Page 1 KPA GAZETTE

Whittlesey was originally a mud island surrounded by the sea, hence the original name of “Whittlesea”, and then a few hundred years ago the government of the day introduced a back-to-work scheme for the peasants who drained the surrounding area with ditches, dykes, and land drains, and called it “fen”. Whittlesey of today has a certain charm, and a variety of interesting buildings that cover several centuries, but the surrounding area can look a bit bleak on a sunless, wet and windy day in winter. Fishermen are attracted to this area all year round to fish the many ditches, known locally as “drains”. Pretty sure that Chinese food is covered by a few restaurants, not so sure about a good old English Indian restaurant though…....has a few good pubs, hotels and guest houses. The real culinary at-traction, (not mentioned on the towns web-site) is the SUNSHINE CAFÉ, located in the town square. For an excellent good value “blow-out”, including a fry-up, a roast or healthy omelette-salad-and-chips, look no further than the Sunshine Café. Arrive in Whittlesey an hour before the petanque competition and enjoy a feast with the locals that flock to the café, the meal will set you up for the weekend. And….so to the weekend of 19/20th February, a competition organised by Angie and John Goughan, not locals, but who live and travel from York to put on these successful friendly competitions, usually twice a year, that attracts teams from different parts of the EPA empire. Angie was also elected as membership secretary of the E.P.A. a couple of years ago. For this weekend there were six teams…….Team Zimmo from the Chiltern Region, Team Wetherby from the Northern Region, Team Boulodrome made up of locals and play-ers from the Eastern Region, Team Yorkies from York as the name suggests, and two teams from Kent. The “A” team from Kent was made up of players from the George P.C. and Vale Tavern P.C., namely…..Richard King, Brian King, Keith Atkinson, Gary Atkinson, Michelle Cregeen and Alan Cregeen. Tour Manager and general dogs body, Brian King had good reason to boast that he had managed to negotiate a deal for £22 per head for a nights stay at the local Holiday Inn, the 22 quid also included breakfast….nice one Brian !

Whittlesey…..a small town in Cambridgeshire about 6 miles from Peterborough. A town known to Petan-quers as being the location of the only permanent indoor petanque facility in England, not that you would know it from the towns web-site where the only mention of petanque comes as a sub-sub-section of bowls under sports.

The other Kent team, were players from Hartley Country Club P.C.,

namely…..Ken Potter, Barbara Potter, Hilda Griffiths, John Griffiths, Jim Carr, Babs Carr, Mags Yates and Ron Yates…..who stayed at the COBWEBBS Guest House to enjoy the best ever breakfast anywhere in the world. The weekend started in the Sunshine Café...the Hartley lot arriving first in plenty of time to tackle the full menu…...several mugs of tea, fry-up, and pudding. The Kent “A” team ar-rived tardily and wet to bolt down their fry-ups, without puddings. The Kent “A” team were smart all dressed in Kent Team strips, and the Hartley all-sorts were dressed in a variety of colours and styles.

Kent “A” Team—Alan Cregeen, Michelle Cregeen, Richard King, Gary Atkinson, Uncle Keith Atkinson and Brian King

Hartley Team—Ken Potter, Barbara Potter, Mags Yates, John Griffiths, Babs Carr, Jim Carr , Hilda Griffiths and Ron Yates

The competition started at 1pm on the Saturday with 6 players of each team playing a variety of matches. Saturday com-prised 3 rounds of dou-bles and 2 rounds of tri-ples. A buffet was pro-vided midway and the day finished around 8:30pm. The Whittlesey indoor bouladrome is a good fa-cility with 9 good size pistes, a bar and seating area, plus heating. After a jolly good drink and a nights rest, the competition continued on the Sunday morning at 10 am, with 2 rounds of triples and 3 rounds of doubles, with a buffet at lunchtime. The day finished at 7pm with winners being Team Zimmo who collected several bottles of wine as prizes. The Kent Team “A” finished 3rd.

KEN PINDER—JACK MILNER

and SHARON FANE for providing

info for this months Gazette

Final Results—1st Zimmo, 2nd Bouladrome, 3rd Kent, 4th Yorkies, 5th Wetherby and bringing up the rear were Hartley in 6th place. continued

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Top team, winners of the competition TEAM ZIMMO, - Ben Gallimore, Sharon Fane, Steve Zimmerman, Martin Hughes,

Emma Jones and Miles Gooda, from the Chiltern Region

Sharon Fane was the spokesperson for Team Zimmo, and is also the Public Relation Officer of the Chiltern Region, and has provided a few com-ments for the Gazette. All the team members are good friends and be-long to the Engine P.C. of the Chiltern Region.

Martin Hughes is the Chairman of the Chiltern Region and Steve Zimmerman is the Vice Chairman. The team also included Jo Crosier who played on Saturday only. The team mem-bers also play for other teams and Leagues other than the Engine P.C. at Baldock. The team did not stay overnight in Whittlesey, they travelled both ways, Saturday and Sun-day, a 45 minute drive each way. They suffered a delay of departure on the Saturday morning…….”Emma had a leak at home”….a problem relating to small bore plumbing I guess ! ...and was replaced at the last minute by Jo Crosier stepping in to save the day. Saturday petanque play was competitive with Zimmo finishing 2 games behind the Bouladrome team, but Zimmo came good on Sunday and finished as winners. A good weekend had by all, thanks go to John and Angie Goughan.

It is sad to report:- After 16 years the “Old Sheaf PC”, better known as the “Sheaf”, has unfortunately ceased to operate as an active club. To allow for the final administrative activities this will take effect from the end of February 2011. This being the consequence of an EGM earlier in the month. It was a natural replacement for the original local “Wheatsheaf Club”, when in early 1995 Morton Almond & I, as ‘Founders’, then with others, resurrected boule play again at Chatham’s “Wheatsheaf PH” (on Capstone Road, Luton); after an absence of several years at that venue. I would like to thank past members, the local Medway clubs & players who supported the “Sheaf’s” events over the years; also those who travelled regu-larly from afar to take part too. The Kent & Medway Towns Newspaper Sports Editors must also be thanked for their splendid support & publicity coverage (including photos) over the years for petanque; thanks also to the KPA magazine too. Jack Milner Treasurer & PRO 21st February 2011

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Sometime... early February 2011,. a couple of winter matches took place, involving a re-arranged game between a D.O.W. team and a team from the Beauty of Bath PC, plus a Plate Cup round match between another D.O.W. team called the Gunners and the “Centurions” from Hart-ley...both KPA winter League.

The membership of the Duke of Wellington continue to adjust, maintain and improve their Petanque facility, which gives the overall im-pression of a well organised and successful Petanque Club, located in the garden of a de-lightful Kent pub. The landlord Jon Sutton and his wife Helen run this very successful pub and bar restaurant, and provide support for the Petanque Club. Noticed...a very new timber shelter has been built at the edge of the pistes, a perfect example of excellent carpen-try, built by someone with both skill and knowhow. These piste-side shelters, with rudi-mentary forms of heating are much appreci-ated for matches played in the winter period.

The restaurant staff are close at hand to provide the post match supper of a tasty dish of “sausage-potato-soup” full of warmth, happiness and protein. Bill Stotesbury is the Chairman of the Petanque Club, ably assisted by an active commit-tee that also encourages a social side to the Club. continued

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Last month the Gazette contained an article about coach outings to the coast and in particular the halfway stopping off point at the Central Hotel Gillingham, that was located opposite the STAR MEADOW SPORTS CLUB on the old A2.

The article had no real bearing on petanque, however it did fill a few pages in a month when petanque news was very thin on the terrain. The small world that it is, produced a response from Ken Pinder of the Duke of Wellington Ryarsh Petanque Club, whose family owned a coach and taxi firm in the 60/70’s that operated outside Gravesend Railway Sta-tion. Ken was often the driver of the “chara” on the outing to the coast, and proudly re-cords that he never put “D” on the chara wheel, and never fell so low as to fiddle the “wheel money sweep”. Ken Recalls…..my families business was called “AUTO-REPS” and we op-erated licensed taxis, minibuses and coaches. I drove on a number of “BEANO’S” down to “MARGIT” and recall that the canny drivers got together, and if your party was an all male group, then you looked out for an all female coach to link up with. Drivers would liaise in the Dreamland coach park and rendezvous at the same pub on the way home. This would generate considerable favour for the drivers and the financial appreciation was often more than the days wages. This was the era of Hot Pants….wow did that they raise the male testosterone ! Looking back I only remember the fun, but the coach could get pretty “messed up” with picked onions everywhere, and beer and fag smoke to cut with a knife. Ken also records that not only did the Beano travellers wear their Sun-day Best, the drivers of the coaches (and taxis) at the time were immaculately dressed in uniform, cap, and highly polished shoes…..polished shoes, a habit still followed by Ken to this day !

Several petanque players have already sampled the delights of the bar restaurant, and the wide range of good quality beers on offer in the genuine article old Kent pub atmosphere. The surrounding fields, woods and lanes have some enjoyable walks in the perfect Kent coun-tryside, with walkers finishing at the pub for a good value, good quality lunch. Traditional jazz is also a regular feature at the pub. Landlord Jon, and Helen are very active, supporters of local charities and Jon will be

taking part in the “Three Peaks” walk, Snowdon, Ben Nevis and another in the Lake Dis-trict, all in 24 hours in support of the Heart of Kent Hospice. Try the Duke of Wellington for a good night out…..Tel. 01732 842318 web-site…..www.dukeofwellingtonryarsh.com

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Through the extreme weather of the winter, the Cup matches have progressed with the semi-final KPA Winter League matches results being…. CUP…. Hartley Friends 1—V—George Dragons 3 Hartley Countrymen 3—V—Toviliers 1 PLATE.. Tovil Titans 3—V—GRFC 1 D.O.W. Gunners 2 (33) - V—Hartley Centurions 2 (38)

Which means that the KPA Winter Cup Final will be between…. GEORGE DRAGONS - V - HARTLEY COUNTRYMEN And the Plate Final will be between….. TOVIL TITANS - V - HARTLEY CENTURIONS

And the matches will be held on THURSDAY 3rd MARCH 2011 at the VILLAGER PUBLIC HOUSE at VIGO VILLAGE, home of the Villager Petanque Club. Supporters and spectators will be made very welcome for the Petanque and to join Dave Littley and the staff in the bar with the open fire, atmosphere and after match buffet. The Winter League management offer thanks to Dave for providing the venue for the finals.

The Annual General Meeting of the KPA Winter League and trophy presentation will be held at Hartley Country Club on 24th March at 8pm.

The ever popular KPA Summer League Competitions will be starting soon, and to allow sufficient time for the organisers to arrange the leagues and match dates your Club and Team/s entry information should be registered before the end of February 2011…...go to MICK NASH kentpetanqueleague@talktalk.net

URGENT—- the OPTIMISTS NEED YOU ! The OPTIMISTS was one of the 4 founding member Club’s of the Kent Summer League back in 1977, and apart from a

forced change of venue for a couple of years, have been playing at the KINGS HEAD P.H. Staplehurst since it’s inception. The OPTIMISTS is a Division 3 Team based at the Kings Head and desperately needs 3 or 4 new players in order to have enough members to compete in the KPA Summer League this coming season. If you are an individual interested in joining the OPTIMISTS or if you currently play for a Club that is prepared to let you play on loan, you will be guaranteed a game most weeks. If you are interested, or know of someone who may be interested please contact ALAN HEASMAN on 01580 712918

It is said that the players from the Vale P.C. have moved their two teams to join another 2 teams at Northdown, where 6 pistes have

been installed, we await conformation and details. Rumoured that the George P.C. will not be hosting Sunday competitions this coming season, yet to be confirmed.

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THE MEADOW PETANQUE CLUB Invites entry for the

ROB COOTER TRIPLES Sun.20th MARCH 2011

The Star Meadow Sports Club Darland Avenue Gillingham ME7 3AN

Registration Fee £15 per team Registration closes at 9:45am All proceeds to the Special Baby Unit Darenth Valley Hospital

Competition prizes sponsored by Rob’s family

Food & Drink Available all day

SEAL PETANQUE CLUB

OPEN DOUBLES COMPETITION

SUNDAY 6th MARCH

THE WILLIAM BUNTING

MEMORIAL SHIELD

AT THE WHITE ROCK,

UNDERRIVER

SEVENOAKS Registration £10 per team Main & Plate Competitions Registration closes 9:30 For further details contact

HOWARD SANDOM 07860 711295

AS A GENERAL RULE….FOR ALL OPEN

COMPETITIONS….DO NOT BRING,

AND,CONSUME YOUR OWN FOOD AND

DRINK….PLEASE PURCHASE AT THE

VENUE.

Something “NEW” for Petanque—a copy of a

message sent to members of the DUKE OF WELLINGTON P.C. –goes something like this…….”In France the ideal time for a game of Petanque is late afternoon when after a friendly get together, players have time for an aperitif before heading home for dinner. Can you imagine anything more idyllic and a wonderful way to start the week-end. Well, now D.O.W.P.C. members will have the opportunity to follow the French habit. Starting Friday 11th February members can meet and have a couple of games or some specialised practise and then a drink, perhaps stay on for a meal or plump for the take-away Fish and Chips, the best in the area.” This is a new combined social and Petanque weekly event at the DUKE OF WELLINGTON between 4pm and 6pm, and it appears that if it “takes-off “for the members, then players from other Clubs will be made welcome to join in….if you are interested please contact Ken Pinder at kenpinder@btinternet.com

International Petanque and Bowls Competitions over the Easter Weekend 21st to 25th April. The organisers report that already they have teams from several countries registered. JOSE LUIS NAVARRO is the man to contact for all the details at www.santasusannacup.com OR Tel. 34934643977 Nearest airport, Barcelona or Gerona.

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Page 10

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shirts, sweatshirts, rugby shirts, fleeces, jackets, caps, bags, tow-

els, flags and other garments, sew-on or iron-on badges.

EMBROIDERY DEPOT can offer

up to 15% price reduction for PETANQUE CLUB orders.

ALAN CREGEEN proprietor.

EMBROIDERY DEPOT 28 ELVINGTON ROAD

DOVER—KENT CT15 4EQ

Tel. 01304 830809 or 07702106581

www.embroiderydepot.co.uk

sales@embroiderydepot.co.uk

All you need for petanque—supplies from the on line brochure. Boule—accessories—trophies—

bags and clothing. www.pycpetanque.co.uk Tel. 01359 250829

Shop and Sales Office at… Pen-y-Coed Petanque—Up Street—Bradwell Bury St. Edmonds—Suffolk—IP31 1AA

The KENT PETANQUE GAZETTE is edited by RON YATES. Any item of news for inclusion in future editions should be sent to e-mail

ronyates6@btinternet.com The views expressed in the KENT PETANQUE GAZETTE are those of the

editor and contributors only, and do not necessarily reflect the views of

the KENT PETANQUE ASSOCIATON or the

ENGLISH PETANQUE ASSOCIATION

E & OE

KPA GAZETTE

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AVAILABLE In the village of Diano San Pietro - fully furnished 2 bedroom villa is approx 2 miles from the Mediterranean beaches of DIANO MARINA—nearest airport is Genoa—for full details contact JOHN SUGUATO Tel. 01634 312675 See also Gazette Issue 50 for full report