A BANGOR-based pétanque club recently enjoyed entertaining visitors from Dublin.
Earlier this month, North Down Pétanque Club hosted the Seapoint club at Pickie Bowling Club.
In contrast to its guests, the North Down club is now in its 35th year with a number of the original members still playing. Over that time, the club has played at the George (now the Clandeboye Lodge Hotel), the Clandeboye Estate and, for the last two decades, has enjoyed play on a superb purpose-made terrain at Pickie.
The visit from the Seapoint club provided an opportunity for North Down to form a relationship with another club. A similar arrangement with a club from Troon in Scotland used to provide an enjoyable sojourn, but lapsed some years ago.
The occasion took the form of three games between teams from each club, followed by two games between teams composed of players from each club. The aim was to enjoy each other’s company rather than identifying a winner.
After a full afternoon’s play, those involved adjourned to Pickie Bowling Club’s clubhouse for refreshments and a presentation to the Seapoint club as a memento of their visit.
A North Down visit to Seapoint is already envisaged, when each club’s calendar of events will allow.
The game of pétanque, more commonly called ‘boules’ or French bowls, is burgeoning in Ireland, with many new clubs formed in various counties over the last few years.
The game is very similar to that of lawn bowls, with the aim being to get as many of your boules closer to the jack – called a cochonnet – than your opponent. However, rather than the flat, short grass landscape of traditional bowls, pétanque can be played wherever a reasonably level area of small stone or grit presents itself. Many people holidaying in France and elsewhere in Europe will have watched or played the game but may not be aware that it can be accessed and played locally.
North Down Pétanque Club always welcomes new members and, at an annual subscription of £25, provides year-round enjoyment and craic.
The club meets at 7.30pm from April to September and 2.00pm from October to March. Experience is not required and equipment can be provided initially.
The club’s website at NORTHDOWNPETANQUECLUB.ORG provides a comprehensive picture of its history, current events and programmes and further information is available from honorary secretary, George Davidson, via georgewdavidson@btinternet.com or 02891815099.
