Monmouth Pétanque Club

The Monmouth team is still unbeaten in the BIG league. On May 20th they beat The Star 4  – 0, on May 28th they drew 2 – 2 with Abergavenny PC. The team is currently 3rd in Division 3.

Having decided to enter the Boules in Gwent (BIG) Petanque League for the first time this year Monmouth Petanque Club have completed their first two rounds. These two matches have resulted in two wins and have currently placed the Club in second place in their division. The league matches are played on Monday nights throughout the summer finishing in September when promotion and relegation places will be resolved. The club selects the league teams on the basis that all players who want to, no matter what their ability, get equal chances to play in these competitive matches.

On 14^th April 2013, Monkstone Pétanque Club hosted a friendly match against Monmouth at the Penylan Bowling Club.  In spite of the weather, the hospitality was faultless and everyone had an enjoyable afternoon.

The teams were tied 3-3 after the pairs but Monkstone won the triples 3-1, coming out overall winners at 6-4.

For the first time the club entered a team into the Welsh National round of the sport’s European Cup for Clubs. The competition was held at the Monkstone Pétanque Club, Cardiff on Sunday 3rd March. Representing the club were Chris Marshall, Paul Macer-Wright, Vince & Leah Lewis, Len Humphries, Roger Norgrove and Peter & Barbara Clarke.

After the morning qualifying rounds the team finished with 5 wins and 5 losses. This put Monmouth in an afternoon play off with the Caerleon Pétanque Club for fifth place. The competition was close all the way through, ending with equal games won but Monmouth winning on the points count-back.

Club Captain Peter Clarke has expressed his delight with the skills and determination of the players in their first competition of this magnitude and is looking forward to further success for the players and the club.  Well done!

The competition was won by the Wheatsheaf Pétanque Club, winning by 2 points in the very last game of the final against the Monskstone Inn Pétanque Club.  Full details are to be found on the WPA website at http://www.welshpetanque.org.uk.

A general meeting to discuss the programme for 2013 was held on Thursday 28^th February at the Rockfield Community Centre. The meeting was attended by 18 members with apologies for absence being received from a further three. Topics discussed included frequency of club meetings and plans for competitions throughout the year, both internal and against other clubs.

The meeting decided against running a summer league but unanimously supported the club competition day, one of the highlights of the 2012 season.  Support was also strong for friendly matches and holding mêlées.  Subject to there being sufficient support the club will be entering a team in the Big League, matches being played on Monday evenings throughout the season.

The club held its 2013 AGM on Thursday 31st January 2013 at the Rockfield Community Centre. The meeting was attended by 16 members with apologies for absence being received from a further eleven. The outgoing chairman presented his report for 2012. The treasurer’s report was circulated and approved. Given the healthy state of the club’s finances, membership fees were pegged at £25 for seniors and £10 for juniors for the current year.

Topics discussed included lighting for the terrain, conditions of the terrain license, possible competitions for 2013 and the potential for involvement with the Monmouth Twinning Association.

The officers elected for 2013 were:  Chairman – Chris Marshall, Vice Chairman – Paul Macer-Wright, Secretary – Richard Wooller, Treasurer – Jane Moody, Club Captain – Peter Clarke.  Jo Clifford agreed to continue as Catering Organiser and Rob Clifford as Terrain Manager.

On Saturday 29th September the club held it’s inaugural Club Championships in glorious sunshine.

The competition comprised of two separate Petanque matches of Singles and Pairs.

The morning competition was the Singles in which there were 16 individual entries. The format was a qualification tournament of three rounds which provided the top four singles players, who then played off for the Trophy. In the 3rd & 4th place play off Hywel Rees defeated Diane Lake and in the 1st & 2nd place play off Peter Clarke defeated Richard Wooller.

In the afternoon, 10 teams competed for the Club Pairs Championship. Using the same format of three qualification rounds followed by a play off for the Trophy the pair of Richard and Wendy Wooller defeated Monmouth Petanque Club President Graham Pritchard and Chris Marshall in a very tense and close battle by 13 points to 11.

After the competitions Graham Pritchard thanked the Club Members who provided an excellent buffet lunch, in particular Jane Moody and Jo Clifford. He then presented the winners and runners-up with their trophies.

The Winter League is now complete. The final positions are below. Guy has promised to do a write up later.

After much hard work by the committee and a couple of false starts the terrain was finally opened in May 2011. We have 7 pistes and 43 members.

In July the club was asked to provide a triple for the match in Brecon between the WPA and the Marches league.  Richard, Wendy and Paul played and won four of their games in a convincing victory by the WPA team. Becky Minshull one of our junior members played for Wales juniors against England in July.

 All the initial training at Abergavenny and the coaching by Chris and Len in June and July paid off in August when we played our first friendly match. We won 9 – 2 against Abergavenny. Several more friendlies with mixed results followed. A  2 -8 loss to Ross at home in September, a 7 -3 victory against Monkstone at home in October, a 4 – 8 loss away to Monkstone in December and finally a 6-9 loss away at Ross. I am sure Graham would want me to point out that in our first year of competition we only lost 2 more games that we won. A very good performance for a new club.

All the teams that visited Monmouth have said they would like to return this year. I’m not sure if this is because they like playing at Monmouth or if they just want more cake, hopefully both.

Both Chris and Len completed their WPA coaching courses during the year and their advice to all has been very good.

Paul

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