Report on the ABC Open

Well the day finally came, all of our hard work was going to be put to the test. The new piste looked very good Mike and Christine finished off the main terrain and cleared away the acorns, we set up the table with the the prizes arrange the registration forms then waited for our guests. Marlene shouted that the coffee was ready so it was straight into the pub.

One of the first group to arrived said that there was trouble on the roads and to expect late arrivals. The sun came out and the temperature start to reach into the high 20's.

All the teams arrive plus a few extra spectators and we were ready to start before 9.50.

Jeff gave a brief welcome, and annouced that last week one of our members had died and the open was going to be dedicated to her "The Rachael Noble Open".

He explain the format for the day and then open the competition.

It was a tremendous days play and thanks to the Pub for the food and the helpers on the day we all enjoyed a great day. Joan came at lunch time to see how things were going and to present the prizes at the end of the day.

The results are published below.

The following are a few pictures from the day.

Sue, just about to point, with Bobby and Dorothy behind

Graham, Kim and Tracy studying the head

Results of ABC Open Triples

Winner of the Main Competition

Merle, Dan, Mark

Runners up in the Main Competition

Mark, Ian, Stewart

Semi Finalist

Main

Semi Finalist Main

Winners of the Plate Competition Debbie, Matt and Mike

Runners up in Plate

Kim, Graham and Tracy

Wednesday at Kirdford

Wednesday afternoon 3 of us spent a couple of hours clearing our neighbours drive of weeds and spreading a ton of shingles. This will enable us to play an extra piste for our competition on Sunday.
Wednesday evening found 11 of us playing just one game in the rain then retiring to the pub for dinner..It was also Jenny's penultimate night as our waitress as she and her partner are heading for pastures new.
We presented Jenny a good luck card and some vouchers from our club, this was met with floods of tears and she had to retire to get her self straight before coming back and thanking us all for the gift.
She did said that she may be back as a customer and hope to see us all again

ABC Open Triples

This is the final week before our first every open competition, we have been weeding the neighbours drive and tomorrow we will be adding a little more gravel. That will give us exactly the right number of piste for the competition.
All we need is one more triples team and then we will have a full house.
Anyone out there would like a competition on Sunday book now to Jeff, only one place left.

See you all on Sunday

Spot the Bum Competition

Back by popular demand.

Spot the bum, answer on a post card

ABC Wasps at home to Nomads SCPA League

The Wasps went into their third game in two days and our friends from Holybourne came to take us on. The evening was very overcast and we expected rain any minute, but for once it stayed off all evening.
The Wasps won the two triples.
Then came the three doubles matches, Jeff and Ian lost their games this was down to the superb pointing of Marion, which was just to much for us.
Mike and Christine came through giving us the match and as always we had to wait for David and Hazel to finish their opponents off.
Another very good result the final score being 4 - 1 to the Wasps.

Wasps.

Ian, Jeff, David, Hazel, Mike and Christine

Nomads.

David S, Marion, Vernon, David P, Yvonne and Margaret

Double header ABC Wasps v Cobbetts SCPA league

As Cobbetts asked to play both games on the same day we decided that we would have one game in the morning followed by lunch then the second game in the afternoon

AM Game
This was the Wasps home game, it again looked as though we would get a good soaking.
As we set up the piste it poured with rain, then just before the start of the game it stopped.
The Wasps took both of the triples games 13 - 2, 13 - 3, but the doubles wasn't quite as easy. We took two games 13 - 10, 13 - 4, but lost one 13 - 1. This gave us a 4 - 1 win.

PM Game
This was our away game. The Wasps took both of the triples games 13 - 4, 13 - 10. Then put up a great fight to win all three doubles games 13 -10, 13 - 10, 13 -10. A great way to finish the day with a 5 - 0 whitewash.
This now lifts us from bottom place to 2nd in one easy move, and still with one game in hand which will be against the Nomads on Tuesday night.

ABC Wasps
Jeff, Ian, Mike, Christine, David, and Hazel

Cobbetts.
Glenn, Norman, Marilyn, Mike, Alison Jackie, Lyn,

ABC Bees v Vikings ND League

The Bees were at home to The Vikings on Tuesday, The weather was terrible we very heavy rain. The score was to good either. Vikings won 6 games to 3. This puts the Bees in third place.
ABC Bees
Mike, Christine, Tony F. Jean, Benny, Margretha

Vikings
Alex, Beryl, Frank, Lucy, Maureen, Andy

ABC Wasps at Home to Racing Club Racers

Our final North Downs League of the season was on Tuesday and we were at home to Racing Club Racers, it was a grude match for us as they had thrashed us 8 - 1 at their place.
The first round we took two games and the all three games in the second round. During the first two games we were surrounded by thunder and lightening, flashing and crashing around.
Just after the start of the last round the rain fell in torrents, two games ended quite quickly with wins for us but David and Hazel carried on getting wetter and wetter, until I think David had enought gifting the game to Racing club.
The final score was 7 - 2 to us.
We have now finished third in the league this year.

Teams.
Wasps
Jeff, Ian, Peter, Chris, Muriel, David and Hazel.

Racing Club
Den, Brenda, Pete, Kerry, Kev, Barb.

At Kirdford on Saturday

Well it was a lovely day for a change, the sun shone all day the boules was just as good, 28 members turned out for three games of boules then it was lunch either outside in the sun or inside in the shade. After lunch we had an hour or so on chatting about todays boule and next years boules trip. After a lot of discussion it was decided to try for 7 days boules in the south of france followed by by seven days on the Canal de Midi on a barge/yatch/pleasure boat. I hope that my french is up to sorting this lot out...

EPA European clubs Cup

The English Petanque Association have decided that all EPA clubs would enter for next years European Clubs Cup. The first round must be completed by 30th September. This is a new competition and involves 7 games per match. Each match may consist of 6, 7 or 8 players.
Teams of 6 must include 1 player of opposite gender to the remainder of the team.
Teams of 7 or 8 must include 2 players of the opposite gender to the remainder of the team.

Each match will consist of
2 Open Triples games (any make up of teams)
2 Mixed Triples games (must have two genders in the team)
2 Open Doubles games (Any make up of teams)
1 Mixed Doubles game (Must have two genders in the team)

Once that is all sorted out, we can start to play.
We only get one chance in this competition as it is a straight knockout.

Our first games is at home and against Southampton City P.C.
I will get together with our EPA members and try to sort out some dates etc..

ABC Bees v Crondall Lions (North Downs League)

The Bees traveled to Crondall on Tuesday evening
They were beaten by the Lions 6 games to 3.
A good nights boule pity about the score.

Bees Team
Mike, Christine, Kath, Carolyn, Bobby, and Tony F.

Crondall Lions
Keith, Tina, Mike, Marion, Giz, Margaret