The local petanque leagues had their end of season presentation night at the Rose & Crown, Beckley at the beginning of October. There were 225 players in four leagues making petanque one of the most popular summer sports.
The Tuesday A league, which consisted of teams from Kent, was won by the Dolphin at Lydd, the runners-up were from the Warren Inn, New Romney. Winners of the Tuesday B league was the New Inn, Winchelsea, the Pipemakers at Rye being the runners-up.
The Queens Head, Icklesham came out to top the Tuesday C league and in second place came the Two Sawyers, Pett. On Wednesday the Plough in Hastings took the top spot from Tenterden Club.
For the uninitiated, the game is played on a piste (pitch) ideally 15 metres by 4 metres, (although it can be a little smaller) comprising of gravel, sand or bare earth – a gravel pub car park (minus cars) is usually ideal.
Petanque is fun, cheap, easy to learn, it’s successfully played by young and old, men and women. The majority of teams operate from pubs; there are several social clubs also in the leagues. The vast majority of teams welcome new players and most will take time to teach newcomers the basics of the game.
Image Credits: Plough Inn .