Spring Time MPC Players Coming Out!

The games were very technical today! There was much concentration, lots of measurements, lots of team discussions on strategy. I had a great time! ...not to mention seeing our friends from Canada for the first time this year, Roland and Gerard, nice to see them back! (But the winter down-time hasn't seemed to affect there play!, Rats!)

Lindsey & Joe take Top Place, Sharon & Deric take 2nd

Spring Boule Petanque Tournament at Campus Martius Park

...........It was perfect weather and an ideal location for the season opener tournament for the clubs. We played doublettes with each team playing the other teams - and the top two teams playing in a final.

While the registered teams were in the tournament, Jeff introduced petanque to new players l ike Alice, Bill (from Florida); and Andy.

Latecomers, TonyT, Mike, James & Cheryl also played in the side-games. Everyone had a great Saturday.

Boules to You!

I *have* to introduce to you one of my newest fun petanque friends, Cam Calder! Just by looking at him and his car you can tell that he's all about good times and fun petanque! He is the biggest boule supplier in New Zealand, and his company is called "Boules to You"! I'm hopefully going to get a set of some beautiful boules, the VMS "tour de force". I may not ever even use them, I'll just look at them they're so nice! Visit his website and maybe order your own VMS's, but do it quick, only 9 sets left!

The Preservation Wayne Petanquers

The PW Petanquers
Originally uploaded by ebaldy.

The Preservation Wayne crew playing Petanque at the new location for starting our Downtown Tours this summer, Campus Martius.

Petanque in West Michigan starts

The TV was forecasting rain on the west coast of Michigan, but Saturday ended up being sunny and goregous -- perfect weather for chucking some boules! We found a baseball diamond in Douglas for the inaugural meeting of the Lake Michigan Petanque Club (or whatever we end up calling ourselves).

We had an odd number of people and not enough boules, but we made do with what we had. After a few games, we returned to one member's house for some pastis.

Here are some images:

Saturday at Campus Martius Park

Team Joe/James and Benoitte really trounced Team Jeff/Calvin/Clifford - giving us a gift of 4 points in one round so we wouldn't be completely embarassed!

Gene Shows Particularly Fine Diplomacy in both Teaching & Playing Petanque

Preservation Wayne Group Stops By

Blandine (center, white shirt) and her husband Mark (far right) run tour groups for Preservation Wayne, a group dedicated to preserving Detroit's architectual heritage. Her group today had a lot of fun trying petanque as we did too sharing the game with them. We look forward to seeing her and her groups again this summer!

A Great Player Visits from France

Benoitte (left) is here in the U.S. studying for business, but will soon return home to Southern France... He played very well, and I'm giving him complimentary membership to MPC (although Jeff's trying to induct him into DPC first!) Jeff & I welcome him to always stop by either club to play, he could teach us both a few things I think!

Good Food to Regain our Strength!

After a great summer day of play at Campus, Lindsey, Joe, Cheryl, James, and Kevin decide to try something different for dinner per James' suggestion. We went to Katmandu in Royal Oak. They specialize in food from Nepal! Just remember to check your shoes at the door; but don't worry, they provide comfy pillows for the seating, and the food was great!

Australia Petanque Nationals in Hanging Rock

Originally uploaded by RobbieTV.

RobbieTV has posted some nice photos taken at the Hanging Rock, Australian Nationals at this Flickr location.

Perhaps our club should make a road-trip out there. How long is the drive?

German Boules Wear Sunglasses

Originally uploaded by Baptiste*.

One of my FLICKR (online photo manager) contacts, Baptiste*, plays petanque frequently and posts a diverse selection of boule photos on his site.

Two Dozen Cochons in an Easy to Carry Case

12/13 VERY close Friday Game!

Today we played with new member, Clifford, who told us he was very much into games and sports. His expertise on the piste really show as he pointed in some difficult boules. Freeman returned to the club to do battle - teaming up with Renee and Clifford against Jeff and Lewis - with a remarkable come-from behind 2-12 bringing matters to a nail-biting finish with 12/12 - the 13th point going to Jeff/Lewis.

Thursday's Petanque Games - VERY COMPETITIVE

Jeff was teamed up with Renee and Myron against Gene, Sharon and Alpha. The score was 1 point back-and-forth but finally landed at 11/11 with numberous close boules placed by Myron. The score then matured to 12/12 with next point to win. That point won by pushing in our own boule (with the opposition 1/2 inch away....)

Ended with 13/12 victory for Team Jeff/Renee/Myron

Hello from Chicago

Greetings from the Chicago Petanque Club.

We are a small, but rapidly growing, group of petanque lovers starting our first spring season here in the Windy City. We're excited to know that we are now a member of a larger group...The Midwest Petanque Alliance.

We are looking forward to getting to know all of you and getting together sometime this summer to "high lob" a few.

In the meantime, if you happen to be coming to Chicago some weekend, be sure to let us know when...and bring your boules. You will always be welcomed.

Dan Danielson
Chicago Petanque Club

Where We First Saw Petanque Played

(CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE) when I was walking around in Paris, and exploring the Jardin du Luxembourg - I saw groups of petanque players in the park square. Returning home, I acquired a set of boules and by Chance (pun-intended) met up with Joe Z. who also discovered petanque while in Paris. The sport binds the community together there, and it is our hope it does the same in Michigan.

Alpha Returns to the Club

The last time Alpha played with the Detroit Petanque Club, we were down at the GM Promenade along the Detroit river. So it was nice to have him re-join us today (and in the future). One thing is for certain, though he hasn't played all winter, his boule throws are excellent. He was laying in close points, shooting away boules, and working with the proper strategy. He'll be a tremendous asset to the club. Welcome back Alpha!

We Almost Played with Eggs, but decided to eat them after...

Lindsey and Mike took down the prez (Joe) and Mike's wife Cathy during some Easter-time boule play.

Lindsey's little 71 mm, well-placed boules gave Joe (the shooter for his team) much trouble. Cathy was very supportive as Joe threw boule after boule, but victory was not to be! Joe & Cathy went down 2-1.

Maybe it was Joe's need for some Easter dinner that rushed his throwing... [I think I'll stick with that excuse...]

Allan M. took some Exceptional Photos on Saturday

Deric L. Joins in on the Fun and Really Enjoys Petanque

Easter Cochons and Plenty of Petanque at Campus Martius Park

James' Parents Come to Visit from Minneapolis

West Side of Michigan to Form Petanque Club in Saugatuck

How Do You Pick Up Your Boules?

Warm and Sunny Friday - Petanque - Where Else?!

Hal and Brigitte D'Arpini visited the Detroit Petanque Club during the lunchtime petanque games and had a great set of matches. Lewis and Deric joined in on the fun, and though team: Hal/Jeff clobbered the Triplettes (Brigitte/Deric/Lewis) - the playing was still quie competitive.

New Boules - with "Boule Cloutee" Design

Midwest Petanque Alliance Blog

Welcome to our friends to the North (Minneapolis) and to the South (Chicago). I know that the additional input from all of the members of these four (and growing) clubs will make this blog even more interesting.

If you are a member of these clubs and would like to write for this blog, please send me an e-mail at:

jeffrey@detroitpetanque.com

Temperature in the 70's - T-Shirt Weather for Sure

Renee used all of her pre-boule throw superstitious warm-ups. And you know... there's something to them - because she frequently gets closest.

Myron joined the club. He was sitting nearby, watching us play - and you know we don't let people just watch!

Sharon shows off her Campus Martius Park Detroit Petanque Club T-Shirt. We played a decent game, holding the opposition to 12... catching up (or nearly so)

Detroit Petanque Clubhouse

The club members finally have a place to call home. The new DPC Clubhouse (8 ft x 10 ft) is located against an abandoned building in Detroit. All future official club business and functions, including dinner parties will take place here.

We are in the process of installing lavatory facilities. In the meantime, just "go out back" somewhere.

2nd MPC Weekend Sees Good Weather

The MPC season is starting to get going! Warmer weather, the sun, and Jeff's shooting practicing tool helped everyone get in the mood for some serious games this afternoon... Weather may be good this upcoming week, but check back on the site about whether we'll play next weekend (Sunday), we might be busy Easter Egg hunting! ;-)

We love to teach petanque to travelers

Jeff and Boris discuss different target shooting sports. Visiting the U.S. from Russia, he has his translator try to help him describe his country's sports. Of course Jeff was doing the same about our game, Petanque! Just one more great thing about playing the sport, meeting nice and interesting people...

Warm and Sunny Petanque Afternoon at Campus Martius Park

..........Anna, Ken's daughter, came to visit and of course play petanque at Campus Martius Park. Jeff was teamed up with Deric against the Father/Daughter team - and it was quite a competition, with each side gaining a point every other round.

Ken will be teamed up with Joe Z. for the Sonoma World Qualifier tournament. He has also played down in Miami at the Petanque America Open.

Petanque Doublette Birthdays at Campus Martius Park

.................. How better to celebrate a birthday (or two) for avid petanqueurs than with a Petanque Cake! I took a sheet-cake, sprinkled ovaltine on the top (for dirt), covered (clean) cochons with tin-foil for boules, and of course a RED M&M for the cochon. Voila!

Happy Birthday to Joe and to Gene!

Nobody Just "Passes Through" without Playing!

Calvin said he was "...just passing though the park"

Famous last words for the Detroit Petanque Club members - because after a few minutes of watching us play boule, he was in on the game and addicted. Calvin coaches, so he already had some of the subtle principles of looking for strategic advantage in playing. A great game too - 12/13 (victory to Calvin's team)

Shooting and Pointing Frames for Training

The Michigan and Detroit Petanque Clubs train vigorously for their matches and tournaments using this equipment. The shooting frame (as seen being used by Joe Z.) is merely a collection of 24 inch and 12 inch pre-threaded iron pipes and T/elbow joints readily available at any hardware store. You'll also need to sacrifice an old boule (drill a small hole, insert a bent coat hanger and attach via shoelace). NOTE: it's vital to allow for a little slack in the string so the boule rests on the ground (to prevent it from endlessly swinging after being struck!)

The pointing frame id made of wood (with some wood for legs) but another note: drill a hole in the two end-legs, to allow for a 3 inch spike to sit inside, the pointed end hammed (with a boule of course!) into the ground to prevent it from shifting. We try to point such that the boule remains UNDER the frame... but this tool also gives us directional training. You can place a cochon or another boule inside for "push" training.

Lots of Fun in Utica!

Lots of smiling faces seen in Utica Tuesday night during their International Festival. There was music, Eiffel tower building, and of course boules in the French wing. Hundreds of new boule throwers came through, and we were happy to be there to help them in learning our great game of petanque!

Thanks to Ami & the Utica 4th Graders!

Our members, Lindsey and Joyce, had a great opportunity to share the sport of petanque with the 4th graders of the Utica school district on Tuesday night. A sincere thanks to Ami Rosso (red beret) for contacting us to allow us to make this happen! ...and of course all of the great 4th graders in Utica!

It was a very exciting 2nd game this afternoon at Campus Martius Park. Sharon, Gene and Renee verses TonyT, Deric and Jeff. Sharon's team was up 12 to our 9... we held them for about three rounds - closing the gap...

But in the end, 12 became 13 to win the day.

DPC Defectors Seen on Sunday?

Three DPC members seen at first official MPC meet. James, Cheryl, and Celia of DPC joined Dan, Dave, Cyrille, Joyce, Lindsey, Hal and Joe on Sunday. The piste was a bit soft in the morning, but soon firmed up after a few sneek peeks of the sun later in the day. By next week, the MPC should be running on all cylinders! (PS I made this picture purposely "pixely" because it drives Jeff crazy! ;-)

International Guests Pay Campus Martius Park a Visit

Gene Adopts French Style of Petanque Play

Saturday - April Fools Day - Plenty of Boules - No Fools

New Friends Join Detroit Petanque Club