Threading the Needle

Fun games today. Maury and Tim W. reported that they were down 0 to 4 and then they went 13 points unanswered for the win. At one point Maury asked Tim W. to roll his boule between two close opposing boules to point up to the cochonnet - done! Needle threaded! Tim W. also was glad that his shooting was back and strong. My own game went well too - with reliable pointing from both teams - but my own shooting was on and we were able to remove whatever close boules were laid. See you tomorrow.

Pat and Eric top the rankings

Tee and I were swept (0 to 7) against Pat and Eric the other day leaving Pat and Eric at the top of the ranking listings. I was shooting pretty well, but overall, we just didn't play as tightly as we should have. Raphael is back, and winning (with Mark) handily. I think the feedback on that game (was that the losing team was playing "too conservative" - pointing when they should have been shooting). Live and learn... Heavy rain today washed away a chance to play - see you Monday!

Ann Arbor Petanque

Saturday I drove out to Ann Arbor to see Howard Ando and Jane Wilkinson's new petanque courts at Burns Park. In a word: SPLENDID.

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The new petanque courts are situated in a very picturesque spot, close to a grove of trees - and very close to a clubhouse with lavatory facilities. Parking couldn't be easier - adjacent to the court! The courts are bordered with 6 x 6 train ties set deep (almost flush) into the ground with a bevel at the edges to allow for easy wheel chair access.

Saturday was the official introduction of the courts to the world - during the festive Picnic in the Park day. Along with our hosts Howard and Jane were Joe Zajac & Denise from the Michigan Petanque Club along with Ian; Bob (North Carolina); Michel & Jeannete; George & Linda L.; Dan C.; Larry; Frank; Esther (and her dog, River); Hal; Bridgitte; and plenty of others for many rounds of boule playing. Some of the players were new to the sport but they were welcomed right into the game after a brief lesson.

Howard and Jane have set up a tentative schedule:

Sunday, August 30th (starting at 3 pm)
Wednesday, September 2nd (starting at 6:30 pm)
Sunday, September 6th (starting at 3 pm)
Wednesday, September 9th (starting at 6:30 pm)
Sunday, September 13th (starting at 3 pm)
Sunday, October 11th (starting at 3 pm)
Sunday, October 18th (starting at 3 pm)
Sunday, October 25 (starting at 3 pm)

They have many sets of boules for you to borrow (if you don't have your own or bring friends without boules).

COURT LOCATION: 1320 Baldwin Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Howard & Jane: howard@petanqueannarbor.org (734) 482-7476

http://www.petanqueannarbor.org/

MAP

Games Results for 4 Days

Sorry, I was a tad busy this week so I couldn't post the games results until today. Well above the rest are Pat; Tim C.; and Eric. I've fallen down to 1.81 but I'm hopeful that the remainder of the season will offer me ascending results. Tee and Nancy have really been playing a great series of games, pointing in like superstars. I'm soon to give them lessons in the plombe (high arc pointing).

Today's game (10/13) was, at one stage, a 10/5 game (Nancy & I scored 5 points in 1 round!) - but then the opposition caught up and then won. Lesson? Don't count your chickens before they're thrown!

Wednesday's Games

Excellent pointing performed today at my game with Nancy and Tee exchanging boule for boule. They really have been progressing nicely, become quite dangerous. We had one of those types of games where a point is exchanged throughout the rounds, and our game took up the whole lunch hour - while over on the other court, Pat and Hal socked it to Kevin and Maury in two lightening quick games. I'm not sure what transpired - such a big point disparity.

Howard Ando of the Ann Arbor Petanque Club will be holding an opener on Saturday, August 22nd at Burns Park. We're looking at a mini-tournament (6-8 teams) - but we'll see who shows. Michigan Petanque Club members will be representng heavily.

Temperatures Rising - Hard to Go for More than a Game

With the temperatures leaping into the mid-80's and the air so humid you can drink it with a straw ... our steadfast players for the most part were good for a game before scrambling into the air-conditioning of their offices.

The hardy remaining: Buzz, Tee; Nancy and I went for a 7-pointer in the second half of the lunch hour.

September can't come soon enough!

Kevin C. returns to the Courts / Bob Moyer re-visits the Club

Today marks the reappearance of Kevin C. to the courts. He certainly had some close games playing alongside Bob Moyer from North Carolina (visiting family in Michigan). I'd like to note how well Nancy has been pointing - with just 9 games under her belt! Those players making the Sunday game in Royal Oak, Bob should be joining you for the day with his VERY rusty boules.

Thursday's Games - Excellent

Our own game was point for point. We had those great rounds where each boule is beaten by the very next boule - over and over again. Very even team playing. There were positions where I didn't think we'd ever point into -- and Buzz or I would make it. Then we thought "heck, they'll never beat us in that set-up" and voila! they do! So lots of delightful surprises.

The other game across the square... their first game, 13/3... then, keeping the same teams... 3/13 ! It is difficult to figure out how the score can become so reversed - sometimes luck plays a bigger role.

Rita and Tim W. challenge Pat A. and Tim C. for Lunch

Jeff W. Returns to Detroit Games from Manitoulin Island

It is good to be back in Detroit, among the familiar, and new faces (Hi Nancy and Tee). Pat A. and Tim W. really helped out greatly - lugging the boules to the courts, keeping the scores, arranging the teams, and keeping the peace. Thanks guys!

Ann Arbor Petanque Party!

Roland (left) speaks with Jane and Howard about the huge success they've had with building a third out-post of petanque pistes here in Michigan.

Jane and Howard like playing with MPC in Royal Oak, but driving distances prompted them to take up a cause to install pistes near their home town in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The Ann Arbor courts opened unofficially last weekend, but they asked me to send everyone a hearty invitation to join them for a public opening of the courts in two weeks on Saturday, August 22. The opening will be in conjunction with the Ann Arbor Seniors Center picnic. Petanque Play will begin by 1:00 pm and run until at least 5:00 pm.

Petanquers are urged to spread the word and bring extra sets of boules for the many expected guests!

For more details, contact Howard or Joe, see the picnic brochure, or print a map to the park... Hope to see everyone there!

Pat takes the Reins for Aug. 3rd through 7th

I'll be up in Canada for a little camping, so while I'm away, Pat A. will be running the show in Detroit. I trust everyone will help him in the set-up and packing up. Please also make a careful record of the teams and the final scores as I'll crunch the numbers and averages when I return.

Enjoy!

Thursday Provides Another Excellent Boule Day

Mark reports in that his team was well behind in points, but started their ascent... getting to 10 points before Pat and Maury closed and nailed down the lid...13/10

VIDEO from today.

Remember: Though I'll be away next week, Pat or Tim will be in charge of the boules and should be rolling to the courts for petanque play at noontime.

Wednesday Game - Veddy close...

Today's game = Excellent. There were great pontings and shootings made by everyone - and that was why we stood at a 9 to 9 tie at around 1:00 pm. Playing "the winner of the next round takes all" - we laid in boules on a close cochonnet position - but just couldn't keep closest. Finally, our last boule flung, the other side took the win: 13/12.

VIDEO from today.

Mark's Team Makes a Swift Comeback

Maury and I thought we had the game all wrapped up with a 7 to nothing lead. Our pointing and shooting didn't seem all bad. But then we stood on those 7 points as our opposition (MarkW.; Tim C.; and Buzz C.) whittled away our lead, tied - then took the lead... until finally winning (10 point game due to time constraints) 10 to 8 (bumped to 13/11). Mark and Maury were exchanging in close pointing: boule for boule. My own shooting, so-so (better than in days previous). See you tomorrow!

Buzz joins the Club

Today we are looking at the strategy, not the score. While, yes, the opposition creamed us, we did have a new player and so they did have an advantage. I would like to focus on trying to win (or maximize our points) by using the best strategy possible. In the long career of a petanque player, there will be games, (many) where you're simply outmatched by the opposition's boule throwing abilities. Boule throwing is only part of the game; using the right strategy to place your own team's boules in advantageous positions makes up the balance. If you can;t be closest to the cochonnet, then try to set your boules in places which make it both difficult for your opponent to accumulate more boule (points) and perhaps allow your boules to be pushed closest.

Skunked

Today I was more in petanque proselytizer mode but Pat filled me in on his triplette game where his team fannied the opposition: "I shot out every point that was close and all three of us were deadly in pointing." Whew, It happens to all of us - rarely, but it happens.


This weekend is my demonstration of petanque to the Genesee Parks and Recreation (Saturday 12pm-6pm at Linden County Park [at the north baseball field]). Feel free to stop by if you happen to be in the Flint area.

15349 S. Linden Road, Linden, MI 48451

Close but No Cigar

We almost took today's game, but some weird force-field kept all of our pointing boules far from the mark. Strangely, our opposition had no trouble at all rolling in their 3 needed points for the win.

Heavy rain won't stop us!

Big thanks to everyone who remained patiently while the rain subsided. It is a true testament to our passion for petanque that we waited around for a clear sky. I'm not exactly sure how beneficial the conclusion was for my average however! Pat is creeping back up to the 2.0 range and Tim C. now is in second position. Another few losses and I'll be down 5 notches and Maury and Raphael will be 3rd and 4th.

Philippe Boets of Petanque-America is running a fantastic tournament down on Amelia Island in Florida on November 14 & 15th (Sat./Sun).

Click HERE for details

I've taken part in these before - and they really are alot of fun. You'll be playing petanque with players from all over the country (and guests from Europe) for big money prizes. Not the best player? No problem, many people who take part are also beginning/intermediate players - and there is the consolante rounds as well. The consolante is the 2nd chance tournament for prizes as well. One of my favorite aspects of this type of a tournament is (beside the fantastic location!) the fact that you'll be playing pick-up petanque games all day as well with lots of different players and make plenty of nice friends along the way.

I'm going, I just don't know who my partner will be. It is a doubles tournament. Anyhow, I hope you'll consider going down there. Think about how miserable November will be in Michigan...

Read Your Terrain or Suffer the Consequences

Today's games at Cadillac Square reminded me that an important variable wasn't taken into consideration by me and my team: the terrain (or surface) of the court.

Today's court was a whole menu of puddled gravel; bare patches; and pitched up (or down) surfaces.

We had boules flying well past the cochonnet, or far short; our boules were diverging in wide arcs left and right of our intended mark.

We were landing hard on swift (barely gravelled zones) and our boules were sinking the puddles of gravel well before the desired stopping point.

What does this mean? We needed to take more time to look at the ground, to have our team mates examining the landing zones and reporting to the player in the circle what was awaiting them.

Also, why not take a look at how your opposition's boules are flying. Watch the tracking paths made in the dirt. These visual cues are an important landmark for better boule placement.

Reading the court surface is as important as handling your boule throw because it is how the two interact that produces the resultant boule stopping location.