Bonnes Boules

Our du3a Pétanque Group numbers are slowly growing. We now have nine regular players and three who come along occasionally.
We meet for a game or two most Wednesdays and can always team up with Doncaster Pétanque Club members Tuesday afternoons and Friday mornings. Games are held at what is dubbed ‘Hexthorpe Boulodrome’.
We contacted ‘U3a Matters’ Pétanque Subject Adviser, Andrew Lloyd to find out if there are other u3a pétanque groups in Yorkshire, and to our surprise there are several. Bridlington, Howden, Harrogate, York, Ripon and Ilkley all play regularly. A delegation from Sheffield Council has visited Hexthorpe Boulodrome with a view to create one in their city. It is rumoured the Barnsley u3a also have plans to form a pétanque group.
We were directed to Ripon’s Pétanque Leader, Frank Bailey, who quickly involved us in a tournament which was staged at the u3a Festival held at York University Campus. We offered the Doncaster ‘Ballon Bleu’ as a trophy and promptly lost it in the final to a team from Howden. In accepting it - Howden have the task of organising a follow-on tournament next summer. So we have a chance to win our own trophy back!
Our Ballons Blanc and Rouge are still in our domain, in fact on display in a cabinet located in the museum section of Doncaster’s Central Library. These will be used as tournament trophies as and when opportunities present themselves.
Why not join us? If you have not played before we can loan you some boules and give basic instruction.
It is a stress-free sport and Good Fun.