2009
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR MEMBERS!
Just WHERE did this year go? Well, here is a quick round up of the activities of the JPA;
Matthew Pinel – Island Singles champion for the second time in three years!
Gordon and Dorothy De Gruchy – are the Island Doubles champions!
Helene Retrosi with Michel Morel and Chris Romeril are the Island Triples champions!
Les Hirondelles won the JPA knock out Cup
AND Jersey won the Inter Insular!!!!!
The Lunch time leagues which were introduced by Development Officer Tony Allchurch proved a huge success with the original 8 teams now up to nearly 30! Condor generously sponsored these leagues and L’Homard Qui Rit captained by Dave Ibitson appear to be invincible! These leagues have introduced some 150 new people to the sport and there are some impressive talents beginning to shine.
Tony Northern was runner up in his first ever Island Championship and the L’Homard trio made the final of the Island Triples. Some of the Condor league teams are now taking part in the full Magic Touch leagues – there are sure to be some potential Island players from here.
While Vagabonds won the Winter 2008/9 league title, Taylormade were victorious in the Summer. New teams Kerplunk and De La Salle were by no means out of their depth in these leagues.
Another Junior championship was held with 20 or so youngsters taking part; Coutances sent their school team over to take on Les Quennevais once again – a very close match!
A group of members went across to Plourivo in Brittany to play the French team – while Jersey lost the match, some valuable experience was gained.
Unfortunately the Inter Club league did not take place in 2009 as delays in agreement at to how and when these should be staged, left no time for the league to be played.
The JPA affiliated to the World body of Petanque the F.I.P.J.P and also became members of the European C.E.P. This enables the JPA to issue licences to members to compete in competitions around the world. The JPA now boasts 466 members, including 14 juniors, 11 independent members and 190 introduced from the lunch time league.
Five members qualified via the EPA as Grade 3 coaches and the new Coaches and Umpires sub committee has recently been formed under the Chairmanship of Derek Hart.
Both the Spring and Autumn dinners were successes – thanks to all who supported and helped – a great team effort! Keaven Taylor received the 2008 Personality of the Year Award.
100 Club winners for the Autumn months:
First prize £30 Second prize £20 Third prize £10
September No. 68 Tony Allchurch No. 59 Cathy Guilleaume No. 92 Thelma Heard
October No. 97 Tony Lagadu No. 55 Graham Huelin No. 45 Paula Foster
November No. 24 Alf & Rosemarie No. 34 Ken Le Brun No. 40 Sid Simkin
December No. 47 Thomas Glennie No. 6 Mick Cotillard No. 72 Lol Therin
AND SO TO 2010
First and foremost the JPA are delighted to once again have the sponsorship of Magic Touch and offer grateful thanks to Phil and Dawn Heard for their support! Magic Touch also became the sole stockists of Obut boules and accessories in the Island, which has been a great help to all petanque players.
The Island championships will be held at the Weighbridge on 19th June, 10th July and 4th September,
who knows, there may be some new names featuring in the results!
The Knock-Out Cup will take place – always and exciting competition this one with the occasional defeat of the ‘fancied’ team by the ‘under dogs’!
The Inter Insular will be in Guernsey on 17th July– can Jersey retain the Trophy away from home?
Arrangements for the Inter Clubs league will be discussed early enough in 2010 for this to take place.
Both the Magic Touch and Condor leagues will of course continue with teams vying for top place – and desperately fighting to avoid the dreaded ‘drop’!
The Junior championship will be organised and incorporate coaching as well as competition.
Training will be offered by the Coaches & Umpires committee to everyone who would like to take up the offer and the skills levels awards are to be re-launched. Anyone interested in coaching or in becoming a coach or umpire should contact Derek Hart on 741469.
Dates for your new diary; The AGM is to be on Monday 19th April at St Mary’s at 8pm, AND the Spring Dinner will be on Saturday 17th April at St Ouen’s Parish Hall at 2pm. All welcome to both!
The JPA have invited the members of the Plourivo club to come to Jersey for a return match on 24th April at the Weighbridge.
On the following Sunday 25th April Tony Allchurch is arranging a ‘demonstration of petanque’ at Gorey where the prestigious ‘Tour de Bretagne’ cycling event will be taking place.
The inaugural ‘European Heart Games’ is to be held on 18th September and the JPA will provide support to the organisers for this.
And the ‘Piece de Resistance’ is to be an International competition between Jersey, Ireland and Scotland to be played on Saturday 26th June at the Weighbridge. Plans are already in hand for this – lots more news to follow in the New Year!
Here’s to another action packed and exciting year of Petanque in Jersey!!