PAIRS AND POINTING
The usual fair Clehonger weather welcomed an excellent turnout for the final closed competitions. Roy and Bill scrapped into the last 8 and soon found themselves 9-0 down to Ben and Pauline – number 1 from the morning – but the ‘ww’s dug in to win to 11. Meanwhile Trevor and Alistair beat team-mates Adrian and Helen and Ian and Melanie defeated Ian and Ken. Mike and Rob beat locals Andy and Colin, but then lost the closest – and possibly longest, semi-finals to Ian and Mel.
Trevor and Alistair beat Bill and Roy in the morning, but it was reversed in the semi-final, meaning the pairs final was contested by all four of the www.w’s, with Roy and Bill prevailing following a fight-back from Ian and Mel. Eric and Stella enjoyed a fun-packed game against Steve and Blair to take the Plate.
Helen and Stella led the pointing with 5 until the second half – after the pairs final, when Mel, Mike and Rob equalled them. However, Bill capped a rather good day with a highly respectable 8 out of 15 to win the pointing.
Marches Competitions 2020 Table
SUMMER LEAGUE (Covid Cup)
4 teams entered for the Covid Cup, this years abridged Summer League. The last games have been played, and the WWW.Ws emerged victorious.For results and league table go to the Summer League pages
SINGLES AND SHOOTING
The Marches Petanque got underway last weekend with the Singles and Shooting. A full house of 16 entrants – there are now only 8 lanes on the re-strung Clehonger terrain – had a gloriously sunny day and equally good matches. Following the mornings knock-out, Roy Wilkes and Andy Wright were 1 and 2, but both lost to Trevor Allen and Steve DeBurgo in the first rounds of the afternoon. Mark Jones beat Mike Baker for a place against Steve in the semi-final and Bill Wood – finally – beat Ian Williams before coming out tops against Trevor in a slightly epic semi-final. Mark started the final well, but Bill maintained his pointing and shooting to win the singles title.
Ian Clark didn’t have the most favourable of morning draws, but made the most of the Plate by beating Colin in the final.
Mark again had to settle for 2nd spot in the shooting with a creditable 20, but was just pipped by Trevor on 23. Bill and Colin George shared 3rd place.
Thanks to the Clehonger team who have re-strung the terrain and all concerned for following the requirements. Things, at least in petanque, are a little bit like normal. Don’t forget the triples on 23rd August – a maximum of ten triples, so get your entries to Mel in early.
SINGLES AND SHOOTING
This competition will take place for the pre-entered players on 9th August at the Seven Stars, Clehonger, please arrive by 9.30 am for a 9.45am start. Petanque England Covid Rules will apply.
There are 16 entries for this competition. The entries have been drawn into 4 groups, and in the first round each group will play a league. The top 2 in each group will be seeded to go forward into the second round knockout, followed by the semifinal and the final. The bottom 2 in each group will go forward into the plate knockouts.
The Groups are:
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4
1. Colin George 5. Bill Wood 9. Joe Oakley 13. Stella Acton
2. Eric Acton 6. Mike Baker 10. Roy Wilkes 14. Andy Preece
3. Andy Wright 7. Adrian Reeve 11. Steve de Burgo 15. Mark Jones
4. Trevor Allen 8. Ian Clark 12. Melanie Williams 16. Ian Williams
Tables will be sorted by Games Won, then by Points Difference, in case of a tie, the head to head scores will be used.
During the matches, the shooting competition will be held. Good Luck to all!
COVID 19 UPDATE
The Executive are considering plans to restart some format of games, dependant on Government Guidelines. Watch this space. During this non-playing period, work has commenced on a second piste at The Strand in Eardisley, to accommodate two teams from the now shut Tram. Check this out [HERE]
COVID 19 (CORONAVIRUS) PRECAUTIONS
Sadly, the Executive Committee have had to make the decision to delay the start of this year’s Summer League. Pétanque England have suspended all Pétanque and government advice is to avoid social situations. Therefore, the meeting set for 24th March will also be postponed.
The fixture list will be published at some stage, depending on the likelihood of current restrictions being lifted over the summer. There is flexibility in the programme, with the potential to drop fixtures such as Summer League Knockout Cup and Beeline Competition if we have a shortened season. There are only 17 entries to the league this year, so there will be only two divisions. The proposal is that Division 1 has 9 teams and Division 2 has 8. This gives both divisions a fuller fixture list and equal opportunities to play Pétanque.
Details will be kept as up to date as possible on the website – please check it regularly and do not be afraid to use the feedback form to make comments on content, layout and design. It is still a work in progress! Www.herefordpetanque.co.uk if you haven’t already saved it to your favourites!
The Committee Meeting scheduled for 24th March may also be postponed or held ‘virtually’. The Summer League may also be postponed but we will need to monitor the situation before coming to a definite decision.
MARCHES PETANQUE – AGM
The Marches Petanque AGM (arranged for 24th March at The Seven Stars, Clehonger), has been postponed. The Minutes from the previous meeting in October will be up for approval and a copy of the Draft Minutes from that meeting are here AGM 16102019 MPL . Also here is a copy of the Minutes of the Committee Meeting held prior to the AGM MPL Comm 16102019 and a copy of the Trophy winners for the 2019 season Marches Trophy holders 2019
SUMMER LEAGUE
Team Captains, it’s time to get the entries in for the Summer League. Entries to be in by 6th March to Jens, along with the £25 entry fee. An entry form in PDF format is here. Summer League 2020 entry
REMINDER
Start time for the Marches Winter League is now 12 noon for all matches.
Results for Winter League should go to ianwilliams347@btinternet.com
BRIAN BAUGH
Brian’s Funeral Service took place at Hereford Crematorium on Friday, January 24th and a large number of people came to say goodbye to him. The Marches League was well represented.
BRIAN BAUGH
Funeral Service will take place at Hereford Crematorium on Friday, January 24th 2020 at 11.15 am. Family flowers only, donations if desired to Charles Renton Unit, Hereford Hospital
BRIAN BAUGH
We note with sadness the death of Brian Baugh, who passed away at Worcester Hospital on 23rd December after a heart attack. Brian had been a long time petanque player in the Marches League playing for the Stranded Cruisers (and all it’s previous incarnations) for many years as well as taking part in the local competitions. Funeral details will be posted when available. Brian, we will miss you.
EURO CUP PLATE
Hereford II reach third round of Euro Cup Plate and play Northey Arms, from Bath.
SUNDAY 15th DECEMBER
15th December is the now traditional Marches Christmas Melee at the Seven Stars, Clehonger.
As has become usual, there will be prizes for best Christmas themed dress, a great raffle, super prizes for the competition, lots of festive fun and some Pétanque too.
Registration by 9:30 for a 10am start of play.
Please spread the word, bring your friends and let’s start Christmas in style.
REMINDER
Start time is now 12 noon for all Winter league matches.
Results for Winter League should go to ianwilliams347@btinternet.com
WINTER LEAGUE UPDATE
Following the AGM on Wednesday, the proposal to start Winter League games at 12 noon was approved. Therefore, ALL Winter League matches will start at noon (unless you arrange differently amongst yourselves).
The matter of postponed matches during the Winter League was also discussed at the AGM. It was agreed that postponed matches during the Winter season must be played within four weeks of the original fixture and, in all cases, by the last match of the season.
WINTER LEAGUE FIXTURES
The fixture list is now available.
Go to the winter league sub menu’s or click [Fixture List]
BEELINE RESULTS
Congratulations to Team Williams for winning the Beeline Trophy and to Sunrise for winning the plate competition.
PETANQUE ENGLAND CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS
A well done to Ian Williams and Bill Wood, who, having qualified for the PE CoC over 50’s Doubles, narrowly lost in the final on Sunday at Branleys, Lincoln. Having won all three morning games and getting in the main, they beat London Region in the quarters followed by Chiltern champions in the semi – in battering rain – before losing 13-11 in a rain soaked final.
THIS NEW WEBSITE : REGISTRATION
We are developing this new website and would appreciate any constructive feedback. The objective is to show general information without needing to register or login to the site, as time goes on we will add a registration form that will allow members to access more detailed and personal information (GDPR).
Hereford II won their 3rd round Euro Cup Plate match against Northey Arms on 29th February. We were 2-0 up following the triples and wins by Ian and Andy and Roy and Melanie in the pairs secured the win. We’re at Nomades of Kenilworth for a place in the National Plate finals.
Congratulations to Ian Williams and Bill Wood on winning the Regional Winter Pairs for the third time in four years. Four games are played in each of the 8 rounds and a great start to the campaign saw them win all 16 games in the 4 rounds before Xmas. Things get tougher after that as the league and first division settles down, but with a further 3 wins in round 6, they all but confirmed their place as Champions and a further 2 wins at Penkridge meant that they won the overall competition and finished top of Division 1.