Phil's Pétanque Pages
The bouleakadamien ab. of Stockholm are running a 1998 WORLDWIDE BOULE FESTIVAL cyber boules competition.
The prize for the 2 winning teams is a trip to Stockholm to play a final game on the 17th July 1998. Full details are given on their website. Entry is free.
Last year ( 1997) I came across the site and thought it would be fun to enter. Four of us play once a week after work to unwind. I entered the results of our matches into the competition, with little thought of winning but enjoying the idea of playing with people throughout the world appealed. Even if we were unlikely to meet them. I encouraged friends and some of the members of my petanque club in Croydon ( who mostly thought I was a little mad ... strange at least ) to record their results and I entered them into the competition on their behalf. I went off for a holiday in Spain. On my return visited the site to see who the lucky winners were and was amazed to find that two of my colleagues, Peter O'Donnell and Tina Hannah had been selected.
There was moment of thinking is it a hoax? is there a catch? As I had been instrumental in setting up the matches and entering the results I felt responsible for anything that may go wrong. However I rang Peter and Tina and passed on the good news they were both sceptical and delighted at the prospect. There was not a lot of time to make the arrangements and quite a few emails and telephone calls to and from Goran and Annika in Stockholm later it was all fixed. Peter and Tina were off to Sweden, I don't think that they really believed it was true until they picked up their tickets at Heathrow.
Peter takes up the story ...
We thought it was still a joke, even after I started to receive phone calls from the Boule Academy in Stockholm. Tina and I turned up at Heathrow clutching our passports still expecting to be turned away from the British Airport desk. But our tickets were there and off we went through Passport Control.
We were met at the airport, driven into Stockholm and registered at the hotel. There was a Petanque competition taking place in the square outside the hotel. We dropped our bags and headed down to the square where we were introduced to “ The French Team “ !! This team turned out to be Philippe Quintais & Co. ,the World Champions ! No wonder they looked impressive!!
The next day we headed down to Kungstradgarden where the Boule Festival was taking place. What a sight greeted us!! Dozens of games were in progress on all the paths in the park. There were specially built pitches with sponsors’ names around them. But the main events were being held in Prince Bertil’s Stadium, a purpose built arena with stands on 3 sides and a stage on the fourth.
We were to play 1 game against the other finalists, Lars Yuul and Keld Svarre from Denmark. We had a chat with our opponents before the final. They had both played Petanque for many years and they played at least 3 times a week, which compared to our almost non existant experience made us feel very nervous. To add to these nerves was the sight of between 300 - 400 spectators sitting waiting for the game to start. The MC introduced us individually to the crowd, the coin was tossed and the game commenced.
We lost the toss and the Danes went first. DISASTER!, 5 down after the first end. Thoughts of a whitewash and humiliation went through my head. By a stroke of luck we fought back with 4 on the next end. At one point the score was 7 - 7. My thoughts turned to victory. However, this foolish thought was short lived as we were beaten 13 - 7. Still our aim had been met and exceded - We set ourselves a target of ONE point.
The presentation of the prizes followed, each finalist receiving a large picnic pasket stacked with all sorts: wine, salami,pasta,wine glasses, disposable camera etc. The winners also received mobile telephones and Tina and myself received a telephone. We were all presented with a bouquet of flowers.
The event was well organised. There were plenty of places to eat and drink in the park and all the people were very friendly.
The Boulefestival is taking place again this year. If you are wondering where to go this summer a visit to Stockholm ( The European City of Culture 1998 ) for the Boulefestival is highly recommended. Send in your results, you never know you may be a winner!!!
I enjoyed myself enormously in the excitement of helping to organise the team from our end, even without a trip at the end of it all.
I can fully recommend entering the competition ......think when you begin each match .. about boule players around the world and what a cracking pastime it is. You may not win .... but then again someone has to.
I offer my thanks to bouleakadamien, Goran and Annika in Stockholm they did a wonderful job.
The boulefestival site is www.boulefestival.com
Peter can be contacted by email at podonnell@btinternet.com
Any news, comments, queries or encouragement email me at phil.day@dial.pipex.com