 |
|
 |
| WELCOME TO THE CHRISTCHURCH PETANQUE CLUB'S WEB PAGE |
 |
| The friendliest game in town |
|
Come along on any Thursday at 12.45 pm, or any Sunday at 11.00 am
and try your hand at the game of PETANQUE. Your first visit will be free, with boules provided if you don't have
your own. Even first-timers can join in the games after only a few minutes tuition.
Besides being a very competitive
game for the enthusiast, Petanque provides a great opportunity for the not-so active to participate in a healthy
outdoor activity, and to meet new friends in a safe and friendly social environment.
|
|
NORTH HAGLEY PARK - BY THE ARMAGH STREET CARPARK
P O BOX 2006 CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND
Click here for contact phone numbers and email addresses
|
|
| Play all year round for a subscription of just $60.00 ($20.00 juniors - under 18) |
|
| ABOUT THE CLUB |
The Christchurch Petanque Club was incorporated under the name "Christchurch Petanque Association (Inc)" on
19th November 1994, the first club game having been played on 29th May 1994. In order to reflect its true
nature as a Club, the name was changed to "Christchurch Petanque Club (Inc)" on 15th June 2001.
The Club presently has about 120 members who play each Thursday afternoon, starting at 1pm and every Sunday at
11am. On Thursdays, play generally takes the form of non-competitive, social type games, followed by afternoon tea
and biscuits at a nominal coast. Sunday play is generally more competitive, with formal competitions being held
throughout the year. Click here for competition dates The Club rules provide for Junior membership, for
those aged under 18 years. The present age range of Club members is from 10 to 93 years.
ABOUT THE GROUNDS
The Clubrooms and grounds are situated in North Hagley Park, close to central Christchurch, in the old Bowling Club
premises. Click here for location plan and diagram The piste surfaces are in fine gravel and crusher dust, except for two,
which are covered in crushed limestone. The 24 marked pistes run in a North-south direction and measure approxmiately 16 metres
by 3 metres. Included is a permanent shooting range, to international specifications. There are limited provisions
for playing under lights, reserved for special occasions.
Shade is provided for players in the form of umbrellas
attached to picnic tables, and down the central area between the pistes above permanent seating and planter boxes, by shade sails installed by
SHADEWORLD S.I.
Click here to visit the Shadeworld website
Visitors and prospective members are able to
borrow boules without charge. Limited car parking spaces area vailable to members only, but the continuation of this
facility is not guaranteed.
ABOUT THE GAME
How the game is played: In brief - Petanque is a ball and target game played by two teams of either one player (singles), two (doubles), or three
(triples). In singles and doubles each player uses three boules; in triples, two boules each. Players use metal boules, ranging in
diameter from 70.5 to 80mm, and in weight from 650 to 800 grams ('competition boules'). (The lighter (and cheaper) 'leisure' boules obtainable from
many department stores may be used in any games except national competitions.)
The toss of a coin determines who goes first. A circle is drawn on the (gravel) 'piste'. The first player tosses the (normally 25mm) 'cochonnet' or
jack ball out to a distance of between 6 and 10 metres, and then throws the first boule as close as possible to the 'coch'. The other team
follows, trying to either get closer to the 'coch', or knock the opponents boule away. The team with the boule closest to the 'coch' holds the lead
and the other team throws until either they get closer or run out of boules. Points are taken for the number of boules which a team has closest to
the cochonnet after all boules are thrown. The first team to get to 13 points wins the game. Social games are often set to a time limit - perhaps 30
minutes. (Rule books are available to players at nominal cost).
Although a great deal of energy can be, and often is, expended in competitive play, Petanque is not necessarily a physically
demanding game. It can be played by people of all ages and levels of fitness. The rules of the game include specific provisions for
participation by disabled players in wheelchairs.
Although relatively new to New Zealand (the first tournament was held in Auckland in 1992), the original game of boules is said to date back to the
time of hte Pharoahs in Egypt. The modern game of Petanque was developed in the early 1900's in the south of France. Presently it is played in France
by about 3 million people.
|
|
| COME ALONG - HAVE A GO! |
|
| The friendliest game in town |
|
For more information about other Petanque Clubs in New Zealand
please visit Petanque New Zealand's website. |
|
|
|
|
|
|