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Berets and cravats met boules and cochinets at the Hibiscus Pétanque Club on Saturday, July 12, when 36 teams competed in the annual Bastille Day Petanque Doubles Tournament.
Bastille Day, or La Fête Nationale, commemorates the storming of the Bastille in 1789, a pivotal moment in the French Revolution, celebrated in France with food, gatherings, military parades, fireworks and cultural events. At the Hibiscus Petanque Club in Ōrewa, the day was marked with home baking and a competitive petanque spirit.
Club president John Edwards was delighted with the large turnout for the event, with some people coming as far as Tauranga to participate or watch.
“Everyone gets to choose how they play, We’ve got those who’re here for a bit of fun, and also some duos who really take the competition seriously,” he said.
Herne Bay Petanque Club players Pam Jenkins and Christian Fouquet took the top spots at this year’s competition, after a tough fight with runners up Tauranga Bay of Plenty Petanque Club members Jacques Calvo and Richard Turfrey.
The day wrapped up with prizegiving, raffle draws and polishing off the final plates of afternoon tea.
Pétanque is growing in popularity on the Coast, especially among older residents who find it an easy, social way to stay active, as it caters for varying levels of mobility and fitness.
The Hibiscus club welcomes newcomers to join one of its weekly sessions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays, offering a relaxed schedule and open doors for those who’d like to give it a try before committing. They enjoy friendly competitions and outings throughout the year, and they invite anyone interested to come along and give it a go.
