Exeter Hosts National Petanque Championships

Released 24 May 2005

Communications

More than 100 of the country's top Petanque players will descend on Exeter at the weekend (28-30 May) for the National Titles Championships.

For the fourth year running, Exeter has been chosen to host this prestigious event, with the English singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles being decided over three days (28-30 May) of competition at Exhibition Fields, Whipton.

Petanque (also known as French boules) is a growing sport and the Council responded to local demand several years ago by building a floodlit petanque terrain. The local Isca Petanque Club has excellent facilities for the sport and plays throughout the year. With several other clubs in Devon there are opportunities to play in a variety of local and regional competitions too.

This will be the fifth time a national petanque event has been organised by the Council working with the Devon Petanque Region and the English Petanque Association.  The previous events at Exhibition Fields have been so successful that the sport's governing body keeps wanting to come back to Exeter.

Extra temporary playing areas are being created by the Council, with help from two local companies.  Quarry firm Glendinning has given another 16 tonnes of grit and Rawle Gammon & Baker has donated the wood for the surrounds.

Cllr Barry McNamara, Lead Councillor for Environment & Leisure, said: "We are thrilled to be hosting this event again in Exeter. Petanque is a very social sport and a good way of taking some relatively gentle exercise and using your co-ordination and tactical skills.

"Anyone can play, adults or juniors, and it's one of the few games where men and women can compete against each other on equal terms. The game has quite a following in Devon, and this event will attract the top players from all over England."

Spectators are welcome to view the action at any time during the weekend. Play begins at 10am and ends at about 6pm each day.

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