Oceania 2006 photos

Don't forget to have a look at the newly added photos and results of this by all accounts outstanding event. To think that all we needed was a NZ team of three players, in order to take part and defend our title. Lets not dwell on this here, and celebrate with the winners and participants. Well done to the organising and host country Australia!.

WPA selection process

The WPA has set up some Wiki pages about the proposed Regional Competitions Player Selection process. Please make sure you get involved with this.

Petanque SWOT Analysis

Organisation SWOT Analysis. New Zealand Petanque strategies to utilise strengths and leverage opportunities to deal with threats and weaknesses. Lets use our Wiki and work together on our future. Please tell us what you think, by adding to these pages.

Petanque terrain roughed-up?

"....Anybody can roll a boule on a smooth, flat terrain but it’s not so easy when the terrain has slopes and dips, stony areas, etc. The beginner invariable complains about a “bad bounce” whereas the expert will study the terrain, chose the best shot – rolling, half-lob or high-lob – and the correct landing spot, so as to minimise the risk of a “bad bounce”.

"....Beginners usually think that pointing is easy, shooting is difficult. Experienced players often say the opposite. Why? Because the shooter usually only needs to learn and play one shot, au fer, a direct boule to boule hit. Shooters are untroubled by an irregularities of the terrain."

We (Masterton Petanque Club) would like to receive some feedback from you. We are considering adding stones initially to 1/4 or 1/2 of our terrain. The question on which we want your opinion is this: If you entered a tournament in Masterton how would you feel about not knowing whether you played games on the super smooth part, or the stony part of our MPC terrain? Before you provide your feedback, make sure you read the full article by following the link below. Thanks for taking the time to let us know what you think.

- Tom.

News from Grenoble

If you have come for news from Grenoble, you will find it on the PNZ website

It appears that a group of people in NZ are receiving SMS progress reports from Grenoble. The two webmasters (Pete from the Hawkes Bay, and yours truly from Masterton) who last year made a real effort in bringing you news items (and photos) as they came to hand, are evidently not part of this SMS group. If we don't get it, we can't bring it. -Tom.

PS. I am sure that most of us understand that it would make no sense for webmasters to individually hunt for New Zealand material from Grenoble - we have lives too.

Update 25/09: Please note that the comments to this post are now out of sequence. For an explenation see "Note from the editor".

- Tom.

Low Petanque turnout

PNZ received 20 replies to their request for selection process feedback from the NZ Petanque membership (some are published here). Considering we have 60 players on the national selection list and at least 1200 affiliated members this is a disappointing result. It can't be easy for PNZ to formulate policies and get it right, if people are not showing any interest. It's no good moaning if we are not prepared to provide input. Twenty replies with 6 of these from players not on the selection list. This leaves only 14 replies from the 60 players that had put their name forward for selection. PNZ no doubt will be looking for some kind of mandate to make changes, but with only 20 replies this is going to be difficult.

"There is nothing harder than the softness of indifference"

 Juan Montalvo.

Petanque "suggestion"

My suggestion is that now that Windy Hills Club have a 'home terrain' it is time they ran a few tournaments so that some of the clubs that have provided them with tournaments with all the accompanying benefits in terms of facilities and the like, that they have enjoyed for a substantial length of time now without making any contribution of their own, could enjoy some of those same things. Come on guys, cough up and provide something in return, it's about time. No Name.

The views expressed in the "Suggestion" I have heard before. This is the first time I have seen these views in print. If we as Petanque players and officials remain on the sideline in the face of such an unfounded and callous attack, these views will fester on, and this would indeed be damaging. I therefore urge people to make a comment to this posting in support of Windy Hills. Please remember that a positive and measured tone has more impact. Blog editor, Tom van Bodegraven.

Remove one of their boule

Hi Andy. Could you please consider the following hypothetical situation. I am playing in a tournament with no arbiter present. One of my opponents keeps lifting his foot whilst shooting. I warn him not to do this and clearly explain that this is against the rules. After I warn my opponent for a fourth time, I decide to give them a penalty and remove one of their boule. Am I within my rights to do this? Cheers, Tom van Bodegraven.

You can read Andy's answer by following the "comments" link below.

This is a new service in which Andy Gilbert (NZPA Arbiter) answers your questions. Email your question to me and I will post it to this Blog for Andy to ponder.
My email address is: bodebons(at)xtra.co.nz. Make sure you put "Petanque" in the subject line.

- Tom.

Don't forget to visit our new NZ Petanque Wiki site!