| Villages and community groups in Northamptonshire are being invited to try pétanque, the French game of boules. Qualifi ed coach Barry Bright, who lives at Little Oakley near Kettering, will come to your group with all the equipment to introduce the game and make sure everyone can join in the fun, even if they have never played before. According to Barry it is not just the French who play pétanque! The game is played in a number of leagues across the East Midlands, but it can equally be played by groups of friends or colleagues who just want to enjoy each other’s company for a couple of hours. As the French will tell you, pétanque is a great game for small communities because you can play it on any old piece of ground with a bit of gravel on it and you don’t need any expensive equipment. It is fun to play right from the start; there are not many rules and beginner’s luck can be just as useful as experience. You don’t need to practise for a long time before you can give a good game to the experienced players. You can play singles or in pairs or triples and, if you want to, you can enjoy a beer or a glass of wine while you are playing. So far this year, Barry, who has support from Kettering Borough Council and the English Pétanque Association, has arranged sessions for village pubs and organisations and a local scout group. What Barry says he loves about the game is that it can be played by people of all ages and with all levels of ability. Sometimes you see three generations of a family playing in the same team. Or, it can be a way for a business or community organisation to bring people together for a social evening. There is no charge for the ‘try the game’ pétanque sessions. To fi x a game for your organisation, contact Barry Bright on 01536 745013. |
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