Federation of Petanque USA welcomes all of its members and interested parties to come to this BLOG-site and enjoy the contributions from FPUSA petanque clubs all across the United States.
3rd - Christian Kazenave - Axel Kazenave
Players of all stripes, from Israel, Netherlands, France and Canada, joined their American brothers and sisters in-boules as they met this past weekend, November 11-13, on 68 courts constructed by host Philippe Boets of Petanque America in Fernandina Beach, Florida, to play in the largest petanque tournament in the U.S., the Petanque America Open.
As in past years, Christophe Chambers, familiar to all of us, shouldered what would be a mind boggling task to most of us by skillfully formatting the 136 teams (272 players) into an impeccably run competition of qualifying games, concours, and consolantes.
By Friday morning, the 11th, several sets of clinics were being offered to the steady stream of players arriving, boules in hand.
Many players had enrolled in the advanced clinic conducted by Marco Foyot, "Le Gran Marco", who has won so many competitions in his home country of France and on the international circuit that there is not room to list them, but being on the winning team for the "Marseillaise" 6 times gives a hint of his accomplishments on the court.
FPUSA instructors, Ed Porto, Frank Pipal put on well attended "basics of petanque" clinics, as did Artem Zuev in his "Art of the plombée" offering.
In addition to special motel rates, Philippe had arranged for easy transfer to the tournament venue and a players area at the courts featured food and beverage vendors and a large tent for taking one's meals in the company of fellow players. Everything necessary for the complete petanque experience, competition and camaraderie, was in place. Over an apero, Christophe conducted the draw.
Saturday morning, under clear skies, Philippe's welcome remarks and Christophe's announcements explained all and the tournament was under way.
After a full day of 5 qualifying games, on courts made difficult by a covering of fine fill over thumb sized rocks, players retired to restaurants for a good meal and awaited the next day's slotting of teams into the various levels of the tournament.
Sunday, players crowded the bulletin board to determine into which tournament they were placed as a result of their performance the previous day and then play commenced.
All day teams competed hoping to "end up in the money" and by just after dark on a lighted court the final game produced a winner.
Truly astounding for most spectators were the large numbers of carreaux made by shooters Marco Foyot and Damien Hureau in the final.
Full results will follow in a few days, but here are the top four teams.
1st Place- Marco Foyot (France) and Bernard Martin (Boca 2000 Petanque)
2nd Place- Jean-Pierre Subrenat (New York Petanque) and Damien Hureau (France)
3rd Place- Peter Mathis (Redwood Empire Boules Club) and Antoine Geoffroy (Canada) and Mario Gagné and Ben Gauthier (both Canada) (note: match not played for 3rd & 4th place, both teams received 3rdplace result)
At the awards ceremony that followed at a local restaurant, prizes were awarded to teams finishing in the money and gift certificates contributed by FPUSA totaling $500 were handed out by random draw to teams who otherwise had not won prize money.
Philippe Boets and Diana Jacobs(LAPC) "cut the grass"
This is a "not to miss" tournament for any and all players. Plan to be on a team for it next year!
It was a great weekend for a couple of tournaments, August 20-21, the FPUSA NW Region Doubles and Triples. This time of year in Portland Is known for bringing the heat, and though it got to 95℉ on Sunday and felt hotter than that on the courts for most of us, we were all grateful not to see triple digits. Players from seven out of the dozen clubs in the NW region made this a true regional tournament with 20 doubles teams and 13 triples teams.
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Ed Porto
FPUSA National Sport Director
By Friday afternoon, the 24th, the courts were full of players learning the lay of the terrain, and Lamorinda Club volunteers were setting up for the next two days of competition.
Players from all over, New York, Florida, Illinois, Texas, Oregon, Washington, and of course, California, arrived in high spirits, there were lots of bear hugs as acquaintances were renewed and all looked forward to playing against the best the FPUSA has to offer.
The Lamorinda Club had been preparing for months and the organization was impeccable. String lines dividing the courts were taut, lumber had been laid to stop errant boules, the tournament format had been set, days-end snacks were set to arrive on time, a non-playing umpire, Antoine Lofaro, was ready to measure and give rulings, and Tournament Director Etienne with the support of Club President Bill Hansen, had his play sheets of the team match-ups ready to go. Our sincere and profuse thanks to the club and its volunteers for giving the FPUSA and its players such an enjoyable weekend!
Ed Porto, FPUSA Sport Director makes opening announcements
After team captains reported to the control table Saturday morning and players blitzed through the continental breakfast, play began promptly at 9AM. There were 5 random games that day on assigned courts. Chatter fell off and serious boules work began and continued for the rest of the day, interrupted only by a delicious lunch offered on site by the club as part of the registration.
At the end of the day, the 12 teams with the most wins and best point spreads were slotted into the concours tournament for Sunday's concluding games. The other 8 teams were entered into the Federation Cup, a tournament also open to players who had not come to compete in the Qualification tournament.
By Sunday morning, the 12 teams in the Concours began play in 4 pools of three teams each. Top seeded teams based on the previous day's results were given a 1st round bye and the remaining 8 teams played in their pools. A team losing two games was eliminated and by mid-afternoon, the best 8 teams began the single elimination run to the winner's circle, quarter finals, semi-finals, and the Final. It had been decided that the losing teams of the semi-finals would both receive 3rd place medals and there would be a final match for 1st and 2nd places.
The final match then, was between the New York Petanque Club team (see full names and clubs in the results list below) of Eric, Xavier, and Jean-Pierre, and the team composed of Pascal, Juan, and Ziggy. A double wide court, previously not played on that day by these teams was prepared and after the coin toss, the jack was set and play began.
It soon became apparent that putting in a good point was going to be determinant in this game. Players struggled to get one in, sometimes the points were long, and other times short. The two shooters on each team rarely missed, lots of crowd pleasing, applause getting, hits of steel on steel, followed, and this put pressure on the pointers to get another point in.
The team of Juan, Pascal, and Ziggy soon started to run up a lead after starting strong. The other team managed points here and there, but they couldn't make their count get past 5 points and soon it was 12-5, and then one more end made it 13-5. We had our winners!
Players were back slapping and hugging and sharing the excitement with any and all. The jubilant winners were ecstatic they had won, especially since this was the first time the three of them had played together as a triple. But petanque is that way, isn't it?
While hundreds of photos of combinations of players were being embedded on countless memory cards, volunteers were carrying wine and snacks on trays to appreciative players. it was a gratifying end to a perfect two days of competition.
The next Pan Am Qualification Tournament will be scheduled for 2013 to pick the team for the 2014 World Games somewhere on our globe, our big blue marble. See, even the world is just a boule, though a huge one.
See you at the next one!
Here are many more photos! https://picasaweb.google.com/Juankydotcom/PanAmQualifier2011#
FPUSA Pan American Qualification Tournament Results
1st place
Juan Garcia (captain) (Boca Pétanque 2000)
Ziggy Kessouagni (Chicago Pétanque Club)
Pascal Corchia (la Boule Du Desert)
2nd Place
Eric Bertin (captain) (New York Pétanque Club)
Xavier Thibaud (New York Pétanque Club)
Jean-Pierre Subrenat (New York Pétanque Club)
Joint Third Place
Ernesto Santos (captain) (La Boule New Yorkaise)
Alec Stone Sweet (La Boule New Yorkaise)
Richard Meas (La Boule New Yorkaise)
Peter Mathis (captain) (Redwood Empire Boules Club)
PJ Mallette (Portland Pétanque Club)
Mickey Coughlin (Redwood Empire Boules Club)
FPUSA Federation Cup Tournament
First Place
Philippe Agnesse (captain) (Portland Pétanque Club)
Antony Nguyen (Portland Pétanque Club)
Lavant Woolfe (Portland Pétanque Club)
Second Place
Narin Garrett (captain) (Redwood Empire Boules Club)
Peter Wellington (Redwood Empire Boules Club)
Erin McTaggart (Rewood Empire Boules Club)
Third Place
Peter Paul Montague (captain) (Rogue Bouligans)
Paul Porter (Rogue Bouligans)
Brian Barton (Rogue Bouligans)
Federation Cup Consolante
Winners- Joe Martin(captain),
Joe Cortright (all Portland Petanque Club)
Bob Cortright
