Isle of Wight Petanque
Association
About
History
Since the first Piste was officially opened at the Falcon Hotel in Ryde by the then Mayor of Medina on October 14th 1978, the number of teams playing in the Summer triples league grew from 6 to 56 in just 18 years and is still going strong some 35 years later.
The first completed league was played in 1979 between August and October and was contested by Falcon A, Falcon B, The Propellor, The Royal Sandrock Inn, The Travellers Joy and Ventnor Rugby Club.
Although there are rumblings of a league which was abandoned earlier in 1979 there is little evidence to support this at the present time and the winners trophy, the Whitbread Cup, was presented to the Travellers Joy at the first presentation evening at the Swainston Hotel and Country Club on April 11th 1980.
The Isle of Wight Leagues
Two league competitions are now run by the Isle of Wight Petanque League.
The Summer Triples league, as its name suggests, takes place between April and August and is contested by 3 teams of 3 in each Wednesday evening match by all clubs with floodlit terrains.
To finish off the league season the Robert Godbold league takes place for teams of 6, playing 3 pairs legs during each match in August and September, again on Wednesday evenings. This competition is completed with a finals day when the top 16 contest mini leagues and then knockout sections to produce winners of a Main and Plate trophy.
Competitions
Throughout the season the E.P.A. IW Region runs one day competitions including the IW Region Singles, Pairs, Triples, Mixed Pairs and IW Team Qualifiers amongst others.
Teams who play well in the Qualifiers will be selected to represent the Island at the E.P.A. Inter Regional Championships later in the year and will therefore have the chance to be pitted against the top players in the country.
There is also ample opportunity, for those who are serious enough, to play in mainland competitions organised by other Regions, Regional Clubs and of course the E.P.A. from anywhere between Cornwall and Scotland with entry requirements ranging from just turn up with a set of Boule, pay a small fee, and have fun, to wearing matching team strip, be licenced with the E.P.A, and part with a larger fee in order to prove yourself against some of the best players in the world.
The opportunity to take Petanque as socially or as seriously as you like is already there - all you need is the will to give it a go!