We Have New Champions! Last years losing finalists go one better to win their 1st title. Rocher, Leboursicaud, Loy and Hureau with a record of P12, W12 and an average of only 3.3 points conceded were outstanding.
The champions receiving their medals from retiring FIPJP President Henri Bernard are L. to R. Damien Hureau, Bruno Leboursicaud, Bruno Rocher and Michel Loy.
By David Baxter
While the Champions were very worthy winners the tournament this year seemed a little flat. For some reason there didn't seem to be very many close and exciting matches and this feeling is born out by a detailed analysis of the results. In the main there were 235 matches and in 60% of these the losers scored 5 points or less, only 23% of the matches where the losers scored 9 or more could be considered competitive. It wasn't very different in the Coupe de Nations where the figures were 49% scoring 5 or less and 26% scoring 9 or more.
Quarter Final Analysis - 6 of the Best
Only 6 countries have won through to the Quater Final on at least 4 occassions in the last 6 years. They are France, Madagascar and Tunisia with 6/6, Belgium with 5/6 and Morroco and Spain with 4/6. In keeping with this consistency these 6 countries also account for 16/18 podium spots during the last 6 years and underlines the importance of experience and tradition. The good news for the rest is that there is a chance of getting one of the two 'open' places each year. This openess is shown by the fact that 9 countries have been represented in the 12 spots avaliabe in the last 6 years. Recently, (2003) the honour went to Thailand and Switzerland and this year another solid performance by Switzerland and an inspired one by Cambodia saw them reach that elusive Quarter Final. Perhaps the most exciting development was the emergence of the young Cambodian team who went on to a podium finish, third equal, taking some notable scalps (Tunisia 13-0 in the semifinal) on the way.
Organisation
The general organisation was very good with rounds starting on time but again no freedom of movement for spectators, so little opportunity for generating atmosphere by getting close to your team. When will organisers learn that they should allow more movement of spectators in the first two days? We are the real fans and we all want to move to where our team is playing during the pool stages. Also the security on the East entrance kept stopping Martin Eggleton and refusing to let him take in his camera but there were no such restrictions on the West entrance!!
A reflective Philippe Quintais not required during the match against Ireland. Maybe already thinking that the 9th title would elude him this time?
The original story is on the BPA-southeast site
If you try to find your favourite club or petanque website in our links-calogue hotboule and it is not there it is because we have cleaned up a bit
Finally some petanque-product news have arrived. It is not often new things appear, boules are quite simple items, and the differences are subtle mostly. But this time it is a completely new product
It is 7h30 I have slept only 4 hours and I am one of them. My team number is 207 and we are playing against V.Chavinat game 1581. I go to the games Office, get my playing pack (3 bags, 3 t-shirts , 3 bobs/soft sun hats, 3 chifonettes) and my playing card on which we will have to enter the score at the end of the first round and return it to the same office.
We just got word of a new petanque-game, for all of those of you with a PC. It's called "petank party", and looks quite unique...
We have integrated petanque.org with yet another newcomer to the web, this time it is youtube. So please give us your ideas!
Links are being cleaned outNew petanque-product hits the webGérald at Mondial La Marseillaise a Petanque 2008-08-04Crazy petanque game soon availableYoutube joins petanque.orgLyon library - story on Boule lyonnaisePetanque.org integrates with flickrPetanque.org is 10 years old! Illegal Petanque ExposedA Petanque calendar for 2008
Removing an illegally played ball (6 )Visiting France (1 )Team Turns (3 )english speaking petanque player marseille (4 )English speaker in Marseille (1 )International compation surface (1 )wc´s (2 )Bouchon Tossing Techniques (1 )technique (12 )Cheating? (2 )2009 the world game competition arena (1 )No boules for playing games (4 )anyone made a surface? (2 )quintais (6 )new terrain? (5 )
