Notice Board
FIPJP Official Rules
The recent update of the FIPJP rules
take effect from December 2020
Overview of the Rules of Petanque 2020
Next Event
Our next competition is the Autumn Doubles to be played on the afternoon of Saturday 21st October. In this event each team plays all the others, with a limit on time
allowed for each game.
You are invited to enter with the partner of your choice or take your chance with a partner drawn
from other unattached entries.
Further details to follow nearer the time
Summer Singles Challenge Competition (2023)
Due to very wet weather the competition was postponed until 17th August where it was played at Hanbury.
The winner was David with Graham as runner-up.
'Pop Up' Singles Competition (2023)
On the 16th August at Stonards a competition was arranged by members who had attended that day.
The winner was Mark and the runner-up was Peter G.
Epping Ongar Challenge (2022)
We travelled to Ongar for the away leg of the
Epping Ongar Challenge, playing for the Robert Weston Memorial Trophy.
The away leg of the Epping Ongar Challenge was played in sunshine, despite rain forecasts.
Our four teams were, Tom, Carole and Sue: Janet, Ashley and Mark T: Graham, Mary and Marion: John, Patricia and Brenda and 1st reserve Jane T.
The Ongar piste had suffered motorbike damage recently and had been given a light cover of chippings to try and help.
At half time after two games each had been played there was a 15min. coffee and cake break.
Then still in sunshine we played the last two games each.
Despite good Petanque from all of the players, we struggled to gain the wins. Only John, Patricia and Brenda's team and Janet, Ashley and Mark T's teams scoring one win each.
So sadly the Trophy went to Ongar, but a good day's Petanque was had by all.
Walking to the King's Head we could all then relax with a drink courtesy of the Ongar club.
I'd like to thank Carolyn, John and the Ongar teams for some very interesting games and all their hospitality.
Club Captain Peter's Farewell Party
Most of you will know that Peter had a grand send off as over 30 of you were there.
It was a wonderful turnout and Petanque games were played until 11am.
Before play, Chris, gave his personal thanks to Peter for his efforts over many years, turning the club into such a thriving club.
At 11am we were then joined by all the Hanbury staff for a tea and coffee break, with lovely home made cakes from Lorraine and Kathryn.
Peter's presentation ---
Our Chairman John and Graham gave the Club's thanks to Peter for all the hard work he has put in for so many years to make EHPC the competent, friendly and welcoming club it is now.
All the Competitions, weather reports, the tea and biscuits, his knowledge of Petanque and much, much more.
Peter was then presented with a voucher to use in Pen-Y-Coed, (the Club's favoured Petanque store).
Peter thanked everyone and said he would miss us all.
It was an emotional day and on leaving (to help Jenny with the packing) Peter was cheered noisily and waved out of the gates.
Autumn Doubles Competition (2022)
On a lovely sunny day at Stonards we played four matches each. Lorraine and John won all of their matches, a resounding win. Jane and Mark, who are new to Petanque, won two - which left the rest of us fighting for the remainder.
Our thanks to David who set up the pistes and sat out to be scorer.
Some of us enjoyed a coffee at Julies cafe afterwards.
Winners Lorraine and John and runners up Jane and Mark.
It was good to see different members using Stonards, which now has weekly games on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 1.30pm.
That completes our in-house competitions for the year.
It just leaves us with one more main event,
the away leg of the Epping Ongar Challenge on Sunday October 3rd.
Epping Ongar Challenge (2022)
The home leg of the Epping Ongar Challenge was played yesterday evening at Stonards in fine warm conditions. The fresh top layer for the piste, long promised by the council, has yet to materialise. Without it the surface plays very fast making it difficult to adjust to. Nevertheless our opponents coped with it surprisingly well, and we were hard pushed to keep up with them.
We played the format of 4 teams of mixed triples on each side, each team playing all of the opponents over 8 ends to contain the timing.
Out of the 16 games, Epping won 8 and Ongar won 8. Epping scored a total of 118 points, and Ongar 120.
Well done to Janet, John Adams and Chris for winning all 4 of their games. Another of our teams won 2 games, and the others just one each.
Many thanks to Marion for providing an excellent selection of piste-side refreshments which were enjoyed by all.
Afterwards we entertained our visitors to a drinks party in the Garnon Bushes, before somewhat wearily making our way home!
The scores are carried forward to the away leg, planned for Sunday October 2nd, and will plan a practice session at Ongar terrain towards the end of September to refamiliarise ourselves with its characteristics.
George Durno Doubles Competition (2022)
The George Durno Doubles was played at Hanbury in mild and pleasant conditions.
The 14 entries were drawn at random into 7 teams, playing 7 rounds to complete the league.
The final result was very close, with three teams each winning 4 of their 6 matches.
In third place were Graham and Peter Giblin on +8, runners-up were Brenda and John Adams (+9), and the winners Jill and Ashley (+10).
After our secretary Janet had made the presentation of the trophy and prizes, we adjourned for a picnic lunch.
Ongar Town Festival (2022)
I am sure you would like to hear about the (mixed!) fortunes of our teams playing in the Ongar competition on Sunday.
There were 40 doubles teams partaking, including 17 players from our club. Two were teamed up with members from other clubs, and Peters partner was his son-in-law Gerry. Gerry and Peter won the competition in its first two years 2018/9.
Being a much bigger affair this year, and with some seriously strong teams in the mix, it was interesting to see how we got on.
The 40 teams were initially split into 10 leagues of 4, and played each of the 3 other teams in their league to decide who would go into the Gold, Silver, Bronze or Copper knock-out sections after lunch. Games were played over 7 ends, and the league positions were determined by accumulated points difference (not by number of wins).
Congratulations to Lorraine and John (team Jonlo), and Patricia and Peter G (team Jolly), who both won their leagues to progress to the Gold section. Jonlo lost in the quarter-final, and team Jolly lost to the eventual champions.
Gerry and Peter (the Invinciboules) won all 3 of their league games comfortably but nevertheless finished up in Silver, along with Brenda and David T (Davenda). Both reached the semis where they were knocked out.
Marion and John (Les Jolies) reached the semis in the Bronze section, where Janet and Graham (All at Sea) lost in the quarter-final.
Playing in the Copper section, Jill and Ruby (generation Gap) and Lynda and Lyn T (L Squared) lost in the quarters.
Bearing in mind we do not pretend to be the most competitive of clubs, I think we can say that we gave the other teams a good run for their money. And our newer and less experienced players acquitted themselves very well against some very tough opposition. It was good to see so many of us getting involved and enjoying the day.
In conclusion I have to say a big 'Thank You' to Carolyn and John Adams for their tireless work over much of the year to set up the festival and petanque competition. along with the many helpers involved on the day.
I'm sure we'll all be back again next year, and perhaps one of us will regain the trophy.
Ted Burton Triples Competition (2022)
The Ted Burton Triples was played at Hanbury in benign conditions. The 5 teams were drawn at random, and played each other in one league to determine their final positions.
Three teams all scored two wins apiece, with third place going to Brenda, Janet & Geoff (+ 6 points).
The runners up were Marion, Lorraine & John Adams (+7).
The winning team managed a clean sweep, winning all of their matches. Graham, Colin and Peter played very well as a team, with Colin pointing accurately, Graham shooting consistently, leaving Peter to tidy up on the rare occasions that it was necessary.
Winter Challenge Competition (2022)
The Winter Challenge was played in ideal conditions, although the piste itself was tricky, being very hard and gritless with hard packed stony patches. Consistently precise pointing was virtually impossible.
13 players entered the competition, playing in two leagues. In League A defending champion Graham got off to a strong start, earning 2 wins and 1 draw after 3 rounds. Peter was just ahead on 3 wins.
In League B Andrew was on 3 wins after 3 rounds, with Charlie in pursuit on 2 wins. Ultimately Peter won League A and Andrew won League B, neither dropping a game.
In the final Andrew pointed accurately and consistently, and although the game stayed close initially he scored a 3 in the 4th end with all his boules within a few inches of the jack, and after that Peter couldn't catch him.
After President John had presented the trophy and prizes, we adjourned to Julie's cafe in the pavilion where several family supporters joined us for tea and cake in the warm afternoon sunshine.
It's good to see a new name on the trophy, and congratulations to Andrew for playing so well on the difficult surface.
Incidentally the council have promised to re-grit the terrain in the near future which should help us lesser mortals to perform rather better.
Gardens of Hanbury
From Wednesday 1st April regular play
will change to a Wednesday, with Thursday as a backup reserve day. If there is a bad forecast
for the Wednesday then play will be on Thursday.
This is for Members only and there is a fee of £3.00 per person which includes the donation to the Charitable Trust
and for teas/coffees/biscuits.
Please bring your own packed lunch
Hanbury Autumn Doubles
The Hanbury Autumn Doubles was
played in decent weather conditions, if a little cool by the end.
With 32 teams
competing (7 from Epping) we were playing initially in 8 leagues of 4.
League winners
went on to the Main competition, and runners-up to the Plate.
Our most successful team was 'Farrarandaway' (Graham and Janet) who won their league. 3 other
Epping teams were runners-up. Unfortunately of the 4 teams who progressed into the knockout
stages - that's what happened! Nevertheless there were some extremely close well fought games
and we were unlucky not to see at least one of our teams reach a final. We were never outplayed.
The organisation behind a competition of this size is tremendous, and once again we have to
congratulate Carolyn on putting it all together, Our thanks also to many others for helping
on the day. Firstly to Tony & Maureen Clark for stepping in at the last minute to replace a
team who had been forced to withdraw due to sickness. Then to the lads (mainly John M and Graham)
for getting there early to set up the pistes.
Later in the day Lorraine produced 3 beautiful
cakes and Essex's finest bread pudding - all put away in a matter of minutes!