Local Sports News
Petanque: More than just a sport

Anne Morel played pétanque at a high level for more than 30 years. She used to be one of the stars at Carrefour Pétanque Club. But dementia intervened and gradually her skill set diminished.  However, she’s still playing the game, but now in sessions organised by Dementia Jersey at the terrain on the village green at St Martin. Helping her is another long-time Carrefour stalwart, her husband Frank. He helped set up the St Martin sessions. “It really helps Anne to continue to play the game,” he said. “It’s exercise. And she has to think about how she’s going to play the next shot. Coming here has done her the world of good.”

The sessions often attract more than 20 people including their carers. “We were looking for different ways to engage with people living with dementia,” said Volunteer and Activities co-ordinator for Dementia Jersey, Susie Kelly, “It’s wonderful for them. It gets them out. It’s exercise and it helps them cognitively – whose turn is it next, how hard should I throw my boules? It’s also good for the carers – they can share their experiences.”

And pétanque is also proving to be a real pick-me-up for sufferers of persistent pain, caused by a wide variety of conditions. Liam O’Connor, Vocational Co-ordinator with Pain Support Jersey, said: The members really enjoyed playing pétanque. Jo Mollet, one of those taking part, said: “The exercise helps a lot because we’re out in the fresh air and having fun.” Pétanque Jersey is also supporting Headway charity events.

All these sessions are examples of how pétanque has a wider role to play in the community. “With both the Home Nations and the Inter Insular in the forefront of our minds, it is perhaps worth remembering that pétanque is not all about elite squads and travel to exotic locations,” said Dave Ibitson, Pétanque Jersey chairman. “We must not forget our roots. Many of those players from the 1980s are still playing regularly and for them pétanque is as much about being a sociable occasion as a sporting one. The Parish League wouldn’t be the same without the tea and home-made cakes after the games have ended. It’s an ideal way of keeping in contact with friends whilst as the same time keeping active.

“In Jersey we are continuing to develop links with the community including young future Jersey players. Thanks to the work of the JPA’s Development Officer Robin Stockton there are now terrains at Les Quennevais, Haute Valle and Le Rocquier Schools and there is also one just next to Grainville School.”

Robin Stockton said: “The terrain at Les Quennevais School is now up and running. It was built on the site of an old flower bed and by coincidence is adjacent to the classrooms used by the school’s Modern Languages Department who have already made good use of it.

“It’s hoped that further coaching will take place at the start of the Autumn Term and that a competition will take place between the four schools towards the end of October. During the final week of the school year four JPA coaches gave a two hour coaching session at Haute Vallee School with all twelve of the students who took part achieving the JPA’s Level 1 Skills Award. The JPA are grateful for the grant they received from the Jersey Community Foundation to enable these terrains to be built.”

And outside school, youngsters belonging to the 1^st St Ouen Sea Scouts have taken a big step towards earning their Skills Challenge badge thanks to members of St Mary Pétanque Club. A dozen cub scouts spent nearly two hours learning how to play the game and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. By the end of the session several of the youngsters had been identified as potential stars of the future.