WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL BLOG for La Pétanque Marinière in San Rafael, California. LPM has been an active Marin pétanque club since 1972 and affiliated with the Fédération of Pétanque USA, since 1975. We welcome people of all abilities, ages and nationalities to come and enjoy pétanque with us.

The Pierre Joske Courts are located on Civic Center drive in San Rafael. (click for directions). Casual games are played every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from about 1 pm. Tournament play is usually held on the second Sunday of every month.

Please consult the links on the sidebar to the right for more information on clubs in the bay area, nationally and world wide.

If you would like to play but haven't any boules, please contact our President, Christine Cragg. They can bring some for you to use, as well as introduce you to the basic skills and techniques of pétanque. In addition, if you are looking to purchase boules but are unsure as to which size and weight are right for you, we have a range of different examples from which to choose.

Friday, September 26, 2008

VOMPC Oktoberfest

The Valley of the Moon Pétanque Club is putting on an Oktoberfest beer and pétanque event. Sunday October 19 from 11 am - 4 pm. Click the following links for more and information and reservations.
Limited to the first 200, so reserve your spot today!

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Interclub Tournament

Sunday October 12 - at Sacramento

Marin hosted the first-annual Interclub Tournament in 2007 with the goal being that the hosting duties would rotate to a different club every year. The following year’s host was to be chosen from the participating clubs by random method, at the end of the tournament day. Sacramento won the toss to host the 2008 tournament.

Bring your own Lunch / Aperitif will be served at the Awards Ceremony
Pre-registration through your club President is required.
Participants must play only with members from their ‘primary’ club.
On-site PRE-REGISTERED PLAYER CHECK IN ends: 9:30 / Games start: 10:00
Registration fee $3.00 per player

Details for Interclub Tournament Format and Club Eligibility

1) In order to be eligible to participate, a club has to present a MINIMUM of eight (8) players and has to present an EVEN number of players. This has to be coordinated by each club and the Host Club is to receive the list of enrolled players from the President or Director of Sports of each club by the Wednesday that precedes the tournament date. (All team members must play with their “primary” club. Associate members are not eligible.)

2) On-site PRE-REGISTERED PLAYER CHECK IN ends at 9:30 and games start at 10:00.

3) 3 qualification games played in doublettes with random pairing of the members of the same club .


4) Within each club, each of their players will be ranked according to number of wins and number of points.


5) The ranking of the clubs is determined by adding the number of wins and points of their 8 best ranked players.
6) Clubs ranking # 1 and 2 play a Finale championship round by opposing their 3 best ranking players in a triplette 15 point finale.

7) In case there are 2 clubs ranking equal for the second place (which allows this club to play in the finale), the club having the larger number of players enrolled in the tournament wins the second place and plays the finale.

8) In case there are 2 players of a given club which rank equal for third place (which allow them to be part of the finale game triplette), the sport director (of the host club) will choose randomly between these 2 players (by coin toss).

9) The hosting club offers aperitif at awards ceremony.

10) No Cash Prizes will be given. A minimal entry fee will be charged to offset the cost of trophy engraving and aperitif served.

11) The perpetual trophy was sponsored by Bank of the West (with their logo and the title of the tournament on the trophy) After each tournament, the year, name of wining club and winning triplette will be engraved at the cost of the hosting club.


DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
Going East on I-50 towards South Lake Tahoe, after the Watt Ave exit, continue on and exit right on Mather Field Road. Stay right on Mather Field Road, past Rockingham, at the next light turn right unto Peter Mc Cuen Blvd. The courts are across the street from the water tower.

NW Regional Slideshow

La Pétanque Marinière hosted the northwest regional competition today. It was a fairly small, cozy competition with ten teams comprised of members from Sacramento, Lamorinda, San Francisco, Menlo Park, Sonoma and San Rafael. Click on the Obut icon to watch the slideshow.
23, September 2008
Hi All,
La Petanque Mariniere did a nice job of hosting the first NW Regional Mixed Triples on Sunday, September 21.
Ten teams registered. 3 qualifying games were played. 6 teams went to the concours, 4 to the consolante. Both brackets were seeded, with the top two qualifying teams getting a BYE in the quarterfinal round.
Gold:Raymond and Pim Nielsen (La Boule d'Or), and Alain Gusella (Club Francais de Sacramento)
Silver:Alain and Evelyn Marchand, and Jacques Gautier (all La Petanque Mariniere)
Bronze:Jacques Serafian and Claudie Chourré (La Petanque Mariniere), and Jacques Avedissian (La Boule Joyeuse)Of the silver and bronze medalists, all are senior citizens (and one is over 80 years old!).
So for those who say: "It's always the same people who win," not so. Those teams played well. It was great to see these folks take their prizes -- even if it was at my team's expense!
Cheers,
Ed Porto
FPUSA National Sport Director

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

lapc open select triples

The Los Angeles Pétanque Club is pleased to host the 2008 Los Angeles Open Select Triplette competition on Sunday, October 12, 2008 at their facilities in the Cheviot Hills Park and Recreation Center (Rancho Park). This tournament is open to all players, whether or not affiliated with FPUSA clubs. Cash prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third place teams in the Concours and to the winner of the Consolante. The size of the awards will depend upon the number of participants, with a minimum of $300 to the winners of the Concours. Registration for the tournament will be from 8:15-9:00 AM and play will begin at 9:30 AM. The entry fee will be $75 per team. Morning croissants and coffee, luncheon sandwiches and beverages will be provided at no additional cost.

The links below will let you download the entry form for the tournament and a list of recommended hotels for out-of-town participants, as well as directions to their courts.
Registration Form

fpusa southwest regional

Please note that the date for the FPUSA Southwest Regional Mixed Triples, to be held in Oakhurst, CA, has been changed to the 18th of October. Start thinking about putting your team together and support our friends of the Oakhurst Pétanque Club. Click here for entry form , and for directions to Oakhurst.

Monday, September 15, 2008

fresno pétanque

By Lewis Griswold 09/14/08


Crack of bat, clack of skateboard, woosh of in-line skates. Now there's a new sound emerging from Cary Park in Fresno: the clunk of boules.
A boule is a steel ball used in the outdoor bowling sport of pétanque, originally a French game that is now played by millions in Europe and is gaining adherents in the United States, especially Fresno....
more

FPUSA NW REGIONAL

2008 FPUSA NORTHWEST REGIONAL MIXED TRIPLES CHAMPIONSHIP

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21st, 2008. START TIME 9.00 AM
PIERRE JOSKE COURTS, SAN RAFAEL, CA
click here for directions

ENTRY FEE PER TEAM: $60.00
Your check or money order and entry form must be received NO LATER than THURSDAY, SEPT.18TH. CASH ONLY will be accepted the day of the tournament, however, Christine MUST be notified of your team members by the FRIDAY the 19.
Please make check payable to La Pétanque Marinière and mail to:
Christine Cragg, 78 Madrone Ave., San Anselmo, CA 94960 Phone 415.302.5069

EVENT INFORMATION
Check in 8.00-8.30 a.m. Competition begins at 9.00 a.m.
- Coffee served in the morning. - Bring your own lunch
- Aperitif and snacks served at the awards ceremony
For more information –
Web site:
cochonnetmarin.com
Blog site: petanque-marin.blogspot.com

Per FPUSA rules this event is open only to RENEWING members of the FPUSA whose dues for 2008 have been received by June 23, 2008. HOWEVER, New Members may join when submitting this entry form.
Players are reminded that they must have their FPUSA Membership Card on their person.

The International Rules of Petanque and the FPUSA Code of Conduct will be in force at this event. For your safety, closed-toes shoes are required.



HIGHLIGHT, PRINT AND SUBMIT THE LOWER PORTION WITH YOUR ENTRY

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FPUSA N.W. REGIONAL MIXED TRIPLES CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM

CAPTAIN:___________________________________________________

PLAYER # 2:_________________________________________________

PLAYER # 3:_________________________________________________

PHONE #: (______)____________-___________________

E-MAIL:_____________________________________________________

CLUB:______________________________________________________

AMOUNT ENCLOSED: $_____________________

Sunday, September 14, 2008

lamb picnic

La Pétanque Marinière's annual Leg of Lamb picnic was held yesterday under sunny skies and the shade of our beautiful plane trees. There was a large turnout enjoying grilled leg of lamb, done to perfection by our own Louis Toulon and Antoine Lofaro. Accompanying the succlulent lamb were white beans, a delicious salad vinaigrette, brie, and bread baked by another of our wonderful members, Jean-Claude Bunnand. It's pleasantly ironic that LOL both mean leg of lamb and laughing out loud, as there were a lot of people laughing and enjoying the meal, the weather and each others' company along with a few games of friendly pétanque. Click here to watch the slideshow.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Furlan Tournament 2008

The 2008 Emile Furlan Tournament took place this past weekend on the picturesque Furlan Ranch near Knight's Landing, Ca. There were twenty-six triplette teams competing convivially under sunny skies and the shade of thirty-five year old walnut trees. In addition to a nice selection of hotels in nearby Woodland, there was ample room for those who wanted to camp under the trees either in tents or in their trailers or motor homes. After the first days' competition, everyone went to the Knight's Landing Community Center for a nice dinner, prepared by a very talented crew, under the direction of the lovely Simone Furlan, along with members of the Club Français de Sacramento. It was quite evident that everyone in attendance had a wonderful time.
La Pétanque Marinière would like to extend a most gracious thank you to the Furlans, extended familes, members of the Club Français de Sacramento and everyone who gave of their time and energy to provide such a scenic venue and a very enjoyable event.

click here to watch the slideshow.