Pétanque in Athlone

The IPA wishes to congratulate Athlone Regional Sports Centre on the completion of a new piste in the town. The facility is based in the Sports Centre Brawny Road, Athlone Co Westmeath N37 W3W0

The piste is free to use and also has free car parking available & there is an Outdoor Coffee Dock on site.

It is to be hoped that a new club can be formed in the town to make use of the facilities, so if you live near and want to play the game – now is your chance.

Our picture shows the completed piste at the centre.

IPA Elections

At the recent AGM the following were elected to the IPA Council

President – Billy Gleadell – Cavan Petanque Club

Honorary Secretary – Dawn Kirk – Ormeau Petanque Club

Honorary Treasurer Own Kelleher – Park Petanque Club

Council Members – Tom McPhillips – Waterford Petanque Club , Sylver Breteche – North Down Petanque Club, George Davidson – North Down Petanque Club, Roberto Caira – Park Petanque Club, Des Spratt – Ormeau Petanque Club, Dermot Murray – Marlay Park Petanque Club, Brian Kavanagh – Cabinteely Petanque Club, Tom Donnellan – Bayside Petanque Club

2023 IPA SINGLES

2023 IPA SINGLES The final for this is scheduled for Saturday 25th March in Bushy Park Dublin. Should regional qualifiers be necessary, depending on the number of entries received, they will be held on Saturday 11th March at venues to be decided. Please be aware that you may be required to play on BOTH dates. Entries for this event must be with the Competition Secretary by 1200 on Saturday 4th March at 1200.

The new IPA Competition Secretary is Sylver Breteche. entries should be forward to him at slybret11@hotmail.co.uk.

ENTRIES CAN ONLY BE ACCEPTED FROM AN INDIVIDUAL PLAYER – YOU SHOULD NOT ENTER FOR ANOTHER PERSON NOR ASK SOMEONE ELSE TO ENTER FOR YOU.

IPA 2023 AGM venue confirmed.

The 2023 AGM will take place on Saturday the 18th February at 1100 in the Foxhunter bar/restaurant, which is located just off the N4 in Lucan.

Any members wishing to attend the meeting who have not already confirmed their intention to attend with the Hon Sec should do so before the end of January after which time the paperwork for the meeting will be circulated.

Irish Pétanque Association Annual General Meeting 2023

THE 2023 AGM OF THE IPA WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY 18TH FEBRUARY @1100.

THIS WILL BE AN ‘IN PERSON’ MEETING NOT VIA ZOOM.

MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO CONFIRM THEIR INTENTION TO ATTEND IN PERSON BY 31ST JANUARY WITH THE HON SEC SO THAT WE CAN ARRANGE A SUITABLE MEETING ROOM IN DUBLIN.

THE MEETING ROOM WE HAVE USED IN THE PAST IN BUSHY PARK IS LIMITED IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT IT CAN HOLD SO IF WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF ATTENDEES IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO HIRE A ROOM IN THE BUSHY PARK AREA.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING AS MANY OF YOU AS POSSIBLE.
Denis Nightingale Hon Sec IPA

2023 Celtic Challenge Qualifier

A total of 17 triples from all parts of the island entered the first stage of the qualifying event to become part of the Ireland team for the 2023 Celtic Challenge which will see Ireland host teams from Scotland and Wales.

Held at the N Down club premises in Bangor, where the 2023 Celtic Challenge will be played, there was a full days play in glorious sunshine – lets hope for weather like that next year!

Every game was hard fought and in the end the 8 teams captained by Ben, Jeremy, Dave, Romain, Dawid, Colin, George and Yaness made it through to the final stage of selection when the teams to represent Ireland A and Ireland B will be decided.

Our photo, courtesy of Owen, shows most of the participants in Bangor on Saturday 10th September.

Thanks to Denis and Dawn for their contribution to the smooth running of the event on the day.

IPA DOUBLES 2022

August 13th saw the 2022 edition of the IPA Doubles played in a sun kissed Bushy Park Dublin.

After the two round-robin group games the 13 teams were whittled down to two, Samir and Sariff and Sylver and Franck, to contest the final.

The final saw some excellent play by both pairs and in the end Samir and Sariff ran out the winners by the narrowest of margins – 13 points to 12.

Congratulations to all participants and thanks to Park Pétanque Club for facilitating the event.

Our photo, courtesy of Des Spratt [Ormeau Petanque Club] gives a flavour of the day’s play in Bushy Park.

2023 Celtic Challenge Qualifier – entry update!

The IPA Council has reconsidered the arrangements for the 2023 Celtic Challenge qualifying event.

The date of the Qualifier remains the same i.e. Saturday 10^th September 2022.

What has changed is the date for entries, which has been brought forward to 1200 on August 9^th 2022.

The reason for the change of entry date is to ascertain from those entered the most favourable venue at which to play the Qualifier. The 2023 Celtic Challenge is being held at the North Down club in Bangor.

Team captains MUST state their willingness to play the Qualifier in North Down, Bush Park or Frankfield or state No Preference [if that is the case].

Once entries are received in August the Council will decide the venue for the Qualifier and we hope that all teams will be able to travel to play at the chosen venue. At their discretion, the IPA Council may allow ‘late’ entries, up to the original entry date of 3^rd September 2022 on the understanding that late entries will have no say in the choice of venue.

Triples that have already expressed an interest in playing in the qualifier are required to confirm their entry AND specify their preference for the venue as per above.  

These changes have been made in the hope of getting as many teams as possible to enter so we can select the best 8 triples to represent Ireland next year.

Wishing you all an enjoyable summer – wherever you may be spending it.

Denis Nightingale – Hon Sec IPA

2022 IPA Mixed Doubles

A small but quality field were present in Bushy Park Dublin on 21st May for the 2022 Mixed Doubles.

Our photo shows the winners Terry and Tuathla Greene with the trophy they won after defeating Christy Nolan and Kathleen Fay 13-10 in the final.

Also included in the photo is Colin Delaney, organiser on the day, who along with partner Aoife, lost out to Dave Beck and Dawn Kirk by the same score in the third place play-off.

Thanks go to Colin for his organisation on the day and to Park Pétanque Club for facilitating the event.

IPA Events in 2022

Just a reminder of the upcoming IPA events-

IPA Mixed Doubles 21st May in Bushy Park Dublin – entries to be with the Hon Sec by 1200 on 14th May

IPA Doubles 13th August in Bushy Park Dublin – entries to be with the Hon Sec by 1200 on 23rd July

2023 Celtic Challenge qualifier 10th September in Bushy Park Dublin – entries to be with the Hon Sec by 1200 on 3rd September. Ireland will be hosting the 2023 event so we need 8 triples to play in the Celtic Challenge so we would encourage as many teams as possible to enter the qualifier in September.

All entries as usual to denisnightingale@yahoo.co.uk by the date/time specified above.