The 2020 CEP Congress was held on Saturday 27/06 via a virtual Zoom session.
It was my privilege to attend on behalf of the WPA.
The CEP Reports discussed at the Meeting can be found here.
Congratulations to the members of the board elected (or re-elected) during the Congress:
Signe Hovind (Norway)
Mike Pegg (England)
Tony Smith (Wales)
Henrik Toft (Denmark)
Riccardo Capaccioni (Italy) – new board member
Sjoerd Pieterse (Netherlands) – new board member
Congratulations also to Mike Pegg on his re-appointment as CEP President for another term.
Two items discussed that particularly affect Wales are the changes to the Inter-Federation Transfer procedure and the changes to the Approved Playing Kit regulations – links to both of these can be found on the WPA websites and will be discussed in greater detail at the forthcoming OGM.
We are holding a virtual Ordinary General Meeting on Wednesday, 1st July 2020 at 7:30pm.
This will be held using the Zoom platform.
Attendees will be asked to complete a registration form on entering the meeting – this will act as a Register, as we normally do at WPA meetings. As a result, we would appreciate it if everyone could join promptly.
All attendees will enter the “lobby” and then be admitted to the full meeting with their microphone muted initially. There will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions, etc. using the “Raise Hand” and “Chat” options.
AGENDA
Apologies
Minutes of the previous meeting (see below)
Matters arising
President’s Report
Treasurer’s Report
Director of Development’s Report
COVID-19 Playing Guidelines
Finances
Any Other Business
The Minutes of the previous OGM (09/10/2019) can be found on the WPA Website, here,
and the President’s Report from the Meeting can be found on the WPA Website, here.
The Zoom Meeting details will be sent out nearer the date of the meeting.
In the meantime, we appreciate your ongoing patience, and hope you and your families stay healthy.
I hope you and you families are staying safe and well.
As you will, no doubt, be aware, the Welsh Government (WG) has today announced a relaxing of the lockdown rules from Monday 22nd June.
The EC met this afternoon following the WG’s announcement and can confirm that pétanque is covered under the list of sports allowed to open – subject to the travel restrictions and the adherence to the guidelines.
As a result, the WPA have produced an updated set of Guidelines Clubs and for Players, which MUST BE ADHERED TO in order to resume playing.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY SINGLES PLAY, PRACTICE, OR 1:1 COACHING IS ALLOWED AT THE PRESENT TIME. TEAM SPORTS ARE STILL NOT PERMITTED.
The following graphic provides a summary of the guidelines:
The latest Guidelines for Clubs can be downloaded here.
The latest Guidelines for Players can be downloaded here.
The WPA has produced a suggested playing guide that should help with managing singles-play during a game. A copy can be downloaded here.
The WPA has also produced some signage posters which Clubs can use to help with directions. A copy can be downloaded here.
The detail of the WG’s announcement can be found here.
With the announcement that further restrictions, including those related to travel, could be lifted by Monday 6th July, the WPA is looking at organising a limited number of competitions during the summer. Further information will be made available as we have details.
The EC will continue to monitor the situation and will issue further updates as we have them.
In the meantime, we hope you and your families stay healthy.
I hope you and you families are staying safe and well.
The WPA Executive Committee has been closely monitoring the situation with regard to the official advice from the UK and Welsh Governments and NHS and NHS Wales.
The EC met on Monday 1st June and earlier today we attended the regular Welsh Sports Association (WSA) Business Continuity meeting.
Although the Welsh Government (WG) have still not yet given permission for sport to resume, we are working hard with the WSA and Sport Wales (SW) to do everything we can to get our sport included in the first tranche of sports allowed to resume.
As a result of this, we have updated and are publishing the guidelines that we sent in draft form to the Club Representatives yesterday, in readiness for us being allowed to resume playing. This will allow time for Clubs to make any necessary preparations in readiness for the resumption.
The following graphic provides a summary of the guidelines:
Our friends at Pétanque England have issued the following statement:
The PE Board Meeting met virtually today and a number of playing matters were discussed.
2020 Inter Regional Championships
It is with deep regret that the PE Board has decided in the light of the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic that we are left with no alternative than to cancel the 2020 Inter-Regional Championships.
This decision is taken with heavy heart but we have concluded that we are unable to hold and organise such a major event safely for all our members young and old.
Considerable work has been undertaken by the Board to ensure that we were not left with significant financial liabilities and we are very grateful for the support we have received from our partners IoW Tours.
2020 would have been the last time that we would have held the Inter-Regionals at Hayling Island because of their refurbishment and remodelling to a format unsuited to our needs. We are now planning for 2021 and a new venue. We look forward to a major celebration in 2021, where once again we can all gather at the biggest and best national tournament in England.
We will update members when we have more details on the new venue, but just as an advance warning, we are expecting 2021 Inter-Regionals to take place a week earlier in September than they have taken place traditionally.
Although this is disappointing, I’m sure we all agree it is totally understandable, and we applaud the PE Board’s decision to make this call earlier rather than later.
I hope you and you families are staying safe and well.
The WPA Executive Committee has been closely monitoring the situation with regard to the official advice from the UK and Welsh Governments and NHS and NHS Wales.
Since the lockdown was introduced, the Executive Committee have held several meetings, the latest being this morning – following the announcements by the Welsh Government First Minister and the Prime Minister.
As we are sure you are aware, there are now some slight differences between the positions of the Welsh and UK Governments, but as this matter is devolved, the announcements by the Prime Minister relate ONLY to England.
With this in mind, the position in Wales in relation to playing sports remains unchanged. The First Minister, Mark Drakeford, made the following statement on Sunday 10th May:
I set out the modest changes to the stay-at-home regulations we are making in Wales on Friday. These will come into force tomorrow afternoon.
Here in Wales, we will change the regulations so people can exercise more often and allow garden centres to open, if they can comply with social distancing.
Our advice has not changed in Wales.
Wherever you can you should stay at home.
If you need to leave home for work, exercise or shopping, you should stay local and stay alert.
Coronavirus has not gone away
The way we behave over the weeks ahead will continue to have a profound impact on our NHS and our ability to save lives.
If you go out, stay local and stay safe.
The Prime Minister also set out his roadmap for the future. This is at an early stage because it depends on how the virus behaves over the coming weeks and months.
Two weeks ago, I published a framework to lead Wales out of the pandemic.
This has helped us decide that schools will not return to normal on June 1.
We will continue to make decisions, which are right for Wales, using information and expert advice about how coronavirus is circulating here to keep us safe.
The health of the public is paramount. It will inform our decisions and we will continue to inform you as we plan for our future in the weeks ahead.
Thank you for all your help and support. Together we can do this.
However, in an attempt to be ready for a possible further relaxation of the restrictions and a resumption of playing of sports in some format in the new future, we have begun to work on a draft updated playing calendar, as well as a guidance document which will outline the conditions and behaviours that will need to be adhered to.
These will be published in due course, when we have a clearer picture of the government advice.
Some of you may have seen similar guidelines on social media that have already been published by a number of European federations, and it is likely that any document we publish will be very similar.
Of course, it is highly likely that, even if we do resume play later this year, many of you may feel that you are not comfortable in this kind of sporting/social environment, and this is completely understandable.
You may be interested (though not surprised) to know that our membership profile is less than favourable for safe resumption of play:
WPA Member Ages above
Number of Members
WPA % of membership
80
20
7.8%
70
102
39.5%
65
145
56.2%
60
171
66.3%
50
221
85.7%
The EC will continue to monitor the situation and will issue further updates as we have them.
In the meantime, we hope you and your families stay healthy.
The WPA Executive Committee has been closely monitoring the situation with regard to the official advice from the UK and Welsh Governments and NHS and NHS Wales.
In light of the latest official information, as well as the Press Release issued today by the F.I.P.J.P., we have taken the decision to suspend ALL WPA events, competitions and meetings from midnight on Sunday 15th March 2020 until further notice.
This includes all formal and leisure-playing of the sport.
We understand that some of you will be disappointed by this decision, but we recognise that we have a duty of care to all our members and feel that now is the right time, in view of the age-profile of our members themselves as well as the potential to pass the infection on to vulnerable people with whom we may come into contact.
This action brings us in line with our friends in England, who have already announced a suspension of all their competitions and meetings.
Although our member clubs are autonomous bodies, we feel we should advise them that we believe that they should also implement a similar suspension of they playing activities.
Hopefully, this suspension will be temporary and we can all get back to playing the sport we enjoy soon.
The EC will continue to monitor the situation and will issue further updates as we have them.
In the meantime, we hope you and your families stay healthy.
As announced in the Notice of AGM, the positions of National Secretary & Director of Development are open for election at the 2020 AGM.
In line with the Constitution, I am writing to inform members that neither of the incumbent officers intend to re-stand for their current roles.
As a reminder to any member seeking nomination for these roles, they have a 2-year tenure.
Please also note that there is still a vacancy for the Director of Public Relations, but as this is mid-way through it’s tenure, anyone seeking nomination for this role would only be in position for 1 year.
On completion of the selection process used by the WPA to decide the teams that would represent Wales in both the Veterans and Men’s European championships in Bulgaria, the Welsh squad was formed of the following:
• The Veterans Team was comprised Peter Westall (Maesteg PC), Len Field (Maesteg PC), Derek Jones (Pontyclun PC) and Stewart Spencer (Pontyclun PC); the selected Coach was Jean-Yves Robic (Penarth PC). • The Men’s Team comprised largely of the same players for the Veteran’s but with Stewart Spencer giving way to Peter Beresford (Pontyclun PC).
During the months immediately before the European Championships, the squad attended weekly training sessions and took part in a number of WPA and Club events, culminating in the Men’s team winning the Welsh National Triples title.
Venue for the 5th European Triples Veterans and 9th Triples Men Championships.
The news of the sudden passing of Peter Westall only a few days before the start of the Veterans European Championships left the squad in a state of shock, but resolute to play the best they could to honour his memory.
The squad also decided that Wales would not take part in the EC Precision Shooting Championship as it was to be Peter’s individual event.
With the agreement of the CEP, Wales was able to register Peter Beresford in the Veterans team to replace Peter. The support of the CEP extended again at the start of the Veterans Championship, when a minute silence was held by all the countries present in respect of Peter and other pétanque players that had died recently.
EC Triples: Veterans
The first phase of the championship was the qualification, which comprised a 5 round Swiss System that saw Wales drawn against Finland, always a difficult opponent. Finland took a 2 points lead in the first end, but Wales came back and a tight game developed until the end of normal time where the teams were even at 10-10. The first extra end was enough for Wales to clinch their first victory 13-10.
EC Triples; Veterans Round 2: Wales v Netherlands
The second game was more complicated for the 3-man Welsh team as they were facing the Netherlands, the current European Champions. The Netherlands built a rapid 0-10 lead after 5 ends but Wales started to fight back and reduced the score to 02-10. Unfortunately, the Netherlands had regrouped and secured a 13-3 victory in the 10th end.
The 3rd round draw was again not easy one for Wales against Poland. The game started the same away as the encounter against the Netherlands, with Poland racing ahead 10-0 after the 6th end. But, after a swap in play position between Derek and Stewart, Wales scored 4 points in the 7th end then 3 points in the next, reducing the score to 10-7. Again, this would not be enough and Poland extended their lead to 11-7 and then sealed their victory 13-7 in the 10th end.
EC Triples: Veterans 4th Round Wales v Jersey.
Jersey was Wales next opponent in the 4th round and this was to be an interesting contest as Jersey was keen to take the fight to the Welsh. The game was tight and at the end of normal time, Wales was only leading 10-8 with two extra ends to play. Wales, helped by good pointing by Derek and Stewart, took the game to its conclusion in the 1st extra end winning 13-8.
With 2 wins and 2 losses Wales sat in the middle of the ranking table before the last round. The final draw was eagerly awaited and it was Denmark, who had just lost to England. Denmark has always been a tough opponent and the game proved to be another difficult one. Wales, helped again by good shooting from Len (including a couple of welcome carreaux) found themselves 4-4 after three ends and therefore still in contention. Denmark upped their game and started to pull away rapidly to finish the game worthy winners 13-4.
EC Triples: Veterans 5th Round Wales v Denmark.
Wales finished the qualification round with 2 wins and 3 losses, but having played strong teams (Inflicting the only defeat to Finland) had a chance to be one of the top 16 teams. The final ranking was produced and Wales (16th) had succeeded to be one of the top 16 teams for the first time using this Championship format.
The drawback of finishing 16th was that Wales would be in the same pool as the team ranked 1st. This year it was France with their first participation in the Championship. France’s 2019 squad included two legends of the sport FIPJP Player of the 20th century Christian Fazzino and other Marco Foyot. France had topped the ranking table with a perfect 5 wins out of 5.
Along with France and Wales in Poule A was England, ranked 8th and the Netherlands, ranked 9th. The first game of the pool was against France and the players thought that it was a fitting tribute to Peter to have to play the top pétanque playing nation in the world. Wales was expected out-classed by the French who had a near perfect game, shooting 5 carreaux out of 7 shots and not missing a single point, they only needed 3 ends to inflict a 13-0 defeat.
EC Triples: Veterans Group Match Wales v France.
Wales was now waiting for the outcome of the game between England and the Netherlands, who proved to be too strong for England, convincingly winning 13-4 and setting-up a Wales-England confrontation for the second pool game. Facing an England team lead by Simon Bird seemed like another daunting task for Wales, but the arrival of Peter Beresford provided the team a welcome boost. Despite some early apprehensions, the game was balanced and after 7 ends the score was level at 7-7. England took a 2 points lead over the next couples of ends but accurate pointing by Peter Beresford kept Wales in the game and after the 12th end Wales had a 2 points advantage leading 11-9. Two excellent points by Peter put the England shooters under pressure and gave the final 13-9 victory to Wales. This win eliminated England from the Championship and sent Wales in to the barrage against the Netherlands, who had lost 13-9 against France.
EC Triples: Veterans Wales v England
This game was a must win for Wales if they wanted to progress to the quarter-finals, but again the Netherlands proved to be too strong and inflicted another severe defeat 13-2 to the Welsh team. Despite losing this last game, the general atmosphere in the team was good, having achieved a 13th place overall; the best of any of the Home Nations teams and having played against some of the best teams in Europe. France went on to beat Sweden 13-4 in the Final and win their first Veterans European Championship title.
After a colour full and entertaining gala dinner on the Wednesday evening, Thursday was the start of the Men’s European Championship. Having decided not to field a competitor in the European Precision Shooting Championship, the team used the day to practice on the numerous outdoor pistes close to the hotel and prepared for the start of the qualifying rounds on the Friday morning.
EC Triples: Men
EC Triples: Men Round 2 Wales v Ukraine
The draw for the 1st round of the Swiss System had been made and Wales was facing the Ukraine. Despite building an 8-5 lead after 5 ends, Wales could not keep up the momentum and allowed a skill full Ukrainian team to come back and take a 11-8 lead in the 8th end. Wales could not stop Ukraine achieving a 13-10 win.
The second game for Wales was against another of the rapidly improving Eastern European teams, Hungary. The start of the game was similar to the previous game with Wales ahead 6-2 after 5 ends. Again, Wales’ momentum was stopped and Hungary made up their deficit by the 7th end and were leading 11-8 in the 8th end. By the end of normal time, the teams were tied at 11-11, but the Welsh team had found their form again and won the game 13-11.
The third round provided another Home Nation encounter with Jersey. This was was to be a difficult game for Wales, as the Jersey team had shown their qualities at the Home Nations held in Wales during the summer. As expected Jersey took an early lead 4-0 after 3 ends, but Wales took the initiative and levelled the game 5-5 after the 5th end. Wales played well and were leading 11-6 after the 9th end. However, Jersey scored 5 points in the next end and were then level with Wales at 11-11. Normal time was called during the 11th end and Wales was left with 4 boules in hand to win the game. After a taking the wrong tactical decision, Wales gave the game to Jersey.
With only 1 win out of 3 games, the fourth round was a must win for Wales to stay in the top half of the ranking table. The 4th round provided another Home Nations contest against Ireland. Wales had recovered from their disappointing loss against Jersey and were keen to change their fortunes. The game was one-sided and after 5 ends Wales was winning 12-0 and very quickly took the game 13-0. Wales was back on track, winning the last game of the Swiss System was crucial if Wales wanted to finish in the Top 16, which would be the first time in the history of the Championship.
EC Triples: Men 5th Round Wales v Russia
The last opponent for Wales was Russia, this turned out to be a slow and frustrating game. Wales built-up a healthy 6-2 lead after the 5th end, and at the end of normal time were 11-3 in front. Wales was controlling the game and its tactical play only allowed Russia to score two more points in the extra ends, finally securing a 11-5 win, the 3rd for Wales.
With the 3 wins Wales had a chance of finishing in the top 16. After a long nervous wait the final ranking was confirmed and Wales had indeed finished in 16th place just ahead of England and Scotland, who were both relegated to the Nations Cup. The 16th place for Wales gave them an automatic qualification to the 49th World Championships that will take place in Lausanne, Switzerland, in July 2020.
EC Triples: Men 1st match group Wales v France
The next phase of the competition saw Wales in the same pool as France, the current European and World champions, along with Sweden and Poland. The first game against France was another short encounter, but this time it took France 5 ends to beat Wales 13-1 in just over 20 minutes.
The second game was against Sweden, a surprising loser against Poland. Again, the opposition proved to be too strong for Wales who were outplayed in all departments and Sweden recorded a convincing 13-1 win in 7 ends. The loss against Sweden ended Wales’ Championship, but the direct qualification for the next World Championship was a superb result and credit needs to be given to all the members of the Welsh Squad who have, in extremely difficult circumstances, always wore their Welsh shirts with pride and played to the best of their ability. I think Peter Westall would have been proud of them and their achievements in both European Championships.
The Inter-Regional Qualifier will be held at Caerleon Pétanque Club on Sunday (16th), there are currently 7 teams entered, to send a full squad 8 teams are required.
Therefore, one more team is required to make the 8.
The following teams have registered:
Brecon P.C.: Jim Page, Gareth Smart, Tony Griffiths & A.J. Jones
Pontyclun P.C.: John Attfield, Katherine Attfield, Gareth Jackson & Trudie Merry
Caerleon P.C.: Kon Tomczyk, Barbara Vaughan, Gemma Foster & Tansy Mayfield
Wheatsheaf P.C.: Jim Hutchinson, Linda Hutchinson, Pat Daviss & Gail Brooksbank
Caerleon P.C.: Alison Gregory, Paul Gregory, Paul Mayfield & Steve Snudden
Monkstone P.C./Caerleon P.C.: Jayne Dunn, Sue Foster, Jeremy Clare & Sean Smith
Wheatsheaf P.C.: Basil White, Colin Sweet, Simon Herbert & Alun Evans
