The player ratings have been released for the 2016-17 season.
Award Winners
Players Ranking
SAPL 2016-17 Player Rankings Complete Listing
Terry Hall
Interclub Competition Rnd 1
Round 1 at Prospect Pétanque Club 6 August, 2017
The 2017/18 Interclub season got off to a tempestuous start. Literally. In the face of an ominous weather forecast, 57 brave souls turned up in their wet-weather gear ready to battle it out for their respective club. The fact that there were no late withdrawals or no-shows is, in itself, testament to the dedication and fortitude of this group.
Overnight rain had left the playing surface soft but mostly still playable and, fortunately, it cleared in time for the start of play. The cold wind was cutting, but at least we were lucky enough to get through the three preliminary games with minimal precipitation. Then, at lunch time, the storm hit.
Some of the braver ones ventured out to start their afternoon games in heavy rain, while the more cautious bided their time indoors. (Bravo to the two NGP teams who actually managed to complete their fourth game.) However, reports began to come in of numerous lightning strikes over the Adelaide area. Therefore, the conditions were deemed to be unsafe and play was called to a halt.
As the pistes disappeared one by one under pools of water, and the rain, wind and lightning showed no signs af abating, it soon became obvious that proceedings were finished for the day. It was decided that three out of five games constitutes a quorum, so medals and championship points were awarded, based on the results from the prelims. The early finish left all the footy fans free to get home in time to watch the Showdown (although, after what transpired on that front, some of the Port supporters may have preferred to be out playing pétanque in a storm).
Thanks to the Prospect club for hosting under difficult circumstances.
P.S. Many of the newer players were asking whether this has happened before. Meanwhile, the older heads were reminiscing about THAT day up at Stirling. For the record, this is the first time that play has been abandoned after three games. On April 21st, 2013, at the Adelaide Hills club, the conditions may have been a bit worse…
“The morning was punctuated by several periods of thick fog, at times reducing visibility to about 20 or 30 metres. Those who played will remember these brief periods with fondness, as they were about the only times that the persistent rain and icy-cold winds were simultaneously absent.”
…but at least there was no lightning. On that occasion, 18 teams (of the 22 that had registered) soldiered on to the completion of the fourth game.
Fund raising for the Australian Junior World Pétanque Championship Team
The PFA has it’s first fund-raising effort in association with the Australian Sports Foundation is the HELP GET OUR JUNIORS TO CHINA campaign.
They are looking to raise $10,000 to cover the travel costs of their 4 junior players Bronson Romani, Logan Romani, Zac Diep Nicholson and Khrishika Ramjuttun who are representing Australia in the Junior World Championships in Kaihua, Zhejiang Province, China in November.
The PFA really needs all your help with this, otherwise the cost of getting these great young players to the championship falls on their parents.
The link to the PFA Development Fund is here.
Please share the attached flyer and spread the word with your community of friends, business contacts and any other potential sponsors, it doesn’t matter how big or small the donation is, they will all help to get these guys to China.
2017/18 SA State Doubles Championships @ ESP
2017/18 SA State Doubles Championships
at: Eastern Suburbs Pétanque Club 23 July, 2017
This year’s State Doubles Championships were held at Eastern Suburbs in wintry conditions. Several periods of light but persistent rain kept players on their toes, as the characteristics of the playing surface changed throughout the day.
The Ladies competition culminated in a final between the two stand-out teams on the day. Rada Pierre and Shelley Li proved to be very worthy runners-up, but it was Deb Rodda and Selina Dally who took out the honours.
This must have been quite a relief for the latter pair after a very shaky start to the day, due mainly to having only one player in the opening game. However, Selina atoned for her indiscretion to retain the Doubles title she has held (with a variety of partners) since 2014. For Deb, the victory was a fitting way to celebrate ten years since her first win in this event.
In contrast, the Open competition was one where you needed to throw out the form guide and back some long-shots. Even Nostradamus could not have predicted how this one would pan out as, one by one, the favourites fell by the wayside. In the end, it was Richard Voskamp & Stan Wilson, together with Greg Anderson & Anthony Pietsch, who earned a place in the final.
The final was played under lights, in cold and wet conditions. It was not the most spectacular final we’ve seen, as the fatigue from a long and trying day started to take its toll. This may have helped the younger team of Greg & Anthony, as they grafted their way to a win. This is Anthony’s second state title and his first in Doubles. Greg, on the other hand, already had a complete set of Singles, Doubles and Triples trophies. He’s now made a start on acquiring a second set.
Results
Ladies Doubles Champions: Deb Rodda & Selina Dally
Runners-Up: Rada Pierre & Shelley Li
Third Place: Llianne Healey & Glenis Head
Open Doubles Champions: Greg Anderson & Anthony Pietsch
Runners-Up: Richard Voskamp & Stan Wilson
Semi-Finalists: Will Swart & Raymond Beaumont
Alexi Alexi & Wendy Bensen
Consolante Winners: Wayne Twigden & John Luttrell
Consolante Runners-Up: Raja Jamaleddine & Sukrit Vaswani
Conviviale Winners: Mike Read & Brian Tuckfield
Conviviale Runners-Up: Anna O’Connor & Ray Drummond
SAPL Doubles Championship Results
SA Doubles Championships 23rd July, 2017 @ ESP
The South Australian Doubles Championships will be held on Sunday 23rd July, 2017 at Eastern Suburbs Pétanque Club, 8 Northgate Street, Unley Park.
All entries to be received by Wednesday 19th July
Details on the attached Flyer for registering and the competition itself.
Note: This Tournament is open to PFA Licence holders only.