Over the July 9-10 weekend, the Edmonds Petanque Club celebrated the French national holiday, Bastille Day, with two tournaments at the Edmonds Civic Center Playfield.
On Saturday, July 9, eight club members competed for the first-ever Platinum Players Tournament. In the Platinum Tournament, senior club members played in a pair of matches, with prizes awarded to the contestants earning the highest point totals. Pat Schjelland of Edmonds was the winner of this year’s Platinum Players Tournament. Dr. Tom Newitt finished second, and Clay Freeman took third-place honors.
The next day, 44 contestants took part in the Fourth Annual Bastille Day Tournament July 10. The Edmonds Petanque Club was well represented, as were the Seattle and Port Townsend Petanque Clubs. Cheered on by friends and club members, contestants played two morning games before breaking for lunch.
At noon, under sunny skies, participants enjoyed a tasty lunch to the accompaniment of French café music provided by strolling accordion player Bonnie Birch. Two more matches followed in the afternoon. At the conclusion of the fourth game, Edmonds club president Michelle Martin awarded medals and prizes to the players who had earned the highest point totals over the course of their four matches.
Bekka Howe of the Port Townsend Petanque Club finished in first place. Nabil Benali of the Edmonds Petanque Club came in second and Rob Gruye, also from the Port Townsend Petanque Club, finished third. Tournament place winners received prizes donated by tournament sponsors Arnie’s Restaurant, The Cheesemonger’s Table and Café de Paris, all of Edmonds.
The Edmonds Petanque Club welcomes all who are interested to come explore the game of Petanque. Club members meet at the Civic Playfield on 6th Avenue across from the Edmonds fire station on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m., Sunday afternoons at 1:30 p.m., and Wednesday afternoons at 1:30 p.m. Players are happy to offer guidance about the game. The club has plenty of equipment to share with newcomers and welcomes beginners to give Petanque a try.
— Story and photo submitted by the Edmonds Petanque Club
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