FOR a 'petit' taste of France look no further than... the Vale of Clwyd!

Members of Ruthin U3A have played an inaugural match of the French bowling game pétanque at the new dedicated court at Ruthin Rugby Club.

Pétanque is similar to crown green bowling, but played on a hard gravel surface, with two teams, each with usually between two and four players, competing to toss steel balls (boules) as close as possible to a small target ball or jack.

Invented in France in the early 1900s, the modern version of pétanque is increasingly popular around the world, with many people on holiday in France discovering it being played in town squares, campsites and beaches.

 

Denbighshire Free Press:

 

Jack Shakespeare, chair of Ruthin U3A and founder of the U3A Pétanque group, said: “We are extremely grateful to Ruthin Rugby Club for allowing this space to be created at the end of their car park.

"Special thanks need to go to Garry Teeson, who provided all materials and labour for constructing the court, at no charge to the rugby club or the U3A.”

Jack said that he has been trying for several years to find a suitable site in Ruthin for a pétanque court.

The current venue has been made available until the start of the rugby season, when it will need to be returned for use as a car park.

After then, Jack’s quest for a permanent site continues.

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The court is available for members of the public who would like to play with their own pétanque balls, apart from Tuesday afternoons, when it will be in use by the U3A club.

It is hoped that the new court will kindle a local interest in the game.

Ruthin U3A is an organisation for people who are retired or no longer in full-time work, and consists of various interest and activity groups, of which this pétanque group is the latest.

Anyone interested in joining can find information on their website by searching for Ruthin U3A.