Monkstone Pétanque Club

The 2022 President’s Cup was held today a the club with 30 members taking part – believed to be a new record. As had become the norm, the competition was held as a Melee to encourage the less experienced players to compete. Would one of them win again following in the footsteps of last year’s winner, Sandy Warner? Sandy decided to not to take part today “to give someone else a chance!” Twice a winner previously, Phil Roberts was out for a hat-trick of wins – could he be stopped? These and a million other questions would be answered in the next 3 hours.

The 4 players who joined the club this year and were taking part in their first President’s cup had mixed fortunes in the first round with Alex Skibinski and Paul Pulsey with their respective partners starting with a win whilst Len Christian & Ian Campbell, with their partners, went down.

In Round 2, Ian managed to get his first win whilst Paul couldn’t consolidate his position with another win. When the round concluded, 7 players were on 2 wins with Pete Kensett leading the way on +14 points but Phil “dreaming of a hat-trick” Roberts was still in the mix with a score of +12.

So the final round got underway – with 3 of the players on 2 wins on opposing teams, it was going to take 3 wins to take the trophy. Phil with his partner Paul was pitted against Pete & Gill Greenwell. Which of these would get the third win and perhaps take the prize or would one of the other players on 2 wins sneak through to win? 

When it was all over the computer was consulted and it was found that Phil and Paul had beaten Gill & Pete to end their chance of victory but another 3 of the players on 2 wins had also secured the 3rd win to keep them in the hunt. So with a drum roll and a fanfare of trumpets, it was announced that in 4th place was Rob Harris [+10] and 3rd was John Xiberras [+11]. Had Phil “I have a dream” Roberts taken the trophy for the third time – the suspense was ended when it was announced that Ian McCarthy [+20] had pipped Phil [+14] at the post. 

Well done to Ian and thanks to all who took part to make it a great competition.

Last year’s winner, Sandy Warner hands the trophy on to Ian McCarthy

COMPLETE RESULTS

Round 1 of the 2022 competition was played in week commencing 3 October 2022.

The opening game was between Marauders and Minotaurs and was keenly fought. Marauders Amanda & Tom started in storming fashion with a 13-1 win against Vickie & Bernard but Minotaurs, Pete K & Barney struck back against Phil & Chich with a 13-10 win to level the games at the turn around. Marauders took the next game to finish 13-6 but again Minotaurs didn’t fold and took the last game 13- 6 for an honourable draw.

The following day pitted the new team to the competition, Mystics, against last year’s winners, Monarchs. First blood went to Mystics Alex H & Rob by 13-4 against Roger Grif & Mike J. Was this a portent of what was to come – the Monarchs hadn’t forgotten their defeat by the then newbies, Meteors, in the opening game of the inaugural competition. Mystics Beryl and Ian Mc put up a good fight against Keith and Wiggy in the next game before eventually going down 6-13. After the break Keith and Wiggy soon found themselves trailing against Alex and Rob, but then the greater experience showed and they ran out 13 -7 winners. The final game was nip & tuck with Beryl’s pointing & Ian’s shooting putting pressure on the Monarchs. With the game all square at 9-9, Monarchs managed to pull through for a 13-9 win.

As El Pres said in his post match interview, “Well done to the Mystics. To all teams I say – be afraid, be very afraid! the Mystics are coming for you!!!!!”

For Tables & Results click here