The Herne Bay Petanque Club was one of New Zealand’s very first.
The club will host the Petanque New Zealand Open Tournament over the Saturday and Sunday of Waitangi weekend. Entrants will be coming from Tahiti, New Caledonia, Australia and from all over New Zealand to compete for the $8000 grand prize. It is a key date in the Oceania diary, and the public are invited to come and watch some of the world’s top players compete.
Members of the club have won a number of regional and national competitions, and have also represented New Zealand internationally. Such winners include the 2016 National Triple Champions, the National Senior Doubles, National Woman’s Shooting champion and several current Boule Blacks (national petanque players).
Petanque is a form of boules that originated in France early last century. The aim of the game is to toss or roll steel balls as close as possible to a small wooden ball (called a cochonnet) while standing in a circle with both feet on the ground. Unlike many sports, petanque can be played men against women. The game is usually played on hard dirt or gravel.
Located next to the Salisbury Reserve in Herne Bay, the club always welcomes new members and has a reasonably priced annual membership fee of just $55 or $100 for a couple. Under 18s and over 85s are free. Juniors, open and seniors combine to make for a healthy, active, engaged community in the Ponsonby area for both social and competitive platers.
Club days are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9.30am - 12 noon, and Fridays from 4pm till late. Free coaching is also available for members on Tuesdays from 4pm. (GEORGE SHIERS)
HERNE BAY PETANQUE CLUB, 19 Salisbury Street, M: 027 787 8175,
www.petanquenz.com/clubs/read/Auckland/herne-bay-club