I see darkness on Wednesday night.......

A small video I made Last Wednesday night in McCarren Park. My last game with Mark before he moves to Pittsburg. So long old friend, come back soon.......





We are also off to France, so please excuse our absence from the Park until the end of August.... Until then take care and play in the Park as much as you can.

Bastille Day Debauchery......

It taken me a while to get over last weekends Warm Boule, Weak Ricard and Hyperhidrosis. As much fun as the Bar Tabac Tournament is every year, it's pure madness. An orgy of enthusiastic competitiveness as seen in the dog pits around the world...... Game on! Fast, furious and cutthroat. Piratesque chaos, seemingly ruleless mobs of three, swashbuckling their way into the next round, sporting their colors and cunningly scheming their opponents demise. Each of the 80 pistes should come with a keg of rum, as the lines to the bar were far too long and the only way to approach such insanity is in the vane of Hunter.S. Thompson meets Errol Flynn. Start the intoxication early and keep an eye out for large bats flying the Jolly Roger.

All that being said, a big thank you to all involved in making it happen. A lot of time and effort goes into this production, it should be a show on Broadway. Although it started late due to the fact that only one Cement truck full of sand showed up and had to go back for more. Ernesto, of LBNY, did a fine job of making the event go as smoothly as possible.

Since last years national televised upset between Brooklyn Boule and Xavier, Bernard and Gill's team.(LINK) Where there was a disupte about the Cochonnet being out or in. A fundamental rule as been issued concerning the Cochonnet and the Piste barriers. If the Cochonnet hits the barriers at any time in play it's rebound will be left as good and not out. Only if the Cochonnet leaves the Piste does this count as out. This ruling has been, most flatteringly, dubbed "Tristram's Law" by La Boule New Yorkaise and the founders of the Bastille Day Tournament. Such a trouble maker am I. And believe me this rule cause no end of confusion and frustration for all players.

As if the laws of physics and pirate tactics weren't enough to contented with, this year; the "all mighty Pétanque player in the clouds", deemed it nessasary to once again turn on the improbability drive and match us up AGAIN with Xavier, Bernard and Gill! In the same court!!! A surreal occurrence that left us all a bit dumbfounded. But it wasn't until the Cochonnet defied "Tristram's Law" by going underneath the back board and was half in and half out; that left me feeling there was some very odd intervention going on here, "oh crap, not again!!!" Yugve was called to give the call, and it was declared "in". Although they had the chance to knock the back board on the opposite side to make the Cochonnet "out", being gentlemen let it go and played on, beating us 13/1. At leased we didn't get Fannyed. As they went on to win the whole tournament. Good for them, they are the best after all..... and like playing with sand.

So there you are another year, another crazy hot Sunday in Brooklyn. We'll be back next year!!

Bar Tabac Bastille Day Pétanque Tournament 2008

An email Brooklyn Boule Received about Bastille day, and our reply, to the best of my knowledge :-


Hi,

I was reading your blog and the post about playing on Smith Street on Bastille day.
Where do you sign up? I can't find any info online.

Thanks,
Alex


Alex,

For the Bar Tabac Bastille Day Tournament on the 13 th July 2008.
Your best bet is signing up at Bar Tabac or at Tout Va Bien in person. These are, as far as I know, the only "open" places for unaffiliated LBNY or Brooklyn Boule club members. Slots are scarce, so put your name and cash down ASAP.It's first come first served.( I believe it's $35.00 per team, but I could be wrong.) Please call these restaurants first, to make appointments, as they are very busy this time of year, and respect their time and patience. Brooklyn Boule has our honored place in the tournament so keep an eye out for us and cheer us on..... If you or anyone else misses out on this year you can join Brooklyn Boule or LBNY, to play in next years Bastille day Tournament and all season long, with membership to either of these local clubs.

All the best and see you there.

Tristram

Brooklyn Boule

NEW MESSAGE BOARD AND FORUM..... Grand Opening Of Boule Brocante!

Finally, after hours of dedicated, mind numbing computer strain..... The new board is up and running. I've put a lot of time and effort in to this so I hope that you, the Pétanque players, can make to most of it. This new version is in the format of a Message forum. Multiple categories and topics. Set up to provide open discourses as well as Brooklyn Boules' new brain child; BOULE BROCANTE . So please give a warm welcome to the new board and use it......

Whooo Hooo Wednesday.....

Ah, a wonderful night. Perfectly cool as the sky turned pink, it's still light at 8.00, but the lights are on and the games a foot. Ernesto, Christophe, Hugh, Mark and Tony, exiting stage left, found his way to McCarren park. A merry bunch of men, jousting at triples. Proud Ernesto, having come second in the Hery Cup, made a superb carreau, that left his ball bouncing on the spot, like a ping pong ball. And bought us the news that our place has been secured for the Bar Tabac Bastille Day Tournament. Fun Fun Fun..... Thanks to all that came out and a big warm welcome to Tony, may we see you soon..... Here are some pics from my cell phone that are rather terrible but it's all I had.

More on Bastille Day to come...

New Message Board and Forum...

A new wonderful Brooklyn Boule Message Board and Forum is being created, please be patient whist we work out the kinks to get this thing up and running........ T

Fathersday Festivities.....

So.... last weekend was as lovely as last year, Dominican cigars, tummies full of brunch and Bloody Marys and Boule up the wazoo. Nothing quite drowns out the sound of children playing than the Clack Clack of Boules playing.... God bless 'em.

Wenesday Night Presidential Showdown..

Coming back from my trip with a costly cancellation and layover in Chicago, I was eager to get out and play some Pétanque with familiar faces. To my wonderment and joy, Christophe (ex-president LBNY) called, whilst I was purchasing pétanque refreshments, and said he was in town and that there would be a full house in Brooklyn that evening.(About bloody time...) So at 8.00, new rake in had, (it's huge!) I headed off to McCarren Park to find Mark, Bruce (LBNY not Brooklyn) and Ernesto (President LBNY) warming up on the spot lit piste. After a while and some catch up gossip, Christophe and Hugh turned up to even out the numbers for a game of triples. Although most of us were a little rusty and beer soaked, some wonderful plays were made and it's always nice to see twelve balls in play in the park. So a fond welcome back Christophe and I hope to see you all back in the park next Wednesday night, as now the evenings are the only bearable time to be out side anyway.

Back from Minneaplois.......

We will never travel American Airlines again!!!!! #@%+&*#@^!!!!!...but I shan't go into that.

On a brighter note we had a fine time in Minneapolis, and the highlight of that was visiting the Minneapolis Petanque Club. We were welcomed with open arms, as Don and Don introduced us to their piste. A lovely spot on the edge of Beltrami Park home to half a dozen unused Bocce courts; Which was a surprisingly pleasant surface to play on, although with the resent rain and the underlying clay, made it easy to pock mark. A few more Minnesotan club members turned up and laura stepped out to be replaced by her bother Matt (future Bruce in the making). So we had enough time for one game of triples, then Matt and I took on the Don's for two games of doubles. And fun was had by all on that humid day between threats of tornadoes and intence thunder storms.Don Holzschuh was kind enough to give us all Club caps and as Brooklyn Boule has yet to produce theirs, A bottle of RICARD was offered in return. So many thanks to you Don and fellow Mid-West Boulistes, for showing us a good time and warm welcom. We shall be back..........

Off to Minneapolis......

Time has come for Brooklyn Boule to venture to the Mid-west and see what the rest of American Petanque players are up too. Maybe inspiration, urban camaraderie or a little competition; either way, it's nice to know, that where ever one travels in the world, there is always a little Petanque to be had. We'll be stopping by and hopefully joining in on a few games at:

Petanque this Sunday at 1pm

Beltrami Park,Minneapolis

Don Holzschuh

Chairman

Minneapolis Petanque Club

"Boules d'Acier"

www.geocities.com/mplspetanque

Please join us if your in the area. Although two of us are off roaming the lake filled land of the Mid-West doesn't mean that Brooklyn Boule is on hiatus, I'm sure there will be games and practices going on under the oaks; as training for the Henry Open (LBNY) will be under way.

Holy Crap......

Of all the French Ebay Petanque goodies I've found over the years this one goes straight to number one. Need I say more the image speaks for it's self, I'm bidding so hands off, this one goes on the Brooklyn Boule Wall of Fame.......






URL LINK


Can it get any better... I'll keep my eyes peeled.

Founding Fathers Day.....

Brooklyn Boule, having been created by Fathers and the "first" Petanque club in Brooklyn, I might add; give an early Salute to all the other Petanque playing Fathers out there. And hope, that you will get one of these fine coat racks to hang your berets on after a fine Fathers Day of Boule playing.....I pulled this image off of French ebay, cleaver those French...... more to come, sorry I've been busy (and sulking a little). The sun is shining, we're still out there, Wednesday and Sunday, and there is a Brooklyn Boule Petanque Picnic on he horizon; if anyone is interested in coming, please let me know. All the best and enjoy the good weather (finally) .... All hail the Fathers of Petanque and the Best of Brooklyn Boule...... T