5th Barga International Petanque Competition

For the last six years, the game Pétanque has been played by a small group of enthusiasts here in Barga. Its arrival in the city was due in part to visitors from Finland (where enthusiasm for the game is almost bordering on religion) and who brought their Pétanque balls with them to play on holiday.

The first Pétanque International - Finland vs Rest of the World was played on the 18th of July 2002 (article here) The second Pétanque International took place the following year - 26th March 2003 and this time was between two teams Italy/America and Canada/Ireland (article here) The third International was played later on that year, this time between England and a team representing Singapore/Ireland (article here) The following year in 23rd April 2004 - 4th Pétanque International - America vs Cananda vs Ireland (article here)
Unfortunately for the Barga Pétanque players, the Finnish contingent stopped their annual pilgrimage to Barga and enthusiasm for the game waned amongst the local athletes.

But just when it looked as though all was lost, this month saw the 5th Pétanque International played between a team from Scotland/Wales who pitched off against England/Canada.

Final score; 2 -0 to the England/Canada team

Additional reporting and images by Macalrisk

“This is not a serious game,” said Kaj Nilsson the day before the match, shaking his bear-like head. “This is a very serious game.” — more from the 1st Pétanque International can be read on this article by Rupert Collins-White

Pétanque (from pieds tanqués, meaning feet together) was created in La Ciotat, near Marseilles, in 1910, when an elderly boules player, Jules Le Noir, created a new set of rules designed to help those, like him, who had trouble moving. Under the rules you have to be standing still with your feet on the ground when you throw your boule at the porcelet (or jack). In official competitions, the teams are made up of three players. The pitches must be a minimum of 4m wide and 15m long. The metal boules weigh between 650g and 800g The boule nearest the porcelet wins the point. The first team to reach 13 points wins the game

The Petanque in Barga site is here

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