43rd Anniversay

petanque01This year is the 43rd anniversary of the formation of the Club de Pétanque de Pays de Galles co-founded by Chairman, the ubiquitous jazzman, Mike Harries and the President Claude Faurie as well as the late Sid Richards as Treasurer.

The club was originally the biggest individual sporting club in Wenvoe and at that time the one and only Pétanque club in Wales!

Started one year before the formation of the governing body; The British Pétanque Association.

Thanks to prominent club members such as the Bosley family, the Triggs, the late Bruce Gully, Griff Taylor, Paul Harvey, Stephen Davies, Bill Cook and many others.

The club created in 1976 was made of up of purpose built professional pitches at the Playing Fields. This was to be the start of fame and success for this Village club with various Press, Television and radio interviews.

It all started with a game organised by Mike Harries and his brother in 1973 taking on 'The Rest of the World', this was followed by a colourful competition against the French Rugby supporters on a very cold Sunday in February, the match being played in the car park of the Village Hall which was not yet tarmaced.

In 1981 the club with to the first Pétanque open tournament of the Isle of Wight, performing well by reaching the Semi-Finals

June 1980 was a memorable year for the Wenvoe players with the Seventh National UK Open Championships being played on our pitches and featuring 250 players. The team featuring Chris Trigg, Griff Taylor and Claude Faurie again reached the Semi-Finals only to be defeated by a French team of semi-professionals.

And so on to the present day where the Wenvoe Pétanque Club is still going strong with members involved in the Welsh League competition and raising a Charity money each year for sound causes.

We all look forward to the celebrations of the club on August Bank Holiday this year and the continued future success!

For all info contact the Club Secretary Bob Pugh on 029 20593051 or 07746 217118