Don McPherson
PÉTANQUE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 17th Women and Juniors Pétanque World Championships, a six-day competition involving 449 athletes from 49 countries, concluded November 24 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s National Olympic Stadium. The Women and Juniors championships are held every two years.
Demonstrating that pétanque is perhaps even more popular in Asia than in Europe, teams from Thailand and Cambodia won first and third place, respectively. The team from Laos, which finished fourth overall, lost in the Junior Triples championship to France, which won second place overall.
Thailand won in Junior’s Shooting, beating Madagascar in the semi-finals and Monaco in the championship.
Cambodia’s 54-year old KeLeng won her fourth consecutive World Championship gold medal, setting a new record that eclipsed the three consecutive championship titles she had shared with Angelique Papon of France.
Rounding out the top finishers, teams from Monaco, China, Spain, Madagascar and Myranmar each won one bronze medal in the overall competition.
PÉTANQUE AT OAKMONT
The Club welcomes all Oakmont residents to enjoy the challenge and satisfaction of pétanque. The Club sponsors open,“friendly”games on Wednesday and Saturday mornings with teams chosen randomly as well as tournaments and social events.
If you’re interested in playing or learning to play, come to the courts (between Berger and the OVA offices/Umpqua Bank and beside the Shuffleboard courts) at 9:45 am on the Club play days of Wednesday and Saturday. We have boules to lend and we’ll have you playing immediately.No membership fees are required – just sign up to be on the Club roster.
The courts also are reserved 9:45am – noon for Club player-arranged pickup games on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
