Inspired by jubilee to win

The Devon Region Petanque Double championship, played on Sunday at the Isca Club, saw winners go forward to the English Petanque Association's Champion of Champions event in October, writes Dave West.

Not surprising then that there were strong entries from Ottery St Mary, Isca, The Pig on the Hill (Westward Ho!) and Chudleigh.

At the first semi final stage it was Ottery's John and Rose Thatcher battling it out with Piggies Chris Jeffrey and Gary Smith, with the lead changing throughout the game; eventually the Thatchers won a place in the final by 13 - 10.

More Otters were in the other semi final where Peter Smith and Barrie Hall played Thierry Hacq and Franck Depreaux of the Chudleigh club; this time it was the Frenchmen who ran out worthy winners 13 - 4.

So the final became something of an international match but Hacq and Depreaux pulled out all their Gallic experience to make it an impressive and deserved win 13- 4 victory.

This was a good result not just for the Frenchmen excelling in their national game, but also for their recently-formed club at Chudleigh. We wish them "bonne chance" for the October event.

The next event in this style of competition is the Devon Triples Championship to be held at The Pig on the Hill on Sunday, June 10, so perhaps after the jubilee weekend an English victory might be on the cards!