Masterton Petanque Club has just completed another successful season.
They won the top Wellington interclub competition for the second successive year and successfully defended the Jacques Cochonnet Trophy, a challenge trophy played for each month by 10 of the 12 Wellington clubs. Masterton have withstood eight challenges since claimingthe trophy from Kapiti in August 2012.
On the national scene Masterton were runners-up in the national club championships for the second year in a row and they provided five of the 24-strong New Zealand team which played Australia last month at Lake Macquarie. Barb Johnston and Claire Wilson were in the open women's team, Bob Bridge in the open men's squad and Graeme Morris and Ralph Priddle in the senior men's line-up.
Johnston and Wilson have also been named in a team of four (alongside Christine Strichen from Wanganui East and Joanne Lipperd from Herne Bay) to represent New Zealand at the world championships to be held in Montauben, France, from October 4 to 6. This will be the fifth world championship for Johnston and the second for Wilson.
Winner of the Masterton club's singles championship for 2012-13 was Ralph Priddle while Barb Johnston and Graeme Morris won the doubles title and Dawn McDonald, Joan Miller and Niall Singer the triples title.
Club days continue to be held at Queen Elizabeth Park during the winter months, starting at 2pm on Sundays, weather permitting, with boules being available for those having no previous experience of the sport.
