Muscliff Park Petanque Club

25/09/2026

Oh what a night; late September back in twenty six; what a very special time for me; As I remember, Oh what a night. thanks to the Four Seasons a millennium ago but - OH WHAT A NIGHT!

The Marauders and the Maniacs traipsed across the traffic to New Milton for the finals of the New Forest League Cup and the League Cup Plate. Facing respectively Falcons and Parley Blues two tough teams, good competition.

Starting with Marauders in the Main cup and who certainly faced the strongest competition. As is often the case the triples ended all square; Mick, Mark and Boyd winning theirs and Perry, Lawrence and Victorio losing.
Doubles: Perry and Victorio couldn’t get a win, the Falcons were in front. Boyd and Lawrence put up a great show to win 13-8, 2-2 in games. Mick and Mark were in a battle of attrition, they got to 10-9 up, holding 2, Mark had one boule left, a long point into a crowded head required, tough, but Mark was up to it -
Game, set and match

The Maniacs started well. Keith, Alex and Matthew stormed to a 13-0 win over Kevin, Alex and Erica; alongside them the girls, Paula, Claire and Aimee were fighting hard but the opposition prevailed,13-9.
Doubles, Matthew kept up his shooting and Paula matched him pointing, they won 13-2. The other two doubles were tight but skipper Claire and Aimee won the match with a 13-11 victory, pheew. Jim and Alex gave the Parley guys a moment of consolation as they lost 13-9.

Highlights of the evening: Boyd taking 8 points in two ends to win his triple with Mick and Mark; Mark holding his nerve to take the winning point and the match in the doubles; Matthew who did not miss a shot in the triples, 12 from 12 pretty good.

So Muscliff have won:
Div one of the league - Maniacs;
The League Cup - Marauders
The League Cup Plate - Maniacs
The NF Singles - Aimee
The shooting - Alex
And the NF Doubles, not bad for one season.

23/09/2026

Two of our Juniors did OK at the weekend. Matthew teamed up with the ever young Paula to play in the SCPA Mixed doubles at Cobbetts, they qualified for the Gold and were then eliminated in the semi final; highlight of their day was beating the eventual Champions Callum and Kaylee Lombard in the morning leagues.
In the same event Aimee partnered David Plumhoff and they won the Silver. Good stuff.

18/09/2026

‘Twas the Ladies wot won it’. Aimee took Claire to the New Forest Doubles and they came away with the trophy and a night out with John Nurser - which would you prefer?
Three pairs were unbeaten, our ladies, first with +26, Stuart B and Ray Stanton,second with +25, yes very close, David Harrison with Robin from NM third on +10.
A good evening of sport played in the best sporting manner, a big thanks to John Nurser and Parley for their organisation.

16/09/2026

15/09/2026

MUSCLIFF PETANQUE CLUB DRAWN DOUBLE AND TRIPLES

Hi folks

Two dates for your diary:

28th November 2026 - Club Drawn Doubles

12 December 2026 - Club Triples

Please try and keep these dates free.

Thanks

Boyd
Boyd Parker
[email protected]

15/09/2026

Musketeers in action last night against the Conifers from Fareham.
As is often the case the triples came out even. Steve, Trevor and Stuart coming home 13-7.
The doubles started well, Steve and Matthew taking a quick 13-5 win, scoring a six helped, a good ploy in our game!
We looked good in the other two doubles, both Alex and David and Neil with Stuart, got to double figures first and looked strong. However the oppositions dug in and fought back finally winning both 13-12 and 13-11. Grrrrr.
First loss since July but that’s life. The Conifers fought for every point and deserved their win. We did OK but not quite OK enough!
Photos from Neil, enjoy

14/09/2026

For your information, this evening from 6.30pm the Musketeers will be playing a Southern League match on the upper terrain, plenty of room for social play elsewhere.
Our opponents are Conifers from Fareham, we beat them at their place but they are a strong team and it will be a close contest.

14/09/2026

Report on PE Juniors from Martin Hughes of Petanque 365:

The PE Junior squads, were out competing today in preparation for upcoming Europeans in Greece. Playing at Maldon in Essex the youngsters played a series of matches under the watchful eye of their coaches.

The boys: Matt Butcher, Jayden Davis, Alex Warren and George Partridge.
Coached by John Geddes.
Made it to the Gold final.finishing second.
Losing to Martin Hughes team - who kindly donated their winnings to the junior fund.
Thank-you!

The girls: Aimee Rickman, Amy Geddes, Ayva Law, Erica Bennett.
Coached by Matt Warren.
started strong - beating the junior boys team. They ended up in the silver semi-final. Where the England ladies knocked them out.

Big thanks to the coaches is giving up their time to support our young players. Also the parents and carers who drive the team about the country!

On Saturday Lula-Belle joined Anita to play in the SCPA doubles at Fareham, a great learning experience for this young lady with much potential in our sport - see photo.

Also on Saturday Aimee (with Drew Roe) and Matthew with Ameen Miah played in the Whitnash Doubles; Aimee swept through to win the Gold and after a difficult morning Matthew won the Silver.

12/09/2026

MUSCLIFF CLUB ANUAL MELEE

16 souls braved a chill wind to play the Club’s Annual Melee. The result was reversal of the past four years of lady domination as Sean Smith followed a good run of Melee (monthly) results with a fine win.

With only 4 competitors with 2 wins from two, the maximum was reduced to 2 with 3 from 3. In the final round both lost so leaving 7 players with 3 wins, (from 4 matches). Sean Smith came out on top with plus 26 points, followed by JP Elena (20) and Neil Ryder (18). The other 4 (making the 7 3’s) were David Maynard-Smith (+14), Steve White (+13), Stuart Brown (+ 12) and David Shires (+4).

A good time was had by all!

Boyd

11/09/2026

The Maniacs took on Seahorses at New Milton in the second leg of their semi final in the Plate. Holding a 4-1 lead from the first round the Madmen were favourites to win.

The triples were amazing. Claire, Aimee and Jim rushed into a 8-1 lead and the match looked all over until the Seahorses made a come back.
On the adjoining terrain it was the opposite way round. Seahorses were 7-0 up and then 9-2, but another come back was performed this time by the Crazy guys Paula, Matthew and Alex.

After 1hr 40mins both matches stood at 12-11 to the home team. The final ends started together, anyone’s games. A real tussle ensued but the Maniacs held their nerve and took both 13-12, amazing.

The semi final tie was over and maniacs successful, but Seahorses were fighting for pride and gave their all in the doubles.

Paula and Matthew drew first blood for the Maniacs, again going behind, they recovered to win 13-9; Claire and Chris for the visitors raced into a substantial lead, Richard and Sue came back to 8-10 but then the Maniacs got their act together and finished the game 13-8.

Consolation for the Seahorses came in the final double when Robin and Jonathan won 13-10 courtesy of a superb shot from Jon to take the winning point.

Highlight of the night: the final two ends of the triples, two marathons decided by a photo finish.

Next up the final V Parley Blues at a venue to be announced.