Lee Ann Shobe
Last weekend, excitement and anticipation could be felt as participants from around the world lined up on the 90 pétanque courts to compete in the Amelia Island Open 2022. The location for the event was ideal as it nestled alongside the waterfront, creating a perfect place to play pétanque and capture the breathtaking views of the harbor.
The Amelia Island Boules Club (AIBC) hosted the event with the support of United Pétanque and the city of Fernandina Beach. It is the largest pétanque event in America, bringing close to 400 players and numerous spectators from all over the world to Amelia Island to experience the island's charm, historic downtown, live music and beautiful beaches. Several AIBC members worked tireless hours to ensure the courts were in good condition for this spectacular event.
The Amelia Island Open allows pétanque players at all levels to test their skills and strategic game. The event is also a perfect time to catch up with old friends and provide encouragement to fellow enthusiasts. If players desired to improve their skill levels and learn strategy from a world champion, Marco Foyot offered well-attended workshops.
One may wonder how this distinguished event got started. Philippe Boets, a resident of Fernandina Beach and founder of AIBC, remembered playing pétanque as a child in Belgium. He had fond memories of his family gathering to play and found the game a great way to make new friends. Through his vision, he started the AIBC; in 2009, he established the first Amelia Island Open, which inspired many people to play and enjoy the game of pétanque.
This international event is unique because everyone is guaranteed seven games: five on Saturday and two on Sunday morning. Every team is put in the mix on Saturday to create fairness and opportunity regardless of age or ranking. So, amateur players, like my husband and me, could be matched up with top players and eagerly play against each other before the competition heats up, which is what happened to us a few years ago. This scenario may sound scary, but you can learn much from watching and competing with these high-level players. Besides, in what other sport can an amateur get the opportunity to play their sport with a professional?
After the five games on Saturday, teams are ranked, then placed in brackets based on their performance. Overall, the process is fair and provides an opportunity to play competitive games on Sunday and continue to advance.
The Open started with the ladies tournament that was held on Friday. There were 28 teams of skilled participants, with the ladies competition finishing under the lights. Cynthia Stroud, left, and Mary Lott from Maine Boules Club were first-place winners, and second place went to the team Petanque Queens, Barbie Crowder and Janet Kirkland.
The event's final match-up was not disappointing as the championship kept spectators focused on the player's precision and skill. Winners of Concourse A, the top bracket, was a close match with world champion Dylan Rocher from France and Gian Carlo Lanfranco from New York taking first place; second place went to Matthias Laukhart and Sanke Backens from Germany; and in third place were Vincent Cosme and Yohan Doré from France.
The Amelia Island Boules Club is honored to host this prestigious event each year. Anyone interested in learning more about pétanque is invited to come to the pétanque courts at the south end of the marina parking lot on Saturdays at 9:30 a.m., where members of AIBC are happy to include newcomers and teach them how to play.
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Lee Ann Shobe retired from a rewarding career in the healthcare industry and now lives with her husband in Fernandina Beach. She is active in the community, a member of the Amelia Island Writers Advisory Committee and serves on the Board for Women of Nassau. Shobe writes an adventure blog, Adventure with Purpose, at leeannshobe.com, and is currently writing her memoir.