Moving ahead in Fresno, CA

Congratulations to Tim, Terry and all the other players of Fresno Petanque!

Here's a timeline of FPC, from when Tim arrived in Fresno.
(start at the bottom)
Patience, persistence, personality and petanque. An alliteration that always applies.

Fresno Petanque tops 100

From 0 to 100 in 19 seconds months. We're talking members of course. That must be a worldwide record!

Read about this and other recent achievements in Fresno Petanque Club's latest newsletter.

Fresno Petanque

Craig Kohlruss / The Fresno Bee

Fresno Petanque was in the news again this weekend, when they organized their first formal tournament. Their frequent appearance in the local papers has certainly helped the club grow at an amazing pace: 63 members in the first year.

Clunk, it's pétanque - Fresno Bee - 14 Sep 08

Latest club news: Fresno Petanque newsletter

Fresno petanque in the press

The Fresno Bee published an excellent article about the FPC, with to the point quotes from several players. A must read!
Fresno Bee - June 26 2008

And one more for our list. Only 89 to go!

FPC also publishes their own interesting monthly newsletter:
here's the June issue. In the May issue you can read how new boules are christened, with champagne and all!

BIG news in Fresno

Back to the West Coast, where Tim & friends of Fresno Petanque Club are unstoppable.
Thanks to their efforts the Fresno Parks Department made an official announcement that Cary Park (picture) may well become the home of the largest petanque terrain in the US, accommodating 32 concurrent games.
More details and other news in the...
Fresno Petanque February Newsletter

FPC now also has a website, with play times, locations and a contact which - we cannot repeat it enough - are essential for every club or group to make public, and keep up-to-date.
Kudos to Fresno.

Higher up, in Petaluma, CA there has also been a breakthrough with the Parks Department having given the final approval for a public terrain. It's been a long time coming but Dave & Co's patience and diplomatic talents have prevailed.

Fresno Petanque on a roll

Only 3 months old, but very alive and kicking.
And whenever they travel they come back with medals & prizes!

Have a look at their October newsletter (pdf)

Also, they are talking to their Parks Department about public courts and got kudos for the proposal they submitted. A good source of inspiration for other groups. Thanks to Tim & Co for sharing it!

Fresno Parks Dept Proposal (pdf - 6.6 Mb)

Fresno club born

Yesterday Tim and his friends got together and formally started the "Fresno Petanque Club", affiliated with FPUSA.
Already 17 members, congratulations!

On the picture you see a bunch of them on a recent visit to Oakhurst Petanque Club.
Just like LAPC helped Oakhurst to get started, they now in turn assisted Fresno.
This will be the 13th club in California - Modesto being # 12.
In pétanque definitely a lucky number!

Fresno, CA club forming

Tim Channell has been very active with friends in El Paso, TX to get something going there, but he recently moved to Fresno, CA and - of course - has pursued his favorite hobby.

The very dynamic folks of Oakhurst Petanque Club (50 mi north) are lending assistance to his group in preparing a formal proposal to the City for permanent courts.

All he needs is some more players:

Fresno, California Petanque Club forming. If you want to boule send me an email and I will tell you where we are meeting up for games. Hope you can get involved.
Tim Channell – email: timchannell@yahoo.com or give me a call 559/264-0695

Who said petanque is not contagious.. ?