The SPA Scottish Masters 2009 was hosted by Inverness Petanque Club at Fairways Golf Club in Inverness on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th of September. The twelve teams that qualified for the Masters 2009 were, in alphabetical order –
Barons – Robin Gardiner, Donnie MacIntyre, Brian Ward.
Bears – Gavin Hilson, Mike Watt, Alex Davie.
Birds and Bees – Byron Milton, Bob Boyle, Istvan Poka.
Cabbage and Ribs – Fiona and Howard Tipton, Emma Montgomery, Ben Burnhill.
Champignons – John Watson, Mags and Colin Montgomery.
Hillbillies – Jean Hutcheson, Stuart Malcolm, Steve Wallace.
I PA – Derek Adam, Stephane Maurage, Colin Stewart.
Just Us – Margaret Mauchline, Mabel Danraj, Eileen Moonie.
Maboule – Dani Cassini, Zandra Boyle, Douglas Hamilton.
Midge tiers – Susan Allen, John and Norma Cameron.
Nord Ecosse – Gordon and Pat Scott, John and Christine Mudd.
Pisteols – Robbie Stronach, Lynn Jenkins, John Wilson.
With the horrendous weather that hit the north and east of Scotland, especially the Moray coast over Wednesday and Thursday teams arriving in Inverness on Friday evening had no idea what to expect with regard to the condition of the Fairways pistes. However hard work by Gordon and members of Inverness Petanque Club ensured that the pistes would be playable for Saturday morning.
The Masters, a round robin of eleven rounds, started promptly at 9:30 on Saturday under grey, blustery and showery skies but the weather improved as the day wore on.
Saturday evening, at the end of six rounds, the Pisteol were out in front with six wins followed by five teams – Barons, IPA, Maboule, Nord Ecosse and Hillbillies – each with four wins. The remaining six teams could only muster ten wins between them.
Sunday morning and the Pisteols met their bogey team – the Ladies of Just Us – and after a sleepless night, according to Robbie, worrying about it duly lost! By lunch time with nine rounds played, three teams – Pisteols, IPA and Maboule – were out in front on seven wins followed by Barons, Nord Ecosse and Bears on six, five and four wins respectfully.
At the end of play and eleven rounds the Pisteols prevailed with nine wins followed by Maboule on eight wins and IPA and Barons with seven wins each.
SPA Masters 2009 Final Standings
1st – Pisteols – Robbie Stronach, Lynn Jenkins, John Wilson.
2nd – Maboule – Dani Cassini, Zandra Boyle, Douglas Hamilton.
3rd – I PA – Derek Adam, Stephane Maurage, Colin Stewart.
4th – Barons – Robin Gardiner, Donnie MacIntyre, Brian Ward.
5th – Nord Ecosse – Gordon and Pat Scott, John and Christine Mudd.
6th – Bears – Gavin Hilson, Mike Watt, Alex Davie.
7th – Champignons – John Watson, Mags and Colin Montgomery.
8th – Cabbage and Ribs – Fiona and Howard Tipton, Emma Montgomery, Ben Burnhill.
The top four teams will represent Scotland at the 2010 Celtic Challenge in Wales and the above eight at the Home Nations 2010 in Inverness.
Full results – wins, points difference, etc., will be posted on the web in due course.
Thanks to Derek for organising and running a smooth competition, to Gordon and his crew and Fairways for their hard work and hospitality.
Douglas.