News & Results 2007

Anglia Singles & Shooting Championships

 Sunday 15th July 2007

Was played at the Cottage Norwich

Winner of the Singles was Jose Garrido Runner-up was Bob Urquhart and Daniel Shevlin finished in Third place

The Shooting Competition was won by Peter Astle, in 2nd place was Daniel Shevlin & Bob Urquhart was 3rd

Full report in August edition of 'On the Piste'

OBSERVERS REPORT ON JUNIOR COACHING WEEKEND, 17TH AND 18TH NOVEMBER 2007 AT WHITTLESEY

Our alarm was set for 6.30am on the Saturday morning, quick wash and breakfast and we set off at 7.45am arriving at the Whittlesey Bouleodrome at 9.10am. We dropped Bob off who was coaching and went to find The Conifers B&B to get a key as the owners were out for the evening. Then straight back to the Bouleodrome. James and Chloe were both participating along with Jonathan Abery, Edward Abery, Nathan Martin and Christopher Peel from our region. Chloe and Edward were late additions following two withdrawals.

The coaching session started at just after 10.00am with an introduction from Mike Pegg (National President) and all coaches and participants introduced themselves.

There were 19 participants (16 boys and 3 girls) from all over the country including two from Scotland, and they were divided into four groups.

Each group was videoed pointing and shooting and while this was taking place the other groups were playing practice games.

There was then a pointing session with a demonstration by Simon Bird and then participants practiced squatting, high lobs and low shots in their groups. Different sorts of practice ideas were then tried such as lobbing into metal rings or hula hoops at varying distances and what looked like a high jump apparatus which had to be lobbed over.

Then followed a demonstration on spinning of boule from right to left and left to right and this was practiced by the children and also was talked about why this is a useful shot to have in your armoury.

Lunch was then taken from 12.30 until 2.00pm. Bob then pulled out of the coaching with an eye problem which required a visit to hospital on Monday morning.

Upon resumption after lunch there was a very impressive shooting demonstration, again by Simon and this was followed by lots of practice using the high jump apparatus again and coaches held out at arms length broom sticks which the boule had to be lobbed over. Emphasis was very much on a lob shot with not too much power and not a low hard shot, to encourage this wooden blocks were used stacked three high and a boule positioned about a foot behind them. I was very impressed by what were very simple ideas for practicing but which really worked.

Each demonstration of pointing or shooting is broken down by the coaches into correct positioning of feet, being balanced, holding of the boule, follow through and trajectory of boule for particular shots and use of non throwing arm.

Then watched the videoing which was done earlier and talked through where people were going wrong and improvements that could be implemented. The majority were not using their non throwing arm and some had their feet in the wrong position.

Next fun practice games were played including football (shooting game), killer (pointing game) and 3 person killer (pointing and shooting game). This was then followed by pairs games within groups with coaches concentrating on tactics.

The day finished with a summing up and fish, chips and mushy peas.

Day 2

Sunday started with a full English breakfast at The Conifers then on to the Bouleodrome for a 9.30am start which consisted of warm up exercises. All participants were then videoed again to see how they had improved from yesterday.

Then went on to shooting practice and shooting games in teams. This continued until 11.30 and was then following by pairs games until lunch time.

Lunch was taken at 12.15 with most people having hot dog, chips etc from the burger van outside.

Resumption at 1.15pm with a talk on tactics and watched a video of Thailand versus France, with the French claiming six shoot outs on an end for maximum six points. Back into groups playing games and talking about tactics with the coaches.

Following this there was a pairs competition but unfortunately they ran short of time so could not play the final and so two pairs were announced joint winners being unbeaten. These were Jonathan Abery (Anglia) with Ross Jones (Chiltern) and James Urquhart (Anglia) with Elliott Fribbens (Kent).

The coaching weekend finished with a summing up and watching the videoing from the morning session which showed how everyone had improved. Certificates were awarded to each participant and the June Lombard Trophy was awarded to the player who had improved most over the weekend. This was awarded to Chloe Urquhart by David Lavelle (National Coach). Chloe was really pleased to win this and lifted the trophy in FA cup tradition!

Then followed a group photo with coaches and then off home at just after 5.30pm. This was quite a long weekend for the players but everyone enjoyed it and had made improvements, with chaperones picking up lots of ideas and things to work on at a later date. Our juniors were a credit to our Region all doing what was asked of them and at the end of the weekend thanked all the coaches.

Lynne Urquhart