This new group will be exclusive to u3a members at Community Sports & Social Club, Betton Road, Market Drayton, TF9 1HH

The Community Amateur Sports Club in Betton Road is installing a Petanque “Piste”. Petanque is often called Boules, and is a French game played by tossing metal balls underarm to land as close to a Jack (smaller wooden ball) as possible.

Market Drayton U3a has booked the use of the piste on Monday mornings and Friday afternoons for members to play.  The games will initially be friendly matches (probably doubles, but dependent on numbers) between U3a members, but there may be scope later to play matches against other teams if people wish to do so.

A copy of the rules and instructions on how the game is played. I’m sure lots of people have sets of boule left over from summer holidays tucked in the back of cupboards that will suffice for our club sessions, but please note that if we play in competitions the boule have to be of a certain size and weight, as mentioned in the rules (I bought a compliant set from Amazon for £35, there may be cheaper ones available, but do check .

I hope to see lots of people on the piste in April! Please feel free to contact me with any questions via my email Bcarpen327@aol.com.

IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE IN u3a WHO DOES NOT GO ONLINE - PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH THEM.

Official rules click on https://market-drayton.u3asite.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Official_Rules_Petanque-En-4.pdf

Learn to play https://market-drayton.u3asite.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/learn-to-play-petanque.pdf

GROUP 1 Mondays from 10 o'clock until 12 o'clock GROUP 2 Fridays from 3 o'clock

A litte poem from George Ruddock

Without Any Doubt

Steel hitting steel, a solid sound rings out

A boule lands, a cloud of pebbles rise

Yes, Petanque has come to Market Drayton 

And just watch it will soon attract a crowd

Novices gather, confusion is in the air

Do we roll the boule, do we throw the boule?

But good humour and laughter is the answer

And so far no one has had a swear

Will these intrepid players soon be on the look out

For baguettes, cheese and a glass, or more, of wine

Yes, we may not have the French sunshine but joy fills our piste

As Pétanque in Market Drayton is here to stay, without out any doubt.

On the opening day there was tuition from 2 England Players. Lots of fun and laughs were had. You need to join the sports club currently £4 to play. U3a have designated use of the pitch on Monday as displayed above.