EDMONDS — There may be nearly 5,000 miles between Edmonds and Paris, but French ex-pats are bringing a bit of home to south Snohomish County through the game of pétanque.
“Every time I returned from a trip to France, I would think of how nice it would be to play pétanque in Edmonds,” said Michelle Martin, president of the Edmonds club, originally from Leon.
In pétanque, players try to roll or toss a hollow metal ball, or boule, as close to a target ball as possible, similar to the Italian game bocce and akin to American horseshoes.
More than 17 million people play pétanque in France, generally in the southern region, during the summer months.
In Edmonds, Martin introduced the
game to the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, resulting in a pétanque court being installed at the Civic Playfield in downtown Edmonds last June. It is located across the street from the Public Safety Building on Sixth Avenue N.
Now members of the Edmonds Petanque Club enjoy the camaraderie of the game just about any sunny day, rolling and tossing the balls on the hard dirt and gravel court, sometimes playing games with pétanque players from clubs in Seattle and Bellevue.
Learn the game
Edmonds Petanque Club members are eager to teach newcomers the basics of the game.
Regular games are held at the Civic Playfield court 9 a.m. Wednesdays; 10 a.m to 3 p.m. Saturdays; and 1:30 p.m. Sundays. About 25 players join in.
With more and more players joining, Michelle Martin and her husband, Mike, hope that additional courts can be added so more people can play at the same time.
“You don’t have to be an expert player to have a good time and be successful,” Mike
Martin said. “People simply drop in or join in after walking the track. It’s a social sport with a little exercise.”
Equipment is simple: a set of boules, usually six, and a small wooden ball that serves as the target. Sets cost between $40 and $50. Club members usually have sets to borrow or loaner sets are available at Running in Motion, 401 Main St.
Let the games begin
The Martins traveled to Lafayette, La., to play matches in the International Pétanque Tournament, timed to coincide with the International Day of Francophonie, a celebration of French culture and language.
“As people who play just for fun, we expect to make it through at least four games before we are eliminated,” said Mike Martin before the tournament. “There will be expert players at the tournament, but we go for the experience and the enjoyment of meeting new people from around the world.”
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