Annan Petanque Club has been granted planning permission for a site at Seaforth Gardens in Annan, meaning the club can press ahead with plans to construct a petanque piste in the town.
And since the club has already secured almost half the funding needed for the first phase of the development, club president George Shepherd hopes the project can get underway as soon as possible.
He said: “Annan Petanque Club was formed during the covid pandemic. Although we haven’t had a home, we have attracted several keen players who previously travelled to Moffat to play, and we have attracted new potential players.
“Our own terrain will enable us to press ahead with our plans to develop the club and our activities.
“The intention would be for the petanque terrain to always be open to the public. Players would be able to come and go as they please, with the only exception being for events where exclusive access to club members would be desirable.
“We are keen to ensure that the facility is a valuable community asset.”
Petanque is a French outdoor game played by two opposing teams trying to throw boules as closely as possible to a jack, known as a cochonnet.
It is suitable for those of all ages and abilities, and it is not uncommon for novice players to reach international standard within just a few years.
Among those who have recently joined the Annan club are experienced petanque players Jim and Elaine Crombie, who both represented Scotland at last year’s World Championships.
If fully developed, Jim believes the Annan site has the potential to host both national and international competitions.
He said: “The sport is becoming more and more popular, there were teams from 48 different countries at the world championships so it is really a global sport.
“There is already a big membership in England and it is slowly taking off in Scotland too.
“The piste will be very close to two schools, the tennis courts, the bowling club, and Annan Youth Cycling Club also used this area of the town.
“It is all about getting the younger generation involved, and our club is ideally placed to do that.”
- Anyone interested in finding out more about Annan Petanque Club should email [email protected].
PICTURED ABOVE: club president George Shepherd, centre, with members Jim and Elaine Crombie
