Extreme Boule in the news!

A great piece on the World Alternative Games which mentions Extreme Boule...

http://home.bt.com/news/uk-news/swimmers-brave-murky-waters-at-bog-snorkelling-championships-11364000979325

Pen y Fan boule

It would be amazing to be part of next years games along with all the extreme boule / petanque players and fans out there!

New number one on the leaderboard!

Pippa Cox has stormed to the number one spot, with 4 months of the season remaining.
Known as the Eliminator, Could she be the first female Extreme Boule champion?

Current rankings can be found here: http://extremeboules.blogspot.co.uk/p/world-rankings-current-top-20.html

 

 

Pippa Cox - the facts

Career % Win: 33%

Opponents defeated in career: 43

2012 Ranking: 2nd

2013 Ranking: 3rd

2014 Ranking: 39th

 

Knowlton Extreme Boule

Knowlton Church and Earthworks

Knowlton Church and Earthworks has a rich and unsettling history. This is a place where the ruins of a 12th century church sits right in the middle of a Neolithic earth work. It is where Christianity and paganism mingle, with the old ways winning it seems. The once nearby village was wiped out during the black death leaving only these remains, including the ancient yew trees. It is reputedly the most haunted place in Dorset, a living Pagan shrine. The earth ring that surrounds the church is said to keep the unwanted spirits in the rather than out!

Perfect for a round of extreme boule then.

Boule nestle in the ruins

Darren Woolridge took on Tim Wort amongst the ruins, both players employing a Jack God. A close battled ensued, Wort claiming his points in clusters, Woolridge more consistent in his approach.

It has to be said that Woolridge has struggled to find boule gold ever since winning the championship in 2011. In those halcyon days he served up the finest trifle in the land when it came to extreme bouling - in the years that have followed it has been more like offerings of stale jelly haphazardly speared by sponge fingers.

A pesky ghoul that has reputedly been seen at Knowlton. Interestingly it seems to be playing boule.

 

Boule gather under some ghostly lichen.

Wort has extreme bouled forever and plays with the deluded glaze of a man who thinks this year could be the one. It won't. Whisper it quietly but Woolridge is playing like the 2011 version- the accuracy it there, both the short and long game are honed and the nerve is strong. In the end Woolridge outwitted Wort and the ghosts of Knowlton, employing a new move in the process, Spectral Spin, to claim a victory which just could be a  launch pad to reclaiming the title and all the glory that brings.



What is probably a ghost, looks down on a boule round, which incidentally landed in ectoplasm.

Aberdyfi Show Down

Kate Robinson launches a long shot on the unforgiving sands of Aberdyfi

Ten of the finest extreme boulers around gathered on the West Wales coast for a series of extreme show downs. Bouling down sand dunes, over wet sands, in mud flats and through rock pools this was a test of mental fortitude as well as skill.
The Godmother of extreme boule, Gwen Thomas, had the short game nailed, but lacked the distant shots. Catrin Hughes, an almost World Champion two years ago, showed glimpses of undoubted skill whilst rookie, Ed Hughes held his nerve well amongst the big guns. Sioned Jones, consistent as ever, could be an outside bet for this years title whilst Kate Robinson looked impressive duelling in the rock pools. Mei Howells, who developed his posture in nearby Aberystwyth surprisingly struggled along with training partner Fran.

Players attempt to master the mud flat suction conundrum

The biggest shock came with two time Champion, Rich Waterman, who played nadly throughout. Waterman looks a like a man haunted by the fame and prestige his titles have brought him-  he was a shell of the player the fans have come to expect.

Boule and rock. Rock and boule.

However two players shone most brightly during the event. Geraint Burrows continued his glorious 2015 playing the low tide sands like a banjo - he is now a serious contender. But the biggest news is the player who has climbed to the number one spot in the rankings after dominating the Eliminator competition - Pippa Cox. She has come so close to being champion before - could 2015 be her year?