The was a hint of France and a whole lot of sledging happening on the piste yesterday.
It has been five years in the making but the Alexandra Petanque Club’s new home was finally opened with a celebrity match between Central Otago District Mayor Tim Cadogan and Vincent Community Board chairman Martin McPherson.
While the pairs’ boules skills may have been left wanting, the banter was on point.
Each were partnered with a past or present New Zealand petanque representative to teach them the game, and help the winner secure bragging rights.
The pairing of Mr Cadogan with past senior New Zealand Petanque representative Marilyn Bunce proved to be a winning combination, with the duo beating their competition 13-3.
Alexandra Petanque Club president Allan Motion said it had been quite a journey to find the right location but it felt good to have a new home.
The club had outgrown its four pistes, or courts, in the centre of Alexandra and relocated beside the Alexandra Bowling Club, in Poole Rd.
The new complex housed 12 pistes, and accessed the bowling club facility for social activities.
"And it’s a bit of relief in a lot of ways — there’s been a lot of manual labour that’s gone in by members."
The club had raised the bulk of the $20,000 for the complex, and community sponsorship and voluntary manpower had helped get the project over the line.
It took six months to complete the complex, which included building fences and seating, and levelling the ground.
Sun shades in the summer would cap the area off.
Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan said the new complex was an asset to the area.
"It’s great to see a club in Central Otago outgrowing actually the place it had, and with four years of hard work from the members, we’ve now got this fantastic new facility."
And his thoughts on the match?
"The best thing was the best team won, and that’s the important bit."
