Northey Arms Boules Club Graham Cogswell March 2024
Opening of the new pistes, in July 2014, by David Warburton, Landlord, and Adrian Dolan ,representing the sponsor Bath Aqua Glass (courtesy Graham Cogswell)
The Northey Arms Boules Club was started by a group of neighbours from Middlehilll, playing on an old area at the back of the Northey Arms in 2011. Founder members included Adrian Dolan, Tim Bolt, Steve Richman, Ed Heal and the founding chairman Graham Cogswell.
Construction of the new playing area (pistes) in 2013 (courtesy Graham Cogswell)
The club has grown in strength and depth from its early days, while maintaining its core principles: to provide opportunities for members to learn, practise and enjoy the sport of Petanque (often referred to as Boules), in a friendly and inclusive environment. Boules is a very simple game to play, for any age. It is very social but once you start playing you want to play more and more!
The club has three Petanque England coaches and plays in national competitions as well as Guernsey, Jersey and France (most notably five teams played in the World Championships in Marseille in 2016 - along with 16,000 others!).
The club has three Petanque England coaches and plays in national competitions as well as Guernsey, Jersey and France (most notably five teams played in the World Championships in Marseille in 2016 - along with 16,000 others!).
Division 1 League Winners in 2016. From left: Adrian Dolan, Tim Bolt, Alan Lovelock, Steve Richman and Graham Cogswell (courtesy Graham Cogswell).
The club has grown to seventy members, who over the years have extended and enhance the facilities at the back of the car park at the Northey, through their own efforts. The current nine pistes and facilities are the envy of many clubs and host regional activities and competitions, as well as an extensive programme of club activities, events, training, competitions and social events The HQ is the Northey Arms itself, where monthly committee meetings and the annual presentation night and dinner are held.