Issue #10 Friday 12th October 2012

 

 

**The News In The Guild**

 

Greetings and salutations fellow Guild members it's that time of day again where we let you in on all the lastest news from around Atlantis. Let's get cracking:

 

There's been no activity in recrutment but there have been whispers of one or two members spending to much time on holiday. Certain Guild members are risking eviction if they don't let the leaders know. Were sure it isn't you but to check just in case please go to the Guild Forum and look under the 'Guild Information/Discussion' Tab and then Inactive players. The last thing this paper likes doing is printing Leaving Notes.

 

Anyway on a much lighter note we had 2 new Age Up's today. 'King Rob and 'ageofpatels' both advanced into the High Middle Ages. Unfortunatly our reporter couldn't get an interview with them earlier today due to them having extreme hangovers and only able to slur the words "FFFUUURRRNNIIKKUUSSS". We here at 'The Star' have no idea what this means but have pleanty of theories.

 

**Other News**

 

After much delibiration among our reporters we have decided to leave this section blank today. One reason was because today we are DEFINATLY launching our **Spotlight On** section and didn't want to take away any of the 'Spotlight'(sorry) from this fantastic story. We are sure you will understand once you have read it and rest assured tomorrow will see the return of some more Guild stories.

 

**Spotlight On**

 

As previously written in a few issues back, this part of our paper is where YOU get the chance to have the 5 min's of fame treatment, writing about yourself in something that you do outside of playing this outstanding game. Tonight we are proud to present one such story. (Disclaimer)These are the actual words used by Atlantis Member 'knycknac'.

 

-----'knycknac's' Story -----

 

I am half french half English, I lived in London when I was young but spent nearly all my school holidays in France. It was here during the summer that I started to play petanque as this was and still is a game played all over France, in a similar way possibly to darts playing in the UK.

 

In the early 70's the British petanque associaton was formed and I was lucky enough to 

qualify to represent England in 1977 at the world championshipss for the first time with subsequent caps in 1978 1980-1985 1986 1989 1991 1992.

 

Then when I moved to Ireland in 1993 and I was given permission to represent Ireland and from 1996 I have done so yearly till 2008.

When the world championships became a 2 yearly event with qualifiaction being needed through

zonal groups Ireland did not qualify for 2010.

 

My highest position in the World Championsips has been a quarter final spot

with a last 16 spot on 3 occasions.

 

I have also taken part in 2 Corporate World championships 1987 and 1991

winning the event in 1991

 

As for national championships I have won in England

the National triples on 9 occasion

the National double on 8 occasion

the National singles on 3 occasions

 

As for regional and other major competitions the list is huge since playing in Ireland I have won

the National triples on 9 occasions

the National doubles on 10 occasions

the National singles on 5 occasions

 

Since 2010 I play a lot less as I have taken up playing bridge again where i am looking to represent Ireland in the not to distant future.

 

I recently (Last week) played in the World ChampionshipsPat petanque 

Play started on Friday morning at 8am thankfully the Belgiums were still not fully awake and missed a few shots enabling us to have some hope, but once they got the sand out of there eyes our faint hopes of an early upset vanished.

Having lost we then played Mexico which was our easiest game as their shooting standards were the weakest of all the countries we played which meant that Pierres (Team member) points were often making them play most if not all of their boules.

 

We followed this game with matches against Finland, Benin and the USA in the first round of the Swiss system, all of these games we were outplayed and lost.

 

Into the plate we went and were handed a tough draw first playing Denmark followed by Chad and hence our playing time was over, so we sat back and watched the top teams playing, enjoying some very tight games as well as the near perfection from Dylan Rocher shooting who is already being considered as the BEST shooter of all time (not a shot missed in the quarter/semi/finals) with only 4 of those shots not being carreaus.

 

The French needless to say won the tournament with ease, never looking under any real threat. Their preparation before and during the tournament is something unbelievable.

I am sorry to say that my daughter sadly does not have the same passion for petanque as I do,

but has a passion for horses and has represented Ireland at pony club level -though know she has moved to racing and got her racing licence last year.

 

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Well that's it for today Folks.Thank you 'knycknac' for that fantastic insight, and remember if you wish to see yourself in the **Spotlight** please send your story via Private Message directly to our Editor 'Burnside'. See you tomorrow readers.

 

Copy right reserved TM

Editors:Burnside, Lord Zand