words Roger Hughes pictures Steve Pope
Here he will put into practice his very
individual action. “People say I have my
own unique style of play”, Dobbins told
Sportingwales. “I have adapted it over the
years. I change my style depending on the
piste.
“It is a naturally fl owing style. There is no
set way to throw the boule. I am probably
one of the only people in Wales to have
mastered the high lob shot. It is a hard
shot to master. I can chuck the boule
forty foot in the air and land it close to
the jack.”
It is impressive to watch Neil
Dobbins play a game which on
fi rst thought might be taken
as a bit of a joke. It requires
skill.
On the other hand when
bowling the boule on
the stony, sometimes
rutted surfaces there
can be a certain element
of luck, but to see the
accuracy required to shoot
another boule out of the game
from about ten metres away is
impressive. Dobbins does it
with amazing regularity.
It is estimated that seventeen
million French people play
Petanque. Any age can play, men and
women with and against each other. free. It is a pub sport so you can come out and
The game can even be played from a have a pint, or take it a bit more seriously.”
wheelchair, as long as one wheel is within
the circle able bodied players have to It becomes really serious when you are facing defeat
place both feet. with no points to your credit. A thirteen points to
nil defeat and you have been “Fannied” You could
“You have not got to be fi t”, admits Neil then face the dishonour of having to kiss a painting,
Dobbins. “It can be tiring endurance wise, photograph or plaque of a ladies derriere. In times
but not physically demanding. I don`t do gone by you kissed the real thing!
weights and defi antly the game is drug
Neil Dobbins
www.welshpatenque.org.uk
SW
boules
43
sportingwales
issue8twothousand&nine
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52