...about the Artistes

The Boules Artistes Petanque Club was originally formed in 1996 after gaining permission to use the grounds of the Hyde Park Barracks, one of Sydney’s most historic buildings. With good exposure and an article in the SMH we soon gained a regular crowd on a Sunday afternoon. We then assisted Tony Bernard (La Boule Bleue) in organizing the South Pacific Challenge, which drew over 200 people, many of them playing their first tournament.
The Artistes went dormant for a while to laterreform in 2003 after discovering a superb ground right on Sydney Harbour at Pyrmont Point Park, andstarted to grow again. We thenswitched to the boulodrome at Canterbury, sharing with the Sydney Petanque Club so that we could organise more promotional activities. We upgraded the lights and bought gazebos and market umbrellas to provide shelter and make the playing experience more pleasant. We started running four week x 3 hour training courses for a number of community colleges, established a relationship with the Alliance Francaise and started school sport in some local primary schools. We also organized numerous media articles in local and major papers as well as radio interviews. We organize regular “C’mon, have a go!” days and four hour competitions on Saturday afternoons and Friday evenings (in the warmer months) as well as midweek training sessions.

Until now our official petanque pistes for Club and NSW league competitions are still located at the Canterbury Bowling Club, Close Street- Canterbury NSW. Opposite to Canterbury Railway station and off to Canterbury Road. However the Boules Artistes will also have petanque pistes at the Kensington Bowling Club, Kensington and also plan to have a certain number to pistes made available at North Sydney for the promotion of the game.

For the convenience of players, and of spectators our pistes are appropriately arranged with umbrellas. Gazebos are normally set on competition days, and 10,000 Kw of flood lights allow twilight games and competitions to take place in a bright atmosphere.The club has good facilities and can cater enough boules for about 100 new adepts to the game. The club also provides the facility to organise private petanque functions for birthdays, company get togethers, team building days, and sporting group fund raisers.

So...organise a Group and have a go!!
Petanque is an ideal social sport for your class, group of friends, sports team or work colleagues. Introduce them to the quintessential French pastime! We can organise a special day for you! The Boules Artistes provide the equipment and tuition. We have great facilities for a really fun day.

C’mon, have a go! Contact Gary on (02) 9665 9943 or garyh(at)boulesartistes.org.au for details.

What drives us
We are committed to introducing the sport of petanque to the general public, improving playing standards and promoting a high level of sportsmanship.

President
Wayne Melville - waynem(at)boulesartistes.org.au
Secretary
Sue Begley - sueb(at)boulesartistes.org.au

Coaches
Gary Hosie - garyh(at)boulesartistes.org.au
Pierre Figon - pierref(at)boulesartistes.org.au
Remi Ghetti - remig(at)boulesartistes.org.au