Clara, how long have you been playing pétanque, how did you get started, and do you play regularly?

I started playing with my dad and loved it from the very first time. Then I asked him to take me back to the Magny boules court and we started playing with the club members. I was intimidated at first, but that didn't last long. David, Mimi (Michelle), Claude, and other players gave me advice, and some even bought me ice cream or a drink. After a few afternoons playing, my parents bought me a set of three balls. Since then, I've been going regularly, especially during school vacations. When I'm in middle school, I only play on weekends or when I've finished my homework.

Clara, can you tell us what you like about going to the boules court? Which do you prefer, shooting or pointing?

I love playing games. I also get along well with certain people, such as David, Mimi, Claude, Denis, JP, Françoise, Jacques, Didier, Camel, Pascal, Jean-Daniel, Émile, and José. However, the person I was closest to was Antonio. Sadly, he has passed away. He was a bit like the grandfather I never had. He always called me his princess. I still remember the long game of boules we played, him and me, against other players one summer evening. That was when I really got close to him. He was always the one who brought good humor to the games. He loved to bring his little ray of sunshine to the court. When he died, I received a jack from the club with Antonio engraved on it. When I heard the news of his death, I knew one thing for sure: I would never forget him. I keep that jack in memory of Antonio. Sometimes I play and think of him.

When I play, I like to shoot and point. Now, since we draw lots to decide the teams, I can't always choose, especially when there's a good shooter on my team. But in Magny, people are nice, and even if some players don't necessarily want to, others let me choose whether to shoot or point so that I can improve. My dad doesn't care about winning or losing as long as we have a good time together. I compete with him and he lets me shoot if I want to. 

Clara, can you now tell us what you don't like about going to the pétanque field? 

I don't like it when it rains, but I go out to play anyway. Playing bocce really clears my head and I forget everything, especially my health problems. 

Otherwise, I don't like players who brag too much and treat others with a bit of contempt. I don't know why, but they're often men and shooters. Pointers are more discreet, as are women. I also dislike cheaters. During my first competition, the first team we met took us to play on the path above the fields, and as soon as one of our balls went into the grass, they told us it was dead. As I wasn't very good at pointing yet, many of my balls went into the grass and we lost the game 13/2. Later, David told us that our balls were good. Now we pay much more attention to the official rules when we have any doubts. ​​​​​​​

Clara, what's your feeling about the competition? 

I have already taken part in four competitions organized in Magny and two others during my vacation in La Rosière. I really enjoyed the last competition in La Rosière this summer because Dad and I made it to the quarterfinals.

For more important competitions, I think Dad is right, I need to be more consistent when shooting and when pointing. Anyway, pétanque is a hobby, just like synchronized swimming. Even though I like winning a game of boules, my real passions are painting and writing. Tomorrow, we'll be with Dad at the Paris Autumn Fair. I'm going to leave my boules in the car and take photos of the artists and paintings with my smartphone. The sketches and paintings opposite are my own work. If you want to see everything I do, please visit my website. Please note that my website is under construction until November 10, 2025.