The HSPC beach boys rock in Hiratsuka

HSPC traveled to the sunny Shonan shores on Sunday to take on Hiratsuka Beach Petanque in the Tokyo Petanque League.

The Okawas and crew have an excellent set-up, exclusive courts looking over the sea. Their team were great hosts and offered a superb spread of food and drinks. On the piste, the visitors adapted well to the Aoyama-like terrain, going on to win the day 6-2 with Steve and Greg sharing MVP honors after triumphing in all four games. Vas and Bob also showed great spirit to battle back from huge deficits to emerge victorious in both their games. For the first time in a while, the team didn't have to rely on Raj the Rock.

Well done guys.

Full results can be seen on the Tokyo Petanque League site.

Not even new team shirts could help HSPC beat Mon Soleil

A damp day on Saturday, and for our league campaign, as HSPC fell at home to front runners Mon Soleil 6-2, despite the arrival of new team shirts.

Congratulations to Hosoda san and her team and a big thanks to Big Bill for the new shirts and team cooler!

Full results can be seen on the Tokyo Petanque League site.

Bob the ... builder?

Thanks to brother Don for the pics and blog.

Brother Bob can be seen helping with the final tamping of the piste in San Diego.
He developed his own techniques, one move was termed the "starfish tamp" and another the "kangaroo tamp", at one point he tried to combine his two moves into the "kangaroo starfish" and ended up tamping his big toe. There's also a shot of Bob explaining to my wife, Maritza, the intricacies of his tamping moves (note the blister covering tape on Bob's thumb).

Don

HSPC beefs up security measures ...

... amid introduction of new leakproof team cooler! :)))





A fine long weekend of petanque to greet Bob on his return to Japan. New boulles, new cooler, but those memorable Myoshoji sunsets haven't changed.

Bob and Don show us how it's done!

A superb series of photos here from Bob "the Pointer" and brother Don with friend Keith on the new HSPC piste in San Diego.

Those mega wine goblets courtside need filling up with some California Chardonnay!!!

HSPC hangs on to beat OBA

HSPC narrowly defeated OBA in the Tokyo Petanque League on Sunday, Sept. 6.

Racing away to a 3-0 lead in the best of eight series, visiting HSPC appeared in control before OBA rallied well to level the series at 3-3.

As darkness set in, Raj and Bill combined to earn our fourth victory before Steve and Greg held on 13-11 in a nail-biter.

Some solid play by Steve, Raj, Bill and Chris to carry Captain Crumble. Thanks guys.

Thanks also to OBA for a fun day, a superb spread and some loaded G and Ts!

HSPC opens court in San Diego

A big hello to brother Don in San Diego, who has just completed building his own petanque piste in his backyard! Way to go mate!

Construction required Don to shovel about 8 tons of 3/8-inch playing surface material from his driveway in the front of the house into the backyard.

Good to see you building up those shoulder muscles to carry your brother on his upcoming return home! :)

Greg