“This competition is a tribute”: the “Mario challenge” in Bagnols-sur-Cèze brought together pétanque enthusiasts

Le vainqueur du tableau individuel repart avec 150 €. A. J. – Midi Libre

Wendrix a 11 ans, et joue déjà avec les adultes. A. J. – Midi Libre

In front of the Le Posterlon bar, the parties follow one another. A.J. – Midi Libre

The boules competition organized by the Bagnols Marcoule sports association (ASBM) took place on Thursday August 22.

The balls are rolling and hitting this Thursday morning. Leaning on the barriers, or sitting on the café terrace, spectators scrutinize the games in progress.

For about ten years, the ASBM pétanque has been organizing its pétanque competition in Bagnols. Its president, Alain Donnadieu, is delighted: “We have 48 registered on the individual table this morning. The afternoon is devoted to mixed doubles. People register alone and are paired with a random person." The winners leave with money, and the imposing "Mario challenge" trophy, named in memory of Patrice Bianchi's father, owner of the Le Posterlon bar.

Friendliness above all

The participants are relaxed, in a good mood. Hervé is on vacation nearby. The day is already over for him: “I lost in the second round, so no consolation prizes. It doesn't matter, I had a great time. It's a chance to have a competition right in the city center. It's rare, it has to continue.”

Théo and Hugo, two brothers licensed in Lozère, play without pressure: “We come to have fun, if we can win so much the better.” Claude has been participating since the first edition, in 2013: "There has never been a problem, the atmosphere is great."

The youngest in the competition, Wendrix, is eleven years old. He has just been eliminated, also in the second round: “My opponent hit well, I tried to point but the ground was complicated.” “It's a good future" exclaims another player who is watching him. All the participants come to cool off inside, or on the terrace of the bar. The president of the ASBM notes the results and proceeds to call the players. Patrice, the owner of the establishment, serves and chats with the players: “This competition is really a tribute to my father, who loved playing pétanque. When he died, I wanted him to have his own boules competition. It's an event that I'm very attached to.”