Sunday, September 24, 2017

5th Annual Lexington Barbecue Festival Petanque Tournament

Lexington Barbecue Festival Petanque Tournament (tentative itinerary)

Monday, October 16, 2017
Last day to register. $25 per person registration fee. (Late registration at discretion of Director.)

Thursday, October 19, 2017
Setup of the playing terrain at Finch Park (15 Paul Beck Road, Lexington, NC) in the afternoon will consist of stringing lanes and setting of rebound boards. Anyone who would like to volunteer to assist can contact Shirley at 336-247-0436. Terrain is open for play after setup.

Friday, October 20, 2017

Finch Park terrain open for practice and play all day. Also, everyone is invited to join us at the home of Terry and Sue Wien (122 Mountain Harbor Drive) in the evening after dinner (on-your-own). BYOB. We'll be there around 7:00 PM and have social time, drinks, and under-the-lights petanque.

Saturday, October 21, 2017
The fifth official Lexington Barbecue Festival Petanque Tournament will begin at 9:00 AM. Please plan to check in by 8:30. The event will be held at Finch Park at 15 Paul Beck Road in Lexington. After entering the park, please proceed down the hill to the baseball infield (on your left as you look down the hill). Saturday play will consist of four rounds of qualifying play to 13 points (not to exceed 75 minutes plus one end).
Those participating in the tournament, as well as their friends and families who are attending, will be provided with a free pizza lunch. Or, if you prefer, there is a barbecue restaurant within a half-mile of the terrain that offers many choices, as well as barbecue.
Everyone is invited to join us at the home of Terry and Sue Wien (122 Mountain Harbor Drive) after petanque for a free dinner of barbecue or chicken pie, salads, and desserts with tea and water provided. BYOB welcomed. We'll start eating around 6:30 PM and again have social time, drinks, and under-the-lights petanque.

We do ask that you let us know whether you will be able to attend the dinner, either via email
CarolinaPetanque@yahoo.com or call Shirley at 336-247-0436..
Sunday, October 22, 2017
The fifth official Lexington Barbecue Festival Petanque Tournament final day of play will begin at 9:00 AM at Finch Park. Again, please plan to check in by 8:30. Sunday play will consist of one qualifying round to 13 points (not to exceed 75 minutes plus one end). The teams will then, based upon qualifying results for Saturday and Sunday, be divided into a Concours (Championship) Division and a Consolante (Consolation) Division for single-elimination play. Teams will be allowed to play on Sunday that did not play on Saturday (no reduced entry fee), but will only have opportunity for one qualifying game win, and will, therefore, almost certainly be assigned to the Consolante Division for single-elimination play.

Since approximately half the teams will be eliminated after two games on Sunday, lunch will NOT be provided, so bring your own or visit any of several nearby restaurant during the break. The nearest is a barbecue restaurant within a half-mile of the terrain that sells hamburgers, hotdogs, salads, etc., as well as barbecue.


Cash prizes, trophies, and medals to will be awarded to the top teams in each division as shown on Exhibit A. Approximate time schedules are shown in Exhibit B.

Questions? Call Shirley at 336-247-0436.

Saturday, October 28, 2017

We would be remiss not to mention, for the locals and those close enough to return to Lexington the following weekend:

The BIG DAY for Lexington, North Carolina! The 34th annual barbecue festival http://barbecuefestival.com/ will bring around 180,000 people to our small town http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexington,_North_Carolina of 19,000 people.

It's a day full of family fun. We always try to arrive downtown by around 8:30 AM to see the streets before the throngs descend. There is an opening “kickoff” on the main stage in front of the old courthouse, complete with local dignitaries and a rendition of the national anthem to get everyone into the spirit of the day.

There are numerous music stages, arts and crafts, rides for the children, street shows that vary from bicycle stunt riders to chainsaw artists to automobile shows, and food vendors (with many offerings besides barbecue) galore. There is a “beer garden” for those who enjoy a little libation with their beach/rock/blues/bluegrass music. And, also again this year, a “wine garden” as well.

The barbecue served at the huge tents around town is provided by participating local restaurants. Their offerings are usually limited to pork barbecue sandwiches and maybe hot dogs for the “kids.” The pork is cooked over wood fires (oak and/or hickory) and comes only from shoulder cuts. It is marinated/seasoned with Lexington-style “dip.” The dip is a thin, vinegary concoction which usually includes ketchup and/or tomato sauce, brown sugar, and peppers. The usual condiment on a Lexington-style chopped sandwich is a red barbecue slaw. It's a little tart, but mostly sweet. I used to order my sandwiches without slaw, but after thirty-four years of living in Lexington, I've long since seen the errors of my ways. Try it, you'll like it!

Please be advised that the festival is NOT a cook-off type event with different styles and cuts of barbecue. It's not even a representation of the different Lexington-style barbecue choices that one finds (sliced, chopped, coarse-chopped, coarse-chopped-lean, extra-brown, etc.) at a sit-down barbecue restaurant in and around Lexington. To get the real picture of what Lexington-style barbecue is all about, we suggest that you pay a visit to one of our local establishments and try a plate of barbecue with hushpuppies, fries, and barbecue slaw. Maybe sweet or unsweet (you gotta ask!) iced tea, if that's your thing, or Cheerwine (not wine, but a local soft-drink favorite) in regular or diet versions.
Exhibit A (guaranteed purse)

Championship Team $400 / team plus trophies and medals
Concours Runners-up $140 / team plus medals
Concours Third Place Teams $100 / team plus medals

Consolante Winners $90 / team plus medals
Consolante Runners-up $70 / team plus medals
Consolante Third Place Teams $50 / team plus medals
Exhibit B (estimated time schedules)
Saturday Play
9:00 Round One
11:00 Round Two
12:30 Lunch (provided)
1:30 Round Three
3:00 Round Four
6:30 Dinner at the Wiens
Sunday Play
9:00 Round One
11:00 Round Two
12:30 Lunch (on-your-own)
1:30 Round Three
3:00 Round Four
4:30 Finals

Friday, September 15, 2017

Rain again









Yesterday evening at Morganton terrain. Jane, Steve, Jeff, Rusty, Marcia, Marc, Kathy, Juan, Kirk, Danny, Sue, Shirley, and Gary didn't let a little rain stop play.

9/13/2017





Wednesday morning play at Miller Park.

If it's Sunday, this must be Miller Park!









 Small crowd for Sunday play in Winston-Salem on September 10, 2017.

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Morganton play

Russel and Shelley

"Just use a pendulum motion with your palm down..."




Shirley's shadow in the middle

Rusty and Juan

Ed, Marcia, and Marc
Russel and Shelley were walk-up visitors on September 7 play in Morganton. Russel's mom lives in the area and they were in town for a visit. Too bad they're not around more often, because both took to the game quickly and we were super glad to have them. Unfortunately, they came down from DC (Shelley said she was from Detroit) so it might be a while before we see them again.

What rain?


Raindrops falling from my ear...












At Nick's after play
Wednesday morning play at Miller Park in Winston-Salem looked a little iffy, but we managed to persevere through several hours of on again-off again showers.

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Saturday, Sunday, and Monday

Selfie with hat!






On our way home from Texas, we spent Friday night in a motel near Knoxville, TN. Then, on Saturday morning, we got up early and drove about 2 and a half hours to Morganton, NC, to join the Gantts, Steve/Jane/John, for ten o'clock petanque.












After Saturday play in Morganton, we drove home to Lexington (about an hour and 45 minutes) to spend the night in our own home before making the Sunday morning drive (about 35 minutes) up to Winston-Salem for the Labor Day Weekend picnic and petanque at Miller Park. Rom and Barb brought hot dogs and hamburgers and we and others brought sides and fixin's for a cookout.










Then, on Labor Day, we drove back southwest to Nevin Park in Charlotte (about an hour) for special holiday play arranged by Denyse, Jeanne, and Lydia. We had a nice turnout on short notice with eighteen players. Khalid brought his friend Sam from New York and a new player from Charlotte, Pamela, joined us for her first time playing with the group. Though Sam was just in town visiting with Khalid and his family, and we may not see him again for a while, we hope pamela will be a regular player. She was already asking about buying boules, so that's a good sign!