REMIT to AGM 2010 

To:  Petanque New Zealand 

From: Caversham Petanque Club 

We would like to propose a change to the timing of the National Singles, Doubles and Triples Tournaments.   Currently they are separate events held in various places around the country, the majority of which are in the North Island.    This involves a lot of travel and related expenses for people to attend, especially if you live in the South Island, which does not create a level playing field for Petanque in this country.    Historically the South has not had the player depth or experience to challenge at the National level, but this is changing.   The numbers of people playing are increasing, and the players we have are more competitive.   To keep this momentum going we need National level competition, the cost of which is prohibitive under the current structure.     A second issue which has encouraged us to suggest a different format is the increasingly full calendar of events, where almost every weekend there is something on for Petanque and planning the rest of your life around this becomes a challenge.     We also feel it would make the Nationals a ‘big’ event, which would be the focus of the petanque calendar and is likely to attract more attention to the sport from media coverage etc.    Having one event would also make it simpler to apply for grants to cover costs of these tournaments, with more chance of success, allowing more people to attend. 

For these reasons we would like to suggest that the National Tournaments are held in one location (but not necessarily by one club) over a week long period towards the end of the summer calendar.     This would enable everyone to plan around the Nationals and would hopefully stream line the events leading up to it as well.       We would envisage the week running something like 

Saturday    Travel for out of towners in the morning

National shooting competition (with locals scheduled for the morning)

Sunday/Monday National Doubles

Tuesday  Rest Day

Wednesday/Thursday National Singles

Friday   Rest Day

Saturday/Sunday National Triples 

For us in the South this would mean 1 airfare, 8 or 9 nights of accommodation and 5-6 days off work, instead of 3 airfares and 9 nights of accommodation and 3-6 days off work which we have currently.   We would also be able to have some down time in the city we are visiting instead of dashing in on Friday evening and dashing out on Monday morning.    It is not possible for people this far South to attend the current competitions unless we take at least a ½ day leave on Friday and Monday for travel and that is just for a major centre.   If it is in places like Rotorua or even Kapiti we require a days travel either side of the competition.     The above structure would also enable people who just wanted to come for the Doubles and Triples and not the singles to take the minimum time off work (or take a short holiday).  The most popular tournaments are still held mostly over a weekend allowing people closer to the event to travel to them individually with a minimum of time off work.     

Motion 

The Caversham Petanque Club moves that Petanque New Zealand committee be charged with investigating the possibility of holding the National Singles, Doubles and Triples Tournaments in a week long format at  the end of the summer calendar, instead of the current structure of 3 separate events throughout the year. 

We hope you will look favourably on this remit

Yours sincerely

Stefany Frost

Secretary

Caversham Petanque Club