The Fletchers was again at the Inter livery Pétanque competition run again by the Worshipful Company of Distillers at the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens on Thursday 31^st July.

 32 teams across the livery companies competed over a number of rounds with teams of three, The Fletchers team this year consisted of Deputy Master Tim Sanders-Hewett, liveryman Lyndsey Metcalfe and myself. Our first game was against the Distillers ‘home’ team the Distillers got off to a great start winning the first end 4-0 although the Fletchers recovered, we eventually lost 8-4.

After a short break with time for a glass of wine or four we next played the Dyers this game was much closer with the scores being neck and neck but the Dyers were able to pull a short lead out just before time was called on the game with the Fletchers losing again 7-5

There was then time for a picnic and a few more wines with the team joined but Claire Sanders-Hewett and Masters consort Baroness De Styrcea. With two losses the Fletchers team had dropped on to the bronze level of the competition and we were next against the Coopers, The Coopers had had a similar run to us so we were hopeful of getting a win. Unfortunately this was not to be the case the Coopers pulled out a 6-0 lead before we finally managed to get a score back through some great play by Lynsey and Tim over what become a marathon game and pegging back the Coopers one shot at each end we got back to a score of 7-6 before the Coopers managed to get a 2 shot win at the last end.

Whilst the results were not as good as we had hoped for in the beginning everyone had a wonderful time and enjoyed the event immensely as did the over 100 competitors and spectators who attended.

After all the preliminary games had been played the finalists playing for the prize of a cask of Whiskey where the Butchers and Playing Card Manufacturers with the Butchers coming out this years winners.

Liveryman Robert Brown