Luton Petanque Club

Details of Luton Petanque Club.

Spot the boule

I've heard there are two upcoming open days at Luton Petanque Club where you can play for free. Boules will be provided. The open events are on:
- Saturday 2 May between 2 and 5pm
- Saturday 20 June

Petanque (or Boules as it's also known) is a great game. I've played a few ends with Alan and some of the other club members. Very good fun indeed.

Luton Petanque Club also play informal games every Tuesday afternoon at 1pm, Thursday at 7.30pm and Sundays at 11am. The club is based at Play Football on St Thomas Road, Stopsley, Luton. Check out the Luton Petanque Club website and Twitter for news and events.

Playing Boules with Luton Petanque Club at the 2012 Community Games

Links:
- Luton Petanque Club
- Chiltern Region Petanque
- The English Petanque Association

Related blog posts:
- Petanque
- Pétanque
- Boules

Zombies!!! 13: DEFCON Z board game

Backing a Kickstarter campaign for the latest addition to the Zombies!!! board game series.

Earlier this year I spotted that the team at Twilight Creations were launching a Kickstarter campaign for the latest addition to the post-apocalyptic survival horror game series and knew I had to chip in to the funding.

I'm a big fan of games, horror and zombies and while playing many of the editions and expansions of the Zombies!!! and Humans!!! games I'd noticed that the ruined cityscapes and environments in the Zombies!!! universe were lacking something that many towns and cities have.

You guessed it - a miniature golf course!

I was one of fifteen Tile Designers who backed the project and so now 'Squires Minigolf' is a playable part of the game!

The ruined, derelict and overrun Squires Minigolf course in the new Zombies!!! board game

Zombies!!! 13: DEFCON Z sees the military, the CDC and others begin the fightback against the zombie menace and takes place in the years after the original outbreak caused the end of the world as we know it!

Zombies!!! 13: DEFCON Z box front

The Zombies!!! games are very high quality - with great artwork on the event cards and game board tiles. There are also quite a few different types of zombie figures to kill (or avoid) in the game's universe - including humans, clowns, military enhanced zombies and zombie zoo animals!

Zombies!!! 13: DEFCON Z box reverse

Zombies!!! 13: DEFCON Z is a standalone expansion can be played in combination with Zombies!!! or in its own right. The set includes 25 map tiles (including the Minigolf course), 50 event cards, heart, bullet and new 'infection' tokens, dice, new player figures and 100 Zombies in four new poses.

What you get in the box - all ready to play!

The cast of characters - Zombies and Survivors

Check out the Twilight Creations website for more details and stockists of the Zombies!!! games and expansions, as well as other board and card games they make.

Back in 2011 we played in a Zombie Apocalypse outdoor laser tag event in Hastings. We were told that our group were the worst to ever play and so in the event of a Zombie Apocalypse we can all now rest easy in the knowledge that we would make better Zombies than survivors.

This year World Zombie Day is scheduled for Saturday 11 October!

Links:
- Twilight Creations website
- Twilight Creations on Facebook
- Zombies!!! 13: DEFCON Z Kickstarter page

Update from the World Alternative Games 2014 in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales

Calendar of events announced and new World Alternative Games Facebook page launched for 2014 Games.

This year's World Alternative Games will see over 60 different sports and activities taking place between Friday 8th and Monday 25th of August in Britain's smallest town - Llanwrtyd Wells in Wales. 

The organisers of the 2014 World Alternative Games have launched a new Facebook page for the 18-day festival of sport.

Among the sports people can compete in will be Finger Jousting - with the World Finger Jousting Federation hosting its first official World Championship on Sunday 10th of August.

The Finger Jousting competitors at the World Alternative Games 2012

In 2012 Emily and I organised the World Alternative Games Finger Jousting Championships that saw competitors from five countries take part in the first Finger Jousting tournament on UK soil! Check out the World Alternative Games 2012 Finger Jousting Championships report on the WFJF website for more info, results, photos and facts & stats from the event.

The crowd looks on as Chief Umpire Emily officiates the Finger Jousting contest between Joachim Davidse (NED) and Alain G (FRA) at the 2012 World Alternative Games

We had a brilliant time in Llanwrtyd Wells and can't wait to return to be a part of the excellent event.

Other sports on offer include Bog Snorkeling, Wife Carrying, Man vs Horse Race and a huge number of other interesting, weird, wacky and wonderful sports and games and designed to appeal to a wide-range of people of all sporting abilities.

As well as organising the Finger Jousting I also competed in the Egg Throwing Championship alongside Jas Kukielka and we took a very surprising Gold Medal in the event!

Jas Kukielka, me and Seve Kukielka with our World Alternative Games medal haul for Egg Throwing at the 2012 Games

The World Alternative Games calendar of events for 2014 is available online and you'll be able to see the vast array of activities on offer!

For further information about the World Alternative Games 2014 check out the website and Facebook page of the games.

The website also has details of places to stay. In 2012 we stayed received a very warm welcome at the Bryncelyn Guest House and had a great (gluten free) meal in the restaurant at the Lasswade Country House hotel in the town.

One of my favourite pubs in the world is the town's Neuadd Arms Hotel - which is also the Headquarters of the Monster Raving Loony Party.

Me and Jas Kukielka outside the Neuadd Arms Hotel in Llanwrtyd Wells - Headquarters of the Monster Raving Loony Party!

Links:

- World Alternative Games 2014

- World Alternative Games 2014 on Facebook

- World Alternative Games on Twitter

- World Finger Jousting Federation

- World Finger Jousting Federation on Facebook

- World Alternative Games 2012 Finger Jousting Championships report

- 'Dame' Julia Galvin, sportswoman extraordinaire

Related blog posts:

- 2014 World Alternative Games in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales

- Becoming a World Champion in Egg Throwing!

- Finger Jousting to feature as a sport at the 2012 World Alternative Games!

Bushell's Best Bits – a new book by BBC TV's Mike Bushell

I recently received the book Bushell’s Best Bits as a birthday present from Emily. It’s written by BBC TV sports presenter by Mike Bushell and is a great read, with a view into many odd, obscure and alternative sports and games.

Mike Bushell has taken part in and profiled over 350 different sports and events and a lot of these are covered in the book – with the 2012 World Alternative Games getting a great write-up. Other sports covered include many that I compete in, including Finger Jousting, Crazy Golf, Rock Paper Scissors, Dodgeball.

If you’re looking for a Christmas gift for someone I highly recommend Bushell’s Best Bits – who knows, they may be inspired to try out a new sport, game or recreational activity in 2014!

Links:

- John Blake Publishing

- Buy Bushell’s Best Bits at John Blake Publishing’s onlineshop

- Follow Mike Bushell on Twitter

Related blog posts:

- Book-related posts
- Behold...

2014 World Alternative Games in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales

Festival of all-sorts of sports and games to take place in Llanwrtyd Wells in August 2014.

The date for the 2014 World Alternative Games has been announced! The eighteen-day festival of sport, fun and games will be taking place in Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, Wales between Friday 8th and Monday 25th August 2014.

In 2012 more than 50 different wild, weird, wacky, odd and obscure sports took place during the two weeks!

Emily refereeing the Finger Jousting contest between Joachim Davidse (NED) and Alain G (FRA) at the 2012 World Alternative Games

As part of the 2012 World Alternative Games Emily and I ran the first-ever Official Finger Jousting Championships on UK soil and Jas Kukielka and I were victorious in the World Egg Throwing Championships there!

Jas, me and Seve Kukielka with our medal haul for Egg Throwing (and Catching) at the 2012 edition of the World Alternative Games

It's a great (little) town - the smallest in Britain - and well worth a visit and everyone there was so friendly and welcoming. Interestingly the town's Neuadd Arms Hotel is also Headquarters of the Monster Raving Loony Party.

Links:

- World Alternative Games

- World Alternative Game on Twitter

- World Alternative Games on Facebook

- World Finger Jousting Federation

- Wacky Nation

- 'Dame' Julia Galvin, sportswoman extraordinaire

Related Blog Posts:

- Becoming a World Champion in Egg Throwing!

- A new sport or game for 2013?

Playing Archery Tag in Guildford

Trying out the new sport of Archery Tag.

As a fan of all manner of sports and games, whether old or new, traditional or obscure, I'm always on the lookout for new ones to have a go of. Following my blog post on the 1st of January 2013 where I asked the question "What sport or game that we haven't tried already should we give a go in 2013?" I had some responses via the comments, Facebook and Twitter.

One of these came from fellow sporting polymath Oliver 'Lawrence' Florence who suggested we give Archery Tag a go. He had heard an upcoming event would be taking place in Guildford and so it'd be a chance to have a play of the game for free!

Me, Guy Martin (grey) and Oliver Florence (red) in Archery Tag action

After a busy day of Minigolfing in Beckenham, Croydon and Carshalton Emily and I headed to Guildford and the Spectrum Leisure Complex which was the host venue for the Archery Tag event. Our group had been booked in for the 7pm session so we took some time beforehand to watch the action in the busy sports hall from the spectator's gantry. 

Before we got stuck into the game our group decided to warm-up with some target practice using the specific Archery Tag equipment. The bow and arrows differ from those used in Archery and the main thing you notice is the foam pad on the end of the arrows, these ensure that if (when!) you get hit by a shot it doesn't injure the competitor.

Richard 'Michael Skaggs' Skeggs (left) and Oliver 'The Machine' Florence warming-up before the main-event

Our group was then ready to hit the court (arena, course, battlefield?) and after a briefing by the Archery Tag organiser - Joshua from Discover Archery - we were provided with protective face masks, a bow and two arrows.

The game mixes Archery with rules similar to Dodgeball, Paintball and Laser Tag with two teams of players taking up positions on either side of the battlefield and once the whistle goes it's a free-for-all of arrows firing at the opposing force. In a competitive match we were told that if you get hit you are eliminated from the game for a one-minute period before re-entering the fray. For our have-a-go session we were involved in two seven-minute games, played with 'no outs'. So it gave us a great opportunity to practice our aim and have fun, without the fear and threat of elimination.

The Archery Tag 'battleground'

Once you've used up your initial two arrows you can then collect any arrows from the floor and re-use them - just be careful not to get hit while retrieving them! The arena also had a number of inflatable bases and barriers to hide behind and you certainly needed to use them as the game is non-stop with a constant hail of arrows coming in from the opposing team.

Launching a shot towards the opposition

One of the great things about the game is that you can also get 'catches'! So, if you see an arrow coming towards you and fancy grabbing it from mid-air then that is perfectly allowable - and quite an achievement too! I managed a couple of catches in the two games and hit some of the opposition too. Fellow sports enthusiast Richard 'Richard' Skeggs got really stuck into the sport and planted a perfect shot on my face - thank goodness for the protective face masks! I did get a couple of catches off him to slightly make up for it though.

Richard Skeggs - the 'one man gang' of Archery Tag!

It was great fun and I'd definitely like to play a competitive match. Perhaps a Luton team could travel to Guildford, or vice versa...

Emily models the Archery Tag 'look'

Check out details of Archery Tag on the Discover Archery website.

Links:

- Discover Archery

- Discover Archery - Archery Tag

- Guildford Spectrum Leisure Complex

- Archery Tag

Related Blog Posts:

- A new sport or game for 2013?

- 2012 - A Big Year of Sport
- Behold...
- Underdog Day and meeting an Olympic Archer!

A new sport or game for 2013?

What sport or game that we haven't tried already should we give a go in 2013?

As well as playing lots of Minigolf on our travels around on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, Emily and I also regularly compete in British Minigolf Association competitions at Crazy Golf, Miniature Golf and Adventure Golf courses. We also enjoy participating in 'side-tournaments' and trying out new sports and games.

2012 was the year of Bar Billiards and 2011 saw us play a fair bit of Laser Tag, but what sport or game shall we take-up in 2013?

Related Blog Post:

- Behold...

2012 - A Big Year of Sport

A jam-packed year of playing, spectating and organising sporting events!

2012 has been a very full year of sporting events large, small and everything in-between. As a player, spectator, visitor and organiser I have been involved in a lot of contests during 2012.

2012 has been a GIANT year of sport

Player/Competitor

• Twelve British Minigolf Association Tour Events, winning a BMGA Tour title at the BMGA & Putterfingers Oswestry Games Championship

• WMF World Adventure Golf Masters – Individual and Team competitions

• Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championship – Finalist and 17th place overall

• World Alternative Games Egg Throwing Championship – Champion (with Jas Kukielka)

• Worlds £2 Tat Challenge – Winner

• Mayor of Luton’s Charity Tenpin Bowling Challenge – Team Champions

• Luton High Town Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Street Party Men's 18-50 year-olds 60m Running Race – Runner-up

• Oswestry Games Oslympics Quiz – 3rd place team

• International Rock Paper Scissors Championship – 4th place (as Team San Marino)

• Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt 2 – 4th

• The first-ever World Bun Throwing Championships in Abingdon-on-Thames – Competitor 

• 33rd Bun Throwing in Abingdon-on-Thames – Participant 

• The Chase – TV Quiz Show Contestant

• First Ever Ripping Yarns Hopathon – Guinness World Record attempts for the ‘Fastest 400m Relay Hop’ and the ‘Largest Group Hop’

• Luton Community Games – Petanque and Pitch & Putt

• Yattendon & Frilsham Fete Christmas Tree Throwing Competition

• Twelve other Miniature Golf, Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf competitions including victory at the Crazy Golf with Bompas & Parr Championships at Selfridges London

Spectator/Visitor

• London 2012 Olympic Games – Handball, Archery & BMX

• London 2012 Paralympic Games – Wheelchair Fencing, Powerlifting & Boccia

• PDC Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship 2013

• Olympic Torch Evening Celebration Event in Luton

• Olympic Torch Relay Event in Luton

• Olympex 2012 at the British Library

• Guinness World Record Attempt for the “Largest Synchronized Morris Dance”

• Jigfest

Organiser/Volunteer

• 28 British Minigolf Association Tour Events

• Eight WMF & EMF International Minigolf Championship Events

• World Finger Jousting Federation UK Championship at the World Alternative Games 

• Paralympic Flame Celebration Event in Luton – Paralympic Flame Assistant as part of Sport Makers

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Milestones

• 300th course played and 500th course visited overall

• At Wonderland theme park at Telford Town Park

Related Blog Posts:

- Behold...

- 2011 - Ham & Egger Files - The Year in Review

- 2010 - Ham & Egger Files - The Year in Review

- 2009 - Ham & Egger Files - The Year in Review

Behold...the sports and games we've played so far

Minigolf* and Finger Jousting isn't all that he can do, behold the great Richard Gottfried - a gift from me to you...

Adventure Golf

Air Hockey
Archery
Archery Tag

Arm Champs II Arm Wrestling
Bagatelle
Bar Billiards

Brussels Sprout Competitive Eating
Bun Throwing
Christmas Tree Throwing
Conga Dancing

Crazy Air Squash
Crazy Golf
Crazy Golf Pool

Dodgeball
Egg Throwing
FootGolf
FootPool
Football Pool

Guinness World Records
Laser Tag
London Skittles
Pétanque

Picnicking

(Ping) Pong
Pit-Pat
PongCrazy

Pirate Flyer Laser Monorails

Rock Paper Scissors
Shooting Shacks
Shuffleboard

'Tat' Challenges
Thumb Wrestling
World of Grip
Worm Charming

What's next?

Keep following The Ham & Egger Files to find out!

Richard Gottfried - Out Standing In His Field

* check out the post Types and Variants of Miniature Golf visited and played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour for details of other versions of the game

The Ham & Egger Files – An Introduction

Adventures in obscure and minority sports!

This blog will follow my participation in many obscure and minority sports with the aim of having as much fun as possible with the modicum of sporting ability I have!

What is a Ham & Egger?

The term "ham and egger" has connotations ranging from that of "ordinary person" to that of "loser". The origin of the term stems from prize fighters whose modest skills wouldn’t let them win large purses. Therefore, the fighter or their manager (who received a percentage of purses won) were never able to afford to eat better than ham & eggs (no steaks!).

Losing

In boxing, it is synonymous to "palookas" - those boxers who would never be contenders; they were just around to serve as opponents and sparring partners for contenders on their way up. They didn't get big prizes like the winners, just enough to pay for their meals - their "ham and eggs". In Professional Wrestling the terms most often used are "Jobber" and "Jabroni" and are applied to those professional wrestlers who frequently and deliberately loses matches (Jobbers are also known as 'preliminary wrestlers', 'local competitors', 'curtain jerkers', or 'enhancement talent' due to their usage to enhance the stature of their opponent).

Some people proudly call themselves a "ham and egger," using it to mean an "ordinary person" or "nobody special." Other people use it as an insult: "He'll never amount to anything. He's just a ham and egger."

Another term for Ham & Eggers is 'Journeyman'. A journeyman is an athlete or professional sports player who is technically competent, but unable to excel, and whom is thus not well-regarded by commentators.

A true journeyman is someone who has heard all the nay-sayers, then headed toward their goal and, through determination, proved their worth and taken their prize.

The journeyman can be quite valuable in the team sports context. While it is almost always economically non-viable for even the richest teams in sports without salary caps to have a roster made up fully of superstar players, and would likely not happen even with economic viability because of the lack of attention some players would end up getting, journeymen often make up a large part of a team. This is especially true in the context of baseball, where journeymen often make up large parts of a team's pitching staff and contribute crucially to a team's success. Many Journeymen can be highly experienced, and often play a "utility" role to cover for injuries or tactical changes as required.

Whatever the name may be, 'Ham & Eggers' are passionate about their sport and will always give their all to be the best they can be.

Winning

Related blog posts:
- Sports and Games played to date
- Types and Variants of Miniature Golf visited and played
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Courses Visited List
- Behold...