A number of Pétanque England regions are getting ready to host their Women’s Doubles competitions in March to celebrate International Women’s Day 2020. This is the second year of the PE Women in Pétanque initiative to get more women playing in competitions as well as raising awareness of the sport. Last year, nine regions took part with a total of 98 Women’s Doubles teams competing in regional events. 32 teams qualified and had the opportunity to represent their region at the National IWD Event held at Oxshott Petanque Club.
Last year’s events were featured in a newsletter and this year it is anticipated that the numbers will increase as up to ten regions are planning to run a regional event, taking the number of teams to over 100. The ethos of the regional events is to create a fun, celebratory competition and particularly to encourage players of all abilities to take part. The winners and top teams have an opportunity to play at the national event and win the IWD Trophy for their region. However this is not compulsory and anyone wishing to compete solely in their local regional event is welcome to do so. This year’s national event is being hosted at Rainworth PC in our Mercia Region and we hope that this will encourage more teams from the Midlands and North of England to get involved.
The IWD 2020 theme: Each for Equality
Whilst pétanque is one of the few sports that can boast being ‘A Sport for All’ and one where players of different ages, genders and abilities can play together, when it comes to competitions, there is still a big disparity between the number of men and women players entering. In some cases the ratio is as wide as 7:1.
Thank you to all our regions planning to run an event and to everyone involved in organising a fun and celebratory day. Through these events, we can support the IWD 2020 vision of an equal and enabled world.
Celebrate women’s achievement. Raise awareness against bias. Take action for equality.