Boost for Penicuik petanque players
Provost Debbi McCall was ‘bouled’ over when she popped along to see the extension to the pétanque piste in Montgomery Park, Penicuik.
International competitions
The bigger piste will allow national and international competitions to be held at the court while encouraging local people to try the sport for the first time.
Provost contribution
Provost McCall, who contributed money from her environmental ‘pot’ for the £15,000 project, said: “Wow, what a difference. The court has been here for 13 years and is well used by many locals, but this new and improved version will attract national and international competitors.
Community benefits
“It’s great news for local players and it’s also a real bonus for the community, tourism and the economy.”
Thanks to John
The sole remaining founding member of the Penicuik Community Petanque Club, President John Mcallister spent seven years trying to get the project off the ground. He said: “I wanted to encourage more disabled people, veterans and under 25s to the sport.”
National Lottery
He approached the provost who contributed to the project back in 2024. Meanwhile, the club successfully applied for National Lottery funding of £2,300.
Benches and a hut
Treasurer Robert Shortiss said: "The National Lottery funding helped with obtaining a storage hut for the equipment that had previously been held in the members’ houses. The lottery money also meant we could get two wheelchair picnic benches to be used for breaks in play to socialise and have refreshments while enjoying the game of petanque."
Council support
Midlothian Council’s Greenspace Service designed and constructed the extension which includes accessible paths and an area for inclusive benches installed by the pétanque club to encourage as many people as possible to get involved.
Pride of Penicuik
John said the final product is a space the local community and Midlothian can be proud of.
Thanks to provost
He added: We have to thank Provost Debbi McCall for seeing the potential benefits and funding the build. Going forward, we want to encourage volunteer groups to try petanque as part of their daily exercise as pétanque is part walking and part throwing. We have created a venue that will aid people do gentle exercise and also help local business when we host national competitions.”
Councillors' pots
Every councillor has a small environmental ‘pot’ of money to spend on projects to benefit communities in their wards.
Contact Penicuik Petanque Club
If you would like more details about joining the club or using the piste email:
In the picture
From left to right at the back are: Penicuik Petanque Club members Tom Mackenzie and Irene McDonald, Treasurer Robert Shortiss, Midlothian Council's Land Resources Manager James Kinch, Provost Debbi McCall, club member Bob Chapman, Black Diamond FM sports presenter Russell Aitken and club President John Mcallister. In the front are club members Hugh Munro and Davy Scott.