This year, Mile High Pétanque Club hosted an open Charity Singles Tournament, which is a heads-up 1v1 or “tête-à-tête” tournament, on Sunday June 25th 2023 at Centennial Gardens in downtown Denver Colorado. This was an open invitation 1v1 tournament for the public where 100% of all registration fees went to help pay for the US Juniors Team GoFundMe Fundraiser to help with their trip to Bangkok Thailand in November.
The weather recently within Denver had been…interesting. We’ve seen horrendous rainstorms over lasting 6 weeks to incredible baseball-sized hail storms only a few days earlier that shutdown Red Rocks and the Front Range.
Luckily, on the 25th of June, it was a bright, sunny, and breezy day that was perfect for a few rounds of Petanque. Centennial Gardens was in top shape, flowers in bloom and the courts well manicured.
This tournament had 13 players registered before 09:00 AM and it was great to see so many of our local players, friends, and family compete in the charity competition.
Since this was a single-day tournament, we conducted 3 qualifying games which helped create the final single-elimination bracket. The weather in the morning was perfect and the sun was out, but not in full force. The whistle blew to start at 0900 sharp and the games began!
As the sun started to rise higher in the sky and the temperature started to reach a bit over 80*F / 26*C, we wrapped up the last of the 3 qualifier games and proceeded to have an hour lunch in the shade.
There were some super close matches throughout the bracket play. The top three players had an initial buy within the 13-person bracket: Max Brun with a point differential of 3/0 +16, David Keil with a 3/0 +12, and Julian Grasset with a diff of 2/1 +16;
Centennial Gardens has a great area under the shaded trees to have a quick bite to eat, picnic, and to get out of the sun for a while and relax. Luckily with all the weather we’ve been having, the wind kept at a nice pace around 5mph to keep things cool and relaxing while we took a break.
At 13:00 the bracket was built, courts assigned, and the whistle blown to start the official game!
All of the games within the quarter finals thru the final game were nail biters. The final round between Jim Burgin and David Keil ended in a win in favour of Jim with a match score of 13 to 8.
For the 3rd place game, it was another super close game between Julian and Robert with the match point won by Julian.
For the top 3 place winners, there was a special first-place prize of an Obut Boules Bag signed by Damien Hureau, and two gift cards for 2nd and 3rd place.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
An absolutely wonderful time was had by all and the tournament had raised $460 for the US Juniors Fundraiser, which was promptly sent over to the GoFundMe.
$460
Raised for the US Juniors Team from this Charity Tournament!
Looking to help too?
If you’re looking to support and help our US Junior Team on their way to represent the US in the Worlds Tournament in Bangkok Thailand in November, simply navigate over to the GoFundMe Page and donate any amount to help fund the kids’ trip for the competition.
Mile High Pétanque Club 
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