The second Open Competition of the 2009 Season was the EARLY BIRDS hosted by the Birds and Bees Pétanque Club at the Birds and Bees in Causewayhead, Stirling.

On another beautiful calm, sunny and warm spring Sunday morning twenty four players, making twelve teams, rolled up bright and early to the Birds and Bees.

The teams were – Zandra Boyle & Carol Bretenoux, Jim & Margaret Wilkie, John & Norma Cameron, Bob Boyle & Byron Milton and Paul & Pierre Bretenoux all from the Bees, Mabel Danraj & Margaret Mauchline, Jean Hutcheson & Finlay Ross, Alice Sheach & Ed Strachan all from Perth, Adrian Ford & Istvan Poka from Ayr, John Wilson & Robbie Stronach from Fochabers, Aileen Moonie & Brian Ward from Perth/Troon and John Watson & Douglas Hamilton from Bees/ Perth.

Three leagues of four were played before lunch and in the afternoon a “Swiss” for the top eight teams for the Early Birds Trophy and a league of four for the Plate.

In an early shock, last week’s winners of the Fenton Quaich, John and Robbie were not in the top eight for the afternoon – “It wisnae me” said Robbie “It wis the big loon.” – but won the Plate as consolation.

In the Early Birds, John and Douglas overcame John and Norma and Paul and Pierre to meet Ed and Alice, who had beaten Adrian and Istvan and Bob and Byron, in the final round and ground out a satisfying 13 – 2 victory – a turn around from having lost the first game of the day to Jean and Finlay by 13 – 1!

The full result was –

The Early Birds –

1^st – John Watson & Douglas Hamilton.

2^nd – Alice Sheach & Ed Strachan.

3^rd – Boyle Boyle & Byron Milton.

4^th– Paul & Pierre Bretenoux.

The Plate –

John Wilson & Robbie Stronach

A good friendly open competition, immaculately rigged by Bob, was enjoyed by all.

Douglas.