Join Us for the 35th Annual Brian Holgate Memorial Petanque Tournament
Published 10:16 on 24 Mar 2025
Dear Gulf Harbour Yacht Club Members,
It's almost time for one of our club's most cherished traditions the Brian Holgate Memorial Petanque Tournament.
For 35 consecutive years, this beloved event has brought together our club's community in the spirit of friendly competition and camaraderie.
A Legacy of Community
This special tournament honours the memory of Brian Holgate, whose family has generously sponsored and organised this event since its inception. Jean and Brian sailed together for 55 years and were founding members of GHYC. So they deserve the title of not only being one of the reasons why GHYC is the great club that it is today, but also as one of our longest sponsors with past prizes being as large as an outboard motor!
Members may remember their motor sailor "Love Light" and their Bravia 42 yacht "Windcall" which is now owned by and still sailed here at GHYC by Gary Massey. You can see photos of these above the bar. Well worth a look next time you are ordering a drink.
A Tradition Worth Continuing
When I think about what makes our club so special, it's events like this that come to mind. The Petanque Tournament traces back to the very beginnings of GHYC and really embodies our value of 'Everyone's welcome aboard' whether you're a seasoned boatie or just starting out, our club is all about inclusivity. We believe there's room for everyone to enjoy the ride.
This friendship, community, and fun is exactly the vision that our founding members like Jean and Brian established all those years ago.
It's these founding moments represent the values that we hold dear at our club today in respect of:
Event Details
We are incredibly fortunate to be able to honour Brian's memory (thanks to Jean's continued support) with this Petanque tournament
Date: Saturday, 12 April 11am 6pm
Location: Gulf Harbour Yacht Club Grounds
Whether you're a seasoned petanque player or have never thrown a boule in your life, this tournament welcomes participants of all skill levels. It's a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow social and boating club members to honor Brian's memory, and perhaps start your own tradition of participation.
Bring a picnic and a friend. We look forward to you joining us for this fun, social competition. Perhaps you'll even add your name to the historic trophy that celebrates this longstanding tradition!
Thanks to the Holgate family and their love of our sport and our yacht club community, the commitment they have made to preserving this tradition speaks volumes about our club and the lasting bonds formed here at Gulf Harbour.
Last updated 17:45 on 2 April 2025
