THE French game of petanque is set to rival more traditional pastimes in Wensleydale as a new club gathers strength.

The club, based at the golf complex at Akebar Park, near Leyburn, hopes to attract new members and raise awareness of the game at a demonstration session on Tuesday.

The session, part of Akebar Park's jubilee celebrations, includes the chance for visitors to try their hand at the game, which resembles boules. Players and equipment are available 4.30-6pm and 7-8.30.

Among those demonstrating the game is Matt Blyton, headteacher of West Burton school, who has qualified to represent Great Britain in the North Sea petanque championships in Brussels from June 19 to 22.

He is part of a team of three, plus substitute, to compete against Belgium, Holland, Germany, Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

"There will be three senior teams from each nation participating and my team will be playing as team three," said Mr Blyton. "It will be my eighth representation, but I have not qualified since 1996."

He qualified after playing in four national competitions, held this year in Peterborough, Bristol, Chatham in Kent and Portsmouth. The team now goes forward to two further last 16 events to identify the top team which will represent Great Britain at the world championships in September.

The formalised rules of the game were laid down by the French in 1910, although it had been played in France for some time before that.

The game Francis Drake was reputedly engaged in on Plymouth Hoe at the sighting of the Armada was almost certainly much more akin to petanque than bowls, say experts.

The modern sport was devised because a champion, Jules le Noir, developed arthritis and could no longer run to pitch the large, heavy metal boules to the distances required. He and a friend played with smaller boules and threw them with feet together in a small circle - pieds tanques was later contracted to 'petanque'.

Further details about the Wensleydale club and demonstration day are available from Mr Blyton on 01677 450095; Bruce Emmett on 01325 718910 and Rich Deakin on 01969 663811