On the North-Aveyron, Sundays are punctuated by a particular music: tac-tac-tac. It's the sound of bowling pins colliding, falling, rolling. The practice of bowling eight is a living tradition, which brings players and enthusiasts together on clay courts. Far from being outdated, this sport always attracts more young people and has a very special place in the hearts of the people of Aveyron. Come and discover what traditional game which has endured over time and which is part of the local heritage.
An ancestral practice
The practice of bowling is found in many regions of France. It probably dates from the High Middle Ages. At the beginning of the XNUMXth century, bowling was played in all the villages from Aveyron. The rules and equipment used vary from one village to another, but the basis remains the same: knock down the nine pins with a wooden ball, following set figures. In the region of Espalion, one of the figures consisted of knock down the standing eight pins using the ninth pin, which was hit by the ball.
The exodus of Aveyronnais to Paris to look for work has increased the game of bowling towards the capital. It was the occasion to meet again and to remember the country, but the players quickly face an unexpected situation. The many variations in the rules from one region to another made the practice complicated. Very quickly, the need to codify the rules of the game appeared. In 1912, official regulations were established. As most of the players came from Nord-Aveyron, it was the way of playing at Espalion that was kept. Eight-pin bowling was born!
In the 50s, the disappearance of this traditional discipline was almost obvious, but against all odds it became a sport in its own right, with teaching at school and open to female players. Today it's the second most practiced sport in Aveyron after football, with nearly 4500 licensees in France. Surprisingly, this traditional sport attracts many young people and the average age is around thirty.
How to play bowling of eight?
History is all well and good, but how do you play eight-pin bowling? The practice requires dexterity, precision, pressure management and rigour. It requires a specific material and follows a settlement well defined, like any sports practice.
Equipment
To play bowling of eight, you need:
- 8 beech wood skittles 60 centimeters high and 7 centimeters in diameter. They weigh between 1 and 2 kilos;
- a quillou (or playing skittle) in beech or hornbeam wood. It's the ninth pin;
- a ball of walnut wood with a maximum diameter of 28 centimeters and which weighs between 3 and 7 kilos. The traditional balls are made of solid wood and the lighter models contain foam inside;
- a flat iron template 3 meters long and 1 meter wide, which delimits the location of the player;
- cleats, which are the supports for the 8 pins, positioned 1 meter apart from each other.
The game's rules
The object of the game is to knock down the 8 upright pins using the quillou (the 9th pin), hit by a ball. Skittles are played on a clay court, indoor or outdoor, on a field 30 meters long and 6 meters wide.
Bowling of Eights is all about performance: it's the number of points that counts over three consecutive games. A game is played in 9 moves at different distances: 1m, 5m, 15m, 10m, 20m. Each shot (except the one from 1 meter) counts two throws, one with the quillou, one with the ball. Each pin is worth one point, so the maximum score is 80 points.
Each distance has its own rules:
- 1 meter: a throw with the ball alone.
- 5 meters: two shots. At each stroke the player must knock down the right one, which corresponds to the first pin in the middle row. If he didn't do it with the quillou, he must knock it down with the ball.
- 10 meters: three shots. The maid must be knocked down or two pins must fall with the pin. If it is successful, the fallen skittles are counted, if it is a failure, the good one must fall with the ball.
- 15 yards: two shots. At least one pin must be knocked down with the quillou, otherwise the good one must fall with the ball.
- 20 meters: a single shot, with the same rules as at 15 meters.
The competitions
The players are classified into age categories: from the chick (8/9/10 years old) to the super veteran (66 years old and over), then into national categories: excellence – honor – promotion – growth. The departmental categories follow the same categories as the national ones. A classification in series is also set up: 1st series – 2nd series – 3rd series
There are four competitions:
- friendly competitions: they were very popular, but are experiencing a loss of interest.
- departmental or local championships: these are the most popular competitions. They are played by team, for eight Sundays, from April to July.
- Following the departmental championships, follow the individual championships which qualify the best players of each category.
- The French championships are played in teams and individually.
Small glossary in Occitan
Now that you know everything about eight-pin bowling, all you need to do is go see the players practice their sport or their art in real life! It's the best way to soak up the friendly atmosphere that reigns on the pitch.
If you don't speak Occitan, you may feel a bit lost at first. Many words come from our local patois. To make things easier for you, here are a few words to help you:
- aquintalar : Successfully knock down 50 pins in a game
- the buff : make a zero
- clap : violently hitting the playing pin with the ball
- the horse is nega (textually: the mare is drowning): designates a team or a player who loses his footing during a competition
An integral part of the identity of the territory, a sport raised almost to the rank of religion in the region, bowling of eight is an important game, which proves the attachment of the inhabitants to its traditions. Come try you too to knock down the skittles during initiations. This is the best way to immerse yourself in this wonderful friendly sport.
Where to discover eight-pin bowling?
The competitions take place from April to August, if you want to discover this discipline, find out from the tourist offices or local sports clubs to attend or even get started.
Bowling grounds
| Approved lands | Covered bowling alleys |
|---|---|
| Florentin-la-Capelle | Florentin-la-Capelle |
| Laguiole | Laguiole |
| Saint-Amans-des-Côts | |
| Sainte-Geneviève-sur-Argence |
Themes
