Spotlight on… Arundel Pétanque Club

Founded in 2010 by Kath Knight and her late husband Mike, the club emerged from a group of enthusiasts who had previously played at the much-missed Lamb Inn terrain in nearby Yapton . Those early foundations were built on camaraderie, inclusivity and competitive spirit - and remarkably, those same qualities still define the club today. What started as a continuation of a local pétanque culture has grown into something far more substantial: around 60 members drawn from across West Sussex and beyond, with some travelling from Aldershot, Fareham and Midhurst to play.

The Duke of Norfolk serves as patron, and the club proudly wears red in tribute to Arundel FC, whose former training pitch now forms the 16-piste terrain. There’s something fitting about that - a community sport embedded inside another community sporting venue. It doesn’t feel isolated; it feels connected.

Let’s talk about those pistes. I was only discussing them the other day and described them as the equivalent of a Premier League football pitch. Pristine. Flat. No hidden ridges, no awkward cambers, no unpredictable undulations. The gravel is consistent, the levels are true, and everything feels deliberate. Now, in pétanque terms, “perfect” isn’t always what the purists claim to want. Many players prefer technical, awkward terrains that force creativity and punish complacency. Arundel isn’t that. It’s balanced, fair and aggressive. It rewards execution. It builds confidence. For developing players, it’s ideal. For experienced competitors, it becomes a test of composure and precision rather than terrain management. Not better or worse - just different. And very well prepared.

In competitive terms, Arundel’s story mirrors that of many established clubs: early success, a period of reflection, and now resurgence. The original Lamb Inn squad competed successfully in Division 1 of the former Southern Region, and that high standard continued for several seasons under the Arundel banner. Inevitably, changes in personnel followed. The loss of notable figures, including Mike Knight, Geoff Sully and Tomasz Rypien (who has since returned), saw the club gradually slip from Division 1 to Division 3. It was no collapse, more a natural ebb.

What prevented drift was leadership. Kath’s long-standing chairmanship, supported by former Regional President Steve Love as secretary, ensured stability and continuity. The club remained welcoming, organised and forward-looking, even if it plateaued competitively for a period.

The real spark of renaissance arrived with the appointment of Miles Ockwell as club captain. At the time, he had only been playing competitively for a year - a detail that neatly dispels the myth that captaincy must be reserved for veterans. What followed was not revolution, but vision. A clear emphasis on raising standards, encouraging structured practice, and attracting high-calibre players from across the region. Crucially, that ambition did not replace community - it complemented it.

The results speak loudly.

Under Miles’ captaincy, the Arundel Aardvarks finished runners-up in SCPA Division 3 (East), having been fifth the season prior. Membership growth and competitive appetite saw the club expand from one six-a-side team in 2024 to two in 2025, and for the first time enter a nine-a-side team. The nine-a-side Aardvarks, captained by Paul Myers, stormed to promotion into Division 1 at the first attempt, while the six-a-side team earned promotion to Division 2 as champions. That isn’t incremental improvement - that’s momentum.

There has also been visible investment in facilities, including the retopping of five pistes to introduce greater playing variety . A strategic media push has raised the club’s profile across Sussex. And if further evidence were required of competitive bite, the stunning away EuroCup victory over last year’s finalists Anglesey Arms made a statement of intent.

Yet for all this ambition, Arundel has not abandoned its foundations. Inclusivity remains central. Qualified coaches run regular training sessions, with additional evening sessions being developed to accommodate working players. Talks with local schools aim to introduce junior taster sessions, aligning with wider national priorities around youth development. Female players have shone brightly: Angela Brooks and Kerry Thompson claiming the Regional Ladies Doubles Championship three consecutive times, women securing both winner and runner-up spots in the club’s Tir de Précision, and lifting the Battle of the Sexes trophy. Growth has not been narrow, it has been broad.

Personally, when I think of Arundel, I think first of Kath and Mike Knight. Mike was a stalwart of the Southern scene - a character, a showman, a champion of juniors. Kath has carried that legacy forward with quiet authority. Some clubs are defined by facilities. Others by trophies. Arundel is defined by its people.

Their open competitions are a reflection of that ethos. The Mike Knight Open Triples, the Hordern Cup, and the Winter Open Doubles have become fixtures in the regional calendar. I’ve played many events there - and yes, won a fair few opens - and the atmosphere is almost always positive. Well attended, well organised, competitive without crossing into hostility. Internal competitions - from Singles to Triples, the Summer League and festive melees - maintain that club warmth and togetherness.

Beyond competition, they host taster days for the WI and South Coast Walking Football Club, sessions with Scouts and Guides, and maintain twinning links with Trevières in Normandy and Seal PC in Kent - that breadth of community engagement matters.

In 2025, the club launched its inaugural Awards and Celebration Evening at Fauna Brewery and Tap - a sign of a club comfortable enough to celebrate itself, and ambitious enough to make it an annual tradition.

So what is Arundel Pétanque Club?

It is a community club rooted in heritage but alive with renewed ambition. It sits proudly in the heart of its town, inside its football stadium, beneath the watch of castle walls, full of lovely people with a genuine passion for the sport. It welcomes you in warmly and then quietly goes about trying to beat you.

If Arundel were a boule, as they like to say, it would sit comfortably in the hand - but do maximum damage when thrown. And that feels entirely fitting.