We have some brilliant news for you! The Genesis Trust team won the Bath Boules tournament! The tournament was played over 3 days in July. Each day having a different winner.  The Genesis Team won the Sunday, 24 July tournament. Congratulations team!

Nick Crook, who volunteers for Genesis Trust’s Lifeline Project and leads the boules team said, “From the end of the group stage I kept saying, ‘It doesn’t matter. If we get knocked out now it will be the best result we have ever had.’ But they just kept winning.”

Bath Boules is a local charity with a 30-year history in the city. They support the local community by funding other  charities that are making a difference, including Genesis Trust. In the last 30 years, Bath Boules has raised an amazing £650,000 for local charities through the Boules Tournament held in Queen’s Square.

The Genesis team is made up of a committed group of people who have been supported by Genesis for several years.  They started playing just amongst themselves in Queen Square back in 2018, but one evening, Chris Garratt, who organises the tournament, walked through the square and invited them to join the league and they have played in the league and annual tournament ever since.

The league runs from May to September and the tournament is a one-off event in July.  Nick said, “Our team faithfully meets every Tuesday from March to November to practice.  They also organise to meet by themselves on some Saturday mornings.”

A significant factor of the tournament was the team’s determination and courage.  The team started on a high by winning their first five matches, but, unfortunately, began to lose a few.  But they didn’t give up, dug deep and rallied!  They recovered from the set back and made it to the semi-finals, eventually winning the tournament.

For Nick a highlight of this tournament was that none of the team members left when things got tough.  In the past, some would get distracted and leave the tournament, but this time everyone stayed to the very end, determined to see the tournament through.

Team member, Lorraine said, “I think I have finally come down from my high, having witnessed such a remarkable experience of being part of the Genesis boules team. After partaking in the Bath Boules Tournament, we were all truly amazed and thrilled to have made it through . . . Our team made us all very proud by not only keeping their focus but their nerves to get themselves all the way to the final against some of the best teams.”

A big congratulations to the Genesis boules team!  We are so proud of them and excited not just for their victory, but for the resolve and courage that they exhibited.

The team from left to right:

Nick Crook (volunteer team leader), Simon Harris, James Wrigley (standing), Olivia Hyman (sitting), Dave Wake, Danny Sorace, Lorraine Colquhoun and Eddy O’Connell