Holt Boxing Day boules could come to an end after 30 years

For 30 years the eight-rink Holt Boules match on the village green saw residents forming teams of four to compete for the coveted winner’s certificate and a bottle of champagne.

But event organiser Jon Palmer is calling time on the popular event and had hoped someone would take over his Boules boss roll.

He wants to retire and spend time with family who live away from Holt but no one has come forward to keep the tradition going.

Holt Boules boss Jon Palmer. Photo: Trevor Porter 70459-2 (Image: Trevor Porter)

He said: “Holt Boules has been running for over three decades and has always been a popular Boxing Day pastime.

“It has been well-established and grown to be part of village life. It’s a time when villagers get together to get out for some fresh air and meet friends.

“Years ago, we used to hold a wheelbarrow race on Boxing Day and having competed I realised it was a bit of an ordeal so hit on the idea of something more sedate and Holt  Boules was born. It was an immediate success.”

This year, more than 200 villagers and visitors from nearby towns in teams of four took part with the rinks laid out with coloured tape and using plastic-coloured balls, with the umpires sporting red berets checking everything was fair and  square.

Holt villagers queue to enter the Holt Boules Tournament. Photo: Trevor Porter 70459-3 (Image: Trevor Porter)

But although the tournament has been running since 1993 this year’s winning captain Tracy Wiltshire has never taken part. 

She said: “I only came to spectate and meet up with friends and then decided to enter as it could be the last.

“But we only had three in our family team and called in Nick Oakley to join and we unexpectedly won the event. We had a really fun time.”