As every year for fifteen years, the Balles Blanches organized on June 6, at the Priory, a charity golf tournament in favor of hospitalized children. And as every year for fifteen years, many personalities from the world of sport and entertainment have responded to this now unmissable event.

  • Photo: DR
Among the participants: the former international footballers Alain Boghossian, Alain Roche and Vincent Guérin, the jockey Yves Saint-Martin, the former driver Bruno Saby or the handball players of the French team Thierry Omeyer and Daniel Narcisse. But also many journalists, including Astrid Bard (Canal +), "Flattered, honored and proud" to be the godmother of the 2017 edition.

"More than half of the golfers and sponsors who made the success of this day have been with us since the start of the adventure", says Eric Duquenne. This former chef at the Elysee who created and chairs the association, can count once again this year on the support of Jérôme Alonso, sponsor of the event since 2005. “Les Balles Blanches is twice 18 holes (the East and West courses of the Priory), 264 golfers, 60 volunteers, 8 am / midnight at the golf course. In short, it's a big organization ”, says the former PSG goalkeeper.

In the end, it does not matter the name of the winners of the competition, which was played in a four-man scramble. The main thing was obviously the children who, while the tournament was taking place, had a blast. Like every year. On the program, or rather on the menu of the day (Eric Duquenne obliges): GIGN helicopter demonstration, dog sled rides, painting workshops, giggles in the company of the clown Camembert but also an introduction to English boxing with Gaëlle Amand, world champion in the discipline and loyal to the Balles Blanches.

On the evening of the award ceremony, objects were auctioned for the benefit of the association, including the rugby jersey of the Clermont team, the reigning French champion, or the racket used by Paul-Henri Mathieu for his last Roland-Garros. The day ended with a sumptuous buffet concocted by the association of cooks of the French Republic, a partner of the Balles Blanches for seven years.

Can not wait for next year !

Frank Crudo