TLW96 - Nomads Results

Knowier after the event
Alan Bailey: Here is a short postscript to the
article by Tournament Virgin David Sutton
(West Berks report, The Last Word 95).
As he said, I let him in to play WONKIER
by playing UH for UH/HET to score 27,
with the H on B6. My other rubbishy letters
on that rack included the second W. My
move was quite inept, based partly on my
ignorance of the fact that HET also takes as
front hook the K, which David had got, as
well as S. With hindsight I should have
changed some tiles.
What David did not know about the same
game was this. I had earlier left the Q
Testing the tiles in Malta
Cindy Hollyer: Anxious for respite from the
cold, the damp and the Beckhams, six
members from Brentwood and Romford
Scrabble Clubs headed for the sunshine in
Qowra, Malta. I had the foresight to
contact Joe Micallef, President of the Malta
Scrabble Club and he met us shortly after
our arrival. The result was an invitation to
club nights at St. Aloysious School in
Birkirkara and to their Liberation Day
Tournament at the Union Club in Sliema.
Their club venue was a little difficult to find
even for our taxi driver. However, we met
some of their players, played a few games
and had an introduction to the informality
of club nights. Just as well – Jacqui White
was quite taken aback to have one of the
members cross over and rearrange the tiles
on her rack to make a word. As the word
was ‘AUTO’ and she works for Fords, it was
L E T T E R S
t o t h e e d i t o r
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floating at C1. A little later I found myself
with the rack DEERUS? I spotted
ESQUIRED, and firmly told myself to stop
making words up, and there was no sense
letting David know what I had got by
playing a phoney. So I settled for QUEERS
for 48, thus saving the blank for later use.
Muchly chagrined was I after the game to
discover that ESQUIRED now exists. It
would have scored me 212
In sum therefore, just two sins in one game,
one of omission and one of commission,
made me a gross loss of 311 points. I fear
this may be a record, the sort I am not
proud to have set.
like carrying coals etc. He then crossed
over and did the same for her opponent!
Unfortunately, only Peggy Lavender of
Brentwood and myself were able to attend
the tournament as we had extended our
stay. This venue was very ex-pat and very
swish. For 6 liri we had 6 games of
Scrabble, copious amounts of coffee and
tea, mouthwatering cakes and lunch with
waitress service. Excellent value. On the
down side, games are not played in
sepulchral silence, conversations are not
carried out sotto voce nor are mobiles
switched off - they are even answered.
One elderly lady ex-pat found the noise
overwhelming and left. It was only after it
was felt that no more competitors were
likely to arrive that the tournament
commenced - as more arrived more tables
were brought out. The standard was very
high, the Maltese were using SOWPODS
long before we accepted the inevitable.
and incorrect challenges invoked a 5
point penalty. What I really enjoyed was
the warmth and friendliness of the
members. Within a few minutes we felt
like lifelong friends. “Come back Cindy”
they said, “Bring some more friends and
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we will arrange a special tournament for
you”.
I intend taking them up on this anyone
interested ? The weather ? It was fair,
indifferent and good - but since when has
that mattered to Scrabblers.
I am not on commission but I do
recommend a Scrabble holiday there.
In order provide information and encouragement to new tournament organisers,
Carol Smith of Norwich Scrabble Club was asked to describe how she went about
arranging the forthcoming first Norwich Scrabble Event.
Organising the Norwich Scrabble Tournament
I had been thinking about a tournament in Norwich for some time, even sounding
out various hotels and conference rooms while on courses for my work, but never
actually took anything on. Then last year, Mike, my husband reached the grand age
of 65 so we had a surprise birthday/retirement party for him at Hethersett Village
Hall. Among the guests were experienced tournament organisers, Christina and
Dave French who were very quick to point out that the hall was an ideal venue for
a Scrabble tournament, just off the A11 London to Norwich road, close to the A47
Midland to East Coast route - easy access for all. (I must add that from the moment
that Christina and Dave offered their assistance I decided to go ahead and do it.)
First thing, find a suitable date Top priority - do not clash with an Ipswich home
game (for clubmates Philip and Jacquie Aldous), or a holiday, or any other Scrabble
event within this area (not difficult as this is not a very active Scrabble region). Of
course, I also had to ensure the availability of the venue.
I contacted Paul Cartman, the ABSP tournament co-ordinator, for a list of tournament
dates already booked, had a look at the ABSP website and their Tournament
Organisers’ Guidelines and finally settled on September 12th 2004, which would not
clash with any other event.
Mike and I then spent an afternoon at the home of Christina and Dave where they
advised us on all the probable expenses the event would incur. These include hire of
hall, tournament director’s fee, ratings levy, prize money, trophies, score sheets,
refreshments and rewards for runners. Between us we worked out the budget for the
tournament, with me scribbling notes to ensure nothing would be overlooked or
forgotten. Christina and I then completed the Application for Ratings Approval for
dispatch to Paul together with a draft copy of our entry form.
Mike and I then headed home to Norfolk where we are now patiently awaiting entry
applications. (At the time of writing this we are about half full).
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Christina and Dave for all their
assistance. I would recommend anyone planning his or her first tournament to talk
to someone who’s done it before, as I found out, it makes the prospect of organising
a tournament much less daunting.