TLW120 - Nomads Results

Do you think the standard of play has improved over the years, with consequent hardening of
‘ratings’?
With the availability of free word-learning or analysis software (not just the samizdat Maven
which keen players used to have to beg or borrow) and a number of excellent books on the
subject of Scrabble, standards have improved a great deal since I started attending
tournaments. I’m not sure if the bar is continuing to be raised.
Do you have any reflections on differences in the Scrabble scene between Britain and
Australia? For example, it seems that Australia tends to punch above its weight on the world
scene, considering its relatively small population and the distances people must have to travel
to get to tournaments. Do you have any thoughts as to why this should be?
Naween Fernando and I both happened to emigrate to Melbourne in 2001/2002, and the
arrival of two experienced internationals seems to have had a beneficial effect on certain
aspirational players, particularly in that city (which is the home of David Eldar, for
example). There are some very strong players here, but probably not as much strength in
depth as might be seen in the UK. I would also say that a lot of the very good players in the
UK seem to have stopped playing regularly enough to qualify for international events, and
their absence from the upper echelons is having a weakening effect. Travel is viewed in a
different light here – people think nothing of driving for three hours to get to a picnic site
and then back again, and jetting between the capitals is a fairly normal part of life. There
is also a good spirit of team camaraderie among the top Australian players, which probably
helps us get by.
Thank you very much, Andrew, and long may you continue to inspire the rising generation!
36
THAT
10 years ago:
APSP Newsletter, issue 60,
June 1998, editor Phil Appleby
The ongoing “will it-won’t it” saga with
the 1998 NSC was finally ended . . . it
was to go ahead . . . at the Britannia
Hotel in Wolverhampton in October.
A Hasbro CD computer program won 6
games to 3 against the combined brains
of the then WSC champion Joel Sherman
and runner-up Matt Graham.
“Club Corner” focused on Bournemouth
Scrabble Club, soon to celebrate its 10th
anniversary later in 1998. Margaret Bright
filled in the rest of the club’s details.
Nick Deller (under the heading
“Leomania”) gave us a list of useful 5vowelled
eights (LEOMANIA* not being
one of them!)
Recent tourney wins included:
Peter Preston (Durham)
Phil Appleby (Southampton and Exeter)
Ian Gucklhorn (Romford)
Terry Kirk (Exeter ISCA)
Kate Leckie (Aberdeen Bon Accord)
Mary Grylls (Melton Mowbray)
Brett Smitheram (Gwent)
Neil Scott (Scottish Championship)
Ken Matthews (Cleveland)
Sandie Simonis (Romford high-score)
Andrew Perry (Romford duplicate)
Top 3 in the ratings (May 20th 1998)
1 Allan Saldanha 199
2 Phil Appleby 197
3 Mark Nyman 196
WAS
Collated by Robert Richland
37
THEN
5 years ago:
TLW, issue 90, June 2003,
editor Alec Webb
Amy Byrne explained all you needed to
know about the Scottish Scrabble League
(ABSP rated since 1995).
Raymond Tate (under the heading “What
should I play at K9?”) boned up on
breeds of dog that were allowed (and
disallowed) in OSWI. He also added
some crossbreeds which should be
allowable . . for example “Collie + Lhasa
Apso = Collapso, a dog that folds up for
easy transport”!!!
Femi Awowade (2003 Easter Matchplay
champ) was the ABSP member
interviewed this issue. He said he
started wearing a face [baseball] cap
ever since he started playing competitive
Scrabble. Many of us would struggle to
recognise him without one!!!
Recent tourney wins included:
Ross Mackenzie (Lothian)
Alec Webb (Melton Mowbray and
Romford)
Nick Ball (Southampton)
Allan Simmons (Durham)
Stewart Holden (ISCA)
Femi Awowade (Easter Matchplay)
Neil Rowley (Newcastle)
Adam Philpotts (MSO Cambridge)
Top 3 in the ratings (May 19th 2003)
1= David Acton 204
1= Paul Allan 204
1= Andrew Fisher 204