88 players made the trip to Springwood for our inaugural tournament, including 4 local first-timers and one first-timer, Peter Thorpe, making the trip down from Orange.
The day got off to a bit of a shaky start but the fact that we played 8 games with a 40 minute lunch break and had the day wrapt up by 6 p.m. was a credit to Wilma's efficient direction. This was the first time that either Elizabeth, Pam, Simone or I had been involved in the organization of a tourney, so it was a "learning experience". Once the entrants list had been updated, the computer problems fixed, and the few that braved the public transport system had been accounted for, the tournament progressed smoothly.
My updates posted to the CASPA list were not delivered. This meant that the entrants list could not be verified for mistakes and omissions. It also meant that some people thought that we were playing 22 minute games, and not 20 minute games. No one seemed to mind much, although I stayed away from Jean Balmer and Graeme Lock Lee for a while. I will deal with this issue of the CASPA list in a separate email, as there are some pointers that I would like to share that might be of assistance to future tournament organisers.
The strong support (we were expecting between 65 and 80) meant that we had to move pews in the church to make room for the players. For some players it appeared to present a bit of a dilemma - "can we still play 'those' words?". It was agreed that if it was in the list, it was playable, despite being on hallowed ground, but we asked that verbal swearing and cussing be refrained from (not that this ever happens at Scrabble Tournaments - after all, its not the footy). From what I could tell, this was being respected - although I was seated at the other end of the hall.
For the first 2 rounds we awarded a prize for the weirdest word in each round, as judged by my wife, Melinda, who doesn't play in tournaments and didn't know the players names, so we figured she could judge impartially. This was scrapped after round 2 as it was becoming clear that there was a bias towards the masters players, who eat sleep and breathe lexemes of the eclectic kind.
So we decided to award two prizes for words that related to the Blue Mountains. A wide range of words were submitted, some of which had very tenuous links to the Mountans. For instance, TWIT was submitted, with the reasoning "you'd be a twit not to live here", and another "HUSSIES" with the reasoning that they once knew Three Sisters who were all hussies. Well, it was all too hard, so, much to George Khamis' disappointment, we took the easy way out and awarded the prizes to the players who played BLUE and MOUNTAIN (Ann Fiddler and Denise Smith).
In the middle of Game 1 we had a visit from a Blue Mountains Gazette reporter who took some pics and conducted an impromptu interview with me whilst I was trying to work out how to claw my way back from being 60 points behind in a game with Pat Schuberg. It was nice to see the event recorded by the press, particularly as I had my digital camera with me but was so busy that I didn't have time to take any photos. I didn't even have time to ask my wife to take any, but she was too busy with hunger and thirst relief. Pat beat me decisively.
Bob Jackman was the star of the day, being the only player to achieve 8 straight wins, despite my best efforts to prevent it. When presented with the rack ABEGTT? I foolishly hooked on to an S to make BAGETTES* knowing that it needed a U. With that rack, and a floating S what should I have played? (answer below). Bob graciously gave a speech thanking Elizabeth for all her hard work, not only for being the engine driving the tournament, but also for the efforts in getting the Blue Mountains club off the ground. Back to the game, Bob went on to defeat me 489-330 with my lesson being - make sure you know your words before playing them against BJ (and avoid reading the signs in Vietnamese hot bread shops).
Bradley Ragen deserves a special mention being the only junior present. At the end of game 8 I heard him say "I won't come to another tournament again!", then Ihe qualified it with "until I've learnt some words". Great to see that determination!
Peta Cauvin also put in a fine effort for her first tournament with 5 wins, with margins being the only thing separating her from 3rd place. She emerged from the tournament with an initial rating of 810. Similarly, Peter Thorpe, from Orange, was able to put those practice games with Mal Ramsdale and Tony Kalayzich to good use and clinch 3rd place with 5 wins.
Big movers were Tony Kalayzich, up 80 points, and hopefully saying goodbye to Recreation forever, and Jean Noonan, up a handy 62 points - a great achievement in any division, but especially Masters against a strong field. Jean must have played fantastically on the day, but when I was sitting next to her whilst she was playing Bob Jackman, I couldn't help noticing that she was attempting to get away with the non-word NAUTIES* (I assume that 2 allowable anagrams of this word were unplayable - answers below - you should all be able to find them!).
In my game against John Barker I went first. The tiles, as I pulled them from the bag were: SEOGNIB. What was the one allowable bingo I had? (see below).
Thanks to all who helped and offered help - I see that Elizabeth has mentioned a few names in a recent posting so I won't repeat here. I'd just like to add it was great to hear words of encouragement and thanks, just as it was great to have help from people from other clubs.
Please refer to Bob Jackman's posting for complete list of Results and Ratings.
We hope to do it again next year.
Results after game 8
MARCH 24, 2003 -- MASTERS
Rank Player Wins Mar
---------------------------------
1 Bob Jackman 8 941
2 Rod Talbot 6 403
3 Joan Rosenthal 5 421
4 John Barker 5 353
5 Jean Noonan 5 5
6 Ivor Zetler 5 -83
7 Tony Hunt 5 -94
8 Moana Nepia 5 -105
9 Peter Shaw 4 430
10 Alison Pollard 4 30
11 Betty Foreman 4 17
12 Jan Serisier 4 0
13 Hanne Marks 4 -230
14 Graeme Lock Lee 4 -346
15 Pat Schuberg 4 -449
16 Chris May 3.5 412
17 Betty Coleman 3 -216
18 Trish Windhurst 3 -512
19 Jeff Chelton 2 -16
20 Rene Chelton 2 -177
21 Audrey Newman 1.5 -303
22 Cristine Small 1 -481
HIGH GAME: Chris May 517
HIGH WORD: Bob Jackman 104
"SOAKINGS"
Results after game 8
MARCH 24, 2003 -- ADVANCED
Rank Player Wins Mar
---------------------------------
1 Gary Pollard 7 619
2 Jean Balmer 6 370
3 Rex Shakespeare 5.5 162
4 Elizabeth Ho 5 283
5 Cheryl Michler 5 247
6 Liz Jackman 5 225
7 Judy Hay 5 14
8 Judy McGuinness 4.5 32
9 Richard Birch 4 250
10 Raya Wilkinson 4 131
11 Hari Nanayakkara 4 -19
12 Denise Smith 4 -116
13 Margaret Andrews 4 -225
14 Ann Fiddler 4 -290
15 Michael Adler 3 72
16 Edith Lowbeer 3 -124
17 Joan Buchanan 3 -133
18 Natalie Tadday 3 -199
19 Ian Close 3 -233
20 Ram Mohe 3 -342
21 Donna MacDonald 2 -449
22 Jenny Templeton 1 -275
HIGH GAME: Richard Birch 491
HIGH WORD: Ram Mohe 110
"FORWARDS"
Results after game 8
MARCH 24, 2003 -- INTERMEDIATE
Rank Player Wins Mar
---------------------------------
1 Peggy Womersley 6 518
2 Alan Gauci 6 415
3 Bev Purkis 6 384
4 Sunny Wright 5 178
5 Sandra Elliott 5 151
6 Sharon Sorensen 5 114
7 George Khamis 5 81
8 Nanette Reynolds 5 26
9 Dolores Barbon 4 183
10 Jan Tomlin 4 53
11 Malcolm Ramsdale 4 -59
12 Heather Sorensen 4 -107
12 Jacquelin Hochmuth 4 -107
14 Pam Bennett 4 -301
15 Daphne Bezuidenhout 3 39
16 Esther Rolfe 3 -78
17 Veena Mohe 3 -132
18 Svend Grunnet 3 -147
19 Merle Young 3 -312
20 Claire Dove 3 -338
21 Mary Mackie 2 -298
22 Ivana Duria 1 -263
HIGH GAME: Dolores Barbon 517
HIGH WORD: Heather Sorensen 91
"BEARING"
Results after game 8
MARCH 24, 2003 -- RECREATION
Rank Player Wins Mar
---------------------------------
1 Tony Kalayzich 7 567
2 David Ragen 6 246
3 Chris Phillips 5 221
4 Peta Cauvin 5 208
5 Peter Thorpe 5 163
6 Janine Whittaker 5 131
7 Colleen Hood 5 127
8 Diana Hilly 5 113
9 Karmel Patterson 5 28
10 Margaret Coulter 4 127
11 Audrey Barrett 4 13
12 Mark Smith 4 -48
13 Merriss Adler 4 -68
14 Silvana Newman 4 -125
15 Arie Holla 4 -140
16 Bev Pye 4 -153
17 Anne Mortel 3 330
18 Maree Heynen 3 39
19 Simone Windon 3 21
20 Mary Moore 2 -345
21 Diana Field 1 -437
22 Bradley Ragen 0 -1018
HIGH GAME: Anne Mortel 503
HIGH WORD: Anne Mortel 101
"TRICKIER"
Stats for Tournament : MARCH 24, 2003
+--------------------------+-----------+---------+-----------+---------------+
| state Name | National | State | Wins | Rating Points |
| | Old New | Old New | Exp Act | Old Change New|
+--------------------------+-----------+---------+-----------+---------------+
+Section: *MASTERS + + + +
+--------------------------------------+---------+-----------+---------------+
| NSW Bob Jackman | 8 4 | 3 2 | 6.3 8.0 | 1811 +28 1839 |
| NSW Rod Talbot | 9 10 | 4 5 | 6.2 6.0 | 1806 -3 1803 |
| NSW John Barker | 31 34 | 9 9 | 5.9 5.0 | 1671 -16 1655 |
| NSW Joan Rosenthal | 15 15 | 7 7 | 5.3 5.0 | 1761 -5 1756 |
| NSW Tony Hunt | 72 57 | 20 14 | 3.2 5.0 | 1535 +37 1572 |
| NSW Moana Nepia | 109 96 | 27 22 | 3.7 5.0 | 1465 +27 1492 |
| NSW Jean Noonan | 171 126 | 47 35 | 2.4 5.0 | 1377 +62 1439 |
| NSW Ivor Zetler | 62 59 | 16 15 | 4.6 5.0 | 1563 +8 1571 |
| NSW Peter Shaw | 57 62 | 14 16 | 4.4 4.0 | 1573 -7 1566 |
| NSW Jan Serisier | 136 123 | 36 34 | 3.2 4.0 | 1426 +17 1443 |
| NSW Betty Foreman | 152 133 | 41 36 | 2.7 4.0 | 1404 +26 1430 |
| NSW Alison Pollard | 77 66 | 21 17 | 3.2 4.0 | 1528 +17 1545 |
| NSW Hanne Marks | 70 79 | 18 20 | 4.8 4.0 | 1538 -15 1523 |
| NSW Pat Schuberg | 187 155 | 51 44 | 1.9 4.0 | 1360 +44 1404 |
| NSW Graeme Lock Lee | 60 67 | 15 18 | 5.2 4.0 | 1568 -25 1543 |
| NSW Chris May | 23 31 | 8 8 | 6.1 3.5 | 1717 -50 1667 |
| NSW Betty Coleman | 178 179 | 48 49 | 3.0 3.0 | 1366 +1 1367 |
| NSW Trish Windhurst | 146 142 | 38 38 | 2.8 3.0 | 1415 +4 1419 |
| NSW Jeff Chelton | 148 153 | 39 42 | 2.4 2.0 | 1413 -8 1405 |
| NSW Rene Chelton | 170 178 | 46 48 | 2.5 2.0 | 1377 -9 1368 |
| NSW Audrey Newman | 122 152 | 34 41 | 3.5 1.5 | 1449 -39 1410 |
| NSW Cristine Small | 64 103 | 17 25 | 4.8 1.0 | 1556 -75 1481 |
+-------------------------------------+---------+-----------+----------------+
+Section: *ADVANCED + + + +
+--------------------------------------+---------+-----------+---------------+
| NSW Gary Pollard | 235 181 | 62 50 | 4.7 7.0 | 1314 +50 1364 |
| NSW Jean Balmer | 274 252 | 68 63 | 4.3 6.0 | 1250 +35 1285 |
| NSW Rex Shakespeare | 306 284 | 79 72 | 3.5 5.5 | 1198 +39 1237 |
| NSW Elizabeth Ho | 226 224 | 59 57 | 5.1 5.0 | 1325 -3 1322 |
| NSW Liz Jackman | 279 262 | 70 66 | 3.8 5.0 | 1243 +24 1267 |
| NSW Cheryl Michler | 233 223 | 61 56 | 4.6 5.0 | 1317 +8 1325 |
| NSW Judy Hay | 249 237 | 64 59 | 4.6 5.0 | 1299 +9 1308 |
| NSW Judy McGuinness | 267 267 | 67 67 | 4.4 4.5 | 1260 +2 1262 |
| NSW Richard Birch | 312 302 | 80 79 | 3.2 4.0 | 1188 +15 1203 |
| NSW Raya Wilkinson | 225 234 | 58 58 | 4.8 4.0 | 1325 -14 1311 |
| NSW Hari Nanayakkara | 278 276 | 69 69 | 3.7 4.0 | 1244 +5 1249 |
| NSW Margaret Andrews | 280 278 | 71 70 | 3.7 4.0 | 1240 +6 1246 |
| NSW Denise Smith | 313 301 | 81 78 | 3.0 4.0 | 1184 +20 1204 |
| NSW Ann Fiddler | 369 340 | 93 89 | 2.2 4.0 | 1107 +35 1142 |
| NSW Michael Adler :act | 291 292 | 74 75 | 3.0 3.0 | 1221 1221 |
| NSW Natalie Tadday | 330 329 | 85 85 | 2.9 3.0 | 1159 +2 1161 |
| NSW Edith Lowbeer | 344 339 | 89 88 | 2.5 3.0 | 1136 +10 1146 |
| NSW Ram Mohe | 216 250 | 55 62 | 5.4 3.0 | 1336 -49 1287 |
| NSW Ian Close | 224 253 | 57 64 | 5.2 3.0 | 1325 -42 1283 |
| NSW Joan Buchanan | 338 336 | 87 87 | 2.6 3.0 | 1142 +8 1150 |
| NSW Donna MacDonald | 227 271 | 60 68 | 5.2 2.0 | 1321 -65 1256 |
| NSW Jenny Templeton | 221 283 | 56 71 | 5.5 1.0 | 1327 -90 1237 |
+-------------------------------------+---------+-----------+----------------+
+Section: *INTERMEDIATE + + + +
+--------------------------------------+---------+-----------+---------------+
| NSW Bev Purkis | 398 387 | 97 96 | 5.3 6.0 | 1074 +13 1087 |
| NSW Alan Gauci | 469 445 | 113 106 | 4.4 6.0 | 992 +33 1025 |
| NSW Peggy Womersley | 413 402 | 100 99 | 5.3 6.0 | 1054 +15 1069 |
| NSW Sunny Wright | 552 517 | 131 120 | 3.2 5.0 | 905 +35 940 |
| NSW Nanette Reynolds | 448 442 | 108 105 | 4.6 5.0 | 1021 +8 1029 |
| NSW Sharon Sorensen | 497 479 | 117 116 | 4.4 5.0 | 967 +12 979 |
| NSW Sandra Elliott | 444 449 | 106 108 | 5.3 5.0 | 1027 -7 1020 |
| NSW George Khamis | 462 456 | 112 110 | 4.5 5.0 | 1005 +9 1014 |
| NSW Dolores Barbon | 405 440 | 99 103 | 5.5 4.0 | 1060 -29 1031 |
| NSW Mal Ramsdale | 607 587 | 148 142 | 3.3 4.0 | 859 +20 879 |
| NSW Jan Tomlin | 619 609 | 151 149 | 3.5 4.0 | 847 +10 857 |
| NSW Heather Sorensen :ac | 525 526 | 124 125 | 4.1 4.0 | 931 -2 929 |
| NSW Jacquelin Hochmuth | 643 606 | 159 148 | 2.5 4.0 | 830 +30 860 |
| NSW Pam Bennett | 610 586 | 150 141 | 2.9 4.0 | 857 +22 879 |
| NSW Daphne Bezuidenhout | 416 463 | 101 113 | 5.4 3.0 | 1049 -48 1001 |
| NSW Esther Rolfe | 557 572 | 132 136 | 3.5 3.0 | 899 -10 889 |
| NSW Veena Mohe | 536 554 | 127 131 | 3.9 3.0 | 918 -17 901 |
| QLD Svend Grunnet | 653 644 | 93 93 | 2.5 3.0 | 820 +9 829 |
| NSW Claire Dove | 602 616 | 146 151 | 3.3 3.0 | 861 -7 854 |
| NSW Merle Young | 676 675 | 169 171 | 2.8 3.0 | 802 +3 805 |
| VIC Mary Mackie | 549 592 | 180 185 | 3.8 2.0 | 907 -37 870 |
| NSW Ivana Duria | 560 628 | 134 154 | 3.8 1.0 | 896 -56 840 |
+-------------------------------------+---------+-----------+----------------+
+Section: *RECREATION + + + +
+--------------------------------------+---------+-----------+---------------+
| NSW Tony Kalayzich | 769 662 | 199 165 | 3.8 7.0 | 732 +80 812 |
| NSW David Ragen | 778 730 | 201 189 | 4.3 6.0 | 724 +33 757 |
|*NSW Peter Thorpe | 0 706 | 0 178 | 5.0 5.0 | 779 779 |
| NSW Chris Phillips | 711 725 | 178 186 | 5.5 5.0 | 771 -9 762 |
| NSW Diana Hilly | 764 767 | 197 202 | 5.0 5.0 | 733 +2 735 |
| NSW Karmel Patterson | 896 883 | 229 227 | 4.6 5.0 | 637 +12 649 |
| NSW Colleen Hood | 776 748 | 200 195 | 4.1 5.0 | 728 +17 745 |
|*NSW Peta Cauvin | 0 668 | 0 167 | 5.0 5.0 | 810 810 |
| NSW Janine Whittaker | 693 687 | 174 174 | 4.9 5.0 | 790 +3 793 |
| NSW Margaret Coulter | 683 712 | 171 180 | 5.1 4.0 | 796 -21 775 |
| NSW Audrey Barrett | 1035 995 | 278 266 | 2.3 4.0 | 538 +34 572 |
| NSW Silvana Newman | 822 829 | 210 215 | 4.3 4.0 | 696 -6 690 |
|*NSW Mark Smith | 0 969 | 0 256 | 4.0 4.0 | 587 +1 588 |
| NSW Arie Holla | 928 916 | 239 234 | 3.5 4.0 | 613 +9 622 |
| NSW Merriss Adler :act | 1022 1018 | 274 275 | 3.8 4.0 | 547 +5 552 |
| NSW Bev Pye | 1187 1041 | 338 283 | 2.8 4.0 | 500 +37 537 |
| NSW Anne Mortel | 995 1001 | 265 270 | 3.2 3.0 | 568 -4 564 |
| NSW Maree Heynen | 866 919 | 220 235 | 5.2 3.0 | 664 -44 620 |
|*NSW Simone Windon | 0 1058 | 0 291 | 3.0 3.0 | 524 524 |
|*NSW Mary Moore | 0 1199 | 0 345 | 2.9 2.0 | 500 -57 443 |
| NSW Diana Field | 1188 1198 | 339 344 | 2.8 1.0 | 500 -36 464 |
|*NSW Bradley Ragen | 0 1145 | 0 322 | 2.9 0.4 | 500 500 |
+-------------------------------------+---------+-----------+----------------+