Nevertheless it worked somehow and I think players generally enjoyed themselves - more so than the locals who had to bemoan the demise of the Sydney Roosters in Sunday's Rugby League grand final, their Club premises being just over the road from us.
Graeme Lock Lees side competition added interest to proceedings. As part of his crusade against bingos containing E, S or blank he devised a competition where the winner would be the player of the best word without one of the aforementioned letters. Edward Okulicz won that with his BIOTITIC, tipping out my OCTADIC and Naween Fernando's TARDYON.
In Masters Naween got the lead on the second day when he strung together all seven wins, and on the final day only dropped 1 game (by one point) to win comfortably in the end. Ian Close was the early leader in A Division, but a mad rush at the end saw him pipped on the post by 34 spread points by up-and-comer Therese Newman. In the two day competition, Wollongong's Janine Whittaker triumphed, perhaps egged on by her daughter Christie who was our lookup operator for two days.
One of our novices, Sheela Sree Kumar, was runner up in the two day event. Sheela had played competitions in Bahrain many years ago and during the presentation she explained to the crowd gathered how she had played Naween when he was a seven year old in Bahrain.
Not too many gems were reported to me although Ian Close did tell me at the end of Round 20 that his move of HASTIER was replied to by Rex Shakespeare with HASTIER. Coincidentally, in the same round I had witnessed John Holgate play TOWARDS on Naween (which he challenged), then one move later I played the same word against Rod Tablot. Another coincidence for the tournament was that all three high word winners in the 3 Divisions were the same at 158.
During the presentations it was announced that Tony Kalayzich from Orange was NSWs most improved player over the past 12 months, going up 363 ratings points, and so taking teh Joan Rosenthal shield for 12 months. Also recording big rises were Bill Condon (266), Rex (254) and Gary Pollard (250).
It was pleasing for me to see two people who had undergone personal tragedies feature amongst the prizewinners, and get the chance to express their feelings during the presentations. Therese Newman dedicated her win in B Division to her son who passed away in the week leading up to the tournament, after a long stay in hospital. Chris May, winner of high game in Masters (602) lost a close uni friend unexpectedly to a medical complication on the Sunday night going into the last day, and thanked players for their support on the final day.
In the tradition of major competitions in Sydney, Naween shouted all those that came along a drink in the Easts Leagues club before heading home to Melbourne with our cash, trophy and NSW Championship title.
Results after game 22
2003 NSW CHAMPIONSHIPS -- A DIVISION
Rank Player Wins Mar
---------------------------------
1 Naween Fernando 19 2513
2 John Holgate 17 852
3 Bob Jackman 14 1025
4 Rod Talbot 14 629
5 Chris May 14 623
6 Edward Okulicz 14 594
7 Anne Drew 14 187
8 Joan Rosenthal 13 194
9 Tony Hunt 12 541
10 Graeme Lock Lee 12 144
11 Audrey Newman 12 -164
12 Jeff Chelton 12 -295
13 Joanne Craig 11 286
14 Susan Macgillivray 11 -81
15 Jean McGiffen 11 -91
16 Kris Logan 11 -265
17 Jan Serisier 11 -434
18 Olga Visser 11 -647
19 Betty Foreman 10 -169
20 Moana Nepia 10 -313
21 John Barker 10 -475
22 John Spaan 9 97
23 Trish Windhurst 9 -106
24 Jean Noonan 9 -171
25 Rene Chelton 9 -441
26 Cristine Small 9 -450
27 Karrin Henderson 9 -498
28 Sam Greenberg 9 -657
29 Gary Pollard 8 -581
30 Hanne Marks 8 -590
31 A Bye 5 -12
32 Kerry Constable 5 -1245
HIGH GAME: Chris May 603
HIGH WORD: Bob Jackman 158
"SURMISED"
Results after game 22
2003 NSW CHAMPIONSHIPS -- B DIVISION
Rank Player Wins Mar
---------------------------------
1 Therese Newman 15 603
2 Ian Close 15 569
3 Ann Fiddler 14.5 144
4 Ram Mohe 14 1174
5 Margaret Berliner 14 492
6 Bev Purkis 14 13
7 Jenny Templeton 13 394
8 Cheryl Michler 13 337
9 Christine Foot 13 238
10 Gordon Meggs 12.5 536
11 Michael Adler 12 506
12 Rex Shakespeare 12 439
13 Sue Tuckett@23 12 362
14 Jan Pincott 12 303
15 Daphne Bezuidenhout 12 265
16 Fay Van Oyen 11.5 145
17 Judy Hay 11 517
18 Nonie English 11 274
19 Denise Smith 11 57
20 Liz Jackman 11 -313
21 Esther Rolfe 10 -200
22 Sunny Wright 10 -272
23 Heather Sorenson 10 -370
24 Saty Mahant 10 -443
25 Margaret Andrews 9 -76
26 Jean Balmer 9 -243
27 Maree Heynen 7.5 -643
28 Colleen Walker 4.5 -946
29 Audrey Barrett 4 -1668
30 Diana Field 2.5 -2194
HIGH GAME: Ram Mohe 545
HIGH GAME: Judy Hay 545
HIGH WORD: Rex Shakespeare 158
"AVERTING"
Results after game 14
2003 NSW CHAMPIONSHIPS -- TWO DAY OPEN
Rank Player Wins Mar
---------------------------------
1 Janine Whittaker 10 822
2 Sheela Sreekumar 10 514
3 Judy McGuinness 9 619
4 Natalie Tadday 9 603
5 Veena Mohe 9 249
6 Yvonne Edwards 9 196
7 Lynn Parnell 9 161
8 Ern Foster 9 -28
9 Fay Wassell 8 241
10 Pearl Gillott 7 -189
11 Merle Young 6 -105
12 June Dillon 6 -141
13 Joy Morris 6 -248
14 Mavis Farrar 5 -593
15 Tresham Rendel 5 -738
16 Maria Kaye 5 -849
17 Silvana Newman 4 -500
18 B Bye 0 -14
HIGH GAME: Judy McGuinness 531
HIGH WORD: Janine Whittaker 158
"EIGHTIES"
Stats for Tournament : 2003 NSW CHAMPIONSHIPS
+--------------------------+-----------+---------+-----------+---------------+
| state Name | National | State | Wins | Rating Points |
| | Old New | Old New | Exp Act | Old Change New|
+--------------------------+-----------+---------+-----------+---------------+
+Section: *A DIVISION + + + +
+--------------------------------------+---------+-----------+---------------+
| VIC Naween Fernando | 1 1 | 1 1 | 16.5 19.0 | 1886 +41 1927 |
| NSW John Holgate | 6 4 | 3 2 | 15.2 17.0 | 1831 +30 1861 |
| NSW Bob Jackman | 5 7 | 2 4 | 15.5 14.0 | 1845 -23 1822 |
| QLD Edward Okulicz | 3 5 | 1 1 | 16.0 14.0 | 1863 -32 1831 |
| NSW Rod Talbot | 9 10 | 5 5 | 14.2 14.0 | 1790 -4 1786 |
| NSW Chris May | 11 11 | 6 6 | 14.3 14.0 | 1782 -5 1777 |
| QLD Anne Drew | 27 20 | 2 2 | 11.9 14.0 | 1651 +43 1694 |
| NSW Joan Rosenthal | 21 21 | 7 7 | 12.3 13.0 | 1676 +15 1691 |
| NSW Tony Hunt | 47 36 | 13 11 | 9.9 12.0 | 1578 +44 1622 |
| NSW Graeme Lock Lee | 56 44 | 17 13 | 10.3 12.0 | 1556 +33 1589 |
| NSW Audrey Newman | 170 84 | 44 22 | 6.3 12.0 | 1385 +116
1501 |
| NSW Jeff Chelton | 138 88 | 38 24 | 8.6 12.0 | 1426 +68 1494 |
| NSW Jean McGiffen | 26 42 | 9 12 | 13.6 11.0 | 1651 -51 1600 |
| NSW Joanne Craig | 22 28 | 8 8 | 12.5 11.0 | 1670 -28 1642 |
| NSW Susan MacGillivr:act | 87 59 | 24 16 | 9.3 11.0 | 1500 +35 1535 |
| NSW Kris Logan | 134 92 | 36 26 | 8.5 11.0 | 1436 +50 1486 |
| NSW Jan Serisier | 108 82 | 29 21 | 9.2 11.0 | 1469 +36 1505 |
| QLD Olga Visser | 45 57 | 4 6 | 12.6 11.0 | 1580 -31 1549 |
| NSW Moana Nepia | 103 109 | 28 29 | 10.3 10.0 | 1475 -7 1468 |
| NSW John Barker | 55 76 | 16 19 | 12.0 10.0 | 1556 -39 1517 |
| NSW Betty Foreman | 189 160 | 52 43 | 8.0 10.0 | 1357 +41 1398 |
| NSW Trish Windhurst | 173 140 | 46 39 | 6.6 9.0 | 1377 +48 1425 |
| NSW Cristine Small | 68 107 | 20 28 | 12.2 9.0 | 1532 -62 1470 |
| QLD Karrin Henderson | 62 101 | 8 11 | 12.2 9.0 | 1539 -63 1476 |
| NSW Jean Noonan | 160 161 | 42 44 | 9.0 9.0 | 1397 +1 1398 |
| NSW Rene Chelton | 61 110 | 18 30 | 12.9 9.0 | 1543 -77 1466 |
| NSW John Spaan :act | 85 136 | 23 37 | 12.7 9.0 | 1503 -74 1429 |
| NSW Sam Greenberg | 149 150 | 39 40 | 9.0 9.0 | 1413 1413 |
| NSW Gary Pollard | 69 71 | 21 18 | 8.5 8.0 | 1530 -10 1520 |
| NSW Hanne Marks | 172 176 | 45 47 | 8.1 8.0 | 1377 -2 1375 |
| NSW Kerry Constable :act | 53 171 | 15 46 | 13.8 5.0 | 1561 -175
1386 |
| --- A Bye | 1212 1213 | 2 1 | 0.0 5.0 | -8 +100
92 |
+-------------------------------------+---------+-----------+----------------+
+Section: *B DIVISION + + + +
+--------------------------------------+---------+-----------+---------------+
| NSW Therese Newman | 292 246 | 77 61 | 11.3 15.0 | 1208 +74 1282 |
| NSW Ian Close | 284 248 | 74 62 | 12.3 15.0 | 1225 +54 1279 |
| NSW Ann Fiddler | 345 269 | 88 69 | 9.0 14.5 | 1130 +111
1241 |
| NSW Ram Mohe | 281 267 | 73 68 | 13.2 14.0 | 1230 +16 1246 |
| NSW Margaret Berliner | 295 266 | 79 67 | 11.7 14.0 | 1201 +46 1247 |
| NSW Bev Purkis | 315 286 | 84 74 | 11.5 14.0 | 1168 +51 1219 |
| NSW Cheryl Michler | 202 231 | 54 58 | 14.7 13.0 | 1332 -34 1298 |
| NSW Jenny Templeton | 266 261 | 68 66 | 12.8 13.0 | 1251 +5 1256 |
| NSW Christine Foot :act | 277 271 | 72 71 | 12.7 13.0 | 1232 +6 1238 |
| NSW Gordon Meggs | 291 292 | 76 76 | 13.0 12.5 | 1211 -9 1202 |
| NSW Michael Adler :act | 264 287 | 66 75 | 13.7 12.0 | 1253 -35 1218 |
| NSW Sue Tuckett | 480 398 | 115 98 | 7.7 12.0 | 987 +87 1074 |
| NSW Jan Pincott | 265 270 | 67 70 | 12.7 12.0 | 1253 -13 1240 |
| NSW Rex Shakespeare | 218 255 | 57 64 | 14.4 12.0 | 1317 -47 1270 |
| NSW Daphne Bezuidenhout | 310 304 | 83 81 | 11.8 12.0 | 1177 +5 1182 |
| NSW Fay Van Oyen | 419 385 | 100 94 | 9.8 11.5 | 1049 +33 1082 |
| NSW Judy Hay | 227 300 | 58 79 | 16.9 11.0 | 1303 -118
1185 |
| NSW Nonie English | 334 346 | 86 87 | 12.1 11.0 | 1150 -22 1128 |
| NSW Denise Smith | 270 331 | 70 83 | 15.5 11.0 | 1239 -89 1150 |
| NSW Liz Jackman | 267 293 | 69 77 | 13.5 11.0 | 1249 -49 1200 |
| NSW Esther Rolfe | 548 489 | 129 118 | 6.7 10.0 | 914 +66 980 |
| NSW Heather Sorensen :ac | 476 468 | 114 114 | 9.3 10.0 | 991 +14 1005 |
|*NSW Saty Mahant | 0 487 | 0 117 | 10.0 10.0 | 983 983 |
| NSW Sunny Wright | 447 433 | 106 102 | 9.4 10.0 | 1028 +11 1039 |
| NSW Margaret Andrews | 302 363 | 81 91 | 13.4 9.0 | 1187 -87 1100 |
| NSW Jean Balmer | 294 377 | 78 93 | 14.7 9.0 | 1202 -115
1087 |
| NSW Maree Heynen | 767 739 | 194 188 | 6.3 7.5 | 741 +25 766 |
| NSW Colleen Walker | 981 952 | 262 252 | 3.6 4.5 | 591 +26 617 |
| NSW Audrey Barrett | 933 941 | 243 248 | 4.2 4.0 | 628 -4 624 |
| NSW Diana Field | 1096 1093 | 303 303 | 2.3 2.5 | 500 +4 504 |
+-------------------------------------+---------+-----------+----------------+
+Section: *TWO DAY OPEN + + + +
+--------------------------------------+---------+-----------+---------------+
| NSW Janine Whittaker | 654 538 | 161 130 | 5.7 10.0 | 831 +97 928 |
|*NSW Sheela Sreekumar | 0 375 | 0 92 | 10.0 10.0 | 1089 1089 |
| NSW Judy McGuinness | 298 332 | 80 84 | 11.5 9.0 | 1196 -47 1149 |
| NSW Natalie Tadday | 263 297 | 65 78 | 12.1 9.0 | 1255 -60 1195 |
| NSW Yvonne Edwards | 852 733 | 217 186 | 4.9 9.0 | 682 +90 772 |
| NSW Veena Mohe | 495 497 | 116 119 | 8.9 9.0 | 967 +2 969 |
| NSW Lynn Parnell | 445 451 | 105 108 | 9.6 9.0 | 1030 -10 1020 |
| NSW Ern Foster | 563 521 | 135 124 | 7.0 9.0 | 900 +42 942 |
| NSW Fay Wassell | 360 454 | 92 109 | 11.1 8.0 | 1107 -90 1017 |
| NSW Pearl Gillott | 660 674 | 164 171 | 7.7 7.0 | 826 -13 813 |
| NSW Merle Young | 815 820 | 204 207 | 6.2 6.0 | 709 -2 707 |
| NSW Joy Morris | 954 935 | 250 245 | 5.1 6.0 | 610 +18 628 |
| NSW June Dillon | 840 835 | 215 213 | 5.7 6.0 | 691 +6 697 |
| NSW Mavis Farrar | 927 922 | 240 239 | 4.8 5.0 | 632 +5 637 |
| NSW Tresham Rendel | 1095 1044 | 302 282 | 3.7 5.0 | 503 +38 541 |
| NSW Maria Kaye | 1020 1012 | 273 273 | 4.4 5.0 | 558 +11 569 |
| NSW Silvana Newman | 816 914 | 205 235 | 7.3 4.0 | 709 -66 643 |
| --- B Bye | 1211 1214 | 1 2 | 0.2 0.0 | 0 -4 -4 |
+-------------------------------------+---------+-----------+----------------+