Between games at the new South Wales Championships we all drank coffee from real cups as we lounged and mingled on a gallery level, looking as though we were attending a brain surgeons' conference, which indeed we were. The area looked onto a spacious sky-high indoor jungle, where Alph the sacred river cascaded down past a grotto on a lower level, in front of which a piano was being played by a real person. As was to be expected in such opulent surroundings, over the railing we witnessed a wedding.
I'll get to the Scrabble in a minute, but this venue was so far removed from our usual polystyrene cups with our names scribbled on them that we were all more than agreeably stunned by our own presence. This was long-weekend entertainment in a stately pleasure-dome nutshell, not to mention the fact that we were to be right here in the heart of Bulldogs territory at the Bankstown Sports Club on Grand Final night. Excitement was in the air, but we were also here to rattle the old tile bags and get down to far more important business.
First we had the presentation of personal nametags for those who had played either 1,000 games, 2,000 games or 3,000 games. Yes, we even have one who has played 3,000 games of tournament Scrabble, at many of which his clock has been started, and, by gee, you guessed it: the dux of the attendance school was late for Speech Day, which, of course, brought the house down.
On Sunday night, after our Annual General Meeting where Bob Jackman was re-elected President, we adjourned for a banquet Chinese meal, within the vast complex of course, along meandering paths flanked by greenery, up and down escalators and past streams, to just beyond what should surely have been called Grand Central Station, complete with dining cars for rolling stock and an indoor roadway in front of an imposing edifice. Over the weekend we became accustomed to eating to the accompaniment of what we hoped were electronic bird sounds. Either that or a bandicoot was throttling something in a bamboo thicket nearby.
The Bulldogs must have been doing OK from the sound of it. It was like what you would hear walking along the Yarra past the MCG on Grand Final Day: a noise that goes up with a thundering roar every now and then.
The place had now erupted in victory. The complex of course includes a Travelodge but it was time some of us set off home, through traffic with horns blaring and balloons floating around on the road. One carload of our players was intimidated by raucous abuse, which turned out to be only friendly but alcoholic reminders that they had forgotten to turn on their headlights. Well, after all, they had now played sixteen games of Scrabble, with eight more to go. They were obviously thinking of missed bonuses and beddy-byes.
If this venue can be secured again next year I would say it will be the biggest championship we have ever had. Those who were there this year will cetainly be back for a repeat performance, and those who missed out will be green with envy.
As for the Championship, by Game 19 it looked as though Bob Jackman, with a lead of 3 games, would take out the honours. He then played Trevor Halsall, who won. Bob lost his next two games and Trevor won his next two. Bob did indeed win the Championship, but Trevor game him a nail-biting run for his money.
Our congratulations to Bob and our thanks to all those who made the weekend such a rip-roaring success. Fred Reynolds, aided by Diane, once again directed the tournament with his usual flair in keeping us all in happy order.
I was given many accounts of interesting plays, the best of which was Chris May's play of COMPROMISER, through PROM.
Paul Richards found himself at the end of a game with six tiles, all of which he needed to play for a win. They included two blanks, an S, and the word needed to end with E. He missed SPOUSE, poor guy. Guess who he was playing.
Results after game 24
NSW CHAMPIONSHIPS 2004 -- OPEN
Rank Player Wins Mar
---------------------------------
1 Bob Jackman 19 1193
2 Edward Okulicz 17.5 1607
3 Trevor Halsall 17 1171
4 Rod Talbot 17 1059
5 Joanne Craig 15 1444
6 Audrey Newman 15 265
7 Jean McGiffen 15 55
8 Alison Pollard 15 12
9 Chris May 14 990
10 Karen Richards 14 563
11 Helen Maurus 14 520
12 Paul Richards 14 459
13 Gary Pollard 14 387
14 Peter Shaw 14 306
15 John Holgate 14 235
16 John Barker 14 208
17 Jan Serisier 14 160
18 Hanne Marks 14 3
19 Anne Schick 14 -328
20 Trish Windhurst 13.5 466
21 Rene Chelton 13 480
22 Kerry Constable 13 416
23 Alastair Richards 13 273
24 Sue Gergelifi 13 233
25 Susan Macgillivray 13 176
26 Jean Noonan 13 88
27 Raya Wilkinson 13 -74
28 Sandra Elliott 13 -150
29 Christine Foot 13 -158
30 Denise Smith 13 -220
31 Fay Van Oyen 12.5 178
32 David More 12 380
33 Mark Smith 12 330
34 Jan Pincott 12 244
35 Sam Greenberg 12 108
36 Cheryl Michler 12 46
37 Margaret Berliner 12 -105
38 Michael Adler 12 -135
39 Judy Hay 12 -167
40 Pat Schuberg 12 -250
41 Sharon Sorensen 12 -579
42 Shelley Cartwright 12 -617
43 Rex Shakespeare 11.5 197
44 Jean Balmer 11.5 -268
45 Ann Fiddler 11 409
46 Tony Hunt 11 189
47 Margaret Andrews 11 14
48 Nanette Reynolds 11 -62
49 Donna Macdonald 11 -67
50 Dolores Barbon 11 -95
51 Bev Purkis 11 -142
52 Mal Ramsdale 11 -364
53 George Khamis 11 -429
54 Arie Holla 10.5 75
55 Jenny Templeton 10.5 -348
56 Edith Lowbeer 10 174
57 Betty Foreman 10 124
58 Esther Rolfe 10 37
59 Maree Heynen 10 -36
60 Lynn Parnell 10 -64
61 Sue Tuckett 10 -130
62 Nonie English 10 -247
63 Liz Jackman 10 -372
64 Colleen Walker 10 -589
65 Natalie Tadday 10 -788
66 Pearl Gillott 9.5 -421
67 Karmel Patterson 9.5 -815
68 Heather Sorensen 9 -262
69 Chris Cole 7.5 -810
70 John De Lange 5 -1396
71 Mary Moore 5 -2170
72 Diana Field 3 -2616
HIGH GAME: Trevor Halsall 549
HIGH WORD: Cheryl Michler 149
"BARTERED"
Rating band winners (highest finishing place):
1301 to 1600 Audrey Newman
1001 to 1300 Raya Wilkinson
701 to 1000 Anne Shick (ACT)
Up to 701 John de Lange
Stats for Tournament : NSW CHAMPIONSHIPS 2004
+--------------------------+-----------+---------+-----------+----------
-----+
| state Name | National | State | Wins | Rating
Points |
| | Old New | Old New | Exp Act | Old
Change New|
+--------------------------+-----------+---------+-----------+----------
-----+
+Section: *OPEN + + +
+
+--------------------------------------+---------+-----------+----------
-----+
| NSW Bob Jackman | 7 6 | 4 3 | 17.5 19.0 | 1798 +30
1828 |
| NSW Edward Okulicz :act | 3 5 | 1 2 | 20.2 17.5 | 1881 -41
1840 |
| VIC Trevor Halsall | 26 14 | 10 7 | 14.4 17.0 | 1651 +52
1703 |
| NSW Rod Talbot | 16 13 | 8 7 | 15.3 17.0 | 1680 +34
1714 |
| NSW Joanne Craig | 24 18 | 9 9 | 14.2 15.0 | 1661 +17
1678 |
| NSW Jean McGiffen | 36 38 | 11 11 | 15.3 15.0 | 1611 -5
1606 |
| NSW Audrey Newman | 142 109 | 40 31 | 13.1 15.0 | 1401 +38
1439 |
| NSW Alison Pollard | 102 90 | 29 25 | 13.6 15.0 | 1460 +30
1490 |
| NSW Chris May | 6 10 | 3 5 | 18.2 14.0 | 1814 -68
1746 |
| WA Karen Richards | 34 60 | 3 4 | 18.7 14.0 | 1624 -95
1529 |
| NSW John Barker | 50 58 | 15 16 | 15.7 14.0 | 1570 -35
1535 |
| NSW John Holgate | 8 15 | 5 8 | 18.4 14.0 | 1788 -89
1699 |
| VIC Helen Maurus | 110 48 | 50 25 | 8.0 14.0 | 1442 +120
1562 |
| NSW Peter Shaw | 47 51 | 14 14 | 15.4 14.0 | 1578 -28
1550 |
| WA Paul Richards | 120 101 | 11 10 | 12.2 14.0 | 1426 +37
1463 |
| NSW Jan Serisier | 94 74 | 26 19 | 12.0 14.0 | 1470 +40
1510 |
| NSW Gary Pollard | 128 141 | 36 39 | 14.7 14.0 | 1416 -15
1401 |
| NSW Hanne Marks | 105 151 | 32 41 | 17.0 14.0 | 1451 -57
1394 |
| NSW Anne Schick :act | 501 318 | 126 77 | 5.2 14.0 | 965 +213
1178 |
| NSW Trish Windhurst | 182 199 | 46 45 | 14.4 13.5 | 1366 -18
1348 |
| NSW Kerry Constable :act | 106 95 | 33 27 | 11.9 13.0 | 1451 +22
1473 |
| WA Alastair Richards | 55 83 | 4 8 | 15.5 13.0 | 1549 -50
1499 |
| NSW Rene Chelton | 89 91 | 25 26 | 13.1 13.0 | 1491 -2
1489 |
| NSW Jean Noonan | 214 213 | 49 48 | 13.2 13.0 | 1334
1334 |
| NSW Sue Gergelifi | 98 129 | 27 33 | 15.7 13.0 | 1465 -55
1410 |
| NSW Susan MacGillivr :ac | 104 135 | 31 37 | 15.3 13.0 | 1453 -47
1406 |
| NSW Denise Smith | 365 306 | 87 72 | 8.6 13.0 | 1107 +90
1197 |
| NSW Raya Wilkinson | 295 256 | 71 59 | 10.2 13.0 | 1216 +57
1273 |
| NSW Christine Foot :act | 299 250 | 72 58 | 9.3 13.0 | 1210 +75
1285 |
| NSW Sandra Elliott | 417 381 | 101 96 | 10.9 13.0 | 1054 +42
1096 |
| NSW Fay Van Oyen | 257 259 | 61 61 | 13.0 12.5 | 1277 -9
1268 |
| NSW Mark Smith | 330 308 | 78 73 | 10.2 12.0 | 1158 +35
1193 |
| NSW Jan Pincott | 291 234 | 68 52 | 8.0 12.0 | 1224 +80
1304 |
| NSW Margaret Berliner | 353 312 | 86 75 | 9.2 12.0 | 1132 +57
1189 |
| NSW Pat Schuberg | 237 249 | 55 57 | 13.2 12.0 | 1306 -21
1285 |
| NSW Cheryl Michler | 259 291 | 62 68 | 14.4 12.0 | 1274 -49
1225 |
| NSW David More | 352 335 | 85 83 | 10.6 12.0 | 1134 +27
1161 |
| NSW Sharon Sorensen | 341 293 | 81 69 | 8.3 12.0 | 1147 +76
1223 |
| NSW Sam Greenberg | 160 268 | 43 64 | 18.4 12.0 | 1387 -127
1260 |
| NSW Judy Hay | 273 287 | 65 66 | 13.2 12.0 | 1253 -21
1232 |
| NSW Michael Adler :act | 348 294 | 83 70 | 8.0 12.0 | 1141 +80
1221 |
| QLD Shelley Cartwright | 619 552 | 88 72 | 9.2 12.0 | 864 +55
919 |
| NSW Rex Shakespeare | 292 290 | 69 67 | 11.4 11.5 | 1223 +3
1226 |
| NSW Jean Balmer | 254 257 | 60 60 | 12.0 11.5 | 1280 -8
1272 |
| NSW Tony Hunt | 82 137 | 22 38 | 15.8 11.0 | 1499 -94
1405 |
| NSW Ann Fiddler | 404 410 | 96 101 | 11.1 11.0 | 1064 -2
1062 |
| NSW Mal Ramsdale | 450 364 | 109 90 | 6.5 11.0 | 1024 +92
1116 |
| NSW Bev Purkis | 302 325 | 73 79 | 12.5 11.0 | 1202 -31
1171 |
| NSW George Khamis | 412 378 | 98 95 | 9.0 11.0 | 1058 +42
1100 |
| NSW Donna MacDonald | 315 330 | 76 81 | 11.9 11.0 | 1185 -19
1166 |
| NSW Dolores Barbon | 342 356 | 82 89 | 11.7 11.0 | 1146 -13
1133 |
| NSW Margaret Andrews | 389 327 | 94 80 | 6.7 11.0 | 1082 +86
1168 |
| NSW Nanette Reynolds | 374 366 | 91 91 | 10.3 11.0 | 1099 +13
1112 |
| NSW Jenny Templeton | 308 336 | 74 84 | 12.4 10.5 | 1196 -38
1158 |
| NSW Arie Holla | 776 757 | 203 200 | 9.4 10.5 | 752 +23
775 |
| NSW Betty Foreman | 228 295 | 54 71 | 15.2 10.0 | 1320 -103
1217 |
| NSW Lynn Parnell | 337 355 | 80 88 | 10.7 10.0 | 1150 -14
1136 |
| NSW Esther Rolfe | 448 447 | 108 109 | 10.0 10.0 | 1024 +2
1026 |
| NSW Nonie English | 223 340 | 52 86 | 18.5 10.0 | 1324 -170
1154 |
| NSW Edith Lowbeer | 444 507 | 106 128 | 13.2 10.0 | 1026 -65
961 |
| NSW Liz Jackman | 290 331 | 67 82 | 13.2 10.0 | 1229 -64
1165 |
| NSW Sue Tuckett | 488 482 | 122 121 | 9.6 10.0 | 985 +8
993 |
| NSW Colleen Walker | 727 606 | 191 153 | 6.0 10.0 | 798 +79
877 |
| NSW Natalie Tadday | 294 311 | 70 74 | 11.6 10.0 | 1222 -30
1192 |
| NSW Maree Heynen | 699 640 | 180 163 | 8.2 10.0 | 817 +36
853 |
| NSW Pearl Gillott | 641 711 | 163 185 | 11.4 9.5 | 848 -39
809 |
| NSW Karmel Patterson | 793 739 | 207 194 | 7.2 9.5 | 743 +46
789 |
| NSW Heather Sorensen | 522 518 | 129 129 | 8.6 9.0 | 941 +8
949 |
| NSW Chris Cole | 846 869 | 221 229 | 8.0 7.5 | 709 -10
699 |
| NSW John de Lange | 869 1172 | 229 332 | 9.3 5.0 | 700 -128
572 |
| NSW Mary Moore | 1175 1186 | 335 337 | 5.4 5.0 | 568 -8
560 |
| NSW Diana Field | 1208 1212 | 344 346 | 3.7 3.0 | 515 -14
501 |
+-------------------------------------+---------+-----------+-----------