97 The bi-monthly magazine of the 87 APRIL APRIL CCAALLEENNDDAARR OOFF EEVVEENNTTSS 7 APRIL A P R IL ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH A quick reference to forthcoming competitions SCRABBLE PLAYERS (fuller list and details inside) Date Tournament (No of games) Contact Telephone Jan 9th-16th Madeira Kathy Rush 01928 733565 Jan 21st West Berkshire (6) Ian Burn 0118 984 5045 Jan 27th-29th Chester (16) Kathy Rush 01928 733565 Jan 29th West Sussex(6) Peter Hall 01903 775396 Feb 4th-5th Nottingham Nomads (16) Clive Spate 01159 200208 Feb 12th Andover (6) Alan Bailey 023 9238 4360 No 105 December 2005 Feb 18th Peterborough Free Challenge (6) Chris Hawkins 01733 223202 Deadline for next issue 20th January Feb 18th-19th Scottish Masters (invitation only) Feb 25th New Malden (6) Shirley Cave 020 8540 8469 Feb 25th Leicester (6) Marjorie Smith 01162 55176 Adam is the World Champion Mar 5th Swindon (6) Steve Perry 01367 244757 As I’m sure many of you are aware, the World Scrabble championships took place in Mar 5th NE v NW (6) - (invitation only) London between the 16th and 20th of November, with over fifteen British players Mar 12th Grantham (6) Hazel Packham 01476 410161 representing their respective countries as well as many foreign- Mar 17th-20th H-B Holidays Bingley Viv Beckmann 0191 273 1705 based ABSP members taking part. While no finished articles Mar 18th East Sussex (6) Ed Breed 01424 219334 were ready in time for inclusion in this issue of The Last Word, you can expect a full report from those involved to appear in Mar 18th Peterborough 5 Penalty Challenge (6) Chris Hawkins 01733 223202 February’s issue, along with many photographs from the event! Mar 19th Southampton (6) Alan Bailey 023 9238 4360 Apr 8th-9th Durham (11) Laura Finley 0191 5654079 On the home front, Britain’s highest-placed representative after Apr 14th Exeter - ISCA Matchplay (6) Ronnie Reid 01256 354604 24 rounds was Wales’s Gareth Williams on an impressive 16 wins out of 24, with Scotland’s Paul Allan second out of the Apr 15th-17th Exeter Matchplay (19) Ronnie Reid 01256 354604 home representatives on 15 wins and 2003 National champion Apr 22nd Newcastle (5) Michael Murray 0191 2412521 Harshan Lamabadusuriya 3rd on 14 wins. Congratulations as Apr 28th-May 2nd H-B Holidays - Worthing Viv Beckmann 0191 273 1705 well go to Ed Martin, who also won fourteen games in his first The new World May 7th Bourne (6) Betty Benton 01778 425234 ever world championship! Scrabble Champion May 7th Bournemouth (6) Ruth Marsden 01202 707148 However, top of the pile when the dust had settled was ABSP member ADAM LOGAN of May 12th-15th H-B Holidays - Morecambe Viv Beckmann 0191 273 1705 Canada winning a phoenomenal 20 out of 24 heat games and beating Thailand’s Pakorn Jun 4th Melton Mowbray (6) Maureen Rayson 01664 563330 Nemitrmansuk 3-0 in the best of 5 final. Well done Adam! Jun 16th-19th H-B Holidays - Harrogate Viv Beckmann 0191 273 1705 Jul 21th-24th H-B Holidays - Penrith Viv Beckmann 0191 273 1705 Wale is the National Champion Aug 5th-6th Nottingham Nomads (16) Clive Spate 01159 200208 Southampton-based Wale Fashina has beaten off competition from some of the best players Sep 15th-18th H-B Holidays - Morecambe Viv Beckmann 0191 273 1705 in the UK to be crowned National Scrabble Champion 2005, following in the footsteps of Sep 17th Norwich (6) Carol Smith 01603 898791 some very illustrious players of the past (and present!). A full report of the two-day final can Oct 1st Bournemouth (6) Ruth Marsden 01202 707148 be found on page 6 in the tournament reports section. Oct 14th-21st H-B Holidays - Jersey Viv Beckmann 0191 273 1705 Oct 14th-15th Yarnfield Park (12) Christine Cartman 01785 211851 Time to renew Oct 15th Salisbury (6) Bob Lynn 01722 325623 I hope you enjoy this final issue for 2005 and please renew your Nov 17th-20th H-B Holidays - Harrogate Viv Beckmann 0191 273 1705 ABSP membership now, to ensure you receive all issues of TLW for 2006 See inside front cover Ben SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark of J.W.Spear & Sons Ltd., Maidenhead SL6 4UB ISSUE CONTENTS Committee Corner ...... 1 Countdown Tournament ...... 25 CCOOMMMMIITTTTEEEE CCOORRNNEERR Wespa News ...... 2 Across The Board ...... 26 Dictionary Committee ...... 3 Edgeways ...... 33 BMSC Gallery ...... 4 Scusi ...... 40 Tournament Reports ...... 5 Forthcoming Events...... 42 The Committee met on 9 October. Following the request for volunteers from the floor Ratings ...... 18 Edgeways Answers ...... ibc to join the Committee, Ed Martin had voiced an interest and had come along to observe Dictionary Pruning ...... 24 Calendar of Events ...... obc the Committee in action. I am pleased to say that Ed was not put off and has been co- opted onto the Committee. Ed has taken on the role of looking for sponsorship for the Association. Another couple of changes have Throughout this publication, comments by the Editor do not represent the views of the been made to the Committee responsibilities. Ev Simpson will ABSP Committee. Any statements by the Committee are clearly marked as such. All takeover as Webmaster from 01 January 2006 from Stewart Holden other contributions to The Last Word represent only the views of the contributor. and Stewart becomes our Publicity Officer. A cautionary note for Tournament Organisers who run weekend THE LAST WORD TEAM events offering accommodation about individuals who allow The Last Words Team welcomes contributions from readers to their respective areas, "friends" to unofficially share with them. Should a venue discover either as letters, articles or suggestions. Contact information: this the Tournament Organiser would need to meet any charge the Ed Martin venue cares to levy, apart from the embarrassment and ill-will that Please send all contributions, Editors: Forthcoming events: this might cause. Should anyone be found doing this at an Association event they will be large or small, to:- Ben Wilson Paul Cartman, severely punished. This warning will be included in the Tournament Organisers Guide. (odd-numbered issues) 9 Chapel Terrace, As I write, the Association publications - including the Handbook - are being updated. Stafford ST16 3AH Elisabeth Jardine Wayne Kelly The Handbook should be issued early in 2006. 6 Wentworth Avenue 01785 211851 (even numbered issues) Stewart Holden is preparing a publicity template for Tournament Organisers to use when Bournemouth BH5 2ED [email protected] contacting their local media about Scrabble events in their area. 01202 419 708 [email protected] Games and Strategies: Words and Puzzles: The deadline for the introduction of the new Collins wordlist has slipped. You can read Phil Appleby, David Sutton full details from the Dictionary Committee elsewhere in this issue. Thorns Cottage, 46 West Chiltern, At the BMSC a player resigned from a game. While resignation is an option for some Mount Pleasant Lane, Woodcote, events, for example BEST where it is clearly stated in the rules for that event, it was agreed Lymington, Reading, Berks Hants SO41 8LS RG8 0SG after discussion that resignation was not an option during any ABSP organised event. [email protected] [email protected] There will be an interim Committee meeting on 30 November and the next full Committee meeting will be held on 15 January 2006. So if there is anything you wish raised please let me know or speak to any Committee member who will raise it on your Time to renew your membership behalf. Finally, it is that time of year again when you need to renew your subscription. As in The easiest way to renew is via the ABSP website: previous years there will be 20 names drawn at random of everyone who has renewed http://www.absp.org.uk by 31 December 2005. The 20 lucky winners will receive a Scrabble 'goody bag' Using the Paypal function on the site is very easy and completely safe. Just click the containing a set of protiles, scorepad and post-its. In addition, the first name drawn Paypal button and follow the step-by-step instructions. Paypal is the largest online will receive an extra mystery gift. So do not delay, renew now either by using the money service and operates hundreds of thousands of debit card/credit card transactions enclosed renewal slip or go online to the website and renew using PAYPAL. every day. The ABSP does not see any card details. The security of your personal On behalf of the Committee I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a information is guaranteed. Happy New Year. More traditionally, you can join or renew by sending your details and a cheque for £15 Amy Byrne made payable to the ABSP to: ABSP Secretary ABSP, 8 Glen Cova Place, Kirkcaldy, Fife KY2 6UL

1 World Scrabble Association News A final category is for national associations which find it difficult economically to meet membership fees which have been set at modest levels for most national groups. The following article, as sent to me by Roy Kietzman from Bahrain, is a statement detailing the proposed constitution for WESPA, the World English language Scrabble Players’ Besides declaring itself a beacon for player interests, Wespa also vows to be a watchdog Association. It is included here with his permission. for the trademark owners, assuring "to take reasonable steps to safeguard their interests in trademarks." The 3,300-word draft constitution for a world Scrabble association defines its relationship with the game's copyright owners as "that of a consumer group." An estimated 25,000-50,000 players take part in national, regional and international competitions in addition to tens of millions who play English-language Scrabble in living The charter for the World English-language Scrabble Players Association is to be presented rooms and other leisure areas. for approval to the constituting assembly next month on the sidelines of the eighth World Scrabble Championship in London. Roy Kietzman The constitution has been largely adapted from that of the Association of British Scrabble (Ed: For those that are interested, the full constitution can be found online at Players. http://www.scrabble.org.au/wespa/about/constitution.html) Allan Simmons, chairman of both ABSP and Wespa, set out the global association's original charter which has received more definition and fine tuning by Andrew Fisher (Australia), on the 11-member management committee of the global association. Dictionary Committee Copyright owners and game manufacturers Hasbro (North America) and Mattel (the rest of ABSP Committee Update for Nov 30th by Darryl Francis: the world) have largely taken a wait-and-see attitude toward the forming of Wespa two years ago in Malaysia when 17 national Scrabble groups voted the international Collins have provided copies of their Scrabble Dictionary (CSD) to all competitors at the association into existence. recent World Championship. Collins have also confirmed that copies of CSD are now being shipped to retail outlets. Wespa aims "to promote global recognition and respect of Scrabble as a serious competitive activity," benefiting its members. A meeting was held on 24 November with Collins, Mattel and Allan/Darryl present. Collins explained that copies of the page proofs for the whole dictionary had not been In addition, Wespa wants to play the leading role in representing players and encouraging provided to the Dictionary Committee (DC) by 30 September (as they had promised at the an internationalisation of standards and norms at tournaments. AGM), or delivered since then. Collins claim this was because they were under pressure The 15-article constitution spells out such matters as membership categories and the to ensure the book was published in 2005, and in time to reach the Christmas market. protection of intellectual property rights. This means that CSD has still NOT been signed off by the DC. The membership structure comprises four tiers with the heavyweights among the Scrabble The CSD, as published, has a number of errors already noted. At the meeting, various federation falling into the top tier. actions were agreed that Collins would undertake, in order to provide additional This group includes national associations of 500 members or more and would see evidence to the DC that there were not significant volumes of errors in CSD. It was Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, US and Thai associations occupying that tier - unlikely that this evidence would be available to the DC until at least mid-December. possibly India, too, as its membership is approaching 500 members. The DC stressed that the extent of errors identified in CSD would likely determine the Canada and the US would be the hands-down behemoth of national groups as its Hasbro- DC’s final recommendation regarding acceptance of CSD. It was also stressed that errors sponsored National Scrabble Association claims 10,000 members. identified would need to be corrected to ensure that both Collins Scrabble Words (CSW), However, Hasbro has made it clear it wants nothing to do with any group using "Scrabble" expected in mid-2006, and the adjudication software were as correct as possible. in its title. Mattel has been more tolerant of the quasi-consumer group. It is still hoped that a formal implementation date during 2006 can be agreed, subject to Wespa, nonetheless, absolutely does not want North American players excluded from the sign off, consideration of the tournament calendar, and timely availability of an global network and will have to find a modus operandi to make sure Canadian and US adjudication tool. An ‘initiation kit’ booklet is still planned but work won’t start on this members have a voice on the board and subcommittees if Hasbro proscribes NSA until the word list source has been corrected. participation. Important Note re Collins Club Offer Another 26 clubs and associations qualify for tier 2 with under 500 members including Clubs have recently received a generous offer from Collins regarding the CSD and other Bahrain, China, Gambia, Ghana, Indonesia, Iraq (Kurdistan), Israel, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Collins Scrabble publications. The offer is welcome, and it is up to Clubs as to whether Malaysia, Malta, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, they order the CSD sooner or later, perhaps after the extent of errors is known in January. Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates and Zambia. However, it is important to note that the 2005 Collins Scrabble Words and Lists books A third tier allows interest groups, like world French- and Spanish-language associations, on the order form are the ones NOT supported by the ABSP/DC for tournament play. to take on membership.

2 3 BBMMSSCC 22000055 GGaalllleerryy ooff HHoonnoouurr SSCCRRAABBBBLLEE EEVVEENNTTSS Owing to lack of space, photographs of the winners at our flagship event, the BMSC were RREESSUULLTTSS && RREEPPOORRTTSS omitted from the last TLW. Time now to put that omission right...

Div D Steve Balment Organisers are encouraged to send a list of prize winners and a tournament report to Div C Lou Brundell the TLW editor as soon as possible after the event.

Norwich 18th September, 6 games Report from Carol Smith The second Norwich Tournament took place on Sunday 18th September in Hethersett Village hall. There was a slight drop in the number of players taking part so we only had two divisions. Two entrants were unable to come on the day, one substitute player arrived and we were still one down so I had to fill in to make the numbers even. Two players failed Div B Norman Smith to arrive by the start time having missed the turning on Norwich ring road. Dave French, my excellent Tournament Director, made the decision to start on time and start their clocks. After that one slight hiccup the day went smoothly. Sarah Wilks, despite arriving late, won five games in a row, before losing to Bob Violett in the final round but held on to win the A Division on spread.

Div E Caroline Emery Div F Geoff Goodwin BMSC Champion A Division winner Sarah Wilks Harshan Lamabadusuriya David Morris playing in just his third tournament won five games to win the B Division. My thanks to Dave and Christina French again for their help and support in organising this tournament, to Sheila and Eileen (non-Scrabble players) who served the teas, Matthew and James for running, members of Norwich Scrabble Club for making the cakes, and to Michael, my husband, for his help and support. Hope to see you all again next year.

Norwich A Norwich B Sarah Wilks 5 442 David Morris 5 368 Ladies Event Bob Violett 5 353 Mick Beasley 5 260 Maureen Chamberlain Mens Event Graham Wakefield 4 262 Richard Moody 4.5 321 Div G Bronagh Kenny Abraham Sosseh Ratings prize: Ratings prize: Carol Smith 4 189 Ildiko Plaganyi 4.5 106

4 5 IOW Tuition/Event NSC Grand Final Wale Fashina 10 444 17th-18th September, 6 games David Webb 9.5 619 IOW A IOW B Evan Simpson 9 774 Mike Whiteoak 6 321 Janet Bonham 4 248 Allan Simmons 9 602 Graham Bonham 4 57 Mary Siggers 4 241 Harshan Lamabadusuriya 8.5 587 Peter Thomas 3 195 Jim Blacker 4 69 Wale admires the winner’s vase IOW C IOW D Christine Cartman 5 347 Margaret Fleming 5 515 Paul Cartman 4 221 Iris Glover 4 245 Middlesbrough Peggy Moore 3 29 Caroline Elliott 4 61 25th September, 5 games Report from Samantha Beckwith There was a very small entry this year due to clashes with other tournaments and football National Srabble Championships ~ Grand Final fixtures. Being without a computer, we used a system devised by Newcastle S.C. and found it quite easy to run. 24th-25th September, 12 games Report from Philip Nelkon Middlesbrough A Middlesbrough B Wale Fashina, 36 a Store Supervisor from Southampton won a closely fought event to Martin Thompson 5 194 Joy Hodge 5 493 become the new National Scrabble Champion.The final of the NSC was held in Edgbaston, Trish Johnson 4 355 Sheila Smith 4 273 Birmingham during the weekend of 24/25 September over 12 games. Kate McNulty 3 49 Graham Pace 3 81 Nick Deller (Peterborough), Adam Philpotts (Nottingham Nomads), Ed Martin and Paloma Raychbart (LSL) all had their moment of glory in the early rounds before Phil Robertshaw Stafford (Ashton) took over the lead in Round 5. His sixth successive win meant he lead overnight. 1st-2nd October, 12 games Phil finally lost to Paloma in Round 7 giving Ed the lead which he kept until losing to Allan Report from Paul Cartman Simmons in Round 9. The lead changed again when David Webb briefly reached the top after giving Allan his second defeat whilst Wale moved into 3rd by defeating Paloma. Then Our first tournament, which was held at Tillington Hall was a great success. There were in the penultimate Round 11 he beat David to take 66 players in 2 divisions, (it was felt that next year it would be more appropriate to have 2nd position behind Allan. With Allan and Wale three divisions). The hotel was very comfortable and appropriate for Scrabble needs and drawn together in the last round, it was a straight we had envisaged hosting a second one there in 2006. Unfortunately, because of pricing shoot-out for the title between one of the UK's most difficulties this will not be possible and we have decided to use the facilities of Yarnfield experienced players and one of its newest. Conference Centre instead. The game was close all the way with Wale edging We would like to thank David and Christina French for their valued help and advice before home by 23 points. Allan's defeat dropped him to 4th and during the tournament. Paul also put in a tremendous amount of work for which he with David Webb leapfrogging him to take 2nd and also certainly deserves recognition. A big thanks also to all the runners, some of whom Evan Simpson (Coventry) pulling up to 3rd, winning stepped in at the last minute. All in all it was a good weekend and we had a number of all of his games on the Sunday. positive feedbacks. Congratulations to Wale, who emigrated to the UK The top three winners in each division were:- earlier this year. He was Nigerian National Champion Stafford A Stafford B in 1998 and 2002 and also won the PANASA (All- Di Dennis 9 824 Viv Beckmann 10 426 African Championships) in 1998. His prize was a Darryl Francis 9 730 Linda Barratt 9 234 cheque for £500 and a Royal Doulton Vase, which he Wayne Kelly 9 727 Russel Smith 8 524 can be seen admiring below.

6 7 Edinburgh SUNDAY 1st October, 5 games Caernarvon Caerphilly Cardiff Steve Perry 6 446 Rael Hayman 5 227 Rael Hayman 5 340 Jill Bright 5 220 Nuala O’Rourke 5 118 Pat Wheeler 4 284 Edinburgh A Janet Phillips 4 252 Mike O’Rourke 4 307 Viv Beckmann4 145 Raymond Tate 5 264 Neil Scott 4 247 Conway Harlech Pembroke Wilma Warwick 3 227 Eileen Basham 6 323 Madelaine Baker 6 198 Jean Buckley 5.5 406 John Ball 5 267 Jason Goddard 5 410 Peter Basham 5 121 Edinburgh B Edinburgh C Eryl Barker 4 215 Edith Smith 4 187 Beryl Trace 4.5 339 Margaret Irons 5 360 Helga Farrow 4 298 Moya Dewar 4 390 Sheila Johnston 4 122 Juliet Green 4 232 Carol Russell 4 3 ABSP Masters 2005 15th-16th October 2005 Bournemouth Report from Stewart Holden 2nd October, 6 games The ABSP Masters is a bit like the House of Commons: its atmosphere is a curious mixture of extremely competitive experts (a.k.a. eccentrics) battling it out amidst the warmth and Bournemouth A Bournemouth B friendly cameraderie of a close-knit group. And very few of those who closely watch it will Ben Tarlow 5 427 Val Wright 5.5 161 ever take part in it themselves! Penny Downer 5 296 Maureen Reynolds 4.5 390 The Masters is one of the most important events on the ABSP calendar and best Frankie Mairey 5 152 Mary Siggers 4 238 opportunities of the year for British talent to shine. This year's event saw 16 hardy souls with ABSP ratings of 174 and above complete a 15-game round robin in the Beatles- Bournemouth C Bournemouth D themed basement bar of the Regent Hotel in Doncaster. Jean Shaw 5 537 Audrey Medhurst 6 498 With organiser Phil Appleby also competing in the event I had offered to run the Jan Vokes-Taylor 5 193 Evelyn Wansbrough 4 389 tournament over the weekend. As well as acting as Tournament Director and being the only Wendy Tiley 5 110 Tanya Robson 4 344 runner and adjudicator, I was pleased to get my laptop computer connected to the Internet and be able to send round-by-round positional tables to the 600+ members of the uk- scrabble mailing list. Live reporting from tournaments has become a regular feature of uk- Cardiff scrabble over the last six months and is proving very popular with those unable to make it to a major event in person. 8th-9th October, 14 games Brett Smitheram took an early lead in the tournament by winning his first four games; Terry Kirk was the only other player to do so. Brett briefly relinquished the lead to Andy Davis SATURDAY (whose record at the Masters is exceptional, having won three times in the preceding six Anglesey Bardsey Caldey years) but Smitheram regained the lead to be in pole position overnight. Others in strong Janet Phillips 6 601 Jill Bright 6 352 Rael Hayman 5 646 contention were Terry Kirk, Ed Martin and Paul Allan. Steve Perry 5 198 Steve Balment 5 -52 Pat Wheeler 5 104 Alison Sadler 4 32 Joy Lloyd 4 190 Viv Beckmann 4 299 By Round 9 the top of the field was narrowing; Brett had lost a second game while Andy Davis was also on 7 wins. Helen Gipson had started the weekend poorly (1-2) but was now Flatholm Ramsey Steepholm establishing herself as a threat alongside Phil Appleby. Yet another loss for Brett threw the M. McParland 6 432 John Ball 7 545 Myra Copleston 7 387 field wide open with Paul Allan briefly ascending to top the table, but the Cornish Geoff Cooper 5 184 Kathy Rush 5 162 Sheila Wyatt 5 194 wunderkind proved his resilience throughout the afternoon and with one game to go was Peter Sime 4.5 62 Kathy Carson 4 33 Kerry Constant 5 121 looking favourite to win. Only defeat to Brian Sugar would give Helen Gipson a chance of snatching the title; even then, she had the unenviable task of trying to beat Andy Davis by over 160!

8 9 Amazingly, Brett did lose to Brian Sugar while Helen cruised to a decisive victory against Andy. However, the combined swing in spread fell just short (or just right, depending on Southend-On-Sea who you were supporting). After 15 intense rounds interrupted only by an Indian meal on 22nd October the Saturday night, the players finished as follows: Southend A Southend B ABSP MASTERS 2005 Steve Perry 6 503 Stuart Solomons 5 447 Brett Smitheram 11 693 Danny Bekhor 5 372 Priscilla Encarnacion 5 297 Helen Gipson 11 669 Chris Cummins 4 175 David Shenkin 4 418 Phil Appleby 10 395 Andrew Davis 10 76 Southend C Southend D Ed Martin 8.5 262 Maureen Underdown 5 213 Mavis Ernest 6 542 Paul Allan 8.5 201 Carole Wheatley 5 66 Les Costin 5 528 Brian Sugar 8 -241 Peter Hall 4 314 Doreen Searles 4 311 Femi Amoade 7 -42 Terry Kirk 7 -61 Lincoln Round Robin Evan Simpson 7 -89 Elie Dangoor 6 15 22nd October Wayne Kelly 6 -342 Report from Ben Wilson Lewis Mackay 5 -347 The first-ever Lincoln Round Robin Tournament took place on October 22nd at the Allan Simmons 5 -359 Grandstand Community Centre to the west of the city, a venue which has also become the new home for the Lincoln Scrabble Club’s Monday evenings. There were 44 players in total Mark Nyman 5 -381 Brett receives the ABSP masters trophy from - not quite the amount I had wanted to make an even 3 divisions of 16, but I luckily had Philip Nelkon 5 -449 chairman Allan Simmons “Plan B” up my sleeve- or rather, “Plan C”, as the format for the lowest division changed from the usual 4 groups of 4 to 2 groups of 6 with a “decider” match in the final round. Congratulations to Brett Smitheram on his first ABSP Masters victory. The Doncaster venue Play started dead on time - one or two players cut it a little close but at 10am the only was deemed excellent by all concerned and the ABSP hopes to return there for the 2006 sound that could be heard was the rattling of tilebags and the calling out of scores. event. In each 4-player “group” within each division, everyone played each other once to form the first three games of the tournament (except in division C, as described above). In division A, H-B Holidays Morecambe everything went mostly according to rating, with 3 of the top 4 rated players making the top table for the second round, but as ever, there was room for one upset - kudos to Christian 14th-16th October Brown for narrowly edging out Scrabble Expert Stewart Holden to claim the final place on the top table for the second round. Division B had a slightly more eclectic top table for the Morecambe A Morecambe B second round, with two of the three lowest-rated players winning all their first-round games, Peter Thomas 11 694 Christabel Jackson 11 653 while the two highest in the division had to settle for third-best! In division C, after 5 games, Peter Darby 10 606 Juliet Green 10 477 two players went through to play for the £50 first prize in the shape of Gary Male and Trish Johnson 8 -59 Janet Southworth 9 156 Barbara Barker - both of whom are Lincolnshire-based players, no less! When the dust had settled at the end of the final game, it was once again Chris Hawkins Morecambe C Morecambe D taking home first prize from Lincoln, just as he has done from the Lincoln July tournament Linda Moir 10 524 Rose Lawson 11 757 for the last two years. I think he might be getting attached to our little city by now! In June Johnston 9 480 Remie Salazar 10 673 division B, it was Scunthorpe-based Martin Harrison (fairly new to the tournament scene, Irene Atkinson 9 97 Jean Stevens 10 418 but familiar to many players as ‘xmphx’ on the Internet Scrabble Club) who took away first prize, as well as the distinction of being the only unbeaten player on the day. In the all- Lincolnshire match in division C, it was Sleaford’s Gary Male (‘reddoggie’ on ISC) who won

10 11 by the narrowest of margins to give him his first divisional win. Congratulations to all The winning team comprised Paul Allan, Allan Simmons, Neil Scott and Wilma Warwick winners on the day, and to everyone who took home runners-up prizes. who knocked up 32 wins from 48 between them. They had won even before the final game Congratulations also go to Alec Webb, who as well as finishing 3rd in division A, also won was played. Congratulations go to them and John Grayson for his individual performance. a pair of Tilefish luxury racks for spotting the best theme word for the day - with it being England's best player was Harshan Lamabadusuriya with 8 wins and Ireland's best was Nelson day the day before, we were looking for the best word with a naval theme to it. This Ademola Ajayi with 5. inevitably led to the usual slew of words like COX, OAR and BOAT, but Alec topped them all with MARINER. Many commiserations to the player whose effort of SEASIDE was Elgin deemed just not naval enough! My thanks of course go to tournament director (and organiser of LEST) Gerard Fox, as well 29th October as to young Tom, running in his first tournament, and my mother, helping out with the adjudication and scoring whenever she could. Hope to see you all next year! Elgin A Elgin B Amy Byrne 4 418 Helen Polhill 5 514 Lincoln A Kate Surtees 4 324 Jean Gallagher 4 533 Chris Hawkins 5 476 Raymond Tate 4 322 May McDonald 4 447 Stewart Holden 5 404 Alec Webb 5 347 Weston-Super-Mare Lincoln B Lincoln C 5th November Martin Harrison 6 468 Gary Male 5 269 Mick Beasley 5 370 Irene Newberry 5 83 Report by Rod Winfield Margaret Pritchett 4 328 Paul Walford 4 21 This was the first tournament organised by the club in many years but the entries soon rolled in - nine on the first day, but it was just a trickle thereafter. However, we soon British Team Tournament realised that the Isle of Wight event was scheduled for the same weekend when the best player in the club told us she would be there rather than in Burnham! Soon, we lost four 29th-30th October more to the IoW, but I was never less than confident that we'd reach our minimum target Report by Wayne Kelly of 40. With a few late withdrawals [one apparently 'off to Paris for the day'!] we ended 16 players gathered at the Ramada Hotel in Chester for the second, now annual, Four with a statistically neat 64 whom Steve Perry, our director, placed into two divisions. Nations Tournament (which I think it should be re-christened from here on in). Despite The start could have been considerably delayed by the late arrival of one group who had printer problems and a 15 mins delay in starting, the event ran fairly smoothly for my first managed to get onto the M4 rather than the M5! Registration had been set for 9.15 and foray into organising a tournament. The hotel, players and runners all performed the First Game for 10.00 but many arrived after 9.45 which prompts the question - should admirably and helped ease the stress! a 'latest registration' time be set, or perhaps registration between 9.15 and 9.45 would have This year's event was a very tight affair with three of the four nations still in with a chance made it clearer. Software problems were initially a factor, but once things got under way, almost till the end. England took the lead after the first battle, beating Ireland 10-6 whilst Steve managed things with great skill and we made up virtually all the time lost. Wales and Scotland drew 8-8. Scotland pulled no punches with their Celtic cousins in For those who'd ordered it Brenda Wall, our excellent treasurer and authority on all things Ireland, winning 13-3. This took them into the lead as England only narrowly scraped Scrabble, provided an excellent ploughman's lunch. Tea and coffee were provided at home against the Welsh with a 9-7 victory. For the last round England and Scotland were intervals throughout the day but not, to the disappointment of some, on arrival. pitted against each other while Wales had, on paper, the easier match against Ireland. Both The Princess Hall in Burnham on Sea was chosen for the event because it offered attractive Scotland and Wales had convincing wins over their opposition - Scotland beat England 11- and comfortable accommodation - the seats were a dream compared with those at some 5 and Wales beat Ireland 12-6. This pushed the English team into 3rd position whilst Wales sneaked into second leaving Scotland the victors for the second year running. venues. But it was a little too warm for some, so we opened the windows which then made it a bit cold for others. It seems that public buildings are often the most difficult in which British Team Tournament British Team Tournament (Individual) to get the balance right! The warden had been most agreeable to deal with throughout and Scotland 32 1610 the deal included the setting up and putting away of all the furniture. We played on tables John Grayson (W) 9 1002 Wales 27 529 which provided additional length thus avoiding collisions of board and rack but there was Allan Simmons (S) 9 711 England 24 576 not really enough space for the bag and the clock. Still, no serious complaints reached me Neil Scott (S) 9 561 Ireland 13 -2625 and everyone seemed to manage well.

12 13 After three rounds Sheila Hinett, Peter Darby, Sheila Jeffery and Minu Anderson were looking best placed but the two Sheilas fell back to leave Peter and Minu the clear leaders; Isle of Wight (Main Event) and by Game 5 Nick Baker was in third place. Peter Darby, the eventual winner, was the 5th-6th November only player in either division to achieve six wins. In Division 2 Sheila Kennedy was in the lead after four rounds but then stumbled. Mabel IOW A IOW B Choularton then had a clear lead but she fell in the final game leaving the consistent Jean Elie Dangoor 9 1066 Graham Bonham 9 572 Owen with a high spread to receive the laurels. Alan Bailey 9 586 Mary Siggers 8.5 318 The mayor and his wife - a keen internet player of the game - arrived early to enjoy the Noel Turner 8 572 Mary Allen 8 891 action, to present the raffle prizes and most importantly the divisional awards and three spot prizes. IOW C IOW D Peter Sime 10 719 Brian Beaumont 9 419 Weston A Weston B Linda Hillard 9 527 Margaret Firmston 8 454 Peter Darby 6 299 Jean Owen 5 444 Judy Monger 8 384 Maureen Barlow 8 391 Minu Anderson 5 267 Gill Thompson 5 343 Nicholas Baker 5 213 Mabel Choularton 5 128 Luton Weston-super-Mare itself fielded 12 players, three in Division 1, our best performer being 12th November the veteran Jean Bridge. In Division 2 our chairman Pam Sparkes was one of three Weston players bunched together with four out of six wins and excellent spreads. Luton A Luton B Among the many words unsuccessfully challenged were SAIC, ISHES and MANILLE. There Chris Keeley 5 274 David Shenkin 6 504 was just one occasion for which Chambers was required - QUAVERINGS (allowed). George Gruner 5 179 Sharon Landau 5 240 A press release met with a mixed response. Just three lines in the local freebie, but there Kevin Synnott 5 170 Paul Ashworth 5 77 was a good report (notwithstanding those inevitable inaccuracies) in the other. I didn't contact local radio but Somerset Sound got in touch asking me to come to their Taunton Luton C Luton D studio for 8.30 a.m. on the day. No way! Eventually they agreed to interview me over the Jason Goddard 6 458 Adrian Noller 5 413 phone. It was a very positive exchange in which I was able to present a good case for the Stephen Wintle 5 149 Angela Burke 5 267 club game. We now await dozens of new members! Peter Bailey 4 439 Jessica Pratesi 5 147

Isle of Wight (Vectis) Glasgow 4th-5th November 12th November Vectis A Vectis B Glasgow A Alastair Richards 5 526 David Reading 5 442 Allan Simmons 6 806 Amy Byrne 4 529 Barbara Goodban 4 283 Paul Allan 5 376 Moira Conway 4 330 Gerry Pearce 4 267 Darryl Francis 4 230

Vectis C Vectis D Glasgow B Glasgow C Pat Burgess 4 262 Nicola Staunton 5 490 Margaret Harkness 5 320 Marie Davie 5 531 Judy Monger 4 202 Margaret Emmott 4 228 Moya Dewar 5 235 Teena Walls 5 366 Philippa Morris 4 173 Susan Thorne 4 226 Sylvia Swaney 4 481 Yvonne Templeton 4 262

14 15 NW Scotland from Dianne Ward holidaying in the UK to enter and undertake a gruelling H-B Holidays Wigan 12hr journey the day before the tournament. There were competitors from 11 different 18th-20th November nations present: Shaila Amalean from Sri Lanka, Mark Kenas from the USA, Alastair and Karen Richards and Dianne Ward from Australia, KC Hirai-san from Japan, Henry Ywo Wigan A Wigan B from Malaysia, Paloma Raychbart from Israel and Femi Awowade, Fidelis Olotu, Koye Paul Thomson 12 519 Rhoda Gray 10 510 Adegbesan and Sanmi Odelana from Nigeria as well as the English players. Some of the list Jill Bright 9.5 427 Norma Howarth 10 483 are settled in this country so I'm not quite sure if they count as overseas players, strictly Frank Forster 7 255 Nola Marrow 8 431 speaking but it was an impressive gathering nonetheless.

Wigan C Wigan D Cyndy Walker-Firth 8 388 Ruby Flood 11 685 Barbara Lukey 8 30 Margaret Boyd 9 599 Marlene Diskin 8 -42 Anne Toft 9 500

Winter Matchplay 26th-27th November Report from Mike Willis Div A Austin Shin Div B Ian Coventry Div C Sharon Landau The 15th Winter Matchplay took place at the Holiday Inn Milton Keynes... although the numbers were down, the event was a great success - in actual fact I think it makes it much easier to organise with fewer players - shorter queues for meals for one thing. As Graeme Thomas was feeling somewhat tired, he asked me if I'd be prepared to play rather than direct. Having not played a real game of Scrabble for about 9 months I accepted his offer with some trepidation but not only did he perform the role with his usual competence and thoroughness, I thoroughly enjoyed a good weekend of Scrabble. This was aided by the knowledge that the hotel service was almost faultless and we had an excellent team of helpers in Damola Awowade running, Graeme's twin brother Steve on the computer and Shin as assistant Director for the outer playing rooms. Div D Ted Lewis Div E Stany Arnold Div F Caroline Elliott

Winter Matchplay A Austin Shin 9 644 Mark Kenas 8 548 Winter Matchplay B Di Dennis 8 537 Ian Coventry 9 367 Alastair Richards 8 221 Martin Harrison 8 536 Mike Willis 7 397 Moira Conway 8 445

Winter Matchplay C Winter Matchplay D Sharon Landau 7 248 Ted Lewis 10 847 Gavin Holmes 7 -47 Stephen Wintle 7 195 Jim Lyes 7 -200 Janet Bonham 7 57 Talented young players at players at Milton Keynes. Japan’s KC Hirai squats between seated Austin Shin and Australia’s Alastair Richards. Winter Matchplay E Winter Matchplay F Stany Arnold 8 481 Caroline Elliott 9 342 Because the World Scrabble Championships took place the previous week, several players Jo Holland 8 426 Jacquie Aldous 7 7 from around the world stayed on to compete at Milton Keynes making it the most Sue Ison 8 160 Dorn Osborne 6.5 397 international event held in the UK outside the WSC. I even got a late call from a hill in

16 17 156 1006 Ross Mackenzie 149 Loz Crouch 143 Debbie Holloway A B S P R a t i n g s Ratings at 156 0299 Les Nyman 149 1019 Lynne Murphy 143 0335 Robert Johnston A B S P R a t i n g s 156 0268 Donna Stanton 149 0272 Ivan Swallow 143 0537 Carol Malkin (GM) Grand Master (Exp) Expert 4-12-2005 155 0449 Alan Childs 148 0051 Cathy Anderson 143 0035 Lois McLeod ABSP membership number is shown before name At least 30 games 155 0732 Wanda De Poitiers 148 Tolani Ayo-Awojobi 143 0120 Kate McNulty and at least 155 Billy Dott 148 1120 Anand Buddhdev 143 Kay Powick 1 since 4-12-2003 155 0573 Gary Fox 148 0544 Marjory Flight 143 0161 Margaret Pritchett 211 1249 Adam Logan 173 0478 Elie Dangoor (Exp) 155 Ralph Gibbs 148 1203 Greg Kelly 143 0028 Lorna Rapley 201 0745 Harshan 173 0162 Alec Webb (Exp) 155 0121 Debbie Heaton 148 0077 Joy Lloyd 143 0016 Maureen Rayson Lamabadusuriya (Exp) 172 0006 Darryl Francis (Exp) 155 0086 Frankie Mairey 148 0094 Rachelle Winer 143 0632 Carol Smith 200 0147 Helen Gipson (GM) 172 0281 Steve Perry 155 0986 Robert Pells 147 0838 Theresa Cole 143 Joyce Squire 198 1126 Brett Smitheram (GM) 172 0224 Gary Polhill (Exp) 161 0534 Caroline Atkins 155 0873 Matthew Pinner 147 0470 Norman Smith 143 0624 Lesley Watson 196 0497 Andrew Davis (GM) 171 0888 Chris Keeley 161 0081 Joyce Cansfield (Exp) 155 Angela Swain 147 0870 Jean Swallow 143 Mandy Weatherill 195 0015 Phil Appleby (GM) 171 1349 Fidelis Olotu 161 Ed Garrett-Jones 155 Karen Willis 147 Fran Thompson 142 Tony Bearn 195 0007 Allan Simmons (GM) 170 0172 Daniel Simonis 161 Mark Goodwin 154 0852 Maureen Chamberlain 147 Pam Titheradge 142 0066 Sue Bowman 194 0751 Paul Allan (GM) 170 0017 Mike Willis (Exp) 161 1129 Lee Hartley 154 0465 Christina French 147 Amy Willcox 142 0717 Graham Buckingham 194 0338 David Webb (GM) 169 David Brook 161 John Howell 154 0020 Janet Phillips 146 Paul Howard 142 0092 Priscilla Encarnacion 193 0280 Andrew Perry (GM) 169 1358 Paul Chadwick 161 Timothy Lawrence 154 1123 Chrystal Rose 146 1051 Elizabeth Hull 142 Wendy Lindridge 192 0621 Andrew Cook (GM) 169 0025 Richard Evans (Exp) 161 Paul Nind 154 1369 Ben Tarlow 146 1097 Ronnie Reid 142 0656 Huw Morgan 192 0750 Shanker Menon 169 Brendan McDonnell 161 Dave Nunn 153 1197 Christian Brown 146 Carole Rison 142 0099 Josef Thompson 192 0846 Austin Shin 169 0012 Ruth Morgan-Thomas 161 0101 Robert Richland (Exp) 146 0919 Peter Thomas 142 0587 Maria Thomson (Exp) 153 0003 Laura Finley 191 0652 Nick Ball (Exp) 161 0226 Alan Sinclair 145 Oluyemi Adesiyan 142 Judy Wearn 169 1368 Phil Robertshaw 153 0331 Davina Galloway 191 0482 Neil Scott (Exp) 161 Jin_Chor Tan 145 0427 Peter Ashurst 141 1210 Graham Bonham 168 Catherine Costello 153 0688 Lorraine Gordon 189 1000 Stewart Holden (Exp) 160 0789 Alan Bailey 145 0089 Margaret Bright 141 0920 Eleanor Dobson 168 Alastair Richards 153 0609 Bob Lynn 187 Mark Nyman (GM) 160 1116 Paul Bassett 145 0399 Louise Brundell 141 0933 Ann Golding 167 Karl Khoshnaw (Exp) 153 Thomas Mensah 187 0005 Brian Sugar (GM) 160 Alan Georgeson 145 Alan Buckley 141 Peter Hunt 167 0213 Neil Rowley 153 0760 Sanmi Odelana 186 0002 Pete Finley (GM) 160 Ken Heaton 145 0395 Pat Colling 141 0997 Phil Kelly 167 0555 Raymond Tate 152 0822 Jill Bright 186 0072 John Grayson (GM) 160 0793 Joanne Hiley 145 0406 Moya Dewar 141 1270 Len Moir 166 0079 Chris Finlay 152 0574 Simon Carter 185 0041 Gareth Williams (GM) 160 1295 Shane O’Neill 145 0329 Heather Frankland 141 0804 Mary Oram 166 Diane Pratesi (Exp) 152 1243 Doj Graham 183 1017 Sam Kantimathi 160 0602 Malcolm Quirie 145 0507 Kathryn Henry 141 0707 Gwynfor Owen 165 0343 Amy Byrne 152 0553 Brian Jones 183 0158 Ed Martin 160 Margaret Rogers 145 1067 Gavin Holmes 141 0690 Maureen Reynolds 165 0202 Penny Downer (Exp) 152 0488 Marion Keatings 182 0014 Di Dennis (GM) 160 1268 Abraham Sosseh 145 0655 Mary Jones 140 0922 Barbara Allen 165 Peter Igweke 152 0837 Peter Liggett 182 0362 Gary Oliver 160 Kevin Synnott 145 1164 Karl Kwiatkowski 140 0738 Margaret Armstrong 165 1427 Mikki Nicholson 152 0135 David Meadows 181 0880 Femi Awowade (Exp) 160 0123 Noel Turner (Exp) 145 Martin Leverton 140 John Balloch 165 0088 Sandie Simonis (Exp) 152 0631 Alison Sadler 181 0530 George Gruner (Exp) 159 0241 Bob Berry 145 0150 David Longley 140 0565 Ann Coleman 165 Dianne Ward 152 Malcolm Wearn 181 0823 Wayne Kelly 159 1228 Mark Lane 151 0228 Adrienne Berger 145 0067 Danny McMullan 140 0163 Yvonne Eade 164 1016 John Ashmore 159 0719 Kate Surtees 181 0060 Terry Kirk (GM) 151 0254 Ian Burn 145 0154 Mike O’Rourke 140 Patricia Fenn 164 0103 Danny Bekhor 159 0966 David White 181 0004 Philip Nelkon (GM) 151 Alan Catherall 145 0422 Carol Stanley 140 Alastair Ives 164 Chris Davison 158 0124 Ivy Dixon-Baird 180 1355 Craig Beevers 151 1211 Ian Coventry 145 0636 David Williams 140 Terry Jones 164 0059 Simon Gillam (Exp) 158 0055 Helen Grayson (Exp) 180 1163 David Sutton 151 0024 Angela Evans 144 0369 Brian Bull 140 Helen Mitchell 164 0199 Graham Harding 158 1191 Neil Green 180 0049 Bob Violett (Exp) 151 0100 David Lawton 144 Moby Cook 140 1292 Bryn Packer 164 Mark Hollingsworth 158 0408 Nuala O’Rourke 179 0368 Chris Hawkins (Exp) 151 0093 Ruth MacInerney 144 Iain Harley 140 0829 Kim Phipps 164 0165 Cecil Muscat 158 0235 Martin Reed 179 Omar_Malleh Jah 151 0267 Graham Maker 144 Tim Hebbes 140 0476 David Shenkin 164 0795 Chris Quartermaine 158 Karen Richards 179 0777 Adam Philpotts 151 1279 Ben Wilson 144 0458 Eileen Meghen 140 1287 Stuart Solomons 164 1170 Paloma Raychbart 158 0008 Graeme Thomas 178 0058 Russell Byers (GM) 150 0096 Diana Beasley 144 Alec Robertson 140 1320 Rita Todd 164 0229 Graham Wakefield 158 0116 Martin Thompson 178 0021 Evan Simpson (GM) 150 1145 Peter Darby 144 0996 Kenneth Ross 139 0943 Carol Arthurton 163 Chris Cummins 158 0657 Frances Ure 177 1220 Theresa Camilleri 150 0242 Sheila Green 144 0177 Henry Walton 139 0511 Samantha Beckwith 163 0999 Kay McColgan 157 0978 Andy Becher 177 0764 Lewis Mackay (Exp) 150 0480 Anne Ramsay 143 0080 Mary Allen 139 0967 Gerard Fox 162 1221 JOjo Delia 157 0069 Moira Conway 176 0734 Nick Deller 150 1389 Paul (Tranmere) 143 1046 Paul Ashworth 139 Sheila Hinett 162 0105 Elisabeth Jardine 157 0463 Helen Harding 176 0038 Jackie McLeod (Exp) Thomson 143 0252 Steve Balment 139 0297 Norma Howarth 162 Christine McKenzie 157 1363 Steve Pearce 175 1347 Adekoyejo Adegbesan 150 0810 Linda Vickers 143 0835 Maurice Brown 139 Pinaach Kolte 162 0984 Roy Miller 157 Ricky Zinger 175 0045 Barry Grossman 150 0876 Evelyn Wallace 143 0469 Tony Davis 139 0790 Margaret Staunton 162 1102 Paul (Sale) Richards 156 0914 Vincent Boyle 175 0814 Jared Robinson 150 1206 Sarah Wilks 143 1322 Frank Forster 139 Lesley Trotter 162 0479 Andrew Roughton 156 0836 Chris Fenwick 174 Chris Vicary (Exp) 150 0489 Tom Wilson 143 1242 John Garcia 138 0037 Liz Allen 156 0084 Pauline Johnson 174 0292 Wilma Warwick 162 1057 Mike Whiteoak 149 Eddy Breed 143 1282 Barbara Goodban 138 1005 Verity Cross

18 19 138 Alan Guy 133 Carole Thomas 128 0107 Joan Caws 123 0868 Christine Gillespie 119 1339 Carole Wheatley 114 1142 Doreen Acton 138 1125 Andrew Hart 132 Nick Baker 128 Val Couzens 123 1088 Malcolm (Luton) 118 Shirley Angell 114 Anne Backley 138 1408 Rael Hayman 132 Kate Barratt 128 1305 Jason Goddard Graham 118 1373 Stany Arnold 114 0327 Jessie Brown 138 0923 Teresa Hill 132 1409 Mick Beasley 128 0442 Agnes Gunn 123 Sheila Jeffery 118 Linda Beard 114 John Brown 138 1115 Nick Jenkins 132 0975 Jill Harrison 128 0347 Kathleen Higgins 123 Angie Jones 118 Mary Brown 114 Bridget Busk 138 0713 Trish Johnson 132 1136 Ted Lewis 128 0858 May Macdonald 123 Marc Meakin 118 0106 Ian Caws 114 Gwyneth Cox 138 0589 Anne Steward 132 1198 Maurice McParland 128 0320 Fay Madeley 123 0625 John Mitchell 118 1281 Simon Francis 114 1359 Philippa Crosland- 138 Annette Tinning 132 0932 Jill Parker 128 0911 Marie Perry 123 Julie Tate 118 0759 John Harrison Taylor 137 0157 Eileen (LSL) Anderson 132 0802 Patricia Pay 128 0152 Marjorie Smith 123 0085 Derrick Thorne 118 0798 Peter Lindeck 114 Noel Foulkes 137 Gillian Ashworth 132 0370 Mauro Pratesi 128 Janet Southworth 122 0682 Janet Bonham 118 0806 Miriam Moss 114 Kathy Gibbons 137 1412 Melanie Beaumont 132 Jo Ramjane 128 1294 Christine Strawbridge 122 Kate Boutinot 118 1183 Priscilla Munday 114 Paul Moorefield 137 0330 Viv Beckmann 132 0895 David Reading 128 0036 Dot Taylor 122 Jennifer Clifford 118 0184 Celia Osborn 114 1159 Vivienne Plewes 137 1301 Richard Blakeway 132 Becky Samuel 128 Evan Terrett 122 Eileen Douglas 118 0236 Hazel Parker 114 0993 Cyndy Walker-Firth 137 Jean Bridge 132 0775 Pat Wheeler 128 1053 Stephen Wintle 122 1265 Joy Fox 118 1231 David Steel 114 0645 June Wilson 137 Joe Caruana 132 1003 Sheena Wilson 127 0390 Betty Balding 122 1312 Marjorie Gillott 118 0052 Martin Summers 114 0436 Irene Woolley 137 0523 Kate Leckie 131 0110 Liz Barber 127 Linda Bird 122 0776 Peter Hall 118 1189 Martin Taylor 113 0633 Jean Bakewell 137 0215 Jean Rappitt 131 0238 Margaret Burdon 127 1182 David Carrod 122 0381 Michael Harley 118 0246 Wendy Tiley 113 Margaret Bigg 137 Brian Watson 131 Jean Dymock 127 Jean Carter 122 0142 Jane Lowndes 118 Rosemary Wood 113 Marlene Diskin 137 0637 Val Wright 131 0715 Barbara Hill 127 0748 Jean Crowder 122 0385 Ken Quarshie 117 Bobbie Bennett 113 Margaret Herbert 136 1375 Michael Chappell 131 Nola Marrow 127 0668 Ceridwen Davies 121 Maureen Austin 117 0982 Ron Bucknell 113 Janet Milford 136 Chris Downer 131 1269 Richard Moody 127 0475 Jill Fisher 121 0849 John Ball 117 Martin Byrne 113 James Mutton 136 Helen Jones 131 0443 Ann Pitblado 127 1066 Barbara Morris 121 Sue Ball 117 Marie English 113 Norman Partridge 136 Brenda Margereson 131 0995 Carol Sienkiewicz 127 Julie Nelkon 121 1310 Jim Blackler 117 0753 Janet Hamilton 113 Gwen Roberts 136 0547 Tess McCarthy 130 Eryl Barker 127 Mary Shaw 121 Jill Burgess 117 Doug Hill 113 Jo Tebbutt 136 1131 Russell Smith 130 Rita Brookes 127 0452 Peter Sime 121 0948 Eileen Foster 117 1146 Leonora Hutton 113 0947 Jessie Tollick 135 0635 Philip Aldous 130 1092 Heather Burnet 127 Sheila Wall 121 0570 Jean Gallacher 117 1181 Sue Ison 112 0527 Dorothy Churcher 135 Alasdair Dowling 130 Barbara Dein 126 Harry Beckett 121 0921 Shirley Heal 117 0414 Jill Jones 112 Eunice Conibear 135 1025 Marion Kirk 130 Pam Fairless 126 0543 Winnie Buik 121 1050 Yvonne McKeon 117 0752 Peter Kelly 112 1207 Hannah Corbett 135 0401 Sharon Landau 130 1238 Juliet Green 126 Sylvia Carroll 121 0826 Elizabeth Terry 117 0626 Martha Mitchell 112 Helen Cowie 135 0875 Jim Lyes 130 0032 Ron Hendra 126 0641 Norma Galley 121 Maureen Underdown 117 0833 Judy Monger 112 0513 Florence Davies 135 0729 Kathy Swan 130 Roger Ordish 126 0663 Linda Hillard 121 0606 Teena Walls 117 0952 Jean Owen 112 Marjorie Gardner 134 0924 Linda Barratt 130 Malcolm Roberts 126 0572 Val Hoskings 121 1175 Rosalind Wilson 117 Joan Price 112 1304 Linda Moir 134 0557 Janice Bease 130 0960 Mary Siggers 126 Gill (Taunton) 120 Elizabeth Allen 117 0477 Malcolm Shaw 112 0972 Denise Saxton 134 1423 Calum Edwards 130 0029 Marlene Skinner Thompson 120 0518 Eileen Basham 117 1343 Doris Street 112 Willie Scott 134 0223 June Edwards 130 Wojtek Usakiewicz 125 Noel Barnes 120 0305 Doreen Blake 116 Nora Bain 112 0451 Vera Sime 134 0840 Rhoda Gray 130 1416 Richard Woodward 125 1020 Derek Bower 120 Heather Cruickshank 116 0722 June Clark 112 0844 Jan Vokes-Taylor 134 1192 Pat Heffernan 129 Sheila (Perth) 125 0603 Linda Bradford 120 0405 Peter Ernest 116 0992 Geoff Cooper 112 Kathleen Ward 134 0263 Sheila Jolliffe Anderson 125 0915 Shirley Chidwick 120 Joyce Gershon 116 1424 Len Edwards 112 Isla Wilkie 134 0204 Michael Partner 129 0166 Beryl Brown 125 0755 Carmen Dolan 120 1225 Lena Glass 116 June Faulkner 112 1271 Claudia Wiseman 134 Gerry Pearce 129 Garry Clark 125 1331 Carol Grant 120 1413 Geoff Goodwin 116 0782 Richard Pajak 111 1063 Irene Atkinson 134 Barbara Shammas 129 0896 Chris Dossett 125 0298 Mavis Harding 120 0724 Stuart May 116 Rose Spencer 111 0579 Sheila Booth-Millard 134 0291 Sylvia Swaney 129 1217 Carolyn Emery 125 0737 Margaret Harkness 120 Angela Mort 116 1169 Yvonne Templeton 111 1449 Mary Brodbin 134 1273 Peter Winnick 129 0402 Sally Fiszman 125 Miri Purse 120 0169 Sue Thompson 115 1158 Wasinee Beech 111 Joan Ellis 134 Jenny Woodroffe 129 0341 Mike Holland 125 Brenda Rodwell 120 0356 Pamela Windsor 115 0709 Betty Benton 111 0640 Daphne Fletcher 133 1179 Janet Adams 129 Medina Hull 125 1149 Jim Wilkie 119 Georgina Cook 115 Vera Flood 111 0934 Joyce Jarvis 133 0856 Minu Anderson 129 1007 Margaret Irons 125 Margaret Williams 119 0156 Dorothy Dean 115 Lorna Franks 111 1054 Barbara Lukey 133 Brenda Baxter 129 0886 Ruth Marsden 124 0977 Gail Allen 119 0854 Joseph Doku 115 David French 111 Dennis Nelson 133 0964 Phyllis Fernandez 129 0136 Jan Turner 124 Alistair Baker 119 Ann Fiddler 115 0718 Pat Friend 111 0190 Edith Tempest 133 1035 Andy Gray 129 0864 Margaret White 124 0539 Lynn Giles 119 1257 Mary Hopwood 115 1199 Richard Hitchcock 110 Eileen (Reading) 133 Maureen Greening- 129 Margaret Yeadon 124 0736 Molly Lane 119 0772 David Hoyle 115 0638 Joan Lawrence Anderson Steer 128 0512 Etta Alexander 124 0938 Helen Polhill 119 1113 Christabel Jackson 115 1365 Christina Pace 110 0771 Sylvia Baldock 133 Paul Heasman 128 0419 Michael Baxendale 124 0616 Gertie Roberts 119 1244 Jayanthi Kannan 115 1388 Helen Rees 110 Beryl Browner 133 0608 Sandra Hoffland 128 0899 Jake Berliner 123 0257 Syd Berger 119 1089 Vivienne Newman 115 0357 Jean Shaw 110 Jean Buckley 133 1110 Pamela Kikumu 128 Janet Braund 123 0735 Hilary Birdsall 119 1425 Mark Redhead 115 Lee Walker 110 Irene Catherall 133 0904 George Newman 128 0767 Kathy Bullen 123 Pat Broderick 119 Sonia Temple 115 0248 Jean (Cardiff) Williams 110 0894 Owen Clarke

20 21 110 Jill Dyer 104 1049 Ken Bird 100 Jean Mainwaring 94 1185 Lyndon Johnson 87 Bernard Bruno 78 Muriel Mortimer 110 Wilf Gibbons 104 Margaret Boyd 100 Renee Paine 94 0132 Lorna Llewellyn 87 Josephine Croasdale 78 Peter Munt 110 1261 Jo Holland 104 0758 Kathy Carson 100 0578 Susan Richardson 94 1219 Jean Masterson 87 1306 Margaret Emmott 77 1316 Veronica Baker 110 Barbara Kent 104 1351 Jane Comer 100 1099 Heather Stevens 94 Beryl Trace 87 Joan Garlick 77 0541 Pamela Brown 110 0211 Philippa Morris 104 Rona Falconer 100 1383 Sarah-Jane Taylor 93 Judy Beales 87 Marcia Hall 77 Helen Jankowski 110 1100 Stuart Ross 104 0927 Audrey Medhurst 100 Elisabeth Williams 93 Chris Chapman 87 1188 Evelyn Mankelow 77 Iris Semus 109 Don Beavis 103 0985 Carmen Borg 99 1081 Anna Blakey 93 0410 Myra Copleston 87 Nicholas Robertson 76 Maris Bradley 109 0474 Eileen Bradshaw 103 Beverley Burgess 99 1248 Margaret Coleman 93 1200 Caroline Elliott 87 1441 Jean (Ryde) Williams 76 Teresa Haycock 109 0725 Paul Cartman 103 0683 Mavis Ernest 99 Douglas Emmott 93 1052 Barbara Haggett 86 0517 Peter Basham 76 1247 Edna Lindeck 109 0928 Iris Cornish 103 1298 Helga Farrow 99 Joan Everitt 93 0941 Audrey Harvey 86 1275 Jo Calvert-Mindell 76 Margaret Regan 109 Marie Davie 103 0415 Marjorie Garrett 99 0799 Cindy Hollyer 93 Doreen Searles 86 1453 Anne Corpe 76 1234 Jean Ross 109 1027 Margaret Firmston 103 Marjorie Hislop 99 1134 Dorothy Kemlicz 93 0818 Rose Wall 86 0783 Barrie Hall 76 George Sinclair 109 0533 Barbara Grant 103 0374 Joy Hodge 99 Esme Norris 93 1076 Marianne Ward 85 Maggie Fleming 76 Pat Sinclair 109 1077 Marian Hamer 103 1112 Peter Johnson 99 1280 Moreen Shillitoe 93 1332 Sheila Wyatt 85 Zoe Marlowe 76 Jane Thomas 109 1064 June Johnstone 103 Margaret Keeper 99 Betty Simmonds 92 1235 Rita Barton 85 Olive Matthew 76 1252 Ruth Turner 109 Robin McDougall 103 1311 Isabelle McLean 99 0485 Ann Toft 92 Peter Beales 85 Barbara Pinto 75 Mary Harris 109 Joy Reason 103 0851 Sheila Smith 99 Alice Tozeland 92 Ruth Binding 85 Roy Smith 75 1324 Margaret Jaggs 109 Joan Rees 103 0917 Nicola Staunton 99 1314 Evelyn Wansbrough 92 1289 Kerry Constant 85 1253 Philip Turner 75 Elizabeth Mustard 109 1071 Barbara Solomon 103 0564 Jean Stevens 98 Alex Beckmann 92 1008 Yvonne Goodridge 85 Fergus Williams 75 1135 Sylvia Oates 109 Sheila Tutt 102 Pat Burgess 98 Les Costin 92 1073 Jenny Harris 84 Chris Baker 75 1086 Margaret Webb 109 1398 Jill Warren 102 0877 Shirley Cave 98 Jean Fothergill 92 Anne Lawton 84 1104 Hazel Brannan 74 1121 Ann Gregson 109 Jane Weston 102 0526 Keith Churcher 98 Patrice McCarry 92 1114 Barbara McLaren 84 Florence Connell 74 1290 Mary Kennedy 108 0761 Mary Adams 102 Peter Dittert 98 Sandy McLeod 92 Peggy Moore 84 Mary Craddock 74 1377 Maria Moseley 108 1262 Ginny Dixon 102 1034 Elsie Edwards 98 Mollie Moran 92 1030 Derek Neath 84 0290 May Gray 74 1205 Patrick Teague 108 Bronagh Kenny 102 0791 Rosemary Jordan 98 Anne Richards 92 1297 Graham Pace 84 Audrey Jackson 74 1288 Millie Ward 108 1215 Mary Morgan 102 Margaret Macdonald 98 1315 Tanya Robson 92 Les Searle 84 Jacqueline King 73 Nancy Yorkston 108 0954 Dorothy Pearson 102 Marina Mehta 97 Cecilia Cotton 92 1174 Peter Trembath 84 June Lovett 72 1069 Olive Smith 108 Shirley Scoberg 102 David Paine 97 Steve Davie 92 Sonja Wyld 84 1399 Carol Russell 72 0031 Norah Thompson 108 0634 Edith Smith 102 Jessica Pratesi 97 1401 Gerry Gleeson 91 0778 Gwen Linfoot 84 1251 Jill Russell 71 Marie Cross 108 Isobel Smith 102 Josie Rogers 97 1218 Terry Masterson 91 0859 John Macdonald 84 Helen Thompson 71 0998 Jean Hendrick 108 Monica Stockwell 102 1118 Remie Salazar 97 1285 Susan Paton 91 1277 Vivian Mifsud 83 0908 Ted Anderson 71 Margaret Scott 108 Judy Young 102 Amy Vye 97 Connie Riach 91 1141 Michael Murray 83 Anna Churchouse 70 Doreen Throssell 107 1340 Paula Docherty 102 0935 Ian Whyte 97 1171 Susan Thorne 91 0119 Mary Ralfs 83 1407 Jan Hudson 70 Alec West 107 0486 Marjorie Lefley 102 0671 Chris Wide 97 Su Williams 91 Winifred Stitt 83 Eileen Johnson 69 Marcia Davies 107 Doreen Morris 101 1350 Gilly Batten 97 0900 Amabel Winter 91 Richard Tempest 83 Joan Murphy 69 Julie Rees 107 Sheila Szzvanowski 101 Philip Bowden 97 Henry Woodward 90 0563 Fred Burford 83 Betty Nichols 68 Jessie Chisholm 106 Maureen Barlow 101 Hilda Hudspeth 96 1259 Sheila (Romford) 90 1001 Jean Greenland 83 1302 Kalpana Thakker 68 Alan Fothergill 106 0827 Ann Clark 101 Pete Ison Anderson 90 1299 Rosemarie Howis 82 1229 Eileen Hunter 68 1334 Catherine McMillan 106 June Lindridge 101 1410 Hilbre Jenkins 96 0726 Christine Cartman 90 0828 Moira Metcalf 82 1068 Lionel Millmore 68 Carl Szzvanowski 106 0970 Sheila Miller 101 0684 Mary Keevy 96 Fay Goble 90 1137 Beroze Mody 82 1267 Margot Montgomery 67 1028 Peggy Lavender 106 Mary Orr 101 Christine Pullen 96 Jean Jacobs 89 0359 Vera Allen 82 Monica Urquhart 66 1386 Betty Meazey 106 1009 Jenny Sakamoto 101 0946 Sheila Reeve 96 Sheila Johnston 89 1148 Renee Gilbert 82 Reg Wiseman 62 1284 Margaret Hallin 106 Helen Sandler 101 0083 Pat Rockley 96 0976 Adrian Noller 89 Agnes Gray 81 Alice Bennell 61 Maureen Knox 106 1341 Pamela Sparkes 101 Beryl Shoesmith 96 1237 Dorn Osborne 89 Iris Grover 81 Joyce Caruth 60 Helen Tegg 106 0376 Claire Violett 101 Jacqui White 96 1119 Anne Partridge 89 Joan Hughes 81 1323 Sylvia Colledge 59 Barbara Yeaman 105 Madelaine Baker 100 Helen Aley 95 1038 Jacquie Aldous 89 Mandy Isaac 80 Brenda Burdett 56 0949 Barbara Horlock 105 0384 Mabel Choularton 100 1263 Barbara Barker 95 0951 Bill Anderson 89 1176 Gordon Lamb 80 Dorothy Henry 105 Eve Dwyer 100 Len Choules 95 1168 Brian Beaumont 89 0193 Christine Nicholson 80 0153 Mary Lindsay 105 Barbara Etheridge 100 Tricia Cooper 95 Alan Everitt 89 0253 Peter Shuttlewood 80 1390 Maria Raffaelli 105 1080 Margaret Mitchell 100 Reg Dendy 95 Jan Gibson 88 Doreen Coleman 80 Sheila Stanton 105 Mark Murray 100 0030 Ruby Flood 95 Lionel Howard 88 1039 Dorothy Edwards 79 Frank Goodier 105 0692 Margaret Seabrook 100 Joyce Frost 95 Christine Watkins 88 Monica Marden 79 Keith Woodruff 105 Fuad Shammas 100 Paul Harding 95 1258 Anne Wilkins 88 Kitty Reid 78 1143 Letty Burrell 105 Marjorie Struggles 100 Olive Holroyd 94 Prue Buckingham 88 Rena Waddell 78 Ena Harding 104 0953 Peter Bailey 100 Rose Lawson 94 Joan Johns 88 Rod Winfield 78 Winnie Haston

22 23 David Sutton on Dictionary Pruning extreme, imagine an OED-style lexicon of two million words - even the most devout of logophiles would surely find this totally overwhelming. On the uk-scrabble email forum a few weeks back, in a discussion on the forthcoming new official word list one member expressed the following opinion - one which, I am sure, is In conclusion, I think there is always going to be room for a little tinkering around the edges, sharedby many people: as new words become established in the language and obsolescent words can finally be considered obsolete beyond all likely encounter. But serious purges - no! Instead, let’s have “...frankly I’d prefer a situation where much of the dross is purged from the Official Word a little appreciation of what what we’ve got, and of those unsung heroes who have assisted, List so that it reflects the English language as currently used today...it’s never going to and are still assisting, in that miracle of adaptive lexical evolution called SOWPODS. happen - too many people gain their scrabble advantage by knowledge of the more obscure words.” David Sutton’s reply is worthy of a wider audience: Pi-Tile I’d just like to make a couple of points in response to M___’s posting. Firstly, M___wants the Scrabble lexicon purged of what he sees as ‘obscure and sometimes Spotted on the web a few weeks back ridiculous’ words. But M___, to a very large extent this is, believe it or not, exactly what was this little oddity. It appeared on ebay has already been done. Take a look at the complete OED some time, with its vast array of - the internet auction site and was described as follows: headwords and its seeming infinity of variant spellings, and you will quickly realise that This Scrabble tile is from a 1957 edition of the game. what we have in SOWPODS is a very small subset, perhaps about 5%, of all the It has been struck twice with a "T" and looks like "Pi" and it's combinations of letters that can legitimately claim to be or have been English words. worth 11 points!!! Put that on a triple letter score and kick Contrary to your belief, dictionary-makers like Chambers do not pursue a deliberate policy of butt on family game night!!! Will be shipped safely and securely right to you! inflating their compendia with every weird word they can lay their hands on; rather, they pursue a policy of ruthlessly cutting out what might be viewed as dead wood in favour of the How much did it sell for for? It made 31 US dollars - a little over £18! potentially useful: that is to say, words which their readers might actually encounter - not, to be sure, in that narrow and parochial subset of human existence which we call everyday life, but in everyday life plus a large range of disciplines to which the enquiring mind might be attracted, and plus certain works of the past which it still might wish to explore. It is surely COLIN (COuntdown in LINcoln) announces... one of the great attractions of Scrabble, and goes a long way to explain its enduring appeal, A Countdown tournament will be taking place on Januay 28 2006 in Lincoln, that the game is so happily congruent with this act of enquiry and this exploration. following on from the successful tournaments held in Lincoln and Bristol in 2005. I am sure we have all had the joyful experience of meeting a word that we are used to playing The tournament is open for anyone to enter, Scrabbler, Countdowner or even those on the board in some real-life context, and hailing it like an old friend; conversely we have who have just a passing interest in either. all had the delight of getting to play an unusual word that we genuinely know from our more The format is very simple - everybody starts off on a table with three players on it. In adventurous reading or from some personal branch of study. I don’t see why anyone should each game, two of the players will compete against each other with the other player wish to abolish those pleasures by confining the Scrabble lexicon to ‘the English language as acting as "Carol/Des", putting up the letters/numbers selections, and keeping score. used today’ (whatever that means exactly - where? in what context? by whom?). By the end of the day, everyone will have played 6 games, with the person who has My second point is that perhaps we sometimes fail to appreciate just how well-fitted, in the highest number of wins being declared the winner. In the event of a tie, total terms of size, the current SOWPODS lexicon is to the game of Scrabble and to the human points scored will be used to determine the winner. minds that play it. As a "warm-up" to the event itself, there will be an exhibition match between two We have around 200,000 words that are conceivably playable. This is a number that is just top players, and an optional two-course meal when the tournament has finished. about at the limit of the human mind’s capacity to master - perhaps a little beyond the limit. That keeps things perpetually interesting and challenging: each game is a new venture into For further details or to enter the event, please contact Ben on 01522 787077 or potentially uncharted territory, and I think even our most knowledgeable, hard-working 07867 913604 email: [email protected] or write to COLIN, 7 Perney and highly-rated players will testify that it’s an unusual game from which they can’t learn Crescent, North Hykeham, Lincoln LN6 9RJ. or relearn something on the lexical front. Imagine, by contrast, that the game’s lexicon were Tournament entry is FREE but the optional meal comes at a charge of £5 per head. limited to an ‘everyday current English’ vocabulary of perhaps 20,000 words. Any serious Please say if you would like the meal. player would soon master this pretty well completely, leaving games to be decided purely Hope to see you in January! by the luck of the draw - if you want that sort of game, why not play ludo? At the other

24 25 simulating some 14 points better than MEW. Gareth really needs a 3-consonant pick-up to justify his choice. MEW g8d 25 51 Pakorn 2: ELNOT? D (-40) Another obvious move for Pakorn. There are five other 7-letter words with DELNOT and a blank. Can you see them? (Answers on page 32). No. 18 by PHIL APPLEBY TaLONED h7d 87 98 Only the annotated game this month I’m afraid- although it is a classic encounter between Gareth 3: EEEU BPR (-47) two of the world’s finest at this year’s World Championships, a taster for the inevitable This time the pick-up has been kind to Gareth, and BEEP looks pretty good, keeping back deluge of WSC-related articles next issue! So without further ado... a promising URE. However PUREE at h12a is even better, scoring 7 more points and getting rid of the U. Annotated Game: BEEP j10a 27 78 Gareth Williams vs Pakorn Nemitrmansuk, World Scrabble Championship Pakorn 3: A A D IKLS (+20) When I first saw this rack, I concluded that I would play KAF at j6d. This was Pakorn's choice too, but only after he'd spent a considerable amount of time thinking about the The final round of the WSC prior to the Final saw Gareth Williams take on last year's losing move. When I analysed the game I discovered that there were two lovely 7-letter plays finalist, Pakorn from Thailand, at Table 1. If Pakorn won, he would reach the Final for the through tiles on the board - the Y at k8 and the P at m10. (See page 32 for answers) As it second successive year. If Gareth won by a big margin, he might reach the Final himself. happens KAF simulates just about as well, largely thanks to the nice DIALS leave. So all to play for… KAF j6d 20 118 Gareth 4: ERU EITV (-40) Gareth 1: EEFFIUY Gareth spots the only bonus, to retake the lead. A tricky choice with a less than inspiring rack. IFFY provides the best score, but the EEU leave could spell trouble if Gareth picks a couple more vowels. FIEF or FIFE leave the ERUPTIVE m7d 80 158 scoring potential of the Y on the rack, while FEU leaves the tiles for a possible -IFY bonus. Pakorn 4: ADILS SV (-40) I might have been tempted by IFF at h1a for 18, keeping the Y back for IFFY. If Pakorn plays The E of ERUPTIVE is in the wrong place for DEVISALS, so Pakorn looks to find the best BIFF, JIFF, MIFF or NIFF, the Y still hooks, and provides an even bigger payback. Gareth non-bonus play. He's not short of choices, with plays such as VISED or VADES at j14a, and chooses IFFY at h8a, and computer simulation suggests that it's the best choice. OVALS at h11d. Somewhat surprisingly, ERUPTIVE takes an S, and the highest-scoring play Gareth: The only alternative to IFFY that I considered was FIEF: there was a temptation to is SILVAS/ERUPTIVES for 44. I'd have played OVALS keeping DIS, but Pakorn prefers the place it hoping for some score with FY, the Y on DLS, but it wasn't enough. I think word- ALS leave after VISED. Perhaps he also considered the E a bigger threat for high-scoring analysis would show that the Y is a vowel synergistically as well as functionally, so there is plays involving the J or Z. no point in keeping it for rack balance, only for scoring insurance. VISED j14a 34 152 IFFY h8a 26 26 Gareth 5: AIIOSTZ (+ 6) Pakorn 1: ELNOQT? (-26) As it happens Gareth has picked the Z, but wouldn't have had a play through the E with No tricky choice for Pakorn. Despite the closed nature of the board, playing off the Q the Z on the j14 TLS. Again the S hook on ERUPTIVE provides the highest-scoring play, SAZ provides excellent bonus possibilities for next move. for 53, but Gareth's choice of RIZ is far better for balance, and simulates best. ZATI or ZITI at b10a for 35 are reasonable plays, but with a lead of over 40 after RIZ, there is the QI h7d 11 11 additional advantage of taking out the bonus line on the n column. Gareth 2: EEU EEMW (+15) RIZ m8a 36 194 Gareth's pick-up certainly could have been better, but at least he has a couple of high- Pakorn 5: ALS AADR (-42) scoring consonants to go with his surfeit of vowels. Again, Gareth chooses to maximise score at the expense of rack balance, using the M-IFFY hook. This time computer A disappointing pick-up for Pakorn, and ideally he wants to play off two A's. A move that simulation suggests that rack balance is the better option, with EMEU at j7a for 17 achieves this nicely, and provides a helpful S hook, is ALARY at k4d for 24. The down side is that it is almost certain that Gareth will play off the A, with so few scoring opportunities

26 27 elsewhere. I suspect this was in Pakorn's mind when he chose LADY instead. Although he Pakorn 7: APRS NNO (-77) is slightly behind, the deficit is far from conclusive at this relatively early stage of the game, Pakorn's foresight in creating a second opening appears to have paid dividends. NAPRONS so he can afford to keep things tight and wait for a better opportunity to create an opening. at f3a for 67 gets him right back into the game. But he makes a surprising error, playing LADY k5d 25 177 NONPARS instead. This could be one of those rare situations where the fact that English is Gareth 6: AIOST IN (+17) not Pakorn's native tongue led him into the error. NONPAR is valid, but it's only an adjective. If you don't know the meaning it's reasonable to think that it might take an S, on A good spot by Gareth. It's the only 8-letter word with this rack, so the floating T was the basis that PAR does. But the net result is that after Gareth's challenge he's lost a move, particularly welcome. Suddenly a place in the Final is looking that little bit more likely… and possibly his chances of reaching the Final. NOTITIAS e7d 58 252 NONPARS * f3a 0 198 Pakorn 6: AARS BNP (-75) Gareth 8: EEOR LNR (+77)

abcdefg hij klmno So the question for Gareth is - should he block NAPRONS? Pakorn missed it last move; did 1 he choose NONPARS simply because it scored more, in which case he could plonk down 2 Score NAPRONS next move? Although NAPRONS plays in two places (f1d and f3a), Gareth can 3 Pakorn:A 177 block both with a move such as LEONE at f3d. Gareth decided that Pakorn didn't play NAPRONS because he wasn't sure of it, and chooses to play off five tiles with LOANER at 4 Gareth: 252 c13a for 14. Playing lots of tiles is always a good policy when you're ahead; it leaves your 5 L opponent less time to catch up. 6 KA 7 NQADE LOANER c13a 14 289 8 OMIFFYRIZ Pakorn 8: ANNOPRS (-91) AABNPRS 9 TE U Sure enough, Pakorn fails to spot NAPRONS. Of the non-bonus plays, Pakorn's choice of 10 I W BEEP Pakorn POON is probably best. It scores well, and his leave of ANRS augurs well. 11 T A LONED T POON d12d 24 222 12 II Gareth 9: E R A A A U ? (+67) 13 AV 14 SVISED Despite the surfeit of vowels, Gareth must be delighted with his pick-up. The blank will 15 surely lead to another bonus play, and that might be good enough to wrap up the win. Playing off AA looks like a smart move, and Gareth comes up with a clever play. In his own words: "AA at m3 seemed a good idea, balancing my rack a bit, blocking the easy 7 ending This is one of those situations where the best move will vary depending on the score. If he in S, forcing the opening of a triple and possible 9-timer in such a case, with a blank on were ahead, BAP at d6d for 19 would be tempting, making the best bonus spot more my rack." I couldn't have said it better. difficult to use and keeping promising tiles back should his opponent attempt to create an AA m3d 6 295 opening. But instead he is a bonus behind, so needs to keep the existing openings intact, Pakorn 9: ANRS IMO (-73) and if possible create another. Pakorn finds the perfect solution with NAB at l4d. It scores well, leaves a bonus-friendly SPAR on his rack, and creates a new S hook. Excellent play. This time Pakorn spots the bonus, and plays it in the only available spot. NAB l4d 21 198 MAINORS f1d 66 288 Gareth 7: CEEOORW (+54) Now it's Gareth's turn to have a tricky choice. With a 54-point lead, the obvious thing is Missing Issues? to block one of the openings, but if it can be achieved whilst retaining reasonable bonus potential, so much the better. In the end, and after considerable thought, Gareth decides to In the event that your copy of The Last Word fails to arrive or sacrifice rack balance and play COW at d6d. It looks a sound choice, although the move if you change your address, the person to contact is: that simulates best, by some considerable distance, is WOE at h12a for 26, presumably Anne Ramsay because of the bonus potential of the CORE leave. Further simulations to the end of the 8 Glen Cova Place, Kirkcaldy, Fife KY2 6UL game still have WOE out in front, winning 80% of all games compared to COW's 76%. [email protected] COW d6d 23 275

28 29 G

Gareth 10: AERU? SU (+ 7) Gareth 12: DEEGGHU (+11) abcdefg hij klmno abcdefg hij klmno 1 M 1 MOORAG ES 2 A 2 EA HEY 3 IA 3 XI A 4 NNA 4 IN NA 5 OLA ScoreA A 5 TO LA 6 C R KAB Score 6 CR KAB Pakorn:364 7 ONS Q AD E Pakorn: 288 7 Gareth:375 8 WO M I F F Y R I Z ONS Q AD E Gareth: 295 8 9 TE U WO M I F F Y R I Z 10 I W BEEP 9 TE U 11 T A LONED T 10 I W BEEP DEEGGHU AERSUU? 12 11 T A LONED T PI I Gareth 13 LOANER V 12 PI I Gareth 14 OS V I SED 13 LOANER V 15 N 14 OS V I SED 15 N Unfortunately, and perhaps blinded by the double U on his rack, Gareth misses the only playable bonus. Can you see it? (See page 32) Assuming you fail to spot the bonus, what's There are five tiles in the bag. In this type of situation my inclination is always to leave at next best? Gareth boldly changes UU, despite having seen his lead all but vanish. least one tile in the bag. If my opponent knows exactly what's left, they can play a perfect Simulation indicates that this is an excellent choice, as good as moves such as MURA at endgame; I feel that they're more likely to slip up if they don't know exactly what I have f1a. Furthermore, it simulates only 12 points worse than playing the bonus; as I've said on my rack. But Gareth must also consider what Pakorn could play; possibilities include before, if you're going to miss a bonus do it when you have a blank on your rack - it's JAGIR at n2d and JARRING at a4a. On balance, I think that if Gareth can play out first he usually less expensive! However an analysis based on winning percentage suggests that it's has a good chance of winning, regardless of what Pakorn does. For this reason I'd play better to score some points, with MURA winning 85% of games, while changing UU wins HUG at i3a for 27. It leaves a G for the -ING ending at e4, and it keeps back tiles that play only 79%. very nicely down the n column. But let's see what was going through Gareth's mind… Change UU 0 295 Gareth: I can see the argument that I should have blocked JARRING. I was aware of it, but Pakorn 10: EEIIRTX (- 7) also of JAGIR, where I played EGGED, and didn't much like the EU leave after, say, Pakorn has REMIXT for 48 and MIXIER for 45 around the M, but he knows that Gareth is HEDGING, which yielded HIJRA, while HINGED didn't score as much, and I couldn't close to a bonus and instead chooses to tie up as many of the floaters as possible. It's a remember if CHINGED* might be good. smart move; it's always much harder to spot 9-letter words. As against UGGED: I was unsure of it, having had a hazy recollection of a topic on uk- EXIT e2d 39 327 scrabble recently regarding the part of speech of UG - or was it UGH? Couldn't remember. Gareth 11: AERS? OO (-32) Then I lost sight of the Q and thought I had to keep the U, then spotted the Q on the board, and later while thinking about the J options forgot it again, all before actually playing. At Gareth has exchanged UU for OO, but it proves to be no problem for the Welsh wizard, any rate I should have taken more time, which I still had on my side. despite Pakorn's best efforts to make life difficult. UGGED would have been better, and would have guaranteed a win. But Gareth would still MOORAgES f1a 80 375 be incredibly unlucky not to win after opening up a 42-point lead… Pakorn 11: EIR JHTY (-48) EGGED n2d 31 406 Pakorn must be quite pleased with his pick-up. At this stage of the game, with bonus spots Pakorn 12: IJRT AGR (-42) now pretty much extinguished, scoring potential is key, and the JHY fit the bill nicely. It would be nice to hold back either the H or Y, which are more versatile than the J, but HEY The only pick-up that would give Pakorn a chance was AGR - and that's exactly what came or YEH at h2a score significantly more than any alternatives. Pakorn opts for HEY. out of the bag! He has no hesitation in playing JARRING for 46. HEY h2a 37 364 JARRING a4a 46 410

30 31 Gareth 13: H U C L T U U (- 4) Gareth's best move is LICH or TICH at l12a for 26. With Pakorn able to score 14 for IT at c7d, this would result in a tie. Maybe Gareth didn't spot Pakorn's best out-play? HUIC k12a 25 431 Pakorn 13: I T (-19) Pakorn spots his best out-play to win by a single point. Compiled by David Sutton IT c7d 14 424 (Puzzle solutions on inside back cover) EDGEWAYS Final score: Gareth 427 Pakorn 428 Throughout Edgeways, words not in OSWI are marked by an asterisk *

Summary: A terrific game, which Gareth pretty much controlled throughout, only to lose The Five-Minute Anagram Challenge thanks to a fortuitous pick-up by Pakorn at the very end. But full marks to Pakorn for putting Below are four sets of anagrams, presented in ascending order of difficulty based partly his NONPARS error behind him and playing an excellent game from that point onwards. on the likely familiarity of the words and partly on the nature of their ‘pattern’. Each What would have been the effect on the WSC if the game had been tied, or if Gareth had anagram has a unique solution. It is suggested that full marks in set A won narrowly, as looked likely until the last moment? A tie would still have given Pakorn corresponds to an ABSP rating of around 125; in set B to 150; in set C a place in the Final, but would have elevated Gareth to 4th, above Ganesh Asirvatham. to 175; and in set D to 200, though of course people differ in their Any win for Gareth would have given Naween Fernando a place in the Final, rather than vocabularies and anagramming skills so any such categorisation can Pakorn, while a win by more than 7 points would have given Gareth 3rd place, ahead of only be loose and intuitive. Give yourself five minutes for the chosen Pakorn. To reach the Final Gareth would have had to win by 77 points; it looked possible set. Of course, by all means try the harder sets, but don’t be at one stage, but probably not after Pakorn's MAINORS. discouraged if the going gets tough! A. HENTGLEN ATROGUE ATHRONE PARIOSE PAPHITE Solutions GALLILE GELRATS IRELADY IGOLEAF IRETREE DELNOT goes with F, I, R, W and Y to make TENFOLD, LENTOID, ENTROLD, LETDOWN B. ICEROTE TOPBEDS MEANPEN TEMPUNK SYNDATY and NOTEDLY. MANOMIA TAXINEY THARBED ARRIPIE THEBESS The two 7-letter words are ILKADAY for 30 and KLIPDAS for 40. C. SNAILEY BOTCHIE THAWELS COMRUDE LAUTLEU Holding AERSUU?, Gareth could have played AUgURIES through the I for 66. OUTSAUF COIFIER SECIQUE AIRMADE MORTALE D. PARHAZE WETPLAD GULPSIDE WILDREZ DUPLIER ADVERTISEMENT BELEAKS BONETYPE SCOYNED CODPISS CUSHATY FF GGG DDDD EEEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOO BB CC NNNNNN MM X YY Z ?? yellow books AAAAAAAAA J K LLLL VVWW UUUU Eq Loss HH IIIIIIIII TTTTTT Co-ords SSSS Move RRRRRR Rack Preferred PP Q m n o i j k l e f g h 1 a b c d A new scorebook designed to help you easily record 2 1 3 2 4 5 your racks as you play. No need for bits of sticky 3 6 4 7 Meet My Twin 8 5 9 paper to hide information from your opponent. 6 10 7 11 12 Many common seven-letter words have exactly one somewhat less common anagram. 8 13 Replay your game on the board diagram provided 9 14 5 10 1 Being aware of such alternatives can help you in those all-too-frequent situations where 16 11 17 and find those words you missed this time but will 12 18 19 13 Total: finding a bonus is one thing, but finding a bonus that fits is quite another. Practise by 14 om @btinternet.c Alec.R.Webb now remember for next time. An excellent aid to 4HS. Email: R32 15 toft, Suffolk N Road, Lowes St Margaret’s ec Webb, 17 oduced by Al signed and pr Scorebook de finding the common anagrams of these less common sevens... any player with a desire to improve their rating. 50 2-part A5 scoresheets per book. Wirobound. Vowel/Consonant tracking grids. SORDINO ENDARCH SUBORAL CAROMED DUALINS £2.50 for mail order please add £1 p+p per book (book weight 300g) CORANTO ALLONGE NILGHAI HAUSING TROUTER Only available from Alec Webb, 17 St Margarets Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 4HS ALANYLS BROCKED MESTEES CYTASES TSOURIS email: [email protected] Books will be on sale at Chester (January) and Peteborough (February) CESIUMS FARFELS LASQUES CLEUGHS GINGALL

32 33 Author! Author! KSAR A tsar. Our author for this issue is the poet John OBSEQUIE = OBSEQUY, a funeral rite. Milton, and it is a bit of a departure from the usual format in that I am not actually OPACOUS Opaque. going to recommend that anyone reads OUGLIE, OUGHLY Ugly; (verb) to make ugly. him. That is to say, by all means have a go PERFET Perfect. at 'Paradise PONENT Western, of the setting sun. Lost' if you want to, but I think it has to be accepted that there are certain classic PROCINCT Preparedness. writers, very fine in their way and in their REALTIE Sincerity, honesty. time, to whom modern readers have largely REGEST A register. lost the key: their sensibility, their style, John Milton SED Said. their beliefs, their whole cultural background has become largely alien to us, and it seems to me that Milton with SERENATE A serenade. his complex theology and density of classical allusion is just such SLUSE A sluice. a writer. Be that as it may, there are a number of Miltonisms STOLN Stolen. enshrined in the Scrabble vocabulary and I thought it was worth having a look at them. Here is a selection of the most useful. SUSPENCE, SUSPENS Suspended, held back. ANOUGH, ANOW, ENOW Enough. SUTTLETIE Subtlety. BOWES Boughs. There is no singular BOWE*. SWINDGE to swinge. BUCKSOM buxom. SYRTIS A patch or area of quicksand. Pl. SYRTES. CRUE Crew. TAPSTRY Made of tapestry. EEVEN, EEVN, EEVNING Evening. TERF, TERFE Turf. EMBOST pt of EMBOSS in sense of ‘to go TROULE To roll, trundle. into a wood’. UNCONFORM Unlike. FEMAL Female. UNFORBID Not forbidden. FORREN Foreign. VENTRING Venturing. FURDER Further. VENTROUS Adventurous. GOARY Gory. No comparative! VIOLD = VIALLED, put in a vial. GOLE A goal. VOLUBIL = VOLUBLE, flowing smoothly. GURGE A whirlpool; (verb) to swirl. VOUTSAFE To vouchsafe. HAEMONY A plant ‘of sovereign use against enchantment’. WARDROP Wardrobe.

Words In The Wild 'Rigwoodie hags wad spean a foal/Louping and Anyone wanting an introduction to the rather daunting number of Scots words included flinging on a crummock'. RIGWOODIE (also in the Scrabble lexicon could well start with Robert Burns's poem 'Tam o'Shanter', that RIGWIDDIE) is a cart-horse's back-band; used here combines a fine rollicking humour with some genuine tension, as feckless Tam, having as an adjective it means 'lean and toug'h. SPEAN stumbled one dark night on a coven of witches dancing naked and been unable to (also SPANE and SPAIN) means to wean. To LOUP restrain himself from shouting encouragement, is pursued by them and just manages to is to leap or dance, with past tense LOUPIT and past get to safety by crossing a stream (shades of Frodo being pursued by the Ringwraiths!). participle LOUPEN. And a CRUMMOCK is a crook, The witches, with one notable exception, are an unattractive lot, being described as a stick with a curved head.

34 35 Anagrid: What's The Matter?

1a bcdef ghi jkl m n o Before reading on, see how many adjectives you can think of that end in -EN or -ERN and describe the substance from which a thing is made e.g. (just to get you started) WOODEN. 2 A dozen would be fairly good going for most of us, but actually there are more than you might think, and many of them have a pleasantly archaic ring. Here is what purports to be 3 a complete list:

4 ALDERN made of alder wood. ASHEN made of ash wood. 5 BARKEN made of bark; can also be a verb: to dry up into a barky crust. BIRCHEN made of birch wood. 6 BIRKEN made of birch wood. BOXEN made of box wood. 7 BRAZEN made of brass; can also be a verb as in to brazen something out. BRICKEN made of brick. 8 BRONZEN made of bronze. EARTHEN made of earth. 9 ELMEN made of elm wood. EUGHEN (Spenser) made of yew wood. 10 EWGHEN (Spenser) made of yew wood. FLAXEN made of flax. 11 GLASSEN made of glass. GLAZEN made of glass. 12 GOLDEN made of gold.

13 HEMPEN made of hemp. LARCHEN made of larch wood. 14 LATHEN made of lath. LEADEN made of lead; can also be a verb: to make leaden. 15 LEATHERN made of leather. MILKEN made of milk. OAKEN made of oak. HORIZONTAL CLUES: VERTICAL CLUES: RUSHEN made of rush. 1. DARTWELD a. SOLCHOKE SILVERN made of silver. 2. GLANNIE b. ABBADHS STONEN made of stone. 3. UNECCLES c. CWYDLIKE STONERN made of stone. 4. REARKWE d. UPOLATE STRAWEN made of straw. 5. IEXEROSS e. SDAINTED TAPEN made of tape. 6. SEAGHIND f. MATDRAIN TREEN made of wood; (noun) an item carved of wood. 7. THEPOLIS g. EGOMILED TURFEN made of turf. 8. MARTINA h. ALPSEED TWIGGEN made of twigs. 9. COOLWEED i. REKOILES WAXEN made of wax. 10. TEAJUGSA j. CROATIIS WHEATEN made of wheat; (noun) the colour of wheat. 11. CRIMATED k. MOLENANT WOOLEN made of wool. 12. CIDILLY l. ARIOLAE WOOLLEN made of wool. 13. SLITTIES m. ATESHREW YEWEN made of yew wood. 14. ISABARD n. GEROUND 15. LESHLESE o. DATECIDE For completion one should add CEDARN (made of cedar).

36 37 Cryptogram Multipack Monsters

2 18181941715 23177 14171115 A PILAU is a highly spiced Eastern dish of rice with fowl or other meat, or fish, boiled together or 22 17 25 10 3 7 16 23 22 14 26 separately. And very tasty too. Even better, it has the following useful variants:

16 6 24 15 22 3 22 19 22 15 22 15 24 PILAU PILLAU PILAF PILAFF PILAW PILOW 4 2215 117 194 16 17144 Curio Corner 14 24 18 17 15 25 4 15 7 15 18 There are special words used in psychology to denote people whose mental processes are 4 14241518 22 4541715 dominated by a particular sense or facility. Which would you say you were? We have AUDILE One whose mental processes are dominated by the sense of hearing. 213 1718 241824 1 7 1914 VISILE One whose mental processes are dominated by vision. VERBILE One whose mental processes are dominated by words. 3 4 17 14 22 4 11 1 4 18 14 7 15 15 MOTILE One whose imagery naturally takes the form of feelings of action. 7187142252274147 There seem to be no equivalent words for the senses of smell, touch or taste, so nothing for anyone whose mental processes are dominated by, say, the need to get down to the pub. 13 19 7 19 7 22 19 17 4 19 11 We do have in addition SENSILE (capable of affecting the senses) and TACTILE (relating to the sense of touch) but these are purely adjectives and cannot take an -S. 8 15 25 19 17 4 14 15 21 22 22 You Can Put a Y on That?! 174 15 191714167 222418 Well, having finished our series on unexpected -S hooks, let's take a look at some words which take a possibly surprising -Y hook. Here are some beginning with A to C. 9 201477 102237 22141518 AMBER ANTS ARROW ATOM ATOP 4 222418127142223 12 7 BALLS BALSAM BARD BIFF BISCUIT BLADDDER BLAST BLIGHT BLUES BOOKS 15 17 3 15 17 7 11 22 13 7 17 10 7 11 BOTH BOULDER BRASH BREAD BRICK BRISK BULRUSH CAIRN CAKE CALM ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ CARBO CARTOON CAUSE CHAMP CHASM CITRUS CLUTCH COACH CONTRAST COPS 12345678910111213 CORE COTTAGE CROWD CRUD CURRANT

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A A A A A A A A A blue books B B C C D D D D E E E E E E E E E E E E F F G G G H H I I I I I I I 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 I I J K L L L L M M N N N N N N O O O O O O O O P P Q R R R R R R S S S S T T T T T T U U U U 1st 2nd V V W W X Blank Y Y Z Blank The neatest way to keep a record of your games. o o T 100 A5 scoresheets per book. Wirobound. Alphabetic tracking grids. £2.50 + 50p per book p+p From Alec Webb, 17 St Margarets Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 4HS email: [email protected]

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LUXURY RACKS Single Pair SCUSI !

Clear/coloured: £4.00 £7.00 (pink, green, yellow, lilac, blue, black, clear) A NEW SCRABBLE ACCESSORY NO PLAYER WILL WANT TO BE WITHOUT! Oak, gold, ivory: £4.50 £8.00 Bronze, marble: £5.00 £9.00 The inventor, David Sutton, and the proprietor, Stewart Holden, write:

Postage: £1.00 £1.50 "Scrabble players have been well served by computer (includes one carry pouch per rack) PROTILES programs such as Maven and Lexpert that help them High quality smooth ‘tournament tiles’. Fit all boards, free replacements to win games, but to date one critical piece of for lost or damaged tiles. Available in white, black, red, green, blue, software has been notably missing from their lilac, grey, cream, yellow or orange. £11.00 per set (£1 p+p) armoury: there has been no program to help them when they lose games, by automatically generating POCKET SAMTIMER™ appropriate excuses. This lack has now been • 3-year warranty remedied, and Tilefish Enterprises are proud to • Set to 25:00 – 25:00 automatically but can easily be changed present Scusi (SCrabble USers Interface), a state-of- • Choose from silver, green, yellow, lilac or pink! the-art program that uses the latest advances in • Comes with own carry box. Batteries also supplied. £35.00 (£3 p+p) artificial intelligence coupled with unique psychological insight into the Scrabble player's mind to SCORE BOOK provide a broad range of excuses suitable for every occasion. Scusi runs on any PC, MAC or handheld device and offers the following features: Our own design of A5 score book for recording 100 games. Clear tile tracking grid – Space to record words, scores, final score • A total of two hundred different excuses, which should be enough to last most & spread – Blank area for working – Wire-bound with smart green tournament players at least a year, after which time they can reasonably be cover and reorder page at the back. Great value! £2.50 (50p p+p) recycled (the excuses, not the players, though that might be an idea too). • Categorisation of excuses by tiles, opponent, playing conditions, personal state OTHER ITEMS: of health, trouble with clock, use or nonuse of penalty challenges, criminal Challenge-A-Day Calendar (2006) £8.00 (£2 p+p) Order any three items incompetence of tournament director etc. etc. Padded case for Pocket SamTimer £8.00 (£1 p+p) on this page and postage is FREE! • A warning pop-up if the same excuse is selected more than twice in a row: one ‘Gambler’ board game £15.00 (£3 p+p) doesn't want to become boring. ‘Triolet’ board game (see flyer) £22.50 (£3 p+p) Cheques payable to • Prioritisation of excuses according to margin of loss - save the really dramatic Books: ‘Tilefish’ sent to above excuses for those 300+ point losses. address. Please allow ‘How To Win At Scrabble’ £9.50 (£1.50 p+p) 14 days for delivery. • Facility to block some excuses altogether - for example, it is likely that few ‘Word Freak’ £5.50 (£1 p+p) players will wish to avail themselves of excuse no. 200, 'my opponent played ‘World Championship Scrabble’ £2.00 (£1 p+p) Thank you! better Scrabble than I did'.

40 41 Sample excuses from Scusi's wide-ranging set: •“Too many consonants” FFOORRTTHHCCOOMMIINNGG EEVVEENNTTSS •“Too many vowels“ Compiled by Paul Cartman •“I had the wrong tiles at the wrong time“ Each tournament approved for rating will get a listing including: date, number of games •“I had the right tiles at the wrong time“ and contact details. For one day tournaments, further details will be given as regards •“I spotted a nice little 27-timer ARCHAEOPTERYXES but unfortunately I got pricing, start times etc, to allow members to utilise the generic entry form. Note that the AE the wrong way round“ some organisers have indicated that rated tournaments will occur on particular dates, •“My opponent was distractingly beautiful/handsome“ but that full details are not yet available. These tournaments are included for •“My opponent was Mark Nyman“ completeness and once details are known, they will be published as appropriate. •“Now if we'd been playing with penalty challenges“ This symbol denotes that the tournament organiser has let it be known that the venue is disabled friendly. The absence of a symbol does not mean that •“Now if we hadn't been playing with penalty challenges“ disabled access is not possible, and in these circumstances the prospective •“My wife has just given birth/is about to give birth/gave birth during the entrant should check with the organisers game“ Note to Entrants •“The lighting was so bad I thought my Q was an O and played ZOQ These rules apply to all tournaments instead of ZOO“ The entry cost of all rated tournaments includes the ratings levy •“Poor old X had lost his last ten games and I felt really sorry for him“ Positions are determined on win and spread unless otherwise stated •“I haven't been playing enough tournaments“ Smoking is not permitted in the playing area(s) •“I've been playing too many tournaments“ You will normally be placed in a division equivalent to your rating or ability. You •“I usually play in Welsh/Swedish/Swahili“ may request to enter a higher division but the Tournament Organiser reserves the right to reject your request. •“I'm deliberately playing American words only in preparation for entering Entries are at the sole discretion of the Tournament Organiser. US tournaments“ You must always include a SAE with your entry for application. •“I have more to do with my life than learn words“ Please arrive on time •“Don't you think it's a bit sad taking these games too seriously?“ •“It's a stupid game anyway“ West Berkshire (6 games) Tea/Coffee available throughout the day. as is afternoon cake. Lunch is not included Saturday 21st January Entry costs: £12.00 for ABSP member As a bonus facility, Scusi will not only automatically calculate your new ABSP Contact Ian Burn £14.00 for non-ABSP member rating after each rated loss, but will work in ‘what-if’ mode to calculate what 0118-984-5045 Deduct 50p if willing to bring your rating would now be had you won the game, thus enabling you to see Venue The Barn, Beech Road, Purley and lend a timer your true Scrabble potential unaffected by the accidents of reality. on Thames, Berkshire Cheques payable to West Berks Scrabble Charity event proceeds going to local Club Tournament Account and sent to No Scrabble player will want to be without Scusi! charitable causes. Ian Burn, Valley View, 92 Purley Rise, Registration 10.00 Purley-on-Thames, Berkshire, RG8 8DH First game 10:45 Departure 18:20 (Editor’s note: Obviously this is just a case of April 1st arriving a little early for some along with SAE or email address to which 2/3 divisional tournament. people - which is a shame, as I know several players who would make good use of confirmation and directions can be sent Scusi! This was the David Sutton’s winning entry in Tilefish’s launch competition, to find “the most interesting scrabble accessory Tilefish should stock next”.) Chester (16 games) Contact Kathy Rush 27th-28th January 01928 733565

42 43 West Sussex (6 games) 3/4 divisional tournament. Leicester (6 games) Tea/Coffee available on arrival and after the Tea/Coffee available all day but lunch is not fourth game. Sunday 29th January Saturday 25th February provided. Entry costs: £10.50 for ABSP member Contact Peter Hall Contact Marjorie Smith Entry costs: £12.00 for ABSP member £12.50 for non-ABSP member 01903-775396 01162 551176 £14.00 for non-ABSP member Deduct 50p if bringing a timer Venue The Woodlands Centre, Venue The Church of the Blessed Deduct 50p if bringing a timer Sacrament, Gooding Avenue, you are prepared to lend. Woodlands Avenue, Cheques payable to Rustington Scrabble Rustington, West Sussex Leicester Cheques payable to Leicester West End Club and sent to Peter Hall, 34 Lawrence Registration 9:30 Scrabble Club MP event and sent to Registration 9:15 Avenue, Rustington, West Sussex, BN16 First game 10:15 Departure 17:45 First game 10:15 Departure 17:30 Marjorie Smith, 9 Brazil Street, Leicester, 3HX 3 Divisional tournament LE2 7JA Nottingham Nomads (16 games) Contact Clive Spate New Malden (6 games) 4 Divisions Saturday 4th-Sunday 5th February 0115-920-0208 Entry costs: £12.00 for ABSP member Saturday 25th February £14.00 for non-ABSP member Contact Shirley Cave Andover (6 games) Deduct 50p if bringing a timer Registration 09:15 020 8540 8469 Sunday 12th February which you are willing to lend First game 10:30 Departure 18.30 Venue Christ Church Centre, Coombe Tea, Coffee and biscuits will be provided 6th GRAND HAMPSHIRE OPEN Entry costs: £17.00 for ABSP member Road, New Malden , KT3 4RE Cheques payable to S I Cave, 14 Linden SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP (competitive) £19.00 for non-ABSP member Registration 9.15 Gate, 9 Church Walk, Raynes Park, Incorporating Deduct 50p if bringing a timer First game 10:00 Departure 17.45 London, SW20 9DL 6th ANNUAL TEST VALLEY SCRABBLE you are prepared to lend. CHAMPIONSHIP (recreational 5 or 6 £10 for the recreational Swindon (6 games) Registration Before 10:00 First game 10:20 games depending on demand) section Sunday 5th March Hot lunch will be provided as will 5/6 divisional tournament. Contact Alan Bailey Contact Steve Perry Tea/Coffee in breaks Tea/Coffee available throughout the 023 9238 4360 01367-244757 Cheques payable to Andover and District day,packed lunch included in entry fee In emergency on the day Emergency No on day Scrabble Club, C/o Alan Bailey, 84 East Entry costs: £13.00 for ABSP member 07763 894738 07969-294062 Lodge Park, Farlington, Portsmouth, P06 £14.00 for non-ABSP member Venue John Hanson School, Floral 1AQ Deduct 50p if bringing a timer Way, Andover SP10 3PB Venue Nationwide Building Society which you are willing to lend Head Office, Swindon, Cheques payable to Highworth Scrabble Wiltshire Scottish Masters (invitation only) Contact Neil Scott Club Tournament a/c and sent to: Charity event, proceeds towards Macmillan 18th - 19th February 01224 639291 Steve Perry, 29 Elm Road, Faringdon, Cancer Relief Oxfordshire, SN7 7EJ Peterborough (6 games) 2/3 divisional tournament depending on Grantham (6 games) 2/3 divisional tournament. Free Challenge Event entries Sunday 12th March Tea/Coffee available all day. Saturday 18th February Entry costs: £12.50 for ABSP member Contact Hazel Packham Entry costs: £12.00 for ABSP member Contact Chris Hawkins £14.50 for non-ABSP member 01476-410161 £14.00 for non-ABSP member 01733-223202 Deduct 50p if bringing a timer Venue Great Gonerby Social Club, Cheques payable to Grantham Scrabble Emergency Number you are prepared to lend. Great Gonerby, Grantham Club, C/o Hazel Packham, 34 Orchard 07879-885158 If entering this and Peterborough event on Registration 09.00 Close, Gonerby Hill Foot, Grantham, Lincs, Venue Millfield Community Centre, 18th March, deduct £6 from total entry fee First game 09.30 Departure 18.00 NG31 8HD 439 Lincoln Road, Peterborough, PE1 2PE Cheques payable to Peterborough Scrabble Ramada Jarvis, Bingley Contact Viv Beckmann Registration 9:30 Club, 39 Peterborough Road, Eye, 0191-273-1705 First game 10:00 Departure 17:45 Peterborough, PE6 7YA 17th - 20th March

44 45 East Sussex (6 games) 2/3 divisional tournament. Newcastle (5 games) Refreshments available most of the day, Saturday 18th March 2006 Tea/Coffee available at points during the Saturday 22nd April food facility expected to be open at the Contact Ed Breed day but lunch is not provided. Contact Michael Murray venue 01424 219334 Entry costs: £12.00 for ABSP member ' 0191 2412521 Entry costs: £10.50 for ABSP member Venue Hailsham Community Hall, £14.00 for non-ABSP member Emergency No on day £12.50 for non-ABSP member Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, Deduct 50p if bringing a timer ' 0191 267 4242 Deduct 50p if bringing a timer BN27 2AE Cheques payable to East Sussex Scrabble Venue West Denton Community which you are willing to lend Registration 09:00 Entries not accepted Tournament and sent to Ed Breed, 19 Association, Hillhead Road, Cheques payable to Newcastle Scrabble after 09.45 Magdalen Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Newcastle-upon-Tyne Club, and sent to: Departure 17.45 Sussex. TN40 1SB Registration 10.00 Rona Falconer, 18 Nuns Moor Crescent, First game 10:30 Departure 17.30 Fenham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE4 9BE 2/3 Divisional depending on entries Closing Date for entries 8th April Peterborough (6 games) 2/3 divisional tournament depending on 5 Point Penalty Challenge Event (Rated) entries Bournemouth Round Robin(6 games) Registration 09:30 Saturday 18th March First game 10:10 Departure 17.30 Entry costs: £12.50 for ABSP member Sunday 7th May Contact Chris Hawkins Tea/Coffee available throughout the day £14.50 for non-ABSP member Contact Ruth Marsden 01733-223202 Entry costs: £12.50 for ABSP member Deduct 50p if bringing a timer 01202 707148 Emergency Number £14.50 for non-ABSP member you are prepared to lend. Venue Rooper Hall, 5 Victoria Park 07879-885158 Cheques payable to Bournemouth Scrabble If entering this and Peterborough event on Road, Moordown, Tournament and sent to: Venue Millfield Community Centre, 18th February, deduct £6 from total entry fee Bournemouth 439 Lincoln Road, Ruth Marsden, 27 Spencer Road, Canford Cheques payable to Peterborough Scrabble Emergency on day only Cliffs, Poole, BH13 7ET Peterborough, PE1 2PE 07720 949 825 Registration 9:30 Club, 39 Peterborough Road, Eye, Closing date for entries 1st May First game 10:00 Departure 17:45 Peterborough, PE6 7YA Bourne (6 games) Tea/Coffee available on all day Entry costs: £12.00 for ABSP member Southampton (6 games) 4 Divisional tournament A-D Sunday 7th May £14.00 for non ABSP member Tea and coffee will be available during Contact Betty Benton Sunday 19th March Deduct 50p if bringing a timer some breaks and before start ( 01778 425234 Contact Alan Bailey Cheques payable to Bourne and District Entry costs: £12.50 for ABSP member Venue Bourne Corn Exchange 023 9238 4360 Scrabble Club and sent to: £14.50 for non-ABSP member Registration 09.15 Venue Hedge End Village Hall (close Betty Benton, Walnut Farm, Twenty, Deduct 50p if bringing a timer First game 10:00 Departure 18.00 to M27) n.b. NEW VENUE Bourne, Lincs, PE10 0BH you are prepared to lend. 2/3 divisional tournament of up to 96 Emergency no on day players Closing Date for entries 22nd April 2006 07763 894738 Cheques payable to Southampton Scrabble Registration 09:05 - 09.45 Club, C/o Alan Bailey, 84 East Lodge Park, Lothersdale Hotel, Morecambe Contact Viv Beckmann First game 10:00 Departure 17:50 Farlington, Portsmouth, P06 1AQ 12th - 15th May 0191-273-1705

Best Western, Berkeley, Worthing Contact Viv Beckmann Melton Mowbray (6 games) Tea/Coffee available on arrival and after 28th April - 2nd May 0191-273-1705 Sunday 4th June game 4. Food will not be provided Contact Maureen Rayson Entry costs: £11.00 for ABSP member 01664 563330 £13.00 for non-ABSP member Durham Event (10 games) Contact Laura Finley Venue Council Offices, Nottingham Deduct 50p if bringing a timer Sat. 8th - Sun 9th April 0191-565-4079 Road, Melton Mowbray, Leics. Cheques payable to Melton Mowbray Charity event in support of the Mayor's Scrabble Club, and sent to Maureen Exeter ISCA Event (6 games) Exeter Easter Event (19 games) appeal Rayson, 57 Highfield Avenue, Melton Friday 14th-Saturday 15th April Friday 14th-Saturday 15th April Registration 10:00 First game 10:30 Mowbray, Leics. LE13 0NQ Contact Ronnie Reid 01256 354604 2 divisional tournament. Closing date for entries 21st May 2006

46 47 Answers to Edgeways Cairn Hotel, Harrogate Contact Viv Beckmann 16th - 19th June 0191-273-1705 The 5-Minute Anagram Test Summer Matchplay A. LENGTHEN OUTRAGE ANOTHER SDOAPIER EPITAPH Details to be announced 1st-2nd July ILLEGAL LARGEST READILY FOLIAGE RETIREE New Malden Details to be announced B. COTERIE BEDPOST PENNAME UNKEMPT DYNASTY Saturday 15th July AMMONIA ANXIETY BREADTH PRAIRIE BEHESTS Clifton Hotel, Penrith Contact Viv Beckmann C. ELYSIAN BIOTECH WEALTHS DECORUM ULULATE 21st - 24th July 0191-273-1705 FATUOUS ORIFICE QUIESCE MADEIRA MOLERAT Nottingham Nomads (16 games) Contact Clive Spate Saturday 5th-Sunday 6th August 0115-920-0208 D. PHEAZAR DEWLAPT PULSIDGE WRIZLED PRELUDI KABELES TEENYBOP ECDYSON PSOCIDS CYATHUS Lothersdale Hotel, Morecambe Contact Viv Beckmann 15th - 18th September 0191-273-1705 Norwich (6 games) 3 divisional tournament. Meet My Twin Tea/Coffee and homemade cakes provided Sunday 17th September (but not lunch) INDOORS RANCHED LABOURS COMRADE Contact Carol Smith SUNDIAL CARTOON GALLEON HAILING Entry costs: £10.00 for ABSP member 01603 898791 £12.00 for non-ABSP member ANGUISH TORTURE NASALLY BEDROCK Venue Hethersett Village Hall, No further discounts ESTEEMS ECSTASY SUITORS MISCUES Hethersett, Norwich, Norfolk Cheques payable to Carol Smith, RAFFLES SQUEALS GULCHES GALLING Registration 09.30 31 Christine Road, Spixworth, Norwich, First game 10:15 Departure 18.00 NR10 3PH Anagrid Bournemouth Round Robin(6 games) First game 10:10 Departure 17.30 Sunday 1st October 3/4 Divisional tournament TWADDL ER O U Contact Ruth Marsden Tea/Coffee available throughout the day K I A I EANL I NG 01202 707148 Entry costs: £12.50 for ABSP member LUCENCES O E D Venue Rooper Hall, 5 Victoria Park £14.50 for non-ABSP member OKDGWREAKER Road, Moordown, Cheques payable to Bournemouth Scrabble OREX I SES I R R Bournemouth Tournament and sent to: CDEDEASHING Emergency on day only Ruth Marsden, 27 Spencer Road, Canford HEL I STOP T A OD 07720 949 825 Cliffs, Poole, BH13 7ET E Y T AMAR I N W E Registration 09:30 Closing date for entries 24th September SH O M LOCOWEED AJUTAGES N A I Salisbury (6 games) Registration 09:50 BTRDERMATIC First game 10:30 Departure 18.00 Sunday 15th October IDYLLIC L E H A Round Robin Contact Bob Lynn AENSILTIEST Tea, coffee, biscuits and cake available 01722-325623 ABRAIDSKARE between games. Lunch is not provided S P HEELLESS Emergency Number Entry costs: £13.00 for ABSP member 0771-818-9630 £14.00 for non-ABSP member Venue Winterbourne Glebe Hall, Cheques payable to Robert Lynn Scrabble Winterbourne Dauntsey, Account, and addressed to Robert Lynn, Cryptogram 1=F, 2=Y, 3=L, 4=I, 5=X, 6=J, 7=E, 8=W, 9=Z, 10=H, 11=D, 12=V, 13=B, Salisbury 4 George Street, Salisbury,.SP2 7BA 14=N, 15=S, 16=G, 17=A, 18=T, 19=R, 20=K, 21=C, 22=O, 23=M, 24=U, 25=P, 26=Q.

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