97 The bi-monthly magazine of the 7 APRIL 8 APRIL CCAALLEENNDDAARR OOFF EEVVEENNTTSS 7 APRIL A P R IL ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH A quick reference to forthcoming events SCRABBLE PLAYERS (fuller list and details inside) Apr 18th Brighton (6) Jim Lyes 01273 813006 Apr 24th Newcastle (5) Viv Beckmann 0191 273 1705 Apr 24th Southend (6) Evelyn Wallace 01702 302569 Apr 30th-May 2nd Rhein, Germany (14+) Karl Khoshnaw +49 5541 954794 May 1st-2nd Scottish Championships (12) Amy Byrne 0191 273 1705 May 2nd MSO Cambridge (6) Helen Latchem 01223 440642 May 9th Bourne (6) Betty Benton 01778 425234 No 95 APRIL 2004 May 9th Newport (5) Terry Jones 01633 775313 May 16th Bournemouth (7) Ruth Marsden 01202 707148 Deadline for next issue 7th May May 29th-31st Stoke Rochford (18) Christina French 01708 701578 June 6th Melton Mowbray (5) Maureen Rayson 01664 563330 Scrabbling to be on TV Jun 13th Peterlee (5) Samantha Beckwith 0191 586 6436 Jun 26th Luton (6) June Edwards 01908 679041 “Did you see how well my mate Clive did?“ Yes, it's always good to see our Scrabbling chums on TV, especially when they are doing well, like Clive Spate on Millionaire and July 24th Lincoln (6) Teresa Hill 01427 838741 Stewart Holden on Countdown. We get the chance to bask in a little reflected glory. And now there’s another opportunity for The National Scrabble Champion- Scrabblers to appear on screen coming up soon. ships and the National Scrabble Club Josh Whitehead is a journalist who is working Tournament will take place this year, on a Scrabble documentary for Channel 4 inspired by the best-selling book Word Freak. initially with five regional heats. Jackie McLeod ABSP Publicity Officer says You should find full details of the “He first made contact last year after the NSC SCRABBLE HOLIDAYS 2004 tournament format, venues and qualifying round, with a view to meeting the 30 Apr - 3 May Best Western Berkeley, dates on an enclosure with this issue semifinalists. He gathered loads of info about Worthing the whole UK Scrabble scene - history, rules, 14 - 17 May Lothersdale Hotel, of The Last Word. dictionaries, events, ratings, players etc, then Morecambe Stewart Holden, standing under the clock, won a commission from Channel 4 to make a 11 - 14 June Best Western Heronston has a rendezvous with the Countdown Anagrid Solution one hour documentary. Along the way he Hotel, Bridgend quarter-finals in May. 25 - 28 June Ramada Jarvis, Caledonian, WAL I SES FYLFOTS started to play and to enter tournaments. Ayr HULLED AORTAE “He has now reached the stage of filming and interviewing and will be at the Exeter. 23 - 26 July Ramada Jarvis, Bingley ETALAGE JUPAT I S tournament His working title is Scrabble Stories. He has chosen his main “characters“ - a 3-6 September Clifton Hill Hotel, Penrith RUNS YCOND SOLA varied and representative selection of players, although I won’t say who at this stage - but EME R I A MEM 1 - 4 October Best Western Park Lodge he is still seeking other interesting stories and characters. Hotel, Falkirk INRO VULNS KADE 17 - 23 October Hotel Le Relais Alpin, NOXERSADOWNS In his own words: “Between their stories I’m looking for little Scrabble vignettes to fill the Switzerland BOA AWE programme, generally of ‘living room’ Scrabble but I’m keen to spread my net. For instance 29 Oct - I Nov Cairn Hotel, Harrogate Q BONIE ZILLS T there’s a couple who’ve played every lunchtime for 20 years and keep their scores in a huge 12-15 November Standish Moat House, ADAW CROON ACME leather bound tome that they treasure. Another couple proposed at an airport using a Travel Wigan SAC BUR UVA Scrabble set.“ IWI S P IKI S AMUS Enquiries to Viv Beckmann So if your club has a notable “character“ or someone with an interesting story, or if you DILUVIA LEGIBLE 01912 731705 have an entertaining tale to tell, please contact Josh direct: [email protected] ASLEEP CALLER [email protected] SH I TT IM POSSESS SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark of J.W.Spear & Sons Ltd., Maidenhead SL6 4UB ISSUE CONTENTS

Committee Corner ...... 1 Edgeways ...... 36 CCOOMMMMIITTTTEEEE CCOORRNNEERR The Dictionary Issue ...... 4 Xtras ...... 39 Tournament Results and Reports .... 10 Lambs to the slaughter ...... 42 Across The Board ...... 22 Forthcoming Events ...... 43 The Committee held its most recent meeting on Sunday 21 March in Nottingham. Allan Putting a face to the name ...... 31 Edgeways Answers ...... ifc Simmons opened by welcoming the committee’s two newest members: Elie Dangoor as Ratings ...... 32 Calendar of Events ...... obc Data Controller, and Darryl Francis as part of the ABSP’s Dictionary Committee. The British Matchplay Scrabble Championship, the ABSP’s flagship event, will this year be Throughout this publication, comments by the Editor do not represent the views of the held from Saturday 28 to Monday 30 August, with the AGM on the Sunday night of that ABSP Committee. Any statements by the Committee are clearly marked as such. All weekend. For further detail, see elsewhere in this issue. other contributions to The Last Word represent only the views of the contributor. Distributed with this issue of TLW is the 2004 Handbook, containing the updated game rules and administrative information such as contact details for the Committee. Please keep THE LAST WORD TEAM this somewhere safe so that any time you feel the need to contact the committee or check The Last Words Team welcomes contributions from readers to their respective areas, on a game rule, you know where to find it. either as letters, articles or suggestions. Contact information: Continuing on the subject of publications, the Committee has reviewed the role of TLW General Editor: Games and Strategies: Words and Puzzles: editor, and agreed that under Alec Webb TLW has never been so professional, in both its Alec Webb Phil Appleby, Raymond Tate, appearance and its content. Given that TLW is one of the biggest advantages of ABSP 17 St Margarets Road Thorns Cottage, 6 Amochrie Glen membership, and that being editor requires a great deal of both commitment and flexibility, Lowestoft Mount Pleasant Lane, Hollybrook the Committee felt it was time to remunerate this role. This is both as an incentive to Suffolk Lymington, Paisley maintain the current high standards, and as a thank-you for all the hard effort, always NR32 4HS Hants SO41 8LS PA2 0DY within tight deadlines, that the role demands. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Alongside TLW, another benefit to ABSP membership is the availability of support should Forthcoming events: Features: you need it. Everyone attending any Scrabble event should be entitled to be treated with Paul Cartman, Christina French dignity and courtesy – in the unlikely event of you feeling that someone has behaved 9 Chapel Terrace, 127 Carlton Road, inappropriately towards you at a tournament, perhaps making you uncomfortable, you Stafford ST16 3AH Gidea Park, Romford, should have no hesitation in calling the Tournament Organiser’s attention to this. As a 01785 211851 Essex RM2 5AU [email protected] 01708 701578 member of the ABSP, you can also alert the Committee to any problems in this area, [email protected] knowing that your complaint will be taken seriously and followed up with any action the Deadline for next issue 7th May 2004 committee sees as appropriate. In the event of issues of The Last Word not being received, or if you change The Committee operates through the input of members, so it seems appropriate at this point your address, please contact Viv Beckmann to remind members of the particular issues on which we are currently seeking input. We Tel: 0191 273 1705 or email: [email protected] are still seeking nominations for the Terry Hollington award – details on this are advertised elsewhere in this issue. Additionally, any readers who have yet to return the Dictionary Questionnaire distributed with the last issue should do so as soon as possible, so that their Refer-a-friend Scheme views are not neglected in the months ahead. The latest news on the proposed switch to a Collins lexicon is contained elsewhere in this issue. If by 30th June, through your encouragement, someone joins the The next meeting of the Committee will be held around the middle of June. If you have any ABSP for the first time, you will receive a voucher giving you £5 queries or comments you would like passed on to the Committee, please write, phone or discount on your subscription for 2005. Be sure to make Viv Beckmann aware of accost a committee member at your convenience. your entitlement. Tel: 01912 731705 or email: [email protected] There is a limit of three vouchers per member. Ross Mackenzie

1 AGM 2004 World Scrabble Championship 2005 This year’s AGM will again be at the West Bromwich Moat House in conjunction with the Here is a reminder of the qualifying criteria for the 2005 World Championship. 2004 British Matchplay Scrabble Championships - Sunday 29th August. England has 9 places for the events; Scotland and Wales each have 2 places. The winners Although that’s still a long way off, now’s a good time to start thinking if you are of the 2004 and 2005 National Championships will take two of these spots, the rest will pondering submitting a motion. Although a further reminder will be given next issue, it be selected from the ABSP Ratings at the end of 2004. Players must have played at least 60 can help to air a motion well in advance to increase awareness of the thinking behind a rated games during 2004, including at least 30 in the second half of the year. motion and to also gauge response through TLW. Any motions should be submitted to the Secretary, Amy Byrne (see handbook for address) with a proposer and a seconder, Terry Hollington Trophy together with a supporting statement that could be published alongside the motion. To make the draft agenda, which will be published next issue, motions should be received We need your nominations for the Terry Hollington Trophy. This is given every two years to by this issue’s deadline. the new ABSP member who you feel has either: When the draft agenda is published in the next issue of TLW members will have an - made an impressive start to his/her tournament playing career opportunity to submit amendments to motions received or additional motions before the or final agenda is published in the August issue. Remember, no further motions or - positively contributed to the ABSP and tournament scene as a whole amendments will be accepted once the final agenda has been published. It’s important that at least one of the proposer or seconder is present at the AGM to speak In 2002 the award was given to Austin Shin for his outstanding achievements as a young in support of the motion and to answer any queries that arise from the floor. Otherwise player. We would now like to know who you, the members, would like to see honoured in any motion will have little chance of success. Please also think carefully before 2004 for their Scrabble achievements. Send your nominations to ABSP Chairman Allan submitting any motions since they all must be debated and voted on at the AGM and the Simmons before [AGM submissions closing date]. amount of time for the AGM at the BMSC is limited. It’s also important to give careful consideration to the wording. Currently the Committee is considering the introduction of an Associate Membership Spotted in the results pages of ‘Across The Board’, category with reduced fee, and also a minor improvement to the game rules. the Australian equivalent to The Last Word... It’s lovely when we see our members successfully ABSP website - Making sure we comply with the Data Protection Act representing the ABSP in overseas events. The ABSP has recently been investigating its compliance with the Data Protection Act. One Well done Ruth. of the areas under discussion has been the ABSP website, which always shows the latest One benefit of playing to an internationally accepted ratings lists and calendar of events with contact details. There is also a large selection of word authority is our ability to travel across the world photos, both of individual players and past tournaments. It should be noted that all of these and play in foreign tournaments; and it isn’t necessary things have been put on the website under the assumption that nobody would raise an to be a WSC contender to enjoy this benefit. objection to them being there. HOWEVER, we would like to point out that if any For another member succeeding in foreign parts see tournament organiser does not want a particular contact detail (e.g. email address) shown page 21 on the calendar, or if any player is not happy with being shown in a photo on the website, they should not hesitate to contact the ABSP’s webmaster Stewart Holden who will be happy to remove any of this information by individual request. October 9th/10th Final 2004 Contacts: Evan Simpson British Matchplay Championships 2004 020 8429 1984 April 25th Round 1 matches completed e-mail: [email protected] This event will again be held at the West Bromwich Moat House hotel over the August May 30 th Round 2 matches completed or Phil Appleby Bank Holiday. Although there were a few difficulties experienced last year, the June 27 th Round 3 matches completed 01590 682971 Committee is confident that these can be overcome for 2004 and the Moat House is July 25 th Group finals completed e-mail: [email protected] aware of the shortcomings that need addressing. The hotel has also agreed to keep the August 22nd Quarter-finals completed same rates as for 2003. Details and entry forms are expected to be available for the next September 26 th Semi-finals completed Don’t forget If you win in Round 1, you issue of TLW. pay a further £10 to take part in Round 2;

2 3 Don Davis: Like most ABSP members I ABSP Chairman Allan Simmons replies: TThhee DDiiccttiioonnaarryy IIssssuuee was amazed to learn from the notice Mattel approached the ABSP chairman for included in the December TLW that a meeting with Collins soon after the Mattel’s switch of allegiance from Chambers to Collins remains the matter of greatest Mattel were planning to impose a December announcement. The ABSP concern to members. The following two letters were received some time before Collins completely new dictionary upon the Committee needed to respond very released the information shown on pages 6 and 7 of this issue Scrabble playing community for purely quickly and agreed to create a Dictionary commercial reasons and apparently subcommittee consisting of two members The Emperor’s New Dictionary without any previous discussion (Allan Simmons and Darryl Francis) who consultation. Andy Roughton: Many of you may to the game on this side of the pond but are had been the backbones of all the The decision to adopt Chambers as the remember that the decision to change from there any contractual or legal obligations OSW and OSL projects to date. That accepted reference book for Scrabble was OSW to the combined dictionary a couple which mean that we have to follow suit on subcommittee, plus Amy Byrne as ABSP made about 30 years ago after other of years ago was one that I did not entirely this matter? What would happen if we [the secretary, attended the meeting with dictionaries had been tried as it was the agree with. Apart from pure xenophobia, ABSP] said “No thanks we’re sticking with Collins. We invited David Webb to join most comprehensive single volume my main reasons for questioning the Chambers” ? Would we be forbidden to use our fold for additional fresh thoughts as dictionary. Like Gertie Roberts I have rationale behind the move were twofold. or utter the word Scrabble again ? someone not involved with OSW’s recently bought a copy of Chambers latest Firstly, I find learning word lists the most historically. These are not rhetorical questions. If edition and I still see that this remains the tedious pastime devised, and so anything The ABSP questionnaire simply focused someone knows the answers can they situation with another 6 to 10,000 new that preserves the standing of my feeble on the Collins issues because the Mattel enlighten me because unless we get our act references. Coming so soon after what vocabulary is to be desired. Secondly, any decision to move to Collins was a fait together then this is going to cost us all - was for some the trauma of accepting change in reference text means that any accompli, and if there was to be a chance again ! Oh, and before I forget, what are OSW International I feel that this book that you owned prior to the change is of making a Collins OSW acceptable to our colonial cousins in USA, Canada, proposed change is potentially extremely immediately rendered obsolete and you Scrabble players then we need to get Australia and New Zealand going to do divisive. then have to fork out unseemly amounts of involved from the start. One objective about this proposal? Don’t say they are all Obviously the opinion of the cash for the new lists if they exist. I found was to endeavour to ensure any new book going to follow our lead - we fell for that international community will have to be the outlay on these new texts difficult is as near to Chambers OSWi as possible one last time. sought. Are the Americans likely to be less enough to justify on my meagre stipend so (with all the USA words), plus new words dismissive of Collins than they appear to what this meant to the many pensioners in If I was a cynical man looking at this from Collins 2003 rather than Chambers have been of Chambers OSW? our ranks, Goodness only knows. situation I might be forgiven for thinking 2003. The possibility of staying with that this move was purely a mercenary one. Over the years a strong bond of fruitful Now I may be getting the wrong end of the Chambers OSWi is always there and Although most households in the UK own a cooperation with Chambers has been becomes subject of an AGM vote stick entirely on this one but, aren’t we Scrabble set of one kind or another, most built up. Is this now to be thrown about to be subjected to exactly the same ultimately, as has been any OSW update only buy one every generation or so. overboard at the whim of Mattel. The in the past. The ABSP is not obliged to scenario with the proposal by Mattel to Naturally therefore, this means that the only issue of copyright might appear a play to the Collins OSWi, nor are any switch from Chambers to Collins? way of extracting regular income from the problem but is not insuperable. When I Clubs. Furthermore, from what I can gather not marque is to keep changing the peripherals. first started playing Scrabble in the late only will we have to learn new words we 1980’s my main reference book apart You will note from articles in this issue of One only has to look at what happens with will be expected to forget many many more. from the dictionary was Chambers Words, TLW that we are not simply going along Barbie to see how this is achieved. Having Confused ? You will be ! For All Board Games etc. I think we must with whatever Mattel or Collins want to been blessed with two daughters, my house do if we don’t think it is right for the Again, I may looking a this dilemma give very serious thought to this matter is now a shrine to this parody of players, and we are listening to players simplistically but, why should Mattel’s before we supinely accept such a radical womanhood and her accoutrements. It’s a through the questionnaire feedback. decision to change from one partner to change. pity we can’t combine the two to give our another have any influence over the ABSP P.S. The questionnaire enclosed in the wonderful game the publicity and status it On the next 2 pages you will find an and it’s source text? Why have Mattel February TLW appears to be rather deserves. FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) Sheet jumping the gun with a view to presenting decided to abandon Chambers anyway? issued by Collins. This is then followed Hmm..... Scrabble Barbie, now there’s an Surely this is not simply a ploy to wring us with a fait accompli. On what by a Review and Response to the FAQ idea ! yet more money from Scrabble devotees. authority did the ABSP DC commence by the ABSP Dictionary Committee. I realise of course that Mattel own all rights Remember you heard it here first. these discussions.

4 5 We are planning to involve players in the final selection of words for the Collins Scrabble and wordlist, e.g. advising on the words that might be ‘new’ to the majority of club and tournament players. FAQ The first Collins Scrabble wordlist will be published in July 2004. It will be updated at regular Which words will be in the Collins Scrabble® wordlist? intervals thereafter. New editions of the wordlist will include new words derived from Collins resources described The Collins Scrabble wordlist will be compiled using 3 main sources: above, in particular from new editions of Collins English Dictionary. 1. Collins English Dictionary The latest - 6th - edition of this dictionary was published in 2003. New editions are published regularly and the next new edition will be advertised in due course. Which other Scrabble titles are planned? 2. Collins English corpora We are able to confirm the following titles in our publishing schedule: See separate information on this below. 1. A Scrabble Dictionary - that is, the Collins Scrabble wordlist with short definitions - to be published shortly. We believe that this will meet a real need that players have Our corpus holdings contain every word in Collins English Dictionary, and many thousands for a single source for both adjudication and look-up needs. more words and forms which are not included in this dictionary. 3. Collins regional dictionary publishing programme 2. A title derived from the Collins Scrabble Wordlist that will sort words by category and that will be a learning tool for players. Collins - known as HarperCollins in the US - is a global dictionary publisher and we plan to include data from our overseas ranges in the Scrabble wordlist. This will include words from: 3. A Scrabble dictionary for use with Junior Scrabble. • HarperCollins American dictionaries We plan to publish a wide range of Scrabble titles for all types of player, thus helping to make sure that the game remains as popular as ever. • Collins Australian dictionary programme (including Collins Australian Dictionary) • Collins New Zealand dictionary programme How will Collins support Scrabble clubs and Scrabble players? What will the Collins Scrabble wordlist be like? Collins will mail clubs - and any individual players who wish to join our mailing list - with special offers on Collins Scrabble titles and a range of Collins dictionaries and other titles on The aim is to reflect what players want and need in this wordlist, and we are of course a regular basis. mindful that players prefer not to ‘unlearn’ words, and that players in the UK need a wordlist that is suitable for use at international tournaments. The Collins wordlist - thanks to the Collins will also offer books as prizes for tournaments and club competitions. (This is already enormous resources available to the Collins Dictionary Division - should include many more happening.) words than the list players currently use, and will be equally international in flavour if not more Our plans for marketing Scrabble titles and promoting the game will be confirmed in due so. course.

The Bank of English® contains data representing all varieties of English, including US, Collins English Corpora Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, South African and Indian English. • 514 million is ‘monitor’ corpus Collins Dictionaries English corpus data currently stands at 2.5 billion words. The monitor corpus is that part of current corpus holdings that is updated on an ongoing It can be broken down into the following: basis. This data is available only to Collins editors working in-house. As of January 2004, the monitor corpus contained 514 million words; every month, on average, over 37 A - DATA CURRENTLY IN USE: a total of over ONE BILLION words million words of data - from newspapers, magazines, books and the web - are added to This is the data which our editors look at every day to help them create dictionaries. it. Of this 1,038,000,000 words: B - RESERVE DATA: a total of over ONE AND A HALF BILLION words • 524 million words form the Bank of English® The ‘reserve’ data ensures Collins lexicographers have access to slightly more historical The Bank of English® - part of which is made available to researchers, academics and sources, specialist scientific data and regional English (that is, Australian, Canadian, US, teachers - is updated regularly (old data is deleted, new data is inserted, and the range New Zealand, South African and Indian English). This data can be used for specific purposes, of sources is reviewed) approximately every year. For information on subscribing to this such as creating dictionary text for overseas markets, or to generate a comprehensive service, see: www.cobuild.collins.co.uk, or email [email protected] wordlist of the English language.

6 7 Review of Collins FAQ and Response Please note that the ABSP is not anticipating endorsing a 2004 Collins OSW at this stage but we will work with Collins to endeavour to make a 2005 OSW acceptable. Much depends on developments The ABSP Dictionary Committee: Allan Simmons, Darryl Francis, David Webb and discussion through 2004, with due consideration to the responses in our questionnaire which we are currently consolidating. If you have not yet completed a questionnaire then please do. This The ABSP Dictionary Committee were supplied with a copy of the Collins FAQ a day before it was is an important issue and it’s disappointing to have only received responses from under 20% of the required for the Scrabble Club News deadline, so unfortunately we were not able to review or membership. The questionnaire was distributed with the previous issue of TLW and can be advise on it before it was published. We have since had a chance to review the document, along downloaded from the ABSP website. (www.absp.org.uk) with other colleagues as part of the WESPA Dictionary Committee, and we are in general agreement that the FAQ is disappointing after a two month wait. It leaves some questions unanswered, some vaguely answered, and appears to be more of a sales spiel to Mattel than a reassuring document to A GLIMPSE AT THE COLLINS ENGLISH DICTIONARY 2003 players. The following is a summary of some of the key points in our response to Collins which has by Allan Simmons also been copied to Mattel. The 2003 Collins English Dictionary (unabridged) is a substantial single volume, similar is size and price to the 2003 Chambers Dictionary. The layout is impressively clear, but it does list many ❒ The FAQ appears to second-guess what players want in talking about a greater number of new encyclopaedic entries (eg place names) in the main body of the dictionary. This makes it words from many global sources. This is not necessarily the case. Just as players want stability cumbersome for the Scrabble player who likes to scan the dictionary for valid words. The regarding existing words, they don’t especially want to be inundated with new words too often. dictionary has its fair share of Scottish and American words but it’s also noteworthy that there are plenty of new words representing English from other regions of the globe. Many of these ❒ The FAQ says, “equally International in flavour” which is a vague answer to one of the most words, of course, would be very useful for the game. Some would have come in if the new often asked questions, “Will the book reflect all the USA words currently in OSWi ?”. Whilst Chambers was to have updated OSWi, but others are currently unique to the Collins dictionary. there may be commercial reasons for avoiding that answer it is a key issue in whether players Here’s a taster of new words from around the globe (excluding USA as most of those are in OSWi support the move to Collins or not. already), plus some useful sevens. I haven’t listed too many for fear of disturbing everyone’s ❒ The FAQ says that a Collins OSW will be updated regularly. This might imply updates more often OSWi vocabulary for 2004 ! than players would like. If this is every four years as was mentioned at our January meeting that ATUA (NZ) MOFO (USA) Some 7-letter words is reasonable, but then why not state that to avoid further unnecessary questions? BUBU (Afr) MOER (S Afr) ❒ The FAQ says. “We are planning to involve players in the final selection of words’. What players DADAH (Aus) MUKTUK (Can) AGEUSIA and how? The ABSP Dictionary Committee? If so, why not say so? If not, then it should be. We DELO (Aus) MWALIMU (E Afr) ANOBIID do not want words allowed in Scrabble to be manually selected by players - we want to be able DOCO (Aus) ICEWINE (Can) BOLINES to point to one or more dictionary authorities as the source for new words with a clear process DOLOS (S Afr) IKAN (Malay) BRAAIED if the corpora are also used. DONKO (NZ) IMBIZO (S Afr) COLDIES ❒ The ABSP-DC is uneasy about the process for future updates. Whilst the idea of selecting DRAC(K) (NZ) IWI (NZ) DAROGHA candidate words from a collection of Corpora to give a global English input is supportable, what DUKA (E Afr) JA (S Afr) ETHANAL is of concern is whether there will be an acceptable process by which these words are to be DWAAL (S Afr) JONG (S Afr) FRANGER selected. It is especially alarming if Collins envisages words being handpicked by players from EXO (Aus) KUIA (NZ) GLEENIE the Corpora. When a word is already in a dictionary, we know that a lexicographer/editor has FAA (Scot) MEE (Malay) HOSTIES already established that the evidence of usage (in a Corpus) warrants its inclusion, what part of FIGJAM (Aus) PAAL (Carib) KIRTANS speech the word is, and whether it is slang, colloquial, foreign, abbreviation, contractions etc., FLEEIN (Scot) PAV (Aus/NZ) LEGUAAN and what the definition is. So it’s important that there is to be a robust process in place if the FOXIE (Aus) PLU (Can) NETHEAD Corpora are to be used for new words without the backing of one or more dictionary sources. GNOW (Aus) PUHA (NZ) OCICATS Thus, we see the mechanism of future updating as being unfinalised and subject to discussion. HAPU (NZ) SAV (Aus/NZ) PORANGI MAHEWU (S Afr) UGALI (E Afr) REDFOOT ❒ We notice that the Collins unabridged dictionary already contains numerous words from across MAMAGUY (Carib) UDON (Japan) SCODIER the spectrum of global Englishes and so many players may need convincing that it is really MANDI (India) UMFAZI (S Afr) TOONIES necessary to go beyond that single tome. MEHNDI (India) VAG (Aus) WIRILDA ❒ Whilst we think the idea of a Scrabble Dictionary with definitions is attractive, the ABSP-DC or MIHI (NZ) VEGO (Aus) similarly formed respected group of players, should be consulted in the layout design process, MOKORO (Bots) YEBO (S Afr) and the issues regarding word sources (above) remain relevant. A Scrabble Dictionary will only be appropriate if it retains the unambiguous straight adjudication qualities of the existing OSWi. Beware! Words in the above lists are not currently playable under OSWi

8 9 As part of this tournament, a trophy was given to the player TTOOUURRNNAAMMEENNTT from one of the three Berkshire clubs who performed best on the day, irrespective of division. The winner of this RESULTS & REPORTS trophy was Elizabeth Hull. Since Elizabeth plays at the West RESULTS & REPORTS Berks Club it felt to us that the trophy was, "coming home". Both this trophy and the trophy for the overall winner are perpetual trophies kindly sponsored by Fujitsu Services. Glasgow v Lang Toun The trophies were presented by Mr David Betts, Chairman The first ABSP rated event of 2004 took place at Motherwell on Saturday Jan 10th. Six of Purley on Thames Parish Council. players from the Glasgow club played six from Lang Toun (Kirkcaldy, Fife). Each player Proceeds from all aspects of the tournament enabled the played each member of the other team once. Club to make a donation of £610.57 to the Thames Valley A Division Winner Ross Mackenzie reports that Glasgow won 20-16 after a nailbiting 15-15 scoreline at the and Chilterns Air Ambulance Trust. Helen Greenaway end of round five. David Sutton is not a name unknown in Scrabble circles, being a compiler of numerous Glasgow Lang Toun word lists, and indeed he contributes ‘Phoney Goings On’ to the Edgeways section of this Paul Allan 5 750 Anne Ramsay 4 163 magazine. West Berks however was his first rated tournament and he wrote this personal Ross Mackenzie 4 -24 Caroline Atkins 3 90 report. Mary Jones 3 334 Anne Steward 3 70 Tom Wilson 3 -216 Carol Malkin 2 0 Notes from a Tournament Virgin Raymond Tate 3 -413 Marion Keatings 2 –171 Moya Dewar 2 -118 Jim Wilkie 2 –465 I wonder if anyone ever feels ready for their first Scrabble tournament. I certainly didn’t. Total 20 +313 Total 16 –313 ‘The lyf so short, the craft so long to lerne’, as Chaucer remarks, and that was in the days when the whole of OSW could be fitted into fifty pages. Actually it wasn’t so much the word knowledge that worried me as the fact that in the three months since I had joined the West Berks Scrabble Tournament 2004 West Berks club and met some serious players it had begun to dawn on me that I really 17th January (6 games) didn’t know how to play the game in any strategic sense. New concepts constantly jostled Report by Ian Burn for attention. Rack management. Tile tracking. Opening and closing the board. Managing the endgame. Set-up plays. At home you changed when you had 5 Is, took note of whether The Barn in Purley on Thames - a fine 18th century building - was again the venue for the the Q had been played, and that was about it for strategy. 4th West Berks Scrabble Tournament. The day started with most of the 96 participants being at the venue in good time, and those who were late had notified the organiser of their It didn’t help that my very reasonable attempt, as an unrated player, to enter Division C, delay, so thank you for that from an organisational perspective. where I felt I might have a good chance, had been overruled by Club Secretary/Tournament Director Ian Burn, in what I can only interpret as a blatant act of revenge for my somewhat Division A Division B Division C fluky run in the club’s Christmas Handicap tournament, and I was informed that it was H. Greenaway 6 376 E. Hull 5 589 M. Lane 5 574 Division A for me. Nor did it help that consequent apprehension the night before had G. Gruner 5 202 R. Reid 5 356 V. Newman 5 481 combined with a certain guilt about over-indulging at Christmas to produce a dream in N. Ball 5 34 M. Kirk 5 114 H. Corbett 5 383 which every tile I drew turned into a Roses chocolate. But the day came, the hour came, I Ratings: M. O’Rourke Ratings: D. Churcher Ratings: A. Medhurst drew my first seven tiles and they didn’t turn into chocolates (though given what they were In the A division, the early lead was taken by Helen Greenaway and despite relinquishing I felt I would have been no worse off if they had) and we were away. it to both Philip Nelkon and Graham Harding (albeit on spread) during the course of the I don’t think the games were distinguished enough for a blow-by-blow account, even had day, she took the title with an unblemished record of 6 wins out of 6. I managed to record them completely - that, along with tile-tracking, was a good intention In the B division, it was a similar story, with Elizabeth Hull taking the honours after the first that went out of the window in the excitement, and is something I must work on. round and despite losing her fifth round game to Marion Kirk, she regained the lead after Lost the first, very closed-up game to Kevin Synnott 323 - 371, never quite getting into it. the final round, winning on spread from Ronnie Reid. Had the best of the tiles against Margaret Staunton and won 381 - 315. In the C division, it was far more straightforward. Molly Lane was ahead after the first Beat Bob Lynn 428 - 329, thanks to two bonuses PHARISEE and CODEIAS. round and never relinquished the lead, despite losing in the final round. Lost an exciting game to Nick Ball 433 - 437, where Nick scored solidly with thirty to forty pointers while I hung on by dint of two bonuses. Towards the end he went away with a very

10 11 classy AETHERIC hooked on to a floating C, and though I managed a late third bonus TOLLAGE it wasn’t quite enough. Amsterdam 24/25th January (14 games) Beat Alan Bailey 436 - 393: Alan was a little unlucky when he attempted a triple-word Amsterdam setup that relied on my not having the other W: I did have the other W and down WONKIER Wins Sat Sun for 99. Femi Awowade 13 6 7 Finally I lost a disastrous game to Jackie McLeod: Jackie opened with two bonuses and though Gareth Williams 11 5 6 I hit back with RUINABLE on a triple I then picked up seven consonants; changed and picked Sam Kantimathi 11 6 5 up seven more, and never got back in the frame. The game was enlivened towards the end Tom Wilson 7 5 2 when Jackie first managed to lose one of her tiles at the bottom of her neighbour’s bag and Anand Buddhdev 7 3 4 then, having got confused in her tile-tracking, thought the game was over and began taking Kerry Constant 3 1 2 Wayne Wakeman 2 0 2 tiles off the board while I still had a tile to play, not that it made the slightest difference. ‘You Joshua Whitehead 2 2 0 must think I’m completely mad’ she said apologetically, but then was a little miffed when I hesitated just a fraction before reassuring her with a gallant ‘No, no, not at all’. So, 3-3, which could have been worse, and the afternoon cakes were very good. There was Chester a bit of an imbalance in the challenging: words my opponents challenged (all 25-28th January (16 games) unsuccessfully) included CODEIAS, PHARISEE, SAU, GLITS, OBECHE, SPLAKE, TOLLAGE, Report from Kathy Rush PRIAL, LARIATED, RUINABLE and JERIDS, while I had no occasion to challenge any of Division A Division B Division C their words. I wonder (he says innocently) if anyone has ever considered introducing a Chris Quartermaine 13 1012 Maureen Rayson 13 795 Marlene Skinner 13 1142 small penalty for an unsuccessful challenge? No, no, forget it. Mike O'Rourke 12 633 Mary Allen 12 901 Phillipa Morris 10 774 Final verdict: a friendly, enjoyable and very well-organised tournament, and my thanks to Nuala O'Rourke 10 642 Jill Bright 12 239 Edith Smith 10 516 Ian and all the club helpers for organising it. I was quite surprised at how physically tiring Wayne Kelly 9 323 Margaret Pritchett 9 241 Mary Shaw 10 287 the day was (and this is for someone used to running half-marathons), but when I’ve Janet Phillips 9 220 Carol Arthurton 9 –17 Lorna Llewellyn 10 2 recovered, and learnt a bit about the game, I hope to be back. It’s that time of year again. Report time. Every year I sit looking at the computer screen David Sutton racking my brain for something to report apart from the usual facts and figures of the tournament. As in every other year nothing out of the ordinary happened. Forty eight players arrived on time, won or lost their games, talked Scrabble during breakfast, lunch Pitlochry and dinner. There were no disagreements, and no problems to sort out. 25-28th January The after hours socializing is an enjoyable part of the weekend for me; a chance to join in Report by Wilma Warwick the game playing – games, that is, other than Scrabble. Cards, dice games and board games Division A Division B all appear. Paul Chadwick ‘phoned his mum at midnight during a game of Who Wants To Amy Byrne 13 1273 Jean Gallacher 14 1449 Be A Millionaire - she was out so he had to guess anyway. Those of us who were playing Trish Johnson 11 538 Etta Alexander 12 1028 Perudo and Chase the Ace were the ‘Ask the Audience’ when needed. Kate Leckie 10 572 Helen Polhill 10 794 Enough of that; on to the Scrabble results. In Section A ‘local boy’ Chris Quartermaine The Green Park Hotel is such a superb venue that there was no problem getting people to emerged as the winner. For all but one game he and Mike O’Rourke were the top two return for our second tournament there. With a few more people willing to share rooms players. Rounds 5 to 11 they were both on the same number of wins, just changing this year, we managed to accommodate 48 players in three divisions, two rated and one position according to their very close spreads. In Round 12 Chris went ahead after beating unrated. All played roundish robins in the mornings and evenings with the afternoons free top-rated player Wayne Kelly, and Mike lost to Alison Sadler. From then on Chris didn’t lose to enjoy as they wished. a game and was two games ahead of Mike when they met in the ‘King of the Hill’ last round so he was assured of first place. Sections B and C were also two horse races. Everything ran smoothly apart from a game where we discovered that two tile-bags had become mixed so that one held two X's and even more of the dreaded multiple I's than In Section B Maureen Rayson and Mary Allen were the players in the top two positions from usual. And some of our mischievous guests had fun changing the message on our giant Round 5. They were on equal wins after Round 15 with Maureen winning their head-to- board so that we were enjoying a Scribble Holaday at the Grean Perk Hotel. head in the KOH. Section C saw Marlene Skinner and Phillipa Morris in the top two positions with Marlene in first position from Round 6 to the finish. Mary Shaw got to within The Scrabble results varied, of course, but a great time was had by all. Cash prizes were one game of her in Round 14 but Marlene was two games ahead by Round 16 so couldn’t awarded to all Scrabble winners and bottles of wine for puzzles and games. be beaten. The ratings prizes went to the players in fifth place in each group.

12 13 West Sussex Sime is thinking sou-wester or cagoule! The missing players meant that we had four groups of eight players. So in some rounds we 7th February (6 games) had fewer players sitting out to do the challenges. I’m sure that we would not have coped Report from Peter Hall half as well without the indefatigable Norman Dean. SATURDAY Division A Division B Division C George Gruner 5 690 Michael Baxendale 5 280 Joy Fox 5 329 With all groups named after fish, the daily theme prize was for the best word with a piscine Phil Kelly 5 193 Ronnie Reid 5 275 Nicola Staunton 4 406 connection. I’m afraid that it was only in the last round that, in word terms, anyone caught George Newman 4 101 Nick Ascroft 5 253 Marian Hamer 4 223 more than a tiddler. Peter Liggett’s MARLINS saved me having to choose from shoals of KOI, a couple of HOKIS and the solitary CONGER, ELVER, BRIT and BRILL. As usual, the try- Owing to a local church being renovated, the venue we use has been commandeered for on merchants submitted some dubious stuff : WHALED, OCTOPUS, WALTZING (as in religious festivities every Sunday for the next 6 months. As a consequence we had to hold SKATEr’s waltz) and ORF (which is a disease of sheep). our event on a Saturday this year. The top three in the eleven groups were : After late cancellations and additions, including one player who had paid for Swindon but arrived in Worthing in error, we only had 2 players missing at 10am. As they were both Alewife Wins Sprd Ken Heaton 5 171 John Mitchell 5 339 Division C we contrived that they would play each other in the first round and went ahead Russell Byers 7 565 Escolar Wins Sprd Linda Barratt 5 189 with the draw. As neither of them turned up, we continued without them and had a Femi Awowade 6 280 Maureen Rayson 6 232 smoothly run tournament that adhered to the timetable all day. Andy Davis 5 305 Donna Stanton 6 159 There was no designated high score prize, but as Keith Churcher played GLAZIeRS/GLUG Alison Sadler 5 3 Bergylt for 230 points we made him a special presentation to mark the occasion. Robert Richland 7 376 Forktail Due to the computer skills of Ruth Marsden the event finished 15 minutes early, and I felt Edward Martin 5 355 Carol Smith 8 472 that everything had gone well. However at 10am next day I received a phone call from my Richard Evans 5 316 Peter Thomas 5 473 two absentees who had arrived, ready to play Scrabble. I told them that I had started their Nola Marrow 5 330 clocks but they had run out of time. I have omitted their names to spare their blushes, but Cabezon informed them that we will be returning to the Sunday format next year. David Shenkin 6 369 Gudgeon Nuala O’Rourke 6 17 Carol Arthurton 7 248 John Ashmore 5.5 355 Marjorie Smith 6 104 Nottingham Nomads Minu Anderson 5 407 7th-8th February (8 games each day) Dentex Report from Clive Spate Sheila Green 6 80 Halibut Karl Kwiatkowski 5 434 Yvonne McKeon 5 429 From time to time I’m sure that many Scrabblers have become disenchanted with the game. To mix quotes: having suffered the “slings and arrows” it is not always easy to “try, try and Consolation prizes for Saturday were : try again”. If you are looking for the antidote to Scrabble you could do a lot worse than Ratings prize: Femi Awowade follow the lead of a growing number of Scrabblers and try the board game “Gambler”. The Highest word score: Karl Kwiatkowski QUIXOTES 143 inventor of this game, Nottingham man Charles Towlson, kindly donated two of these Highest spread: Peter Thomas +473 games and free entry into the annual championship which is held every October only a Best last three games: Minu Anderson 3 wins , +364 stone’s throw away from the Gateway Hotel. Theme word: Peter Liggett MARLINS The 18th Nomads weekend had only 95 players - a pity when we had had a lengthy waiting SUNDAY list for several months. The shortfall was caused by a faulty solenoid in a car bringing four Whether or not you approve of Mattel switching to Collins as the source dictionary, I players from Essex. I’m sure I speak for all organisers when I say that when a mobile phone can certainly thank Harper-Collins for generously providing a large selection of books number is given, it is important that players do use it to contact the organiser. The hotel was for the raffle. This was supplemented with, among other things, more books from very good at passing on messages, but it wasn’t until much later in the day that I knew for Chambers-Harrap, travel Scrabble sets from Mattel and items donated by several sure that the four players would be taking no part in the weekend’s proceedings. players. Nomads SC would like to thank everyone who donated prizes and, of course, After the delayed start, things went smoothly - including a new air-conditioning system in everyone who bought tickets - over £370 in total, our highest ever, I think. Thanks, too, the playing room. The old one, though efficient, was noisier than ideal and anyone sat to Norman Dean and my trusty sidekick, Keith Lindsay, for folding the tickets and directly under a vent was well advised to wear an extra layer of clothing. No doubt Peter making the draw.

14 15 Sheila and I had previously decided to match the raffle proceeds with some “Grand Slam” Test Valley Mayor, Mrs. Pat West gave us all a brief, warm welcome and returned later cash. So, with the usual donation from the Gateway plus profit from the event, we were to present the prizes. She mentioned the 4 local charities supported by her fund, to delighted to announce that a cheque for £500 would be sent to the Lymphoma Association which will go the profits of the Championship and its accompanying, well-patronized and the same amount to the Leukaemia Appeal Fund. raffle. It is the Test Valley Mayoral Charity Fund which has got this Championship up Players were able to “catch” some more interesting theme words. We had KOI, CARP, and running, thanks particularly to its Secretary Bob Humphries although sadly he MARLINS, ZANDER, SEVRUGA and BIGEYES. I had to send home for OSPD to confirm could not be there to act as MC this year. that a bigeye is a fish. I shall aim to start at 10.15 in future, for transport reasons. We began 30 minutes late, but had practically caught up by the end. Sod’s Law determined that the last car to arrive Lamprey Wins Sprd Mike O’Rourke 5 - 9 Martha Mitchell 5 257 contained the one person whose entry had not been received (it turned up 2 days later), Phil Appleby 6 301 Panchax Wins Sprd Christine Gillespie 5 - 52 necessitating a recast of 2 divisions. Special thanks to Martin Taylor for rescuing Joy Nick Ball 5 122 Steve Balment 6 445 Teleost Wins Sprd Lloyd from non-attendance at the 11th hour, and to Green Flag for getting Marian Robert Richland 5 -244 Peter Liggett 6 189 Alastair Ives 6 840 Hamer back on the road quickly, so she did not miss the first game. Sanmi Odelana 4 114 Bill Anderson 6 272 Medaka Sarah Wilks 5 124 This is the second time we have used the Sports Hall of the John Hanson School. It has Di Dennis 6 637 Queenfish (n.b. not in OSWI) a large amount of room and natural light with off-piste cloak and refreshment areas. Helen Gipson 6 554 David Meadows 6 431 Ulicon There were more tables and chairs than were needed, and each pair of players had a Allan Simmons 6 8 Paul Richards 6 299 John Ball 7 638 table to themselves, yet there was easy access for runners and wheelchairs. It is Graham Buckingham5 59 Denise Saxton 5 370 excellent. Nannygai Sue Thompson 4.5 193 So too is the human back-up. I don’t just mean the indefatigable, extended Lindridge Stewart Holden 6 747 Rasbora Andy Roughton 6 283 Yvonne Mckeon 6 536 Vendace family who make such good runners; the adjudicators; and Ruth Marsden, for whose Wayne Kelly 6 257 Trish Johnson 6 408 Pat Rockley 7 405 computer skills I am always grateful. I also mean the school PTA and caretakers, who Rita Brookes 5 -273 Adrian Noller 6 355 are superb. Tea, coffee and squash were always available. The shepherd’s pie lunch and Osseter Mary Lindsay 5 17 dessert were of excellent quality and efficiently served. They also supplied a vegetarian Joanne Hiley 6 607 Scalare dish, and even insisted on making special provision for the one or two people who Nick Deller 5 104 Maureen Reynolds 6 235 could not eat any of those things. It is the best place I know for a Scrabble venue, and it has the nicest, most helpful and cheerful people servicing it. They, for their part, said how pleasant and appreciative we were! I thank them all effusively, and hope we shall Consolation prizes were : have many more tournaments there. Best runner-up over the whole weekend: Bill Anderson 11 wins, +486 Being the day after St. Valentine’s, a spot prize was thrown in for creative use of both Vs Best run of games: Donna Stanton 6 wins, +379 in one go. Nothing outstanding came forth, with some entries exciting compassion Highest Sunday spread: Trish Johnson, +408 rather than a prize. Jan Vokes-Taylor had VlVES, an affliction normally restricted to Highest word score: Helen Gipson FLASHIER 131. Phil Appleby played RAVIGOTE for horses. Owen Clarke got himself into a VIVER, no place for a man in a wheelchair. 158 but group winners can’t win a consolation prize. Worst of all, lady competitors in 2 separate games laid before Brian Jones a VULVA. Theme word: David Webb SEVRUGA. Alastair Ives played the excellent BIGEYES but, like Totally unnerved, he came bottom of Group A. Phil, was barred from winning. The bottle of wine finally went to Priscilla Munday for VIVE. It may not look like a Winners of the fishy quiz were Alison Sadler, Helen Grayson and Yvonne McKeon. prizewinner, but the circumstances were unusual. She was in a tight game against Chris The next Nomads event will be on August 7th & 8th and is already fully booked. With the Wide when the Vs emerged late, and needed to be got rid of. The game finished shortly Athens Olympics starting later in the month, the groups will be named after British medal after, with her on 471 but still the loser. Chris had 482 for a combined game-score winners. of 953. The best results were achieved by: Grand Hampshire Championship A Division 15th February (6 games) A Division 2004 Champion Nick Ball, Brighton, 6 669 Report from Alan Bailey 2004 Champion Nick Ball, Bnghton, 6 669 2nd2nd Andy Cook, AndyDidcot1 Cook, Didcot1 5 575 5 575 The 4th Grand Hampshire Championship was held on Sunday, 15 February, in Andover. 3rd3rd Austin Shin, AustinMilton Shin, Keynes Milton 5Keynes 507 5 507 There were 108 contestants in 4 divisions of 6 competitive rounds, and a further 8 players in the unrated Recreational section.

16 17 Austin was last year’s champion, and returned the Open Champion cup for Nick, just before Nick hands back the plate he has held since winning last year’s Southampton tournament. Are these two guys trying to corner the Hampshire trophy market?

B Division B Division I stI st Ian Caws, Ryde Ian Caws, Ryde 6 376 6 376 2nd2nd Brenda Margereson, Brenda Margereson, Soton Soton 5 678 5 678 3rd3rd Andy Gray, AndyAylesbury Gray, Aylesbury 5 196 5 196

Brenda had the rest of this group quaking in their boots after her first 2 games, amassing from them a spread of 526. Austin Shin Gavin Holmes Sue Cook Kitty Reid

C Division C Division Division A Division B 1st1st Pam Windsor, Pam Croydon Windsor, Croydon 5 742 5 742 Austin Shin 6 689 Gavin Holmes 5 420 2nd2nd Eileen Anderson, Eileen ReadingAnderson, Reading 5 288 5 288 Paloma Raychbart 5 90 Yvonne Eade 5 413 3rd3rd Dorothy Churcher, Dorothy ReadingChurcher, Reading 5 250 5 250 Elie Dangoor 4 308 Linda Bird 4 329 Ratings Prize: Kevin Synott Ratings Prize: David Carrod Pam’s highest spread of the day connotes each game won by I 50+ average.

D DivisionD Division Division C Division D I stI st Graham Bonham, Graham Aylesbury Bonham, Aylesbury 5 423 5 423 Sue Cook 6 443 Kitty Reid 5 465 2nd2nd Cecilia Cotton, Cecilia Andover Cotton, Andover 5 419 5 419 Marie Perry 5 413 Mavis Ernest 5 220 3rd3rd Amabel Winter, Amabel Bournemouth Winter, Bournemouth 5 127 5 127 Ron Bucknell 4 329 Dorothy Edwards 5 35 Ratings Prize: Marian Hamer Ratings Prize: Joyce Frost Ian Caws, almost the lowest-rated player of Group B, was worthy winner of the Terry Hollington Memorial Shield for best performance against rating. Other strong contenders Scottish Masters were Chrystal Rose in A, Jean Shaw in C and Cecilia Cotton in D. As a member of Andover 21st-22nd February (11 games) Club, Cecilia received the shield for the best-performing Test Valley player (but only after Report from Neil Scott an inept organizer had assigned it to a clubmate in error!) In the Recreation Group Annette Finch of Southampton won 5 of her 6 games and was As usual the Scottish Masters consisted of an 11-game round robin for the 12 highest rated presented with a cut glass bowl. players in Scotland. At the end of Saturday Paul Allan and Amy Byrne were out in front, each with five wins out of six. Paul continued his winning form, losing only the final game Brentwood on Sunday, to take home the trophy for the fourth time 21st February (6 games) Scottish Masters Report from Cindy Hollyer Paul Allan 9 813 Ninety-two contestants formed the four divisions of the Brentwood Winter Scrabble Neil Scott 8 354 Tournament on Saturday 21st February 2004. Amy Byrne 7 569 Allan Simmons 7 506 Just a couple of days beforehand the organiser was informed that there was an overlap in Alan Georgeson 5 34 the booking of the hall resulting in a considerable reduction of available playing time, so it Wilma Warwick 5 - 34 was decided to reduce the lunch break by half an hour and at the conclusion to decant Ricky Zinger 5 - 89 players into the much smaller committee room for the raffle draw and presentation of Alan Sinclair 5 -551 trophies. However, the gods were kind, there were no untoward delays and no general Raymond Tate 4 -161 exodus was necessary, and even though it was a bitterly cold day the sun beamed down on Malcolm Quirie 4 -330 us. Division A was of an exceptionally high standard with neither of the two highest rated Simon Gillam 4 -540 players coming out on top. Caroline Atkins 3 -571

18 19 New Maldan Mumbai International Scrabble Tournament 28th February (6 games) A report from Elie Dangoor The flight was eight and a half hours and I arrived late at night on Division A Division B Thursday 29th January. There was the registration and a spicy Ruth MacInerney 5 545 Richard Woodward 6 886 banquet on the Friday. I watched Mohan Chunkath and another Barry Grossman 5 413 Pamela Kikumu 5 357 player play a version of Scrabble where you can turn over any one Ed Martin 5 373 Carmen Dolan 5 227 tile on your rack to use as a blank (in addition to any actual blanks). Robert Richland 5 142 Stephen Wintle 4 347 INDIA They seemed to be getting a bonus on virtually every move and their vocabulary was excellent. • Division C Division D Mumbai The tournament took place over two days and was divided into an Irene Woolley 6 193 Sylvia Baldock 6 549 (Bombay) International Division of 32 players and a National Division of 34 Elizabeth Terry 5 384 Joyce Frost 5 352 players. The format was King of the Hill with no repeat fixtures for Isabelle McLean 4 391 Rosemarie Howis 5 321 the first ten rounds but with repeats for the last six. Graham Bonham 4 275 Jim Blackler 4 297 My first game was against Akshay Bhandarkar who was unbeaten in winning the inaugural Mumbai International Tournament last year. I was relieved to get off to a winning start and continued well to finish the first stage with Leicester nine wins from ten, the same as Ranganathan Chakravarthy although he had the higher spread. The format now demanded that 6th March (6 games) he and I play each other a further six times as we continued to be Report from Marjorie Smith placed first and second at the end of each round. He won the first My grateful thanks to all the participants and helpers who made this yet another enjoyable two games and I won the next two, but the turning point came in and successful Leicester event, particularly - the next game when he played the phoney FABBED and I declined Graham Wakefield for kindly loaning and setting up his computer. to challenge because of the 5 point penalty. I’ve been kicking Ian and David for processing the results and fixtures. myself ever since as five points would not have been so costly. This was the first time I have played in a tournament with a penalty for Yoke, for his speed and accuracy in adjudicating the challenges. an incorrect challenge, and having formerly been against it, Runners Peter Roughton, Holly, Rose, Zoe, Alex and Trevor for their enthusiasm and hard I am now greatly in favour as it prevents a tremendous amount of work. Elie Dangoor frivolous challenging and is a huge incentive to learn more words. And finally, Ruth and Michael for keeping up with the requests for tea and coffee. At that point the TV cameras homed in on us and Ranganathan seemed to play like a man possessed. I lost that game by about 180 points. He also won the last game against me narrowly and I was pipped into third place. So Ranganathan won 60,000 rupees which is about £750. Alex Tan from Malaysia who finished second won £375 and I won £180. The tournament was open to all standards and the level of play was very high. I'd guess that the rating spread was about 140 to 185 and there were several lady participants. The tournament was ably run, there were excellent buffets and very friendly people. India is very inexpensive and well worth a visit. Had I stayed a bit longer I’d have gone to Goa, but there was still a lot to see and do in Mumbai. The auto-rickshaw rides are a great experience and there are some wonderful buildings from the time of the Raj although much of the rest is rather run down. The only drawback was that innoculations and anti-malaria tablets are advised - in the case Divisional Winners Adam Philpotts and Audrey Harvey of anti-malaria tablets they need to be continued for four weeks after the visit. However, I hardly saw any flies, except in the markets and I didn't come down with any bugs or suffer stomach upsets. At breakfast the next day I was very excited to see the tournament covered on the front page of The Times of India as well as three other newspapers. I heartily recommend this tournament which hopefully will take place again next year.

20 21 ENVY j9a 14 32 Allan 2: CFOR? AL (+ 2) Allan spent a lot of time looking for bonuses with the floaters. (One of the nice things about demonstration games is that there’s no clock ticking!) There are two, but they’re tough ones - congratulations if you can see either of them; if not, turn to page 30. Allan’s FOR leaves a pleasant CAL?, and opens another juicy floater. FOR m8a 26 60 No. 13 by PHIL APPLEBY Mark 3: I N R T A D O (-28) Mark’s pick-up rewards his previous move. The everyday bonus here is DURATION at h7d, Annotated Game: Mark Nyman v Allan Simmons, 7th March 2004 but it scores poorly and opens the potential for a big comeback play on the h15 TWS. However Mark knows DIATRON, which plays at b7a or b9a for 66. Which position is As a lead-in to this issue’s annotated game, let me put in a quick plug for the weekend better? The danger is a high-scoring response at a8a, and the possibility of a huge score “Improve your Scrabble” courses run by Allan Simmons... They take place at a variety of involving AX (something like LANX) just about tips the balance in favour of b9. venues in the south of England, and cover numerous aspects of the game, such as the DIATRON b9a 66 98 essential Scrabble vocabulary, rack management, and when to change. They also include Allan 3: A CL? AAX (-38) several playing sessions and a duplicate Scrabble session, and they end with a demonstration game between Allan and his co-tutor. During the demonstration game, the Now how about that! Allan could have played LANX, albeit using the blank. But for 75 players explain the thinking governing their moves, tying in with the principles discussed points, I’m sure he’d have had no hesitation. His play of LAX is clearly best. on the course. LAX a8a 42 102 I’ve been Allan’s co-tutor on several occasions, and our last couple of games have been Mark 4: BDEORTU (-4) terrific tussles - you can view one of them on Allan’s web site (www.onwords.biz). Allan’s A good pick-up for Mark, which yields four 7-letter words: DOUBTER, OBTRUDE, most recent course, at Urchfont Manor in Wiltshire, ended with a demonstration game OUTBRED and REDOUBT. But none will play. Having spotted DOUBTER, it’s not too against Mark Nyman, and it turned out to be another cracking contest. difficult to see the double-double at e5d for 40. But Mark’s knowledge of 8-letter words Mark 1: BDIMNUV provided him with a much better move: OBTRUDER at o1d. Not a great opening rack. There are four reasonable choices here: UNBID for 20, DUMB OBTRUDER o1d 86 184 for 18, NUMB for 16, or VUM for 16. Anything else looks worse. In addition to the score, Allan 4: A A C ? I L S (-82) the two factors to consider are leave and defence. DUMB leaves a reasonable INV, but my There are lots of available bonus plays, but Allan has his eye on the double-double. choice would be VUM leaving BIND. Although both take an O hook (O-VUM and Sometimes it’s not the obvious play that comes to mind; he fails to spot CApITALS, but DUMB-O), after the obvious positioning of DUMB at g8a, the DUMB-O hook is likely to impressively achieves the required result with bASALTIC. give far more away. bASALTIC e4d 86 188 DUMB g8a 18 18 Mark 5: AIJLMNRabcdefg hij klmno (- 4) Allan 1: CEFORZ? (-18) 1 O 2 B In contrast to Mark’s opening rack, this looks much more promising. The highest-scoring 3 T move retaining the blank is ZERO at k5d, scoring 36, but the CF? leave isn’t great. A much Score: 4 B R Mark 184 better leave is achieved by playing COZ/DUMBO for 24, but 12 points is a lot to sacrifice. 5 AU Allan 188 Allan’s choice falls between the two. CORF? isn’t ideal, but another E would make it look 6 SD a lot healthier. 7 AE 8 LAX L DUMB FOR BEZ j8d 34 34 9 DIATRON ENVY Mark 2: INV NRTY (-16) 10 IZ The highest scoring move is TYER at h9a for 24, but Mark rightly decides that the priority 11 C AIJLMNR should be to get rid of one of the duplicate N’s. NYE for 23 is nice, but his choice of ENVY 12 13 Mark results in the best leave (INRT). 14 15

22 23 Mark is spoilt for choice. His options include: Mark 7: INNSU EG (-15) • JAIL at f2d for 30, leaving MNR As planned, the G pick-up! None of the sevens (ENSUING, GUNNIES and INGENUS) will play, but the D at o6 provides UNSIGNED. For Italian food aficionados and purveyors of • JAMB at l2a for 30, or JAMS at b6a for 29, leaving ILNR dubious plurals, there’s also LINGUINES at b14a. • JARS at b6a for 27, leaving ILMN UNSIGNED h6a 64 304 • JINS at b6a for 27, leaving ALMR Allan 7: EIST ITY (-45) • ALARM at e7a for 28, leaving IJN abcdefg hij klmno • ADMIRAL at b8d for 32, leaving JN 1 O 2 QJIB Of the J plays, JINS looks to have the best leave, particularly bearing in mind that four A’s 3 UTScore: have been played, as opposed to only two I’s. But it’s also worth noting that the moves so 4 B IRAllan 259 far have been slightly consonant-heavy, so the all-consonant leave after JAIL shouldn’t be 5 AE U too much of a worry. However Mark opts for the highest-scoring play, with the biggest tile Mark 304 6 ST UNS I GNED turnover. As he observed at the time, it’s not always good to keep the J, but on this occasion 7 AE it seemed right. 8 LAX L DUMB FOR ADMIRAL b8d 32 216 9 DIATRON ENVY EI ISTTY Allan 5: CEEIQTU (-28) 10 MI Z 11 IC Allan A nice post-bonus pickup for Allan. Sometimes there are no good spots for the Q; in this 12 R case there are several, including ACQUITE at b13a, QUITED at j6a, and QUEST or QUIST 13 AH at b6a. But the optimal move is QUIET at f2d for 43, which Allan duly finds. 14 LI QUIET f2d 43 231 15 C Mark 6: J N I I N S U (-15) Ouch! Allan might have hoped for something better. Those of a superstitious bent might say Again Mark has plenty of choices, but a lot of them are distinctly unappetising. Ideally he that the tile gods are punishing him for the missed bonus on move 6. There are no rack- would like to get rid of the J, plus the duplicate I and N, but the only options involve leaving balancing plays that score well, so Allan is faced with the choice of breaking up his the J at g1, with the likelihood of a high-scoring response from Allan on the triple-word. An promising combination and keeping his score ticking over, or facing the prospect of a large interesting alternative is INN at g2d, setting up JINN. However a check of the unplayed tiles deficit and gambling on getting a winning bonus. On a board that is becoming less reveals three G’s, two W’s, and an L unseen, so there’s a high probability of Allan getting amenable to bonus plays, he chooses the first policy. By far the best move, if you know it there first. QUININ at f2a gets rid of the rubbish, but scores poorly, leaves the J on the rack, (I didn’t) is CYTISI at c15a, bringing the scores level. Allan’s play of CITIES is second-best and again provides the possibility of a high score on the h1 TWS. for score. I guess I’m a gambler, because I think I would have played UNITY at h8d, hoping Mark eventually plumps for JIB at m2a for 24. It’s less dangerous than the alternatives, and that one of the floaters (the C at c15, R at o4, and L at a8) would help me out next move. with the three G’s still in the bag there’s a good chance of a helpful -ING on the rack next CITIES c15a 27 286 move. Mark 8: AHLNOVW (+18) JIB m2a 24 240 Given the state of the game, this is a nice rack, with the three 4-point consonants providing Allan 6: C E HIIST (- 9) plenty of scoring potential. Candidate moves include VOW at d3d (28) or AVOW at d2d (30), WHO at k3a (36), and HWAN at f14a (38). VOW has the advantage of keeping back Mark’s JIB has blocked Allan’s ITCHIEST (but then so would any of the other candidate a vowel plus the H for the f14 hot-spot, but Mark prefers the extra points for HWAN. moves!). Allan pondered THEICISM, but rightly dismissed it. There is a playable anagram Simulation suggests that he got it right. though. In fact CEHIIST is a surprisingly fertile rack when it comes to 8-letter bonus plays: HWAN f14a 38 342 as well as M and T (5 words), it also combines with E, N (2), and R. See page 30 for the Allan 8: T Y AEEW? (-56) solutions. A great pick-up. As Allan says in his notes on the game, “I felt there ought to be a bonus Allan’s choice of HIC scores well and leaves the lovely IEST. here, but didn’t find one”. I don’t think I’d have found one either, but there are two. HIC c13d 28 259 Can you see either of them? If not, see page 30.

24 25 Given that he didn’t spot a bonus play, Allan’s strategy has to be to maximise his bonus So with one tile left in the bag, it appears that Allan’s best chance is to play out in two, and chances next move. This means playing off the W and Y, whilst retaining the openings on score sufficient points in the process to negate Mark’s next move. To some extent these two the board. WEY achieves this well, but would have been better played at d5d for 4 more objectives are contradictory; the moves that provide the best chance of a play-out, such as points. OGEE at h4a, don’t score well enough, whereas the higher-scoring plays, such as GEAT at WEY h13a 19 305 h5a, don’t provide much prospect of a play-out. Mark 9: L O V K O O P (+37) I spent a couple of hours analyzing the following moves, considering what would happen for each of the eight possible tiles in the bag: OGEE at h4a for 12, AGEE at h4a for 12, This is a board where O’s are really useful tiles, with the O-BI hook at d4, and the JO ETAGE at k11a for 18, OE at l4a for 20, and GEEP at a2a for 14. After extensive analysis, opportunity. There are plenty of decent plays available in both spots. The best move is my conclusion was that Allan can’t win the game, assuming Mark always finds the best PLOOK at d1d for 39, with OVOLO at i3a not far behind. Mark wasn’t sure of PLOOK, and move. I believe there is one variation which ties - when Allan plays OE, and picks the A. settles for POOK instead. See page 30 for the sequence. But perhaps you can do better?? POOK d2d 31 373 Allan’s move is OGEE, certainly one of the best efforts. Allan 9: AET? ERS (-68) OGEE h4a 12 397 After another lovely pick-up, Allan is spoilt for choice. The key is to find a word that slots Mark 11: L R V AEDN (+ 8) in across the top of WEY on the row 12, but even given that restriction the choices are numerous. Mark now knows Allan’s final four tiles: AEFT. Is there any way of stopping Allan playing out? The answer is No; there’s FEAT at l13a for 23, and FEAT at h2a for 19. So Mark’s aim STEAmER g12a 80 385 must be to score sufficient points to maintain the lead after countback. Can this be done? Mark 10: L O V GOPR (-12) The obvious place to look is on the L row, so as to block Allan’s highest-scoring outplay, After appearing to be in control, Mark is suddenly behind, and has a fairly weak rack. But and the solution is to play DERV at l13a for 23. This takes Mark into a 31-point lead with at least he has an O for JO. His objective now must be to score well, leave at least one tile just ALN left on his rack. After Allan’s 19-point FEAT, he wins by 6 points. in the bag so that Allan can’t plan his endgame with certainty, and leave himself with a DERV l13a 23 428 reasonably flexible rack. Allan 11: AET F (-31) The unseen tiles, from Mark’s perspective, are: AAEEEEO DFGNT. So he can probably FEAT h2a 19 414 afford to play off both his vowels without too much concern. After considering PRO, he chooses POGO for the extra points. POGO j3a 32 405 Final score: Mark 425 Allan 419 Allan 10: AEEEGOT (-20)

abcdefg hij klmno 1 O Score: Giving your opponent a chance to go wrong 2 PQ JIB Allan 385 3 O U POGO T When the bag’s empty, there is always an optimal sequence of moves. However this Mark 405 4 O B IR requires both players to find the best plays; unsurprisingly, this rarely happens So even if 5 KAE U you realise that there is no way of winning a game if your opponent makes the right move, 6 ST UNS I GNED Unseen: don’t give up - there’s every chance they’ll get it wrong! 7 AEAE DFLNRV So what are the factors that might result in an opponent getting it wrong? I believe they fall 8 LAX L DUMB FOR into three main areas: 9 DIATRON ENVY • Imperfect vocabulary. No-one knows every word in OSWI. 10 MI Z AEEEGOT • Lack of board awareness. It’s much harder to spot a clever slot-in play than a 11 IC straightforward play through a single tile. Allan 12 RSTEAM ER • Shortage of time. It’s harder to find the right move if you only have 10 seconds to do 13 AH WEY it. 14 LI HWAN So if you can take advantage of one or more of these factors, there’s every chance you 15 CITIES can snatch an unlikely win.

26 27 Let’s consider this situation from a recent game I played against Ev Simpson. My previous Think Big move had been LIRI at c5d, which gave me the last tile in the bag and a final rack of DENP. Ev replied with SIR at m15a, leaving ILRT on his rack. I had several minutes left on my Andy Davis sent the following position to the uk-scrabble mailing list. In a game against clock, while Ev was down to his last 50 seconds. The board now looked like this: the Maven computer program, the following board position was reached: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o abcdefg hij klmno abcdefg hij klmno ——————————————-1 SALTO I NG P L 1 ME 01|S A L 2T O i N G . . . ‘ P . L|AAMI 02|. - . . . “ . A . “ . . A M I| 2 HEX 3 QI N WAN 03|. . Q I . . ‘ N ‘ . . . W A N| Rack: BDEOPV? 3 GON 4 GO E ME 04|G . . O . . . E . . . - . M E| 4 AHA Phil: DENP 5 AD FIASCON 05|A . . D - . . F I A S C O . N| 5 LIGEv: ILRT 6 ZOI OUKS 06|Z “ O I . “ . . . “ . O U K S| 6 IJ NEF 7 EUNITEDFERRY 07|E . U N I T E D ‘ F E R R Y .| 7 RCOLT SSI 8 RTEDOXY Score: 08|R . T E . . D O X Y . ‘ . . =| 8 ZO I C WOOF A V 9 SER Phil: 408 09|S E R . . . ‘ . ‘ . . . ‘ . .| 9 OP AW BEAU I E 10 EJ Ev: 433 10|. “ E . . J . . . “ . . . “ .| 10 B EKNAVE MUDS 11 CI O 11|C . I . - O . . . . - . . . .| BDEOPV? 11 UR TE Q 12|H A 12G BHAGBUT U T . W . . . - . . W‘| 12 ARY U 13|U . N13 . UN. A V E ‘ . . . AVE- . .| 13 TA IOTA E 14|R - . 14. . RE“ . E . “ . . . - .| 14 EN TREBL I NG 15|L . . ‘15 . LLLITERATI I T E R A T I . =| 15 ODD AY S I R ——————————————- What would you play? How about if we give you a target score of 54? See page 30 for What would you play at this point? I eventually concluded that my best two moves were Maven’s move. NEP at b4d for 23, and BEKNAVED/TOED at a10a for 20. If I could play these moves, I Don’t Give Up could win the game. However there was a problem... If I played BEKNAVED first, then Ev could block NEP by playing LIT at d4d; although I could play out with PENI at i5a for 12, In a game on ISC, Stewart Holden had just seen his opponent, Graham Wakefield, play I would lose the game by 1 point. If I played NEP first, then Ev could play out with the DERATIOn for 77 to take a 68-point lead with just one tile left in the bag. Graham duly unusual 4-letter word TIRL, hooking onto EL. picked the last tile - a V. Which put a rather different complexion on things. This was the position. What should Stewart play? See page xx. So there is no legitimate way for me to win the game. But there are two ways in which Ev a b c d e f g h i j k l m ng o j could go wrong. He might not know, or might not see, TIRL, in which case the best play is abcdef hi klmno ——————————————-1 WJ NEP. Alternatively, if I played BEKNAVED he might fail to spot the blocking play for NEP. 01|= . . W2 . . CL. J . . I. ‘ PT. . =| ES C Note that if he played RIT instead of LIT, I could win the game with NEP at e3d. 02|. C L I3 P T . EER S “ . . C - .| U T ZO Stewart: BEEINNR Eventually I played NEP, and Ev duly went out with TIRL. I tested his vocabulary, and he 03|. . E R4 . . ‘ U AYUt . . Z O . EXERTED.| Stewart: BEIINNR Graham: V rose to the challenge. Given Ev’s time shortage, it might have been better to play 04|’ . A Y5 U . E X E REH T E D . ‘| A ALE BEKNAVED and test his ability to find the right play under severe time pressure. 05|. . . . E6 H . . A . A YOL E . .| Graham: M V R Score: The most important point is that I gave Ev the chance to go wrong. Remember - never make 06|. “ . . 7Y VSIO . . M “ . . R “ .| Stewart: 379 life easy for your opponent! 07|V . ‘ .8 . SI ‘ . I . . RATTANS . ‘ . .| Score: Graham: 447 08|I . . R 9ATIGI T T A N S . ‘ . . =| Stewart 379 09|T . ‘ .10 . AQUAI ‘ . G I . . ‘ . N.| GrahamN 447 10|A Q U A . N . . . N . . . “ .| 11 EDOGBIFF 11|E . . D O G . B I F F . . . .| 12 WOOD S L U BE I I NNR 12|’ W O O D S . L . U . - . . ‘| 13 PEH KA L 13|P E H . . . K A ‘ L . . - . .| Stewart 14 EMON 14|E - . . . M O N . “ . . . - .| 15 GODERATION 15|G . . ‘ . O . D E R A T I O N|

28 29 ATB Solutions: PPuuttttiinngg aa ffaaccee ttoo tthhee nnaammee...... Annotated game: Did you know that the ABSP website has a Mugshots page • Allan’s move 2 bonuses: FALCOnRY and sCROFULA. showing photos of Scrabblers who take part in British tournaments (not necessarily ABSP members). A full list of • Bonuses with ECHIIST: E = ETHICISE; M = ETHICISM; N = ICHNITES, NITCHIES; R = the players currently portrayed on the page is printed CHRISTIE; T = CHITTIES, ETHICIST, ITCHIEST, THEISTIC, TICHIEST. below. If your picture has been printed in TLW in the last • Bonuses with ?AEETWY: YAWmETER and EYEWATeR, both at h4a. year or so, or you know that I have taken your photo • Endgame teaser: After OE by Allan at l4a, and a pickup of A, the situation would look recently, then your picture will also be added before too long. If you have a photo you wish to go on the page like this: please contact me or webmaster Stewart Holden. g j abcdef hi klmno Mark: DEFLNRV Similarly contact Stewart if you would like 1 O Allan AAEEGT your picture to be removed from the page. 2 PQ JIB Score: Alec Webb 3 O U POGO T Mark 405 Kevin Abela Elie Dangoor Kate Leckie Malcolm Shaw 4 O B IOERAllan 405 David Acton Marcia Davies Adam Logan David Shenkin 5 KAE U Janet Adams Andrew Davis Jim Lyes Austin Shin Jacqui Aldous Peter Dean Ruth MacInerney Allan Simmons 6 ST UNS I GNED The key fact is that there is no two- Philip Aldous JoJo Delia Ross Mackenzie Daniel Simonis 7 AEmove out-play for Mark. According Paul Allan David Delicata Fay Madeley Sandie Simonis Mary Allen Nick Deller Ed Martin Evan Simpson 8 LAX L DUMB FOR to my analysis, the optimal endgame Phil Appleby Di Dennis Brendan McDonnell Alan Sinclair 9 sequence is as follows: Carol Arthurton Ivy Dixon-Baird Jackie McLeod Carol Smith (Norwich) DIATRON ENVY Peter Ashurst Yvonne Eade Lois McLeod Marjorie Smith 10 MI Z Mark: VIN at k5d for 12 (needing to Femi Awowade Richard Evans Mary Morgan Brett Smitheram Tolani Ayo-Awojobi Pete Finley Philippa Morris Clive Spate 11 block GEAT at h5a) IC Nick Ball Andrew Fisher Lynne Murphy Sheila Spate 12 RSTEAM ER Allan: TEA at a11d for 15 Linda Barratt Ruby Flood Philip Nelkon Margaret Staunton Mark: DELF at l13a for 23 Melanie Beaumont Gerard Fox David Newman Brian Sugar 13 AH WEY Viv Beckmann Darryl Francis Les Nyman Kate Surtees 14 LI HWAN Allan: AGE at k11a for 18 Wasinee Beech Christina French Mark Nyman Kathy Swan Danny Bekhor Dave French Mike O'Rourke Sylvia Swaney 15 CITIES This sequence results in a final score Syd Berger Davina Galloway Nuala O'Rourke Kevin Synnott of 439 each. Jake Berliner Helen Gipson Sanmi Odelana Julie Tate Bob Berry Helen Grayson Bryn Packer Raymond Tate Think Big Margaret Boyd John Grayson Patricia Pay Graeme Thomas Maven played OBLITERATIVE at d15a. There’s a temptation to shrug one’s shoulders and Vincent Boyle Neil Green Andrew Perry Martin Thomas say “well, it’s a computer - I’d never see that kind of move”, but if you use your Maurice Brown Helen Greenaway Steve Perry Norah Thompson Anand Buddhdev Barry Grossman Janet Philips Noel Turner imagination, you might find the opportunity comes up rather more often than you think. Ian Burn Graham Harding Kim Phipps Ian Utley Russell Byers Chris Hawkins Gary Polhill Linda Vickers Don’t Give Up Amy Byrne Ken Heaton Mauro Pratesi Amy Vye The key move is to block Graham’s only out-play, TAV at k4d. This is best achieved with Theresa Camilleri Tim Hebbes Margaret Pritchett Graham Wakefield Joyce Cansfield Joanne Hiley Ken Quarshie Evelyn Wallace MI at i6a for 6. This leaves Stewart needing 55 points to win with his remaining six tiles. Kathy Carson Teresa Hill Anne Ramsay Wilma Warwick This he achieved with the following sequence of moves: Gerry Carter Linda Hillard Jean Rappitt Alec Webb Simon Carter Stewart Holden Martin Reed David Webb WEN b12d 16 The optimal sequence wins by 10 points: Paul Cartman Val Hoskins Joan Rees Mike Whiteoak TAR k4d 8 BUT g3d 15 Maureen Chamberlain Elisabeth Jardine Ronnie Reid Chris Wide YOB e6a 8 KAIL g13a 9 Moira Conway Chris Keeley Robert Richland Gareth Williams EF k10d 7 EF k10d 7 Andrew Cook Wayne Kelly Chrystal Rose Mike Willis Geoff Cooper Terry Kirk Andrew Roughton June Wilson BIT g6d 9 WEN b12d 16 Myra Copleston Karl Khoshnaw Allan Saldanha Rachelle Winer NEF k9d 10 TAR k4d 8 Catherine Costello Tony Killilea Denise Saxton Stephen Wintle This gave Stewart a win by 3 points. NEF k9d 10 Ian Coventry Harshan Lamabadusuriya Neil Scott Irene Woolley

30 31 148 N Tim Hebbes 142 Y Gwynfor Owen 136 Y Lorna Rapley 129 N Ann Davidson Ratings at 148 Y Carol Malkin 142 N Paul (Australia) 136 Y Peter Thomas 129 Y Jean Gallacher AABBSSPP RRAATTIINNGGSS 148 Y David Meadows Richards 136 Y Jan Turner 129 Y Norma Galley 22-3-2004 148 Y Margaret Pritchett 142 N Lesley Trotter 135 N Maureen Greening- 129 Y Mavis Harding (GM) Grand Master (Exp) Expert 142 Y Sheena Wilson Steer ABSP Member? Y=Yes N=No At least 30 games 148 N Alastair Richards 129 Y Ann Pitblado 148 N Fran Thompson 141 Y Nick Jenkins 135 Y Pamela Kikumu 129 Y Gertie Roberts and at least 1 147 N Oluyemi Adesiyan 141 N Keith King 135 Y Helen Polhill 129 N Susan Skirving 204 N David Acton (GM) 174 Y Chris Vicary 162 Y Wilma Warwick since 22-3-2002 147 Y Ian Coventry 141 Y Helen Latchem 135 Y Ronnie Reid 129 N Margaret Williams 204 Y Andrew Fisher (GM) 173 Y Richard Evans (Exp) 162 Y David White 147 Y John Garcia 140 Y Margaret Armstrong 134 N Joe Caruana 129 Y Stephen Wintle 161 N Dave Nunn 200 Y Phil Appleby (GM) 173 Y Barry Grossman 147 N Eileen Meghen 140 N Eryl Barker 134 N Garry Clark 128 Y Etta Alexander 199 Y Harshan 161 N Dianne Ward 173 Y Ruth Morgan-Thomas 147 N Pam Titheradge 140 Y Viv Beckmann 134 Y Yvonne Eade 128 Y Wasinee Beech Lamabadsuriya (Exp) (Exp) 160 N David Brook 153 N Paul Bassett 146 Y Cathy Anderson 140 Y Jill Bright 134 Y Rhoda Gray 128 N Jean Crowder 197 Y Andrew Davis (GM) 173 Y Martin Thompson 160 N David Delicata 153 Y Ivy Dixon-Baird 146 N Tony Bailey 140 N James Crooks 134 Y Peter Hall 128 Y Jill Fisher 195 Y Andrew Perry (GM) 172 N Brendan McDonnell 160 Y Chris Finlay 153 Y Angela Evans 146 Y Maurice Brown 140 Y Carmen Dolan 134 N Barbara Shammas 128 N Alastair Ives 194 Y Mark Nyman (GM) 172 Y Bob Violett (Exp) 160 Y Ken Heaton 153 Y Gerard Fox 146 Y Brian Bull 140 Y Lorraine Gordon 134 Y Mary Siggers 128 N May Macdonald 193 Y Helen Gipson (GM) 171 Y Bob Berry 160 N John Howell 153 N Mark Hollingsworth 146 Y Alan Childs 140 N Terry Jones 133 N Aaron Bell 128 Y Martha Mitchell 193 N Shanker Menon 171 N Catherine Costello 160 N Peter Preston 153 Y Karl Kwiatkowski 146 Y Christina French 140 N Doreen Marsh 133 Y Heather Cruickshank 128 N Jo Ramjane 192 Y Nick Ball 171 Y Chris Keeley 159 Y Maureen Chamberlain 153 Y Kay McColgan 146 Y Elizabeth Hull 140 N Kevin Sellars 133 Y Agnes Gunn 128 N Paul Steadman 192 N Brett Smitheram (GM) 171 Y Jackie McLeod (Exp) 159 N Chris Davison 153 Y Lynne Murphy 146 Y Mary Jones 139 Y Liz Allen 133 Y Sharon Landau 128 N Sheila Wall 192 Y Clive Spate (GM) 171 Y Noel Turner (Exp) 159 Y Brian Jones 139 Y Edelle Crane 133 Y Fay Madeley 153 Y Robert Pells 146 Y David Longley 128 Y Jean (Cardiff) Williams 191 Y Paul Allan (GM) 170 Y Wayne Kelly 159 Y Phil Kelly 139 Y Eleanor Dobson 133 N Stuart Solomons 153 Y Alison Sadler 146 N Helen Mitchell 127 Y Hilary Birdsall 190 Y Andrew Cook (GM) 170 Y Ruth MacInerney 159 Y Graham Maker 139 Y Doj Graham 133 Y Joyce Squire 153 Y Margaret Staunton 146 Y David Williams 127 Y Janet Bonham 190 Y Neil Scott (Exp) 170 Y Nuala O’Rourke 159 Y Paloma Raychbart 139 Y Robert Johnston 133 Y Jean Swallow 152 N John Balloch 146 Y Tom Wilson 127 N Stella Brown 189 Y Russell Byers (GM) 170 Y Sandie Simonis (Exp) 159 N Margaret Rogers 139 N Nola Marrow 133 N Evan Terrett 152 Y Adrienne Berger 146 Y Val Wright 127 Y Kathy Bullen 187 Y John Grayson (GM) 170 N Sheila Spate 159 Y Alan Sinclair 139 Y Tess McCarthy 132 Y Michael Baxendale 152 Y Ian Burn 145 Y Philip Aldous 127 Y Ian Caws 187 Y Gareth Williams (GM) 169 Y Penny Downer (Exp) 158 Y Gary Fox 139 N Richard Woodward 132 Y Linda Bradford 152 Y Simon Carter 145 N Martin Bloomberg 127 Y Geoff Cooper 186 Y Femi Awowade (Exp) 169 Y Cecil Muscat 158 N Malcolm Quirie 138 Y Mary Allen 132 Y Joan Caws 152 N Neil Green 145 Y Graham Buckingham 127 Y Verity Cross 185 Y Pete Finley (GM) 169 N Karen Richards 158 Y Graeme Thomas 138 Y Eileen (LSL) Anderson 132 N Ceridwen Davies 152 Y Joanne Hiley 145 Y Pat Colling 127 N Chris Downer 185 Y Terry Kirk (GM) 168 Y Helen Greenaway 158 N Amy Willcox 138 N Sheila (Perth) Anderson 132 N Barbara Dein 152 Y David Lawton 145 N Iain Harley 127 Y Christine Gillespie 184 Y Karl Khoshnaw (Exp) 168 Y Graham Harding 157 Y Alan Bailey 138 Y Diana Beasley 132 Y Chris Dossett 152 Y Sanmi Odelana 145 Y Paul Howard 127 Y Michael Harley 183 N Sam Kantimathi 168 Y Neil Rowley 157 N Erica Cruickshank 138 Y Louise Brundell 132 N Theresa Ellis 127 Y Ron Hendra 152 Y Paul (Sale) Richards 145 N Peter Hunt 183 Y Allan Simmons (GM) 168 Y Abraham Sosseh 157 Y Chris Fenwick 138 Y Tony Davis 132 Y Teresa Hill 127 N Doug Hill 152 Y Donna Stanton 145 Y Kathryn Le Grove 181 Y George Gruner 168 N Waiyapot 157 N Donald MacLeod 138 Y Wanda De Poitiers 132 Y Sandra Hoffland 127 Y Peter Lindeck 152 Y Malcolm Wearn 145 N Martin Leverton 181 Y David Webb (GM) Suttawassuntorn 157 Y Christine McKenzie 138 N Alasdair Dowling 132 Y Derrick Thorne 127 Y Ruth Marsden 151 N Eddy Breed 145 N Wendy Lindridge 180 Y Chris Hawkins 167 Y Nick Deller 157 Y Mike O’Rourke 138 Y June Edwards 131 Y Peter Ashurst 127 Y Barbara Morris 151 N Heather Frankland 145 Y Joy Lloyd 180 Y Brian Sugar (GM) 167 Y Simon Gillam (Exp) 156 Y Davina Galloway 138 N Patricia Fenn 131 N Janet Braund 127 Y Edith Smith 151 Y Kate Leckie 145 Y Lois McLeod 179 Y Danny Bekhor 167 Y Frankie Mairey 156 N Ralph Gibbs 151 Y Anne Ramsay 138 Y Ann Golding 131 Y Beryl Brown 127 Y Teena Walls 145 Y Danny McMullan 179 Y Jared Robinson 166 N Paul Chadwick 156 Y Sheila Green 151 Y Norman Smith 138 N Alan Guy 131 N Jean Carter 126 Y Linda Barratt 145 N Alec Robertson 179 Y Austin Shin 166 N Martin Thomas 156 Y Elisabeth Jardine 151 Y Kate Surtees 138 N Helen Jones 131 N Val Couzens 126 N Linda Bird 145 Y Chrystal Rose 178 Y Elie Dangoor (Exp) 165 N Ed Garrett-Jones 156 N Georgina Lawson 151 Y Ivan Swallow 138 N Bryn Packer 131 Y Priscilla Encarnacion 126 N Eileen Douglas 145 Y Judy Wearn 178 N Di Dennis (GM) 165 N Jane Gibson 156 Y Peter Liggett 151 Y Frances Ure 138 Y Kathy Swan 131 N Pam Fairless 126 Y Kathleen Higgins 145 N Mandy Weatherill 178 Y Martin Fowkes (Exp) 165 Y Bob Lynn 156 Y Ross Mackenzie 150 Y Vincent Boyle 137 Y Carol Arthurton 131 Y Andy Gray 126 N Medina Hull 144 Y Margaret Bright 177 Y Ed Martin 165 Y Andrew Roughton 156 Y Les Nyman 150 Y Moira Conway 137 Y Samantha Beckwith 131 Y Gavin Holmes 126 Y Yvonne McKeon (Exp) 144 N Debbie Holloway 177 Y Robert Richland (Exp) 156 Y David Shenkin 150 Y Moya Dewar 137 Y Syd Berger 131 Y Maureen Reynolds 126 N Gerry Pearce 143 N Marta Dunsire 176 Y Amy Byrne 165 Y Raymond Tate 156 Y Rachelle Winer 150 N Anne Hidden 137 Y Anand Buddhdev 131 Y Malcolm Roberts 126 N Maureen Underdown 143 N David Ellis 176 N Gerry Carter 164 Y Pauline Johnson 155 N Alan Buckley 150 Y Marion Keatings 137 Y Linda Hillard 131 Y Marlene Skinner 126 Y June Wilson 176 N Gary Oliver 164 N Diane Pratesi (Exp) 155 Y Theresa Cole 150 Y Carol Stanley 143 N Brenda Margereson 137 N Sheila Hinett 131 N Rita Todd 125 N Maureen Austin 176 Y Alec Webb (Exp) 164 N Chris Quartermaine 155 Y Peter Dean 149 Y Tolani Ayo-Awojobi 143 Y Kate McNulty 137 Y Greg Kelly 131 Y Pat Wheeler 125 Y Liz Barber 175 N Jake Jacobs 163 Y Theresa Camilleri 155 Y Debbie Heaton 149 Y Andy Becher 143 Y Kay Powick 137 Y Marjorie Smith 131 N Margaret Yeadon 125 Y Eileen Basham 175 N Lee Jones 163 Y JOJo Delia 155 N Thomas Mensah 149 Y Christian Brown 143 Y Maria Thomson 137 Y Sylvia Swaney 130 N Pat Broderick 125 N Jennifer Clifford 175 Y Lewis Mackay 163 N Alan Georgeson 154 Y Caroline Atkins 149 Y Laura Finley 143 Y Lesley Watson 137 Y Josef Thompson 130 Y Rita Brookes 125 N Joy Coomber 175 Y Philip Nelkon (GM) 163 Y Helen Grayson (Exp) 154 N Alan Catherall 149 Y Kim Phipps 142 N Paul Bissett 137 Y Evelyn Wallace 130 Y Heather Burnet 125 Y Malcolm (Luton) 175 Y Steve Perry 163 Y Martin Reed 154 Y Mary Oram 149 Y Matthew Pinner 142 Y Sue Bowman 137 N Brian Watson 130 Y David Carrod Graham 175 Y Gary Polhill (Exp) 163 Y Daniel Simonis 154 Y Janet Phillips 149 Y Jean Rappitt 142 N Jean Bridge 137 N Mike Whiteoak 130 Y Ann Coleman 125 Y Mary Hopwood 175 Y Evan Simpson (GM) 163 N Ricky Zinger 154 Y Anne Steward 149 Y Maureen Rayson 142 N Moby Cook 136 Y Minu Anderson 130 Y Mike Holland 125 Y Jane Lowndes 174 Y Darryl Francis (Exp) 162 Y John Ashmore 154 N Angela Swain 149 Y Kenneth Ross 142 Y Trish Johnson 136 Y Margaret Burdon 130 Y Jill Parker 125 Y Jim Lyes 174 Y Stewart Holden 162 Y Joyce Cansfield (Exp) 154 Y Linda Vickers 149 Y Carol (Norwich) Smith 142 Y Mark Lane 136 Y Carolyn Emery 130 Y Michael Partner 125 N Janet Southworth 174 Y Roy Miller 162 N Billy Dott 154 Y Graham Wakefield 148 Y Marjory Flight 142 Y Huw Morgan 136 Y Norma Howarth 130 Y Angela Spilsbury 125 Y Dorothy Taylor 174 Y Adam Philpotts 162 Y Kevin Synnott 153 Y Steve Balment 142 Y George Newman 136 Y Patricia Pay 129 Y Janice Bease 125 N Sonia Temple

32 33 125 Y Pamela Windsor 119 N Kate Boutinot 115 Y Val Hoskings 110 N Paul Moorefield 104 Y Celia Osborn 99 Y Jessie Tollick 93 N Margaret Emmott 84 Y Norah Thompson 124 N Nicholas Baker 119 Y Paul Cartman 115 N Helen Morris 110 Y Joan Rees 104 Y Beryl Shine 99 N Alice Tozeland 93 Y Yvonne Goodridge 84 N Millie Ward 124 Y Shirley Chidwick 119 Y Don Davis 115 Y Miriam Moss 110 N Stuart Ross 104 N Pamela Sparkes 98 Y Dorothy Edwards 93 N Patricia Holmes 84 Y Margaret Webb 124 N Georgina Cook 119 Y Vera Flood 115 N Willie Scott 110 Y Kitty Rugman 104 Y Grace Summers 98 N Alan Everitt 93 N Violette Little 83 N Margaret Craig 124 Y Sally Fiszman 119 N Pat Friend 115 Y Jan Vokes-Taylor 110 Y Denise Saxton 104 N Jacqui White 98 N Iris Grover 93 N Kitty Reid 83 N Winnie Haston 124 Y Shirley Heal 119 N Joyce Gershon 115 Y Sarah Wilks 110 N Faye Spooner 103 Y Mary Adams 98 Y Gwen Linfoot 93 Y Margaret Seabrook 83 N Mandy Isaac 124 N Nicky Huitson 119 Y Barbara Hill 114 Y Sheila (Romford) 109 N Sheila Booth-Millard 103 Y Peter Bailey 98 N Barbara Pinto 93 N Richard Tempest 83 N Doris Mackay 124 Y Margaret Irons 119 N Geoff Howe Anderson 109 Y Margaret Boyd 103 N Beverley Burgess 98 Y Susan Richardson 93 Y Rose Wall 83 Y Joan Murphy 124 Y Hazel Parker 119 N Marc Meakin 114 Y Mabel Choularton 109 N Eileen Bradshaw 103 Y Shirley Cave 98 N Christine Spicer 93 N Christine Watkins 83 N Monica Urquhart 124 N Miri Purse 119 Y Judy Monger 114 Y Hannah Corbett 109 N Paula Docherty 103 Y Myra Copleston 98 N Anne Stevens 93 Y Anne Wilkins 82 Y Ted Anderson 124 Y Ken Quarshie 119 Y Malcolm Shaw 114 N Gwyneth Cox 109 Y Cindy Hollyer 103 Y Margaret Firmston 97 N Una Collinson 92 Y Jacquie Aldous 82 Y Evelyn Mankelow 124 N Brenda Rodwell 119 N Julie Tate 114 N Barbara Etheridge 109 Y Joyce Jarvis 103 Y Richard Hitchcock 97 N Cecilia Cotton 92 Y Elisabeth Williams 82 Y Jill Russell 124 Y Carol Sienkiewicz 119 Y Elizabeth Terry 114 N June Faulkner 109 N Rosalyn Lishak 103 N Jenny Jaques 97 Y Reg Dendy 92 Y Amabel Winter 82 Y Sheila Stanton 124 N Rose Spencer 119 Y Wendy Tiley 114 N Margaret Herbert 109 Y Barbara Lukey 103 Y June Johnstone 97 Y Renee Gilbert 91 Y Vera Allen 82 Y Patrick Teague 123 Y Gail Allen 118 Y Janet Adams 114 N Roma Hollingworth 109 N Sheila Szzvanowski 103 Y Barbara Solomon 97 N Mary Ralfs 91 Y Caroline Elliott 82 N Jane Thomas 123 Y Alistair Baker 118 N Shirley Angell 114 Y Peter Kelly 109 Y Yvonne Templeton 103 N Jack Waley-Cohen 97 Y Sheila Reeve 91 N Agnes Gray 81 N Elsie Brown 123 N Sue Ball 118 Y Betty Benton 114 Y Marjorie Lefley 108 Y Irene Atkinson 102 N Rona Dryden 97 N Les Searle 91 N Jean Jacobs 81 N Marcia Davies 123 N Harry Beckett 118 Y Doreen Blake 114 N Doreen Morris 108 N Barbara Fleming 102 N Paul Harding 97 N Yoke Shin 91 Y Priscilla Munday 81 Y Eileen Hunter 123 Y Winnie Buik 118 Y Jessie Brown 114 N Olivia Patton 108 Y Jill Jones 102 Y Jo Holland 97 N Marjorie Struggles 91 N Susan Paton 81 N Eileen Johnson 114 N Joanna Skirving 123 Y Dorothy Dean 118 Y June Clark 108 Y Rosemary Jordan 102 N Olive Holroyd 97 N Beryl Trace 91 Y Jenny Sakamoto 81 N Moira Mackintosh 113 Y Jean Bakewell 123 Y Peter Ernest 118 N David French 108 Y Isabelle McLean 102 N Mary Manson 97 Y Marianne Ward 91 Y Peter Shuttlewood 81 Y Lionel Millmore 113 N Martin Byrne 123 Y Lynn Giles 118 N Brenda Northcott 108 N Jane Weston 102 N Josie Rogers 96 N Maureen Barlow 91 Y Sheila Smith 80 Y Pamela Brown 113 Y Florence Davies 123 Y Marjorie Gillott 118 N Harry Sinclair 107 Y Marjorie Garrett 102 Y Heather Stevens 96 Y Ginny Dixon 90 Y Hazel Brannan 80 Y Peggy Lavender 113 Y Olive Dolan 123 N Barbara Goodban 118 N Doris Street 107 N Joy Hewgill 102 Y Susan Thorne 96 N Gerry Gleeson 90 Y Kathy Carson 80 N Nicholas Robertson 113 Y Daphne Fletcher 123 N Jacquie Johnstone 118 Y Cyndy Walker-Firth 107 Y Sheila Miller 101 N Peter Beales 96 N Fay Goble 90 Y Gordon Lamb 80 N Doreen Searles 113 Y Joy Fox 101 Y Christine Cartman 96 Y Jenny Harris 90 Y Jean Masterson 80 N Bobby Wright 123 Y Marion Kirk 118 Y Jim Wilkie 107 Y Vivienne Plewes 113 N Kathy Gibbons 101 N Marie Davie 96 N Rosemarie Howis 90 Y Beroze Mody 79 N Peter Munt 123 Y Peter Sime 118 N Rosemary Wood 106 N Sylvia Baldock 113 Y Juliet Green 101 N Peter Edwards 96 Y Mary Lindsay 89 N Mike Adsetts 79 Y Jean Ross 123 N Isla Wilkie 118 Y Irene Woolley 106 N Beryl Browner 113 Y Joy Hodge 101 N Rona Falconer 96 N Patrice McCarry 89 N Jan Gibson 78 N Cath Cameron 122 Y Joseph Doku 117 Y Doreen Acton 106 N Sue Bullock 113 Y Molly Lane 101 Y Mary Keevy 96 N Hazel Smith 89 N Audrey Jackson 78 Y Edna Lindeck 122 N Jean Dymock 117 N Melanie Aked 106 N Irene Catherall 117 N Elizabeth Allen 113 N June Lindridge 101 N Margaret Lowrie 96 Y Claire Violett 89 N Olive Matthew 78 Y Michael Murray 122 N Phyllis Fernandez 106 Y Audrey Harvey 117 Y Nora Bain 113 N June Lowrie 101 N Margaret Macdonald 96 N Sonja Wyld 89 Y Moreen Shillitoe 77 N Margaret Jaggs 122 Y Margaret Harkness 106 Y Lorna Llewellyn 117 Y Derek Bower 113 N Janet Milford 101 Y Terry Masterson 95 N Prue Buckingham 89 N Mary Warwick 77 N Helen Jankowski 122 Y Sheila Jolliffe 106 N Ann McDonnell 117 N Carol Grant 113 N Jean Owen 101 N Stan Morris 95 Y Fred Burford 88 Y Rita Barton 77 N Vanw Lloyd 122 N Angie Jones 106 Y Margaret Mitchell 117 Y Janet Hamilton 113 Y Marie Perry 101 Y Christine Nicholson 95 Y Chris Chapman 88 N Bernard Bruno 77 N Margaret Sutherland 122 N Joe Marsh 106 Y Vivienne Newman 117 N Sheila Jeffery 113 N Judy Young 101 Y Martin Taylor 95 N Joan Everitt 88 N Doreen Coleman 76 N Pat Sinclair 122 Y John Mitchell 106 Y Dorothy Pearson 117 Y Joan Lawrence 112 Y Bill Anderson 101 N Cheryl Tracey 95 N Jean Fothergill 88 Y Margaret Coleman 75 N Jessie Chisholm 122 Y Edith Tempest 106 N Shirley Scoberg 117 Y Philippa Morris 112 N John Brown 100 N Sarah Addison 95 N Jean Gelly 88 N Steve Davie 75 N Elizabeth Mustard 122 Y Margaret White 106 Y Russell Smith 117 N Angela Mort 112 N Mary Brown 100 N Madelaine Baker 95 Y Barbara Haggett 88 N Joyce Frost 75 N Mary Shiells 121 Y Jake Berliner 106 Y Ann Toft 117 N Norman Partridge 112 N Joan Ellis 100 Y Ann Clark 95 N Joan Johns 88 Y Jean Greenland 74 N Norma Clunas 121 Y Christabel Jackson 106 N Amy Vye 117 N Joan Price 112 N Marjorie Gardner 100 Y Mavis Ernest 95 N Rose Lawson 88 N Baldip Kaur 74 N Frank Goodier 121 N John Jones 117 N Helen Rees 112 N Wilf Gibbons 105 Y Helen Aley 100 N Angela Garrard 95 Y Audrey Medhurst 87 Y Peter Basham 74 Y Dorothy Henry 121 N Stuart May 117 N Monica Stockwell 112 Y John Harrison 105 Y Graham Bonham 100 Y May Gray 95 N Alice Nadin 87 Y Brian Beaumont 74 N Douglas Reid 121 N Mary Shaw 117 N Jo Tebbutt 112 Y Hilda Hudspeth 105 Y Ron Bucknell 100 Y Margaret Greenyer 95 Y Derek Neath 87 N Dorothy Black 74 N Carl Szzvanowski 121 N Stan Skinner 117 N Kathleen Ward 112 N Dennis Nelson 105 Y Keith Churcher 100 N Mollie Moran 95 N Winifred Stitt 87 Y Joan Garlick 73 Y Letty Burrell 121 N Gill Thompson 117 Y Rosalind Wilson 112 N Joy Reason 105 N Stephen Lally 100 N Magda Norris 95 Y Ian Whyte 87 N Lionel Howard 72 N Sheila Marshall 120 N Anne Backley 116 Y Eileen Foster 112 N Isobel Smith 105 Y Pat Rockley 100 N Anne Richards 95 N Jean-Iris Williams 87 N Joan Hughes 72 Y Olive Smith 120 N Melanie Beaumont 116 N Barbara Kent 112 N Christine Strawbridge 105 N Fuad Shammas 100 N Wenna Robinson 95 N Sue Williams 87 N Sheila Johnston 72 N Nancy Yorkston 120 N Bobbie Bennett 116 N Rhian Lewis 111 Y Ken Bird 105 Y Jean Shaw 100 N Betty Simmonds 94 N Judy Beales 87 N Helen Thompson 71 N Alec West 120 N Marie English 116 Y Ted Lewis 111 N Lyn Brookes 105 N Sheila Tutt 100 N Ian Smith 94 N Alex Beckmann 87 N Rod Winfield 70 N Ena Harding 120 N Lorna Franks 116 N Helen Sandler 111 N Helen Cowie 105 Y Chris Wide 100 N Winifred Smith 94 N Ruth Binding 86 Y Lyndon Johnson 70 N Betty Meazey 120 Y Lena Glass 116 Y Vera Sime 111 Y Barbara Grant 104 N Pat Burgess 100 N Sarah Taylor 94 Y Richard Brookes 85 Y Moira Metcalf 69 N Margaret Regan 120 Y Jill Harrison 116 N Peter Slack 111 N Mary Morgan 104 N Eve Conlon 100 N Geoff Waters 94 Y Barrie Hall 85 Y Fergus Williams 69 Y Ruth Turner 120 Y Andrew Hart 115 N Eileen (Reading) 111 N Val Stewart 104 N Tricia Cooper 99 Y Anna Blakey 94 N Anne Lawton 85 N Reg Wiseman 67 N Mary Kennedy 120 N David Reading Anderson 111 Y Claudia Wiseman 104 Y Elsie Edwards 99 Y Iris Cornish 94 N John Macdonald 84 N Chris Baker 67 N Helen Tegg 120 Y Sue Thompson 115 Y John Ball 110 N Don Beavis 104 Y Ruby Flood 99 Y Sue Ison 94 Y Remie Salazar 84 N Mary Craddock 66 Y Philip Turner 119 Y Barbara Allen 115 N Jean Buckley 110 Y Owen Clarke 104 N Margaret Mills 99 Y Connie Riach 94 Y Evelyn Wansbrough 84 N Bernard Dolan 63 Y Jean Hendrick 119 N Noel Barnes 115 Y Dorothy Churcher 110 Y Marian Hamer 104 Y Adrian Noller 99 Y Nicola Staunton 94 N Dorothy Wilks 84 Y Zoe Marlowe 60 N Barbara Yeaman 119 N Linda Beard 115 N Marjorie Hislop 110 Y Peter Johnson 104 N Esme Norris 99 Y Jean Stevens 93 N Carmen Borg 84 Y Barbara McLaren 55 Y Barbara Horlock

34 35 Part XXII Anagrams, trivia and word building, Using allowable scrabble words at all times.The idea of this puzzle is to find the odd word out in each of the ten following groups by working out the theme of each group. Group 1 will have something to do with prefixes and group 9 will involve inserting a Compiled by Raymond Tate certain 3-letter word to make new words.The rest of the groups are about anagrams, and (Puzzle solutions on inside back cover) all anagrams will be one word except for group 7, which will have some 2-name anagrams

EDGEWAYS (e.g. Pat Cash). Numbercross: If kept in order, the first letter of each odd word out can then be joined together to form a 10-letter word which would describe your effort in this puzzle. Finally work out the 187 1 115 225 26251220202223 anagrams of this 10-letter word

17 3 2 12 4 21 13 1 19 13 22 14 12 1. CASED FIXED POLITE QUIRE SHELL SWEPT TWIST

5 24381213205 12422220 2. DENIER TAINT OI TALAS EMIT MEGADYNE HEAR 3. AREADING AREIC RIFLES SORE ISOLABLE MAUNGIER INTAKES 22 24 10 12 2 22 24 26 14 4 3 20 5 4. KEEN BAREST GELS SPIN PHIS CAFE VINES 18121265 812211182312 5. RINGLETS BOOK MANTO ITEMS ETAPES TRAIPSE AKIN 17 12 20 12 20 6. SADHE PUDIC PALOLO SCREE ATROPHIED NEVUS SPARE

231 15124122 5 6 1212222023 7. OVERLARD PICNICKER THERIAN PEEL GELSEMINE

14 22 4 22 1 1 18 12 11 3 8. ANALOG NIPAS ELCHI EXSERTION ERING LIMA CHAIN 9. ORS FAR NIS MOR BAR LIS ERS BOR 9 12 5 11 12 8 5 26 12 12 6 1 10 3 10. CRAM ROOM TICE HENRY POOLS LIVE LEPER 4201205

3 1611128 14121232415 5-letter outplays Towards the end of the game you have just five 1-point tiles left on your rack. You don’t 11 12 8 5 12 25 4 13 19 12 13 20 12 need a big score to win, but you do need to find a move to go out with. 228 1 1112 251224 222011224 Each of the 30 racks below makes just one legitimate 5-letter word. See how many you can find. I think this is a toughie so don’t spend too long on it, but do check out the answers, 12 22 2 3 5 4 12 1 15 3 22 4 12 some of the words are well worth adding to your vocubulary.

5 141226118 12 5 121245 1211 I’d be interested in knowing how successful you were at the first attempt.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 12345678910111213

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 W If an extra clue is required see p38

36 37 Anagrid:

1abcdef gh ijklmno 8 tras 2 X

3 No 11 from Christina French

4 5 Congratulations 6 To Mandy Isaacs on the birth of her fifth child, Florence.

7

8

9

10

11

12

13 Florence was born on February 3rd and weighed 6lbs 8ozs. Pictured is Mandy with Florence who was 12 days old when I took this photo. I got to hold Florence and coo 14 over her for ages - boy is she a beautiful baby! Mandy assures me she is bringing Florence up in true Scrabble fanatic mode - when Mandy plays on the Internet Scrabble 15 Club (handle-wordcrazy1), Florence watches from her cot - albeit a little sleepily - so we may have a little Scrabble star on the horizon!

Horizontal clues: Vertical clues: 1: SAWLIES - SLOFFTY a: WINHERE - ASSQADI 2: LEDLUH - REAOAT b: MUNTUA - SHIWAD LITTLE INNOCENTS 3: LAGATEE - JAPSUIT c: LONERAL - ICABILL This is a new feature which will be included in Xtras 4: CYNOD d: WOXOB until the font runs dry. Pete Finley (Letters, TLW94) 5: - e: - 6: SLUNV f: CARVI suggested that we publish photos of players when they 7: REXOS - NOWAD g: UCESR - IBEAR were young and see if we can identify them now that 8: - h: - they are ... well ... um ... a little bit older. So let’s see - 9: OBINE - SLIZL i: AAJNN - RILOZ from the massive pile of photos on my desk in front of 10: CONOR j: SINDE me I am going to select one at random ... and thanks to 11: - k: - everybody who has supplied us with these delightful 12: SPIKI l: LAWEK and sometimes amusing photos. 13: IUVALID - EGBELLI m: TOMTONA - CLESBUM This little angel is a familiar face in the A divisions these 14: LEPSEA - CLERAL n: ALEDIT - VESMUL days. Can you guess who he is? I’d be interested to hear 15: HISMITT - OSSSSEP o: SEEMASS - SASTREE your guesses. Extra clue to numbercross: Q=21 38 39 COUPLES ABSP Member Interview - Bob Violett Now that was easy wasn’t it? So let’s see if you are any good at spotting some well known Scrabble Couples from their childhood photographs. Remember that Brainteaser craze that hit the Scrabble scene last year? Several ABSP members appeared on the Channel 5 game show. Well that craze is still alive and kicking. Bob Violett appeared on the programme in February and won the cool sum of £3000. I met up with him in The Lamb on Romford Market, (a) to ask him some questions about his appearance and (b) far more importantly, to ask him for a loan. What enticed you to apply? The thought of £3000, which, judging by the success of other Scrabble players on the show, was within my reach. I would have applied earlier but for a lack of annual holiday last year due to a change of job - also it seems a good tactic to avoid appearing on game shows like these until most of the regular Scrabble experts have been on! You were pretty quick on the anagrams round - had you been practising? If you have not submitted a photograph for this new feature please do so now as a matter Not especially - it’s just a result of 25 years of Scrabble. of urgency - your magazine needs you. Your opponent seemed pretty miffed that you overtook him - what were your competitors like Last issue’s mystery guest was Mike O’Rourke - I am putting this feature on hold whilst overall. you all mull over the childhood photographs - I think they are enough to keep you guessing until next issue! Jim had been fairly successful on 15 to 1 and was feeling pretty confident although both he and David seemed distracted by Alex’s cleavage. Tim had no such problem, being Cabin Crew based at Luton Airport! All three were very friendly and were pleased at my success. MARY GOULD On the show you said that you were going to spend the money on a new bathroom - the last I received an email in January from Mary’s grandson. time I watched Brainteaser Evan Simpson was going to buy new windows - do you think all Sadly Mary passed away at the beginning of the year. She Scrabble players are that house conscious? was a proud member of the 090 Club and Jill Harrison Not at all - I think Evan may really have been planning to upgrade his computer. from the Cirencester Club writes: Dear Christina What advice would you give to any Scrabble player who may be considering applying? Thank you for forwarding the e-mail (on 6 Jan) regarding Go for it! Everybody makes you welcome, there’s no audience and the only pressure is Mary’s death. I have been meaning to write to you to say what you put on yourself. how thrilled Mary was about belonging to the 090 club. What other shows have you appeared on in the past and did you win anything? Chatting to her grandchildren at her funeral we were told Countdown how much she enjoyed playing Scrabble and how she had (C4) - 5th Series: Reached final of series, won £100. Turnabout (BBC1)- A Fools & Horses Video which I have never watched - it’s on TV every proudly shown them her picture in The Last Word. week anyway. Thanks for giving her that opportunity. Sale of the Century (Sky) - Fridge, Strimmer, Teddy Bears, Vases, Potpourri, Pen Set Best wishes All these were screened from 1985 to 1987. Jill Harrison (Cirencester Club) Thanks Bob and well done, now, about that loan ...

40 41 Vivian Mifsud of Gibraltar S.C. sent me this piece from The Rock which she entitled... The five games on the first two days are a blur. I lost all of them, the timer worrying me more than the person opposite. I kept a closer eye on it, than on them. I remember noticing Our First Skirmish with Timers and Rated Players or that my hand was trembling as I placed my letters down in one game. LAMBS TO THE SLAUGHTER I also noticed that I was finishing games with 10 or so minutes to spare, and never ran out of time. I found out who the kind opponents were (they were the ones who reminded me Five of us travelled up to Torremolinos in two cars, committee members Roy Smith, Sylvia to press the clock after my turn). Colledge and myself and two of our best players, father and son, Jim and Lee Wright. On the third day, I relaxed a bit, and actually won a game, two the next day and then all We run a very small club here in Gibraltar, and are incredibly isolated. As far as I know we three. are 1500 miles away from any other English speaking Scrabble group; whether it is in The weather improved and we went on long walks. There was good entertainment at the England or Malta, the distance is the same. We therefore lack the opportunity to flex our hotel, bowling, shooting, bridge, Spanish dancing and language lessons, and our cars never brains against unknown left the garage all week. strangers, except for the odd holidaymaker who drops in to The people from Britain went on trips to Granada, Gibraltar and through the Spanish play on a Monday evening. countryside. We have no timers. Every day we were playing Scrabble just for fun, in the hotel conservatory. We played against all levels of opponent and some of the best things, were the workshops, when the We had not seen the list of two racks would be open for all to see, and a couple of high ranking players, with the rest two and three letter words that of us, could discuss what was the best play. came out in April 2001 until last week. That we did as well We learned that we are running our club quite well, and that it is quite successful given the as we did without it, is an size of our town, with 3 to 9 players turning up every week. We were given lots of tips and achievement. good advice about running it. We bought three timers to take back with us. We saw the date of Viv Every year in Gibraltar we run a tournament in which about twenty players take part. This Beckman’s Torremolinos year will be the last one without timers. It is on 15th May in conjunction with our May Vivian ‘Vin’ Mifsud (right) with Sylvia Colledge (left) and Kath, Festival, a time when we have exhibitions, concerts, a veteran car rally and other Scrabble Holiday in Phil wife of holiday organiser John Harrison. Nelkon’s Scrabble Club News. attractions. Roy said he would like to go “to see how to do it properly.” I agreed, but felt nervous. May is a lovely month in Gibraltar, between winter and our very hot summer. We contacted Viv by email, and found out that most of the participants were rated players, We give a cup to the winner, a bowl for the highest word and other prizes too. Anyone who and worse still, we would all be playing with timers. would like to come for a pleasant holiday at a time of good weather, in a beautiful place, with many flowers and lots going Roy, Sylvia and I arrived at the hotel at 5 o’clock, and met Viv who told us we were going on, let me know. to play at 8 o’clock, not for fun, but the real thing. We would love Scrabble Players We had supper and Jim and Lee arrived at half past seven; I found them happily unpacking. from Britain to visit our club and Lee, fingering his chin, thought he might just shave. I told them they had no time, they had take part in the tournament also. to get down and do battle, food and shaving would come later. Timers would be started whether they were there or not! We would like to run a tournament here where the players may In the playing room Viv explained what was expected of us. John Harrison had everything improve their ratings, and are beautifully organised on his computer. Each of us was placed opposite a stranger who had looking to 2006 for this. We hope done all of this before. We noted that whilst all our of ratings were set at zero, some of that all the friends we made in theirs were very high indeed. Most alarmingly, they were told that the players from Torremolinos will come, and we all Gibraltar had never used timers before, and “TO BE KIND.” look forward to meeting you What did that mean? Were they normally unkind? Was my opponent kind or unkind? somewhere in the near future. Would I come up against an unkind one? Gibraltar, possible destination for sea, sun and Scrabble? Well, we all found that out in the next week. There were two groups, one higher the than Vivian (Vin) Mifsud the other, and we played everyone in our group at least once, and besides that there was a Tel/Fax 00 350 73660 knockout, where potentially you could come up against anyone. [email protected]

42 43 Newcastle (5 games) Refreshments available during most parts of Saturday 24th April 2004 the day, lunch is not provided FFOORRTTHHCCOOMMIINNGG EEVVEENNTTSS Contact: Viv Beckmann Entry costs: £10.00 for ABSP members 0191 2731705 £12.00 For non-ABSP members Compiled by Paul Cartman Venue: West Denton Community Deduct 50p if bringing timer Association, Hillhead Road, Closing date for entries: 10th April 2004 Each tournament approved for rating will get a listing including: date, number of games Newcastle upon Tyne Cheques payable to Newcastle Scrabble and contact details. For one day tournaments, further details will be given as regards 0191 2674242 Club, and sent to: Rona Falconer, 18 Nuns pricing, start times etc, to allow members to utilise the generic entry form. Note that Registration: 09.45 Moor Crescent, Fenham, Newcastle-upon- some organisers have indicated that rated tournaments will occur on particular dates, First game: 10:15 Departure: 18.00 Tyne, NE4 9BE ( 0191 2738473) but that full details are not yet available. These tournaments are included for Southend-on-Sea (6 games) Tea/Coffee available at points during the completeness and once details are known, they will be published as appropriate. Saturday 24th April day but lunch is not provided. This symbol denotes that the tournament organiser has let it be known that Contact: Evelyn Wallace Entry costs: £12.50 For ABSP members the venue is disabled friendly. The absence of a symbol does not mean that 01702-302569 £14.50 For non-ABSP members disabled access is not possible, and in these circumstances the prospective Venue The Civic Centre, Victoria Deduct 50p if bringing timer entrant should check with the organisers Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, Cheques payable to Southend-on-Sea Essex Scrabble Club and sent to: Note to Entrants Registration: 09:30 First game: 10:00 Evelyn Wallace, 2 Shakespeare Avenue, These rules apply to all tournaments 4 divisional tournament. Westcliff on Sea, Essex, SS0 0ST The entry cost of all rated tournaments includes the ratings levy Positions are determined on win and spread unless otherwise stated MSO Cambridge (6 games) 2 divisions Catering arrangements are being negotiated Smoking is not permitted in the playing area(s) Sunday 2nd May 2004 Entry costs: £11.00 For ABSP members You will normally be placed in a division equivalent to your rating or ability. You Contact : Helen Latchem £13.00 For non-ABSP members may request to enter a higher division but the Tournament Organiser reserves the 01223 440642 right to reject your request. Deduct 50p if bringing timer Venue Parkside Community College, Cheques payable to Cambridge Scrabble Entries are at the sole discretion of the Tournament Organiser. Parkside, Cambridge, CB1 1EH Club and sent to: You must always include a SAE with your entry for application. Registration: 09:30 First game: 10:00 Helen Latchem, 8 Ballard Close, Milton, Please arrive on time Rhein International Scrabble Tournament 30th April - 2nd May 2004 Contact Jim Lyes Exeter ISCA Event (6 games) Contact Andrew Davis (RIST), Germany. (14-18 games) 01273 813006 Friday 9th-Saturday 10th April 01623 437751 Scottish Championship Contact: Amy Byrne Exeter Easter Event (19 games) Contact Andrew Davis Sat 10th-Sun 11th May 0131 661 3865 Saturday 11th - 12th April 01623 437751 Best Western, Worthing Contact Viv Beckmann 30th April - 3rd May 2004 0191-273-1705 Brighton & Hove (6 games) Divisions according to entries Tea/Coffee available at points during the Tea/Coffee available all day Sunday 18th April 2004 Bourne (6 games) day but lunch is not provided. Entry costs: £12.00 For ABSP members Contact Jim Lyes Sunday 9th May Entry costs: £12.50 For ABSP members £12.50 For non-ABSP members Contact: Betty Benton 01273 813006 £14.50 For non-ABSP members Deduct 50p if bringing a timer 01778 425234 Venue Southwich Community Centre, Deduct 50p if bringing timer Cheques payable to Bourne and District Venue: Bourne Corn Exchange Southwick, City of Brighton & Cheques payable to Brighton & Hove Scrabble Club and sent to: Registration: 09.45 Hove, West Sussex, BN42 4TE Scrabble Club, and sent to: Jim Lyes, 4 Betty Benton, Walnut Farm, Twenty, First game: 10:00 Departure: 18.00 Registration 09:30 Delves Close, Ringmer, Lewes, BN8 5JW Bourne, Lincs, PE10 0BE 2/3 divisional tournament of up to 96 players First game 10:15 Departure: 18.00 Closing date for entries 11th April 2004 Closing Date for entries: 23rd April 2004

44 45 Newport (5 games) First game: 10:45 Peterlee Matchplay (5 games) Tea/Coffee available at points during the 2 divisional tournament. day but lunch is not provided. Sunday 9th May Sunday 13th June Entry costs: £14.50 For ABSP members Entry costs: £9.50 For ABSP members Contact: Terry Jones Contact: Samantha Beckwith £16.50 For non-ABSP members £11.50 For non-ABSP members 01633-775313 0191-586-6436 Deduct 50p if bringing timer Deduct 50p if bringing a timer Venue: Malpas Community Centre, Venue The White House Community Cheques payable to Newport Scrabble Club Closing date for entries 31st May 2004 Pillmawr Road, Newport, Centre, Eden Lane, Peterlee, and sent to: Cheques payable to: Gwent Co Durham Terry Jones, 5 Arlington Close, Newport, Samantha Beckwith, 91 Hatfield Place, Registration: 09:45 Registration: 10:00 South Wales, NP20 6QF First game: 10:30 Departure: 17:00 Peterlee, Co. Durham, SR8 5SU Lothersdale Hotel, Morcambe Contact: Viv Beckmann 14th - 17th May 2004 0191-273-1705 Romford (7 games) Round Robin, tables of 8 players playing 7 Sunday 20th June 2004 games Bournemouth (7 games) Round Robin format (groups of 8 players) Contact: Phyllis Fernandez Tea/Coffee and biscuits available between Sunday 16th May Tea/Coffee available throughout the day 0208 599 5937 games, lunch is not provided. Contact: Ruth Marsden Entry costs: £12.50 For ABSP members Venue Dukes Hall, Maygreen Entry costs: £12.00 For ABSP members 01202 707148 £14.50 For non-ABSP members Crescent, Park Lane, Romford, £14.00 For non-ABSP members Venue Rooper Hall, 5 Victoria Park Deduct 50p if able to lend a Essex Cheques payable to Romford Scrabble Club Road, Moordown, timer Ample parking available and sent to Phyllis Fernandez, Oakdove Bournemouth Cheques payable to Bournemouth Charity Registration: 8.30 a.m. Nursing Home, 41 Barley Lane, (on day only) 07720 949 825 Tournament and sent to: First game: 10:00 Departure: 18.15 Goodmayes, Essex IG3 8XE Registration: 09:30 Ruth Marsden, 27 Spencer Road, Canford First game: 10:10 Departure: 19.00 Cliffs, Poole, BH13 7ET Jarvis Caledonian, Ayr Contact Viv Beckmann Stoke Rochford Contact: Christina French 25th - 28th June 2004 0191-273-1705 Saturday 29th - Monday 31st May 01708 701578

ABSP Masters - probable date Tea/Coffee available at points during the Invitational based on end March ratings Luton (6 games) 6-7th June Saturday 26th June day but lunch is not provided. Contact: June Edwards Entry costs: £11.50 For ABSP members Melton Mowbray (5 games) Tea/Coffee available on arrival and after :01908 679041 £13.50 For non-ABSP members Sunday 6th June game 4. Deduct 50p if bringing timer Contact Maureen Rayson Food will not be provided Venue: Lealands High School, Sundon Cheques payable to Luton Scrabble Club 01664 563330 Entry costs: £10.00 for ABSP member Park Road, Luton and sent to Venue Council Offices, Nottingham £12.00 for Non-ABSP member Emergency No. on day only 07905 677488 Road, Melton Mowbray, Leics. Deduct 50p if bringing timer Registration: 09:20 Mrs June Edwards, 39 Parklands, Great Charity event in support of the Mayor's Cheques payable to Melton Mowbray First game: 10:00 Departure: 18:00 Linford, Milton Keynes, MK14 5DZ appeal Scrabble Club, and sent to “ 3/4 divisional tournament. Sae, to June Edwards for directions Registration 10:00 Maureen Rayson, 57 Highfield Avenue, First game 10:45 Melton Mowbray, Leics. LE13 0NQ New Malden (6 games) 3/4 Divisions Closing date for entries 22nd May 2004 2 divisional tournament. Saturday 17th July 2004 Entry costs: £12.00 For ABSP members Contact : Shirley Cave £14.00 For non-ABSP members Scottish Open Tournament Contact: Amy Byrne 020 8540 8469 Deduct 50p if bringing timer 12th-13th June 0131 661 3869 Venue: Christ Church Centre, Coombe Tea, Coffee and biscuits will be provided Road, New Malden , KT3 4RE Cheques payable to S I Cave, 14 Linden Best Western, Bridgend Contact: Viv Beckmann Registration: 9.15 Gate, 9 Church Walk, Raynes Park, London, 11th - 14th June 0191-273-1705 First game: 10:00 Departure: 17.45 SW20 9DL

46 47 Lincoln (6 games) Tea/Coffee available on arrival, at lunctime Norwich (6 games) 3 divisional tournament. Saturday 24th July and after fourth game Sunday 12th September Tea/Coffee and homemade cakes provided Contact: Teresa Hill Entry costs: £10.50 For ABSP members Contact Carol Smith (but not lunch) £12.50 For non-ABSP members 01427-838741 01603 898791 Entry costs: £10.00 to ABSP members Deduct 50p if bringing timer Venue: Bracebridge Community Venue Hethersett Village Hall, £12.00 to non-ABSP members Cheques payable to Lincoln Scrabble Club Centre, Newark Road/Maple Hethersett, Norwich, Norfolk No further discounts and sent to Teresa Hill, Granville, Street, Lincoln Registration: 09.30 Cheques payable to Carol Smith, Heapham, Nr Gainsborough, Lincs, DN21 Registration 10:00 First game 10:15 Departure 18.00 31 Christine Road, Spixworth, Norwich, First game 10:30 Departure 17:30 5PT Closing date for entries 12th July 2004 2/3 divisional tournament. Middlesbrough (5 games) Food not included so bring packed lunch Entry costs: £9.50 to ABSP members Cairn Hotel, Harrogate Contact Viv Beckmann Sunday September 26th £11.50 to non-ABSP members 23rd - 26th July 0191-273-1705 Contact: Samantha Beckwith Deduct 50p if bringing timer 0191-586-6436 Cheques payable to: Cleveland Scrabble Nottingham Nomads (16 games) Contact Clive Spate Venue Linthorpe Community Centre, Club and sent to: 0115-920-0208 Saturday 7th - Sunday 8th August Linthorpe Road, M’brough Samantha Beckwith, 91 Hatfield Place, Registration: 10.00 ABSP British Matchplay Scrabble Tournament Peterlee, Co. Durham, SR8 5SU Details not yet finalised First game 10:45 Departure 17.30 Closing date for entries: 12th September August 27th-30th

Clifton Hotel, Penrith Contact Viv Beckmann Solutions to Edgeways XXII 3rd - 6th September 0191-273-1705 Numbercross: 1=A, 2=D, 3=O, 4=L, 5=S, 6=K, 7=H, 8=R, 9=Z, 10=B, 11=T, 12=E, 13=U, 14=C, 15=V, 16=X, 17=Y, 18=W, 19=J, 20=N, 21=Q, 22=I, 23=G, 24=M, 25=F, 26=P. Havering Autumn Scrabble Tournament (6 games) First game: 10:15 Departure: 18:00 Anagrams, trivia ,and word building: Saturday 4th September Tea/Coffee available at points during the day but lunch is not provided. 1. POLITE.. because all the other words can take both EN and IN at the front Contact: Cindy Hollyer 2. EMIT... the other words are all anagrams of moons.. NEREID; TITAN; IO; ATLAS; Entry costs: £11.50 For ABSP members 01277-822050 GANYMEDE; RHEA: £13.50 For non-ABSP members Emergency No. on day 3. RIFLES... the rest are anagrams of plants... GARDENIA; ERICA; ROSE; LOBELIAS; Deduct 50p if bringing timer GERANIUM; KENTIAS: 07952 557324 Cheques payable to Havering Scrabble 4. SPIN... body parts.. KNEE; BREAST; LEGS; HIPS; FACE; VEINS: Venue: Kelvedon Hatch Village Hall, Group and sent to: 5. ITEMS... currencies of the world... STERLING; KOBO; TOMAN; PESETA; PIASTRE; KINA: Kelvedon Hatch, Brentwood, Cindy Hollyer, 78 Peartree Lane, 6. SPARE ... the others are anagrams of Gods.. HADES; CUPID; APOLLO; CERES; Registration: 09:30 Doddinghurst, Brentwood, Essex, APHRODITE; VENUS: East Sussex (6 games) Tea/Coffee available at points during the 7. THERIAN...sporting heroes...ROD LAVER; NICK PRICE ;PELE; 8. EXSERTION.... countries ... ANGOLA; SPAIN; CHILE; NIGER; MALI; CHINA: Saturday 11th September day but lunch is not provided. 9. NIS...THE can be inserted to make new words without anagramming... OTHERS; Contact: Ed Breed Entry costs: £11.00 to ABSP members FATHER; MOTHER; BATHER; LITHES; ETHERS; BOTHER: 01424 219334 £13.00 to non-ABSP members 10.TICE...all the other words can form an anagram by being spelt backwards. Venue: Hailsham Community Hall, Deduct 50p if bringing a timer Therefore the ten letter word would be PERSISTENT.. the anagrams are... PINSETTERS; Vicarage Lane, Hailsham Cheques payable to East Sussex Scrabble PRESENTIST; PRETTINESS Registration: 9:00 First game: 10:00 Tournament and sent to: 2/3 divisional tournament. Ed Breed, 19 Magdalen Road, Bexhill-on- 5-letter outplays: RAINE REALO LUTEA URENA ALOIN Don’t forget to enclose a stamped self-addressed INULA AULOI UNAIS TUINA AURIS AITUS ROTAL AULOS SANTO RAUNS envelope when making entry applications ARNUT URAOS SOLEI LOUIE IRONE TOISE SIEUR NOULE LUTER ROUEN Solution to Anagrid NIRLS SLUIT OINTS STOLN URSON is on the back cover ☛ 48