The bi-monthly magazine of the ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH CALENDAR PLAYERS compiled by Steve Perry

A quick reference to forthcoming competitions. (fuller list and details inside)

                                   No. 130 February 2010           Deadline for next issue: 5th March                                                        1-2 or 2-1?                Pakorn wins WSC           Nigel 2nd           Nigel wins Causeway      Pakorn 2nd                                                   Quite a Malaysian feel      to this month’s Last Word with         reminiscences from the WSC, the           Causeway and the WYSC from Allan      Elie, Karen, and “The Phenomenon”           which I am afraid I had to cut short         as he does go on a bit!!                          cont’d inside TLW 130  52    49           ISSUE CONTENTS COMMITTEE Committee Corner 1 Scrabble for Beginners 27 Events Reports and Results 4 Ratings 30 Youth Matters 14 Edgeways 36 CORNER That Was Then 18 Forthcoming Events 41 Letters 21 Solutions ibc The Committee met on December 13th in Faringdon. WESPA 24 Calendar of Events obc Among the items discussed was the need for a Youth Scrabble Officer, as Karen Richards will be leaving the country in the near future. We hope to form a small team of interested people Throughout this publication, comments by the Editor do not represent the views of who will liaise with a representative from the school clubs already registered with Mattel, the ABSP Committee. Any statements by the Committee are clearly marked as such. as well as encouraging young players and overseeing WYSC qualification. If you would be All other contributions to The Last Word represent only the views of the contributor. interested in being part of this team please contact me or Ross.

A sub-committee has been formed which is currently looking into the qualification criteria THE LAST WORD TEAM for both the English WSC places and the Tournament. The criteria for the 2011 WSC The Last Words Team welcomes contributions from readers to their respective areas, will be announced very soon, although it is anticipated that the qualifying period will not either as letters, articles or suggestions. Contact information: start before 1st April 2010.

Editor: Updates to the ABSP handbook are now complete and members should have received these Elisabeth Jardine in a separate posting. 6 Wentworth Avenue Forthcoming events: Laura Finley Bournemouth BH5 2ED Steve Perry Secretary 01202 419 708 29 Elm Road [email protected] Faringdon Oxon SN7 7EJ [email protected] Minutes of the Annual General Meeting Sunday 30th August 2009 Words and Puzzles: Yarnfield Park Elisabeth Jardine [email protected] Terry Kirk (Chairman) opened by welcoming all present to the Annual General Meeting and invited Committee members to introduce themselves.

1. To receive the Chairman’s report To join or renew membership of the ABSP Terry then spoke to his Chairman’s report which had been published on UK-Scrabble and handed out at the BMSC and he confirmed his intention to stand down as Chairman with Using the Paypal function on the site http://www.absp.org.uk is very easy and completely immediate effect. No questions being raised from the floor, the Chairman’s Report was safe. More traditionally you can join or renew by sending your details and a cheque for £15 accepted. to Anne Ramsay, membership secretary, made payable to ABSP to: ABSP, 8 Glen Clova Place, Kirkcaldy, Fife KY2 6UL 2. To receive the Treasurer’s report with Auditor’s report and accounts for 2008 If you wish to write to Anne her email address is [email protected] Ross Mackenzie spoke to his report and the accounts. No questions being raised from the or telephone: 01592 640130 floor, the accounts, Auditor’s and Treasurer’s reports were accepted. If you have changed your address, telephone number or email address, please contact Anne as soon as possible with the changes. 3. Election of officers and other members of the Committee Apart from Terry Kirk all current Committee members had agreed to continue. There were TLW 130 1 TLW 130 no other nominations from the floor. The Committee decision that Ross Mackenzie take over For Against Abstain as Chairman was very well received. Those present 80 0 1 Proxy votes 67 3 0 4. To confirm the Auditor for the year 2009 Total 147 3 1 Mervyn Bright was confirmed as Auditor for 2009 The motion was carried and will become effective immediately. 5. To fix the subscription for 2010 Motion 3: “Opponent’s racks to be visible at all times during a game.” The subscription remains at £15 for 2010 and £7.50 for members who are under 18 at the time of joining or renewing. For Against Abstain Those present 78 0 3 6. Motions Proxy votes 61 4 5 Motion 1: “It is proposed that game rules 4.10.1 and 4.10.2 be replaced with the text below, Total 139 4 8 with immediate effect.” The motion was carried and will become effective from 1st January 2010. 4.10.1 Once Player A has indicated the end of his/her turn by pressing the timer, Player B may challenge the play by announcing “Challenge” and neutralising the timer. Player B then legibly writes on the provided slip of paper which word(s) are being challenged and 7. Discussion items: Committee objectives: confirms them with Player A. If self-adjudication is being used for the game, both players To be discussed and reviewed at the next Committee meeting should take the action necessary to protect their tiles from the view of their opponent and Membership: Allan Simmons outlined plans to produce an introductory pack aimed at ‘home make their way to the self-adjudication station. Player B, who is making the challenge, enters players’ which would be advertised nationally. There were several suggestions and offers of the word(s) on the challenge slip into the computer. Player A then presses the appropriate help from the floor which Allan will take on board when progressing this initiative. button to make the adjudication, the slip is marked appropriately and both players resume National Scrabble Championships: Philip Nelkon had provided a discussion sheet regarding their game. If self-adjudication is not being used for the game, player B should call for a rules governing regional events and a show of hands was taken. “runner”. 12 wished to keep current rule, 35 wanted the rule relaxed and 16 abstained. 4.10.2 Once the challenge has been confirmed by both players and the challenge slip has left the table, neither the decision to challenge nor the word(s) challenged may be altered. 8. AOB That is, the challenge cannot be withdrawn and no additional words can be challenged for There was a vote of thanks for the Committee, with special mention of the excellent work that turn. done by John Grayson, Ratings Officer and thanks to Terry Kirk for his input as Chairman. Terry Kirk closed the meeting by thanking all those present for attending. For Against Abstain Those present 78 0 3 Proxy votes 65 2 3 Total 143 2 6

The motion was carried and will become effective immediately.

Motion 2: “It is proposed that game rule 4.10.2 be replaced with the text below, with immediate effect.”

4.10.2 Once the challenger has neutralised the timer, the decision to challenge cannot be altered unless both players agree that the challenge may be withdrawn. The challenger should immediately write the word(s) being challenged on the challenge slip. Once the challenge has been confirmed by both players and the challenge has left the table, the word(s) being challenged may not be altered or added to.

TLW 130 2 3 TLW 130 only pipping her by 13 points of spread. Irene Lawes was the only surprise package in the D division.

Phil Appleby decided to warm-up for next week’s World Championships, by joining us for the Main Scrabble Events Event, despite awful whether in the Solent. The other player to have, virtually, to swim to the Island on the second day was former 2 times winner Danny Bekhor. They finished on 8 wins apiece, with only 75 Results and Reports points of spread between them. Frankie Mairey ran wild in the spread department (helped by a 9-timer against me - see my spread, too!) to finish 3rd on 7. Good luck to Phil, next week.

Organisers are encouraged to send a list of prize winners and a brief Top-rated Nick Jenkins will be sick of the sight of David Reading, after watching him claim his 4th B tournament report to the TLW editor as soon as possible after the event. Division trophy in 2 events. The good news for Nick is that David’s rating has probably been lagging Remember I can only publish them if you send them to me! behind his ability for some time, now, due to his small number of tournament appearances. Probably this year’s results will finally have propelled him into the A group for the future.

Isle of Wight My thanks are to my wife, Ellen, and daughter Frankie, for running this year’s tournament, and enabling me to play. Some (unidentified) players have even told my wife that they enjoy her running the event Vectis Nov 13th- 14th (6 rounds) - she does so, so much better than I do! Main Event Nov 14th- 15th (11 rounds)

The main highlights of this year’s Isle of Wight Event were the weather, and an unwelcome discovery Vectis A Vectis C on Saturday night. J. Rossiter 4 689 M. Emmott 4 174

B. Lynn 4 337 M. Lane 4 161 Most people arrived before the appalling weather hit its peak on Saturday morning. Thunder and lightning H. Harding 4 114 E. Wansborough 4 148 may well have been responsible for the main tournament computer going off twice on Saturday afternoon. S. Perry 4 -63 P. Morris 3 173 Thankfully we were running with a back-up. Vectis B Vectis D

D. Reading 5 216 I. Lawes 4 293 Then, David Shenkin, idly reading the hotel’s staff notices (like you do) found an internal memo pinned- J. Lloyd 4 343 K. Lovell 4 265 up saying this would be the last Scrabble tournament to be held at The Broadway Park Hotel, because D. Holloway 3 226 A. Everitt 4 131 the numbers were so low that the hotel was losing money. That was the first we had heard of it! N. Jenkins 3 216 James Rossiter F. Goble 3 185

Disappointing as it was it cannot have come as any great surprise to any who have known the halcyon days of only a few years ago, when the weekend could regularly boast 160+ entrants. Some reckoned IOW Main A IOW Main C that was too big. The hotel, in Ryde was cheap, and easily accessible, and everyone wanted to come, P. Appleby 8 575 M. Seabrook 9 410 and no-one was ever turned away. Then the owners of the Royal York retired and sold the premises to D. Bekhor 8 500 E. Terry 7 379 an Isle of Wight businesswoman who seemed more interested in cutting out her competition by closing F. Mairey 7 797 P. Morris 7 283 them down. We were forced to find a new home. A. Bailey 7 242 P. Ernest 7 128 IOW Main B IOW Main D The Broadway Park got us out of a hole when we were left in the lurch, largely because its current D. Reading 9 576 K. Lovell 8 626 manageress knew us from our earliest days on the Esplanade. But the hotel is owned by Shearings who G. Maker 7 387 M. Harding 8 324 can ship in coachloads of holidaymakers from all over the country at practically any time of the year. J. Lloyd 7 199 J. Rossiter 8 273 The recession has brought an unexpected boom to the Island’s trade, and the big bosses are telling the K. Phipps 7 4 Phil Appleby M.Coleman 6 328 manageress that they could have done better than having just 60 Scrabblers for the weekend.

That leaves us expecting to be homeless (though still not officially told, yet. (It’s probably best not to ask. It’s not as if there is a contract, or anything.) Next year we will be looking to find somewhere to better suit the expected lower numbers. That will mean a smaller hotel, and disappointment for any who don’t return their application form pretty quickly. So you are warned. Stoke -on-Trent

As to the weekend itself. Nov 15th (5 rounds)

Editing this year’s results into last year’s master documents showed me what I hadn’t at first noticed; that Stoke on Trent A Stoke on Trent B some of this year’s results were remarkably similar to last year’s. Last year’s Vectis winner, James Rossiter 17 1194 Amy Byrne (A1) 16 464 Lou McMeeken (B6) clung on to his title on spread, after beating 100% leader Steve Perry by enough in the last game. In the 14 811 Paul Richards (A2) 13 398 Damian O’Malley (B5) B division, David Reading was the only player in the Event with 5 wins out of 5, just as he was last year. 14 1 Viv Beckmann (A7) 12.5 750 Rowan Callaghan (B3) Even Mollie Lane, last year’s winner in the C Division managed a runner-up spot, with Margaret Emmott

TLW 130 4 5 TLW 130 Matters weren’t quite as rosy when it came to entering scores. In her game against Maureen Harrogate H-B Chamberlain in round 6, Amy Byrne scored 435 points, entered as 35 points and converting Nov 20 -23rd (14 rounds) a win into a recorded loss. The matter was corrected as far as possible. It did mean that Amy had an easier opponent than she deserved in round 8, and Maureen a tougher one, but they Harrogate A Harrogate C contrived respectively to lose and win anyway so there was no great harm done. Laura Finley 9.5 219 Peter Lindeck 11 682 Sam Beckwith 9 381 Joy Rowe 9 239 In the final game of the first day, Mavis and Peter Ernest were drawn together in every sense Margaret Keeper 8 285 Neil Broom 8.5 153 of the word. Very sweet! Harrogate B Harrogate D Ann Coleman 10 262 Marjorie Lunn 9 398 As has been recorded elsewhere, Austin Shin, keeping his gentlemanly instincts well in Carmen Toscano 9 310 Anne Atherton 9 338 Christabel Jackson 8 -8 Dorothy Henry 9 -5 check, beat Joyce Cansfield 716-228. (Joyce said afterwards that she’d had a bonus on her rack at the end, with at least two places to play it, when Austin went out with a bonus of his own.) This is, I think, a new record for the highest score in an ABSP tournament. The spread of 488 probably constitutes some form of record for a game in which both players know what they’re doing. Milton Keynes At about 0100 on Sunday, I woke up with a severe cramp in my left calf. The pain left me in Nov 21st - 22nd (13 rounds) Report from Steve Thomas shock, and I somewhat foolishly tried to make for the bathroom lest the nausea result in any mess. I came to on the floor, and didn’t get very much sleep after that. No great harmdone, Once again I adjudicated at the Winter Matchplay. The stress level was higher than ever but it provides a reason, if not an excuse, for the slip in the standard of data entry for day 2. before, since we played 15 games, up from 13 last year and 11 when I was first dragooned into the adjudication business. Things started a little late - we didn’t get confirmation that all Milton Keynes A Milton Keynes C players were present until five minutes before the scheduled start. I started printing out the Janet Bonham 12 591 full fixture lists for the round-robin groups, but the printer was slower than I’d anticipated. Ogbogu Azu 13 1126 Austin Shin 11 1276 Len Edwards 10 521 Had I realised this in time I’d have printed a conventional fixture list for round 1, and printed Wayne Kelly 11 776 Jim Lyes 9 532 the detailed sheets once the games were under way. We managed to make up most of the Ratings prize Paloma Raychbart Ratings Prize - Teresa Schaeffer time, though, somehow. Milton Keynes B Milton Keynes D Nick Jenkins 12 591 Cathy Poacher 12 445 Games started at nominal 65 minute intervals, with no breaks at all except for meals etc. Some Moira Conway 11 807 Ron Bucknell 11 827 players can finish games in under 50 minutes, so they got some gaps, but others usually took Anne Golding 11 764 R. Goolamhossen 11 586 Ratings prize - Claire Violett well over an hour, and furthermore seemingly without time penalties ever being imposed. In Ratings prize - Kathy Suddick fact, the game before dinner I watched Player A for the closing stages of his game. He and his opponent’s clocks still had about ten minutes left between them well over an hour after the game had started. That means the clocks had been stopped for over 20 minutes. I am informed that it’s not uncommon for some players to stop the clock while differences in the Newcastle score are sorted out, and it struck me that this is a system being abused. Nov 28th Newcastle WYSC fundraiser for Joe Knapper (Rated Section (6 rounds))

Speaking of abuse, the players need to specify clearly which words they’re challenging, and Joe flies to Malaysia next week to represent England in the World Youth Scrabble at the end of the game fill in both players’ names, code numbers , and scores legibly. Most Championship (starts Tuesday 8/12) with Jessica Pratesi and Tim Butcher. (Tim Butcher is also of the players managed to do this all, or very nearly all, of the time. Some did not, despite competing in the open section of the Causeway Challenge starting Wednesday 2/12) several reminders.

In looking up challenges, there was only one known error. Nick Deller’s then opponent tried TEACAKE (or was it TEACAKES?) and DANE*. (This was obviously wrong - Danish are Unrated Section (5 games) breakfast pastries.) Nick challenged, and the then adjudicator (Mike Willis) entered TEACAKE Rated Section Richard Woodward 5 529 and DAN, resulting in the challenge being sent back with a tick. (To be fair, the keyboards Liz Barber 5 313 David Woolley 5 497 on the laptops we were using didn’t provide good tactile feedback - I’ll need this excuse Sheila Green 4 321 Bernard Mayhew 4 647 myself later.) Nick failed to ask for a recheck, conceding with typical good grace that this Marjorie Struggles 4 251 Margaret Cartwright 3 -129 meant that the whole mess was entirely his fault.

TLW 130 6 7 TLW 130

Nailsea Mountnessing Dec 20th (9 rounds) Report from Cindy Hollyer Nov 29th (7 rounds) The snow did not deter diehards and only 2 ladies cried off from the Mountnessing Christmas Tournament on Sunday. Participants were asked to wear something festive and while the ladies sparkled, the men donned Santa hats. The 32 who attended enjoyed a magnificent Christmas lunch provided by Phyllis Fernandez, the wine flowed and the cracker jokes were as corny as ever.

Jessica Pratesi won the prize for looking the most festive and her sister Natasha produced the most Christmassy word - NOEL. Romford Scrabble Club prevailed in all 3 divisions with each winner achieving 7 wins out of 9. John Grayson Mark Murray Sandra Harrap

Nailsea A Nailsea B Nailsea C John Grayson 6 628 Mark Murray 5 406 Sandra Harrap 6 331 Mountnessing A Mountnessing B Mountnessing C Janet Phillips 5 194 Tia Knowles 5 314 Lorna Franks 6 317 Calum Edwards 7 625 Len Edwards 7 508 Jo Holland 7 288 Rose Calder 5 -102 Terry Jones 5 213 Malcolm Davis 5 291 Vincent Boyle 7 607 Kevin Synnott 6 385 Terry Corps 6 446 Stewart Houten 4 298 Patricia Pay 5 25 Iris Cornish 4 215 Mike Whiteoak 6 265 Phyllis Fernandez 5 196 Jenny Corps 5.5 8

Cheltenham Hockley Dec 5th -6th (15 rounds) Dec 27th (9 rounds)

Cheltenham A Cheltenham B Cheltenham C Hockley A Hockley B Hockley C Jackie McLeod 13 1025 Peter Ashurst 13 906 Syd Berger 11 548 Mike Whiteoak 8 519 Andrew Eames 6 435 Damian O’Malley 7 645 Gareth Williams 10 445 Ginny Dixon 10 316 Margaret Emmott 11 492 Calum Edwards 6 343 Stephen Wintle 6 31 Carole Wheatley 6.5 363 Adrienne Berger 9 474 Barbara Lukey 8 370 Anne Darby 10 843 Barry Grossman 6 118 Nick Jenkins 5.5 243 Marie Perry 6 705

East Yorks Twixmas Dec 5th (7 rounds) Dec 29 -30th (15 rounds)

East Yorks A East Yorks B East Yorks C Twixmas A Twixmas B Twixmas C 6 391 Paul Richards (A3) 6 479 James Lyes (B6) 6 606 Remie Salazar (C5) 11 96 John Ashmore (A5) 11 1014 Adrienne Berger (B5) 11.5 707 Juliet Green (C7) 5 668 John Hardie (A2) 5 408 A. Waddington (B2) 6 300 Sylvia McCulloch (C3) 10.5 525 Diane Pratesi (A7) 11 250 Kim Hands (B3) 11 634 Carmen Toscano (C2) 5 344 Jason Carney (A1) 5 242 Liz Barber (B9) 5 253 Christine Cartman (C6) 10 762 Elie Dangoor (A1) 10 931 Stu Harkness (B4) 10 653 Steve Balment (C6) 5 276 Neil Rowley (A5) 5 113 Frankie Latham (B11) 4 387 Esther Lunn (C16) 10 675 Wayne Kelly (A2) 8 238 Jill Bright (B8) 10 585 Marlene Skinner (C3)

TLW 130 8 9 TLW 130

UK Open Causeway Challenge Jan 4 - 8th (38 rounds) Premier Div 12 Harshan Lamabadusuriya 26 +1032 1 Nigel Richards 32 +1803 13 26 +942 UK Open A UK Open C 2 Pakorn Nemitrmansuk 31.5 +2199 15 Edward Martin 25.5 +679 1 29 3640 Nigel Richards (A1) 1 27.5 2530 Raf Dominiczak (C7) 3 30.5 +1887 19 Paul Allan 24.5 +484 2 27 1626 Paul Allan (A7) 2 27.5 863 Andy Gray (C6) 4 Mikki Nicholson 30.5 +1307 20 Neil Scott 23.5 -29 3 27 1452 Craig Beevers (A2) 3 25 1745 Steve Balment (C15) 5 David Eldar 29 +2058 22 Theresa Brousson 23 -287 4 25 612 Chris May (A3) 4 25 883 Jill Parker (C9) 6 29 +1214 29 Helen Gipson 21.5 +329 5 23 841 Helen Gipson (A5) 5 24.5 557 Jim Wilkie (C3) 7 Panupol Sujjayakorn 28.5 +2001 36 Phil Robertshaw 20 +103 UK Open B UK Open D 8 Lewis Mackay 28 +1358 46 Austin Shin 15 -1490 1 31 2203 Mihai Pantis (B6) 1 33 2347 Pauline Weatherhead(D6) 9 Lukeman Owolabi 28 +1111 and in the Open Div 2 25 1025 David Steel (B4) 2 24 157 Ken Lovell (D7) 10 Andrew Fisher 27 +1113 5 Anand Buddhdev 29 +393 3 24.5 257 Tom Wilson (B7) 3 22 785 Bronagh Kenny (D3) 4 24 337 Paul Thompson (B1) 4 22 687 Ian Kendall (D8) 5 21 499 Phil Kelly (B5) 5 22 576 Ovidiu Tamas (D16)

Johur Bahru Round Robin Meanwhile abroad - Performance Prizes [Best Wins & Margin] 1 Nigel Richards 18.5 1231 First - Helen Gipson (UK) 2 David Eldar 16 1049 Second - Tony SIm (SIngapore) 3 Helen Gipson 16 749 HIGH GAME: David Eldar 702 4 Tony Sim 15 794 HIGH WORD: Chang Ching Yet 262 “NARTJIES”

WSC

17 15 -68 Rik Kennedy NIr -and finally an extract from 1 18 1854 Nigel Richards Wsc 18 14 880 Mikki Nicholson Eng 2 18 1388 Pakorn Nemitrmansuk THA 19 14 620 Mark Nyman Eng 3 17 895 USA 20 14 585 Lewis Mackay Eng “The Phenomenon” 4 16 1207 Marut Siriwangso THA 26 14 200 Neil Scott Sco 33 13 644 Phil Robertshaw Eng 5 16 1095 Komol Panyasophonlert THA PHENOMENON : INVINCIBILITY POSTPONED 6 16 876 David Boys CAN 34 13 476 Harshan Lamabadusuriya Eng 42 13 -37 Phil Appleby Eng 7 16 842 Naween Fernando AUS Hiya folks 8 16 777 Craig Beevers Eng 45 13 -431 Martin Harrison Eng 49 12 551 Neil Green Wal 9 15.5 748 CAN I jetted into Malaysia, one of the most beautiful countries in the World full of morale and vim.After all, 10 15 883 Helen Gipson Sco 51 12 291 Paul Allan Eng 62 12 -473 Allan Simmons Sco when you are a man of my calibre, you don’t waste much time underrating your abilities.As I settled 65 11 626 Kevin McMahon IRL into the glamorous opening ceremony at the stately dining room of the posh Zon Regency hotel, I had to say, yes, I was a contender, ,maybe even THE contender for the WSC.

WSC Final Just an interesting anecdote about the proceedings. When they announced that the President of Malaysian Pakorn, twice runner-up, beat Nigel 3 - 1 Scrabble was going to take the podium, I was surprised to see a composed, prim, sophisticated female See Allan’s report later in the magazine. persona address the gathering. I had always thought from the Web that Adele Tan was a guy! Now that I think about it, I wonder how I didn’t figure it out cause I have an aunt called Adella. You know, Adella, Adele? Shows how slow on the uptake some of us are, huh? DAY1 GAME 1 v PAUL ALLAN (England) or should this be called the What do I remember of Paul? A gangly lad ripe for the taking.There had been some loose talk about Nigel Richards page ? Ed him being a very good player with a number of premier UK titles under his belt. Pish tosh! The bloke

TLW 130 10 11 TLW 130 was up against the Phenomenon. The guy sprinted off the mark like a stratled hare with SPIGOTS for laid down on my R of REGALING, VACUOLAR. He punched the air triumphantly as I just sat there in 77 points as I struggled to balance in this game.The man couldn’t stop scoring with FEZ for 52, FEEB disbelief. As fellow American Bob Linn came over to congratulate him, I realised with utter disgust I (38) and TAXITE (48). despite my RERAILS (64), VULCAN and UNTARRED (72 + 5) Paul rubbed my should have played LAGERING.This is one of the OQUASSA ‘s 13 000 Anagrams. Another strategic patrician nose in the mud. cockup, through overconfidence thinking I had the man beat. I told him afterwards, very aggrieved, how PAUL ALLAN 465 EDWIN-MUGISHA 380 could he do such a thing to a living legend. His response; “But I am also a legend!” GAME 2 v MARTIN HARRISON (England) Well! A quiet thoughtful looking gentleman who looks like he couldn’t hurt a fly, he certainly wasn’t going SAM KANTIMATHI 435 EDWIN-MUGISHA 385 to hurt me! QANATS for 38 set my ball rolling, swiftly followed by MERLING (84) and ANDROID (79). Imagine my astonishment as Martin refused to go away, keeping pace with AGREEING (70) and LEACHES GAME 24 (85). The fellow even put on JIVER for 46. But I JIVED away with ZAFFER (68) and JIVED his ill fated RICARDO GONZALEZ end game SIPPIER* off the board. Chief Toke Aka, Mpundu from Zambia (who had bet dollars and won that I wouldn’t make the top 90) EDWIN-MUGISHA 499 MARTIN HARRISON 424 and I am sure a host of other players were giggling themselves silly at the pickle I had got myself into. I was speeding recklessly into last place. The tradition at the WSC is that the winner of the final game gets GAME 4 v ADRIAN TAMAS (Romania) the board and the loser the tiles. In the persona of Ricardo, I felt I had the board already in my hands. Aah, the famous Adrian Tamas who writes a blog with his much, much, better half featured on it.Once He was licking his wounds, utterly downcast that he was getting smashed from all sides.He implied his again I felt I struggled. The man showed no respect for my reputation with AIRSIDE for 87 points and my vocabulary wasn’t that large and it seems some players do nothing but read the dictionary while he is ZINE(69) was only to level matters. He played a strtegic game which I REJECTED for 73, as he parried just a “recreational player’ He wearily commented that we should get the game over with and go home. back with TENOURS (72). He came on thick with AVIATION for 62 towards the end and I had to lay I smugly agreed. What happened to that smugness? It turned into a bitter cup of sorrow, that’s what down SWEDE for 74 points got challenged. You know, that it the sad thing about this game. I freely happens. The guy picks everything. Sometime after he has built up a lead of 100 he lets drop this is his and out of the goodness of my heart educate a chap with words he doesn’t know and he returns the THIRD WSC. I feel like I have been mule kicked in the gut. I have been hustled! The highlight of this favour by still beating me! They say in Swahili, “Asante yamapunda ni mateke.” That is, the thanks of a game is his TESTIER for 69, although let’s face it, he didn’t do too badly with the X for 52 and BLUEY donkey is its kick (41). Suddenly he perks up as he picks up his new board. His fatigue has worn off. He is bouncy.Ay ADRIAN TAMAS 453 EDWIN-MUGISHA 443 caramba, thanks, he tells me, for letting him beat me. Thanks for not beating him badly the way other Scrabblers have been doing. Ay caramba. You are welcome, I tell him. DAY 3 What else can the genius who thought he was a Contender but turned into a Pretender say?

GAME 17 NOTES PHIL APPLEBY (England) Position : 101st out of 108th Wins: 8 Spread :-400 Bingos: 36 I had to admit things had gone pear shaped. I simply had no chance of staying up there on the leaderboard Average game score : 409 Equity loss: 75 with the likes of multi millionaire playboy, tycoon philanthropist and crime fighter by night, Lord David Bowman. Still, I was in contention for a second slot for Uganda. Phil Appleby stood in my way. A ANALYSIS bespectacled, throroughly polite, easygoing, methodical gentleman, he flew into the lead with DECRIER Why the underperformance, my concerned diehard fans will want to know? Those who know me will (80) as I struggled with OEUVRE and other gems. My shocker in this game, and they were coming thick know that, in the words of Akon’s song, “I went through hell to get here.” My preparations in the weeks and fast, was to sense he was coming next move with a bingo and try to block it with WOWIE*. There leading up to the WSC were inadequate as opposed to my rivals and my games show I wasn’t in the is only one version of this word.He hit ASTERIA for 70 and controlled the game despite my RAILMEN proper state of mind. There are many issues at work here but the biggest reason is my being let down by (75) later on. incompetent and possibly corrupt sports officials.I can’t speak for other continents but in Africa it is a PHIL APPLEBY 447 EDWIN-MUGISHA 379 malaise that affects not just Scrabble. In the Fifa World Cup next year the best any African team will do is reach the quarter finals. That is the brutal truth. Don’t grieve for them, don’t mourn. Celebrate the African GAME 22 talent that makes it to the Quarter finals DESPITE not BECAUSE of hopeless administration. Celebrate the SAM KANTIMATHI African talent that makes it to the World Cup of Scrabble or Soccer or Athletics DESPITE not BECAUSE That extra qualification slot for Uganda was at this stage ebbing away. Enter Sam Kantimathi, a most of hopeless administrators. There has never been an African World Champion in Scrabble or Soccer and interesting looking character. Yes Chris Ntege had mentioned this gentleman to me and now the guy sat now we know there won’t be one until 2011.God knows, its not because we the sportsmen don’t try! opposite me on the board. The guy wears, a utility belt? Fishing belt? around his waist. His clipboard is huge, certainly the largest I have ever seen but perhaps this is to priovide space for the ten markers THE FUTURE of various shades that the gentleman slapped down on the table. And he was to use all of them as he I am an optimist and things will change. Certainly when I am President of the East African Federation, for wrote furiously away on the clipboard, cap pulled down but face occasionally exposed to reveal those those of you who know what the EA federation is, things will change. YES WE CAN! said an East African expressive, intelligent and huge eyes. This picture is not complete without mentioning the round flask? triumphantly last November when many said he couldn’t. They look like stupid fools today! kettle? from which he occasionally sipped a liquid from as the game progressed. The flask? kettle? was a crimson red? maroon? matching his shirt. And then he pulled out from his fishing? utility? belt a small PHILLIP EDWIN-MUGISHA vial containing a modicum of some transparent liquid which I was too busy to ask him about. Oh, the game. We were neck and neck as his MEROPIA (83) cancelled out my ANILINE (71). I tracked “The Phenomenon” his final rack with one letter left in the bag and saw he had rubbish. a V, C, U, O, T , A and so forth. The SCRABBLE WORLD CHAMPION 2011 man was doomed, especially as I played REGALING for 61. The first sign of trouble was that I picked the T. This meant he didn’t have to worry about playing some impossible OUT- word. Then he coolly

TLW 130 12 13 TLW 130 countries in future. A more practical consideration is that their entry fees will help fund this event, which as yet has no major sponsor. (A report on these discussions will be promulgated via WESPA shortly.)

WORLD YOUTH SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP 2009 Opening night jitters The evening before WYSC was stressful. Because the Prince of Johor, Tunku Ibrahim WINNER: Ong Suanne (MA) Ismail, had taken an interest in supporting our youth scrabble event, we had to rearrange RUNNER-UP: Alastair Richards (AU) the program to finish earlier on Thursday. Another major problem was clocks. We thought THIRD: Michael McKenna (AU) we had organised to borrow 55 clocks, but things went astray in the communication, FOURTH: Preedee Khongthanarat (TH) and they were not available …panic, as I contacted everyone “local”. With the help FIFTH: Charnrit Khongthanarat (TH) of the Thais, plus a major effort by Cheah and Winston to hire clocks from Singapore, SIXTH: Oluwaseun Oyeleke (NG) we were able to cover all but two tables (in the adult side tournament, the Johor Bahru SEVENTH: Wong Zhi Yuan (SG) Progressive Round Robin). EIGHTH: Wanchana Jirapitikul (TH) NINTH: Goutham Jayaraman (SG) A few players did not even know the 2-letter words. This will be addressed in future – TENTH: Charas Worapotpisut (TH) maybe by having a compulsory coaching session prior to WYSC, for inexperienced players. HIGH GAME: Wong Zhi Yuan589 One of the things which impresses me is how seriously most of these young people take HIGH WORD: Nutt Treepoonsuk SEDGIEST158 the game. Nicholas (11) was doing complex calculations whilst his opponent made his BEST PLAYER UNDER 10 Anand Bharadwaj (AU) move, using the one available hooking spot on the board. Solemnly, Nicholas declared, BEST PLAYER UNDER 12 Nicholas Vasquez (US) “There was a 95% chance that you wouldn’t have that tile” BEST PLAYER UNDER 14 Matthew Malitao (PH) BEST PLAYER UNDER 16 Michael McKenna (AU) Adjacent tournament for those who didn’t qualify for WYSC: ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD (youngest player in top 25): Victor Gwee (SG) age12 Running JBPRR in the adjacent area was exciting for the young players, as they were able to breathe the same air as players such as Nigel Richards and David Eldar. They also Pre-events: The fourth, and largest, WYSC was played at Johor Bahru, Malaysia, witnessed the fact that even champions don’t win all their games – after 5 games, Nigel immediately after the 10th World Scrabble Championship and 8th Causeway Challenge had 1.5 wins, and David 1 win. However, both demonstrated why they are champions, events, in a “Festival of Scrabble”. Michael Tang brought together over 200 Scrabblers by recovering to eventually finish first and second in the 25-game event. The young from around the world, in a bonanza of Scrabble tournaments. Many of the 80 WYSC players were impressed to hear of David’s 702 game, with the triple-triple MANRENTS players had already competed in one or both of the prior events, honing the skills of for 158. Immediately after this was announced to the WYSC players, Jessica Pratesi sat most of the top ten finishers. At the same time as WSC was happening in Malaysia, down to play her next game, and her first rack was MANRENT. She could have played the Princess Cup in Thailand saw a small but dedicated field of international players REMNANT instead, but said it was more fun to play the word she had just learnt. competing against the best Thai youth. The Thais prevailed, with Charas taking out the US$3000 top prize. Interesting words: There were a couple of prizes awarded for these words. These were given to players from countries which had not been represented in official awards - the The future of WYSC: During Festival of Scrabble, some WESPA Youth Subcommittee choice was entirely subjective. Jacob Sunny (Qat), won with KVETCH (an interesting members discussed future WYSC events, confirming that WYSC10 would be held in front hook from a new player) meaning “to complain”, and Jessica Pratesi (UK) won Manila, Philippines, after Causeway - with cheap flights from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur with THREEPS (which I didn’t know) meaning “to dispute” (an interesting juxtaposition to Manila, we hope many young players will again compete in Causeway Challenge of meanings). These players received toys donated by Mattel Malaysia – fancy variants (1-5 December 2010), on their way to WYSC (and also possibly in Princess Cup, date to of UNO. Most official prize-winners also received gifts donated by Mattel in addition be advised). Future WYSC events will be larger, as the committee feel the best way to to their trophies. I had been going to present these at the final ceremony, but due to the attract more young players worldwide is for the world to see just how many good young involvement of royalty and not wanting to take too long over the prize-giving, they were players we already have. This will involve a larger number of paid entries, in addition presented prior to this. to the official quota of free entries offered to each national association. Those prepared to pay extra fees can apply direct to the organising committee, itemising their Scrabble Some other interesting words included experience, and they will not affect the national quotas in that year or following years. VIBRISSAE (Markus Loke), OZAENA and PECORINO (Ker Jen Ho), SFORZATI (Markus Inclusion of more paid entries will allow these young players to experience playing their Loke), ACYLOIN (Ong Suanne), MANIHOT (Goutham Jayaraman), ENCAENIA (Oluwaseun peers, and will encourage them to improve their games, and thus qualify for their own Oyeleke ) QUASAR (Christopher Walleck) and NAPOLEON (Dewin Goh).

TLW 130 14 15 TLW 130

The winner. Another exciting development was inclusion of a Nigerian player in the top ten for the It must have been lonely at the top for Ong Suanne – not only was she the single lady first time. Oluwaseun Oyeleke has put the world on notice that the Nigerian youth in the top 10, but also the only Malaysian this time. Four of the best local players were team will soon be as strong as their adult competitors. Also for the first time, we caught out by a change to the Malaysian exam timetable. Ong Suanne put the world on had a major award go to the Philippines, who have been working hard to help their notice last year, when she defeated Nigel to win Kings Cup 2008. Her WYSC win was players improve. Matthew Malitao finished just outside the top ten, only because of no surprise to those of us who have expected it for the last three years. Alastair Richards his margin, and was awarded the prize for the “BEST PLAYER UNDER 14” - which held the lead for much of the time, but their final match on the last day was a win to was, technically, for the ”best player born 1st January 1996 or later”. Next year Ong Suanne (after she lost to Alastair by one point the previous day.) This put her back these awards will need to be renamed, as it caused confusion to those whose 14th in the lead, and he never regained it, despite them both dropping games during the final birthday was during or just after the event. This is in line with the whole WYSC, day to other top players (all game results are on www.youthscrabble.org). Everyone was which originally was promoted as being for under 18’s, but had to be renamed as relieved there was no final playoff (best of 5 games) such as had been held in previous “for players born 1st January 1992 or later” – cumbersome nomenclature, but more years, as we all felt this was Ong Suanne’s time to win (it was the last year for both her descriptive. and Alastair) and luck can sometimes adversely affect the result of final playoffs. The presentation When Alastair first started competing against adults, aged seven, we were told about A short time before the final ceremony, Michael Tang informed me I was expected to a young Malaysian girl who was also competing. We have watched the two of them present some prizes and make a speech. I had earlier asked the Tournament Director, grow up together in the Scrabble arena. I believe Ong Suanne began competing against Edward Okulicz, if he would present the prizes, as I was too exhausted, and would adults at the age of six. These two are great role models for those who are mentoring trip over my words - so this development was a major shock. My prediction was talented young people – if they are ready to take on adults without stressing too much correct, I surely tripped over words. Her Royal Highness the Princess, Tunku Aminah about the inevitable “lessons” (which is composed of “n losses”!), then please encourage and her brother the Prince, plus various officials, had about 10 names each - which them to do so. The nine-year-olds who competed this year were better behaved than I mangled to the best of my ability. I had no time to write a speech, so simply spoke most adults, and finished an honorable 28th and 68th. I look forward to the time when from my heart (which was probably better than my head by that time) about how we have 8-year-olds competing, and don’t underrate the possibility that we will soon wonderful it was to witness all these smart young people befriending each other, need an “underate” trophy as well as the “Best Under 10” trophy we used for the first and challenging their brains in the process (well, I think that is what I said, certainly time this year. what I meant). I also thanked the Malaysians for their friendship and assistance. I thanked Michael Tang for bringing together the entire Festival of Scrabble, a wonderful Team statistics concept and much hard work for him. I thanked the royal family for their support. Thailand again topped the list for players finishing in the top ten (four, or 40%) – this I didn’t personally thank all my wonderful helpers, – so here goes: Edward, Judith was expected, as they have been building a strong youth contingent for many years. and Louella, Barry. Thankyou Len, Vonni and Shannon, Karl, Nicholina , and many, Brothers Preedee and Charnrit were inseparable, with 4th and 5th placings (Charnrit many more. won WYSC09). Australia and Singapore were the other teams with more than one in the top ten. A big thankyou goes to my patient husband, Paul, who supported me from the beginning, when I first came up with the crazy notion to get together young Scrabble It was exciting for Australia to receive two of the three giant cheques, and to have the players from all over the world. At that time, many countries had no young Scrabble strongest team overall (looking at average placings for the *official* team - Australia had players: now they are emerging everywhere, with countries such as Qatar fielding a one extra, paid, entry who hadn’t qualified with the rest of the team, so was not included large and competent team of new young players. The dream has become a reality, in team averages. The same methodology was used for all teams). Averages for the top and can only get bigger and better from hereon. 8 teams, from 14 countries competing, were: Thankyou young people! I love meeting you and working with you – you keep me Australia 16.5 Sri Lanka 32 young, and inspire me to look at my cardbox more often, in the vain hope that I can Thailand 20.1 Nigeria 32.2 keep ahead of some of you…for a short while, at least. Singapore 22 Malaysia 3 USA 31 UK 38.3 Karen Richards Chair Youth Subcommittee WESPA

TLW 130 16 17 TLW 130 That Was Then Collated by Robert Richland each player costing no more than £1. The list included: Phil ‘Granny Smith’ Appleby (40p), Bob ‘The Hemel Hurricane’ Violett (30p) and Darryl ‘Connie’ Francis (18p). Any player not on the list had a 5p value. 15 years ago: Recent tourney wins: Top 3 ratings (Jan 1st 1995) APSP Newsletter, issue 40, February1995, editor Hartley Moorhouse Wilma Warwick

th th (Overseas Mini, Edinburgh) 1 Clive Spate 199 A court date for the “Goldman v. APSP” case was set for June 5 to 7 at the Pat MacBean (Richmond) Central London County Court. Mike Goldman felt he had been unfairly 2 Mark Nyman 197 Terry Kirk / Mike Willis 3 Allan Simmons 196 treated at a tourney in Folkestone in 1990, when, on returning from a toilet (Nomads round-robin, London) break, found his clock had been started and his opponent had already played a bonus from their opening rack.

Co-incidentally, in a recent tourney in California, the same fate had befallen another Goldman . . . this time Stu Goldman. Only he hadn’t pressed court 10 years ago proceedings against the North American Scrabble Association! TLW, issue 70, February 2000, editor Paul Allan Still with the USA in another tourney, one player opened with MOTELIER. Neither of the players noticed that the word was not in OSPD (the American Paul Golder retired as editor, making way for his namesake from north of equivalent of OSW) or that it contained eight letters!!! the border to take over.

Terry Hollington decided to step down from his post as Ratings Officer; Peter Ashurst took the “20 Questions” chair for this issue. He got into he’d held the post since the formation of the APSP in 1988. Andrew Fisher playing Scrabble from watching the inaugural WSC in 1991 on TV was his successor. (highlights presented by Alan Coren with analysis from ). His greatest claim to fame was playing at ’s house; A recent Daily Telegraph sports article (“Changing my cue for a letter Q”) Dennis used to live around the corner from him. revealed that Thai snooker player was a self-confessed Scrabble addict. Thanks were due to Peter Ernest for some nifty sleuthing Margaret Yeadon had produced a booklet called “Using NLP (Neuro to find this article. Linguistic Programming) To Improve Your Scrabble Skills”. The booklet explored the neuropsychology of winning at Scrabble. Graeme Thomas had calculated that there was a 13.65% probability of picking up a bonus from a fresh bag of 100 tiles. Therefore, he said, “if An unusual Scrabble prize at Uganda’s first ever tourney; the winner (a you don’t pick up a bonus roughly every eighth game, you need to improve Mr. Abubaker) walked away with a he-goat (I kid you not!) donated by either on your bonus-spotting or your tile-picking”. chairman Mr. Musoke.

Three annotated games in this issue: John Grayson v Brian Sugar, and two The 1999 Scottish Scrabble League was won by the Leith Lynx team. Paul involving Evan Simpson (v Mark Nyman and Martin Fowkes) Allan took the individual award.

Barry Grossman launched Fantasy Scrabble; for a £1 entry, a fantasy team The 1999 Northern Scottish League was won by the Aberdons team. Neil of players from a given list could be chosen, with combined total value of Scott took the individual award.

TLW 130 18 19 TLW 130 Several obituaries this issue: Jackie McLeod (Publicity Officer) reported on the second annual National Scrabble Week (Nov 13th to 21st 2004) which included the premier showing Brian Keegan of Richmond SC, of Josh Whitehead’s TV documentary “Lost For Words” (more of which below) Joyce Smith of Penarth/Cardiff SCs, and also radio interviews and £2000 raised for Children In Need. The week Leon Fish of Letchworth SC and concluded with the NSC Grand Final between Mark Nyman and Andrew Dennis Lockwood from the Yorkshire region. Cook (reported in the previous issue).

Recent tourney wins: The aforementioned “Lost For Words” featured four Scrabblers; (in Top 3 ratings (Feb 9th 2000) alphabetical order) Geoff Cooper, Wayne Kelly, Mark Nyman and Chrystal Barry Grossman (Richmond) Rose as they rose to the challenge of the (then) upcoming 2004 Easter 1 David Webb 200 Andrew Fisher (Croydon SOWPODS) Matchplay in Exeter. It was generally warmly received by Scrabblers; on the 2= Mark Nyman 198 Nuala O’Rourke (Chester) UK-Scrabble forum, Graeme Thomas said: “my idiot sibling [Steve] watched 2= 198 Helen Gipson / David Webb the programme last night, and felt it wouldn’t do much for the neutrals, (Nottingham Nomads) whereas Pete Finley said that it was a bit like trainspotting at times, “There’s Sandie”, “There’s Dweeb”, “There’s Dot”, “There’s Allan” etc. 5 years ago David Sutton’s “Edgeways” celebrated TLW’s 100th issue with a list of words TLW, issue 99, December 2004, editor Alec Webb related to the concept of 100; amongst them were CENTIMES, STOTINKI, A special eight-page feature, “The First to Last Words”, commemorated 100 GOOGOL, WAPENTAKE, SEICENTO and HECATOMB. issues of TLW and its previous guises as the APSP (and then ABSP) Newsletter. Pete Finley guided us through the first 23 issues when the newsletter was a Amongst the articles in Christina French’s “X-tras”: corner-stapled A4-sized affair. Allan Simmons then took us on “A Lightning Tour of Subsequent Issues” (very much a one-off condensed forerunner TWT compiler Robert Richland reviewed the new “Super Scrabble” game; of “That Was Then”) !!! After that, Andy Davis compiled the “Top 25 like its Butts-invented elder brother, but with a 21 x 21 board, extra premium Scrabble Moments” (five other prominent Scrabblers contributed); listed squares (including quadruple letter/word scores), twice as many tiles (200), in chronological order it ranged from 1938 (Alfred Butts invents Scrabble) but a revamped letter distribution that didn’t proportionately tally with a via 1987 (the first major matchplay event – BMSC) and 1993 (Mark Nyman standard “Scrabble” set, which somewhat irked Robert. overcomes huge deficit to win WSC) to 2004 (Lost For Words). Finally, there was an at-a-glance list of “The ABSP Committee Teams through the ages”. Photos of newly-born Lucy Simpson with proud parents Evan Simpson and Joanne Hiley and also proud grandma Denise Saxton. The ABSP Committee welcomed 21 new members for 2005, amongst them Phil Robertshaw, who has since taken part in two WSCs and in 2010 has just become an Expert. Recent tourney wins: Top 3 ratings (Dec 31st 2004)

Amy Byrne was the most prolific player in 2004, playing 225 rated games. Pete Finley (Winter Matchplay) 1 203 Elie Dangoor (Stoke Rochford) 2 Mark Nyman 202 Graham Bonham won the Most Improved Player award for 2004; his rating Philip Nelkon (West Berks) 3 Harshan Lamabadusuriya 199 rocketed from 91 to 133 during the year . . . up by 42 ! Marion Keatings / Raymond Tate (Lang Toun v Glasgow team event … the teams finished on an 18-18 tie).

TLW 130 20 21 TLW 130 Canadian, Mark Schellenberg. The first wave of calmness always comes with playing the first bonus word of a tournament, in my case this was the rather mundane OUTTAKE. However, it was also my first mistake. I played it too eagerly in the wrong position, giving Mark an LETTERS easy 50 point reply. My second mistake of the game was most costly. I was in control to win when he played the invalid word EMERSING. I failed to challenge, getting confused with IMMERSING and the valid EMERSION. There is a 5-point penalty for an invalid challenge but that wasn’t the deterrent in this case - I just didn’t think. Still not many letters this time, so please send some in. There will be a prize of a set of Protiles for the best letter printed each edition. Ed Despite the fragile start, I was thinking more clearly for game two against Craig Beevers. I had played and beaten Craig at the 2008 UK National Championships grand final but, I politely didn’t remind him of this as we started the game. A little bit of good tile picking and Dear Editor, some reward for word-learning yielded four bonuses for me (MINIATED SECRETED OXIDATE and INTORTED, and, with some relief, my first win. The rest of the first day’s games were Given that there is now a healthy tournament scene in the UK, we can afford to be more a bit of a blur with mixed blessings of good, bad, timely and untimely pickings from the choosy in which tournaments we attend (and sometimes have to choose those we can afford letter bag. What I couldn’t easily forget, though, were the two games in which I got hit by to attend!), and I think it would be a good idea if someone started a website or an adjunct an onslaught of bonus words and high-scorers from my opponents: USA’s Nathan Benedict to a website, in which people are able to post reviews of tournaments they have attended, played TODDIES DISPLAY MAUVEINE PATCHED over just five moves in one game, and in which would help others decide which to attend, as well as keep organisers informed. the next game Dylan Early of South Africa played ATTIRED (77) STROLLED (83) JARP (63) BEZ (53) in consecutive moves to leave me standing. Nevertheless, I ended the day on four Does anyone else think this is a good idea, and more importantly, is there someone willing wins which I was happy with. It could easily have been five without the mistake in game to run this? one. If I could put a series of wins together tomorrow morning I would be up within striking Elie Dangoor distance of the top 20, which is what I could realistically aspire to. And so to day two, no nerves and raring to go, firing on all Scrabble cylinders. Sam Rosin My World Championship Experience (USA) was first to sit opposite me. An early easy bonus UTTERING followed a few turns later (This is an edited version of the article, which Allan was asked to write as a personal experience of his by a more pleasing ENTRESOL put me in good stead to win but it was two very ordinary WSC, for ‘The Star’ in Malaysia) words that became the focus of a lot of endgame pondering, because the Q was unseen with just two in the bag. Do I play DENIM to score more and minimise Sam’s endgame choices, On Wednesday November 25th Scrabble players from around the globe gathered at the Zon or do I play MINDER which leaves two good scoring spots for QI? I chose DENIM, picked Regency hotel in Johor Bahru for the 2009 World Scrabble Championships (WSC). I was the Q, played it for just 12 and lost by just 19. Scrabble isn’t all about knowing obscure fortunate to be among the throng of Scrabble players being one of the three representing words, it can be about just making the right choice. With that loss praying on my mind a Scotland. This was my fifth time of qualifying but with the event being held in a different little I lost the next game, but the racks were not favourable anyway. Things then picked up country every two years it always feels like attending for the first time, and the pre-tournament against Kenyan, Allan Oyende, with a beautiful pickup of ACHORSZ after playing REPTILE. nerves are ever-present. There was a hotspot for the Z and a triple word opening for the C , hooking (C)LOVERS and I was able to milk both for scores of 68 and 54. It’s nice to have a flow that doesn’t tax the Once settled into the hotel, the players gathered on the Wednesday evening for the official brain too much. registration. I estimate that about three-quarters of those present know each other from previous WSCs so the registration is much like a Scrabble reunion of the worlds most talented players. It was the attractive Vanatha Balasingam (Malaysia) opposite me for game 12. But no And it’s always good to meet and greet players who are attending their first WSC and make distractions from the task in hand were allowed and I duly demonstrated this with what turned them feel at home. The registration was followed by a gala dinner for everyone and after some out to be my highest scoring opening move of the tournament, FORESAW. I cashed in on the keynote welcoming speeches an excellent spread of Malaysian dishes was enjoyed, coupled advantage and a later STOITER sealed the game in my favour. I then went on to play three with much Scrabble conversation and guesses as to who might be on form to take the title. As UK colleagues in a row. The first one ended in a loss due to my second major mistake of the I then retired to bed to try and redress some of my jetlag I reminded myself that, along with tournament. All I had to do to win was to play two valid moves from my last rack of AAIOORS everyone else, there were 24 stressful games of Scrabble to play over the next three days. which I could have done in a number of ways. So what did I do? I played the invalid SONOR (possibly thinking of the valid SONORANT) and lost. One thing you can’t afford to do is to My preparation pre-event mostly involved revising high probability seven and eight-letter throw a game when you have complete control of playing the winning move. Despite the anagrams and all the four and five-letter words (it’s a given at this level that the twos and agony of that, I kept things together to grab a win in the next game, thanks to ANDVILES, threes are already known solidly). Despite that, though, I always find the first few games of POTHERS and DEMOTING. In the 15th game, after my modest opening of OBA, I fell victim any major tournament a bit of a struggle -- my word recall is not warmed up and the time to what must be one of the highest scoring replies by Harshan Lamabadusuriya, ATRAZINE seems to go far too fast. This was indeed the case as I settled in to my first game against TLW 130 22 23 TLW 130 (128) and never recovered despite being very pleased to spot MEIONITE and the common (but difficult to see) URGENCY. The final game of day two (against Akshay Bhandarkar (UAE) also looked like it was going against me until TERTIAL brought me level. However, not knowing that a G could front hook LUNCHES was critical and Akshay cashed in on that WESPA and polished me off with SUDATED. I was really hoping to be 8-8 after day two, which in the company of very skilled players at WESPA had it’s 3rd Biennial General Meeting in Malaysia on 27th November. All resolutions this event is no mean feat. Alas, I retired from day two slightly dejected on 7-9 but hopeful were passed nem. con. A new committee was voted in, consisting of some existing members of a better set of games on day three. Maybe not the top 20, but maybe the top third of the and some new members such as Stewart Holden on behalf of the ABSP. Stewart will now field is a realistically revised target. Despite feeling drained and a little ill from lingering jetlag chair the Ratings Committee to look into ways of improving our rating system. A healthy intense Scrabble, and probably too much delicious Malaysian food, I surprised myself and hit discussion followed on Scrabble and WESPA related matters, and the minutes of the meeting day three on top form. Winning the first game of a day certainly lifts the confidence for the should be accessible on our website www.wespa.org day. In fact I won the first four games, all of theme requiring careful strategy midgame play or endgame play to secure. I was especially pleased of playing my way out of trouble with the The new committee now consists of Elie Dangoor (UK) (Chair), Cheah Siu Hean (Singapore) rack BCJPRSX, spotting LIQUEUR (my highest scoring play at 126 points), being alert enough (Secretary), Andrew Fisher (Australia) (Treasurer), Chief Toke Aka (Nigeria), Sam Kantimathi to see RIGOROUS through an O from an otherwise uninspiring selection. I felt I played the (USA), Karen Richards (Australia), Michael Tang (Malaysia), Jojo Delia (Malta), Stewart Holden next two games equally well, although only extracted one win. In the penultimate game (UK), Howard Warner (New Zealand) and Tony Leah (Canada). it came down to just one key letter. There was the word MY next to a triple word allowing

MYC, and there was one C unseen. The opening couldn’t be blocked and whoever got the WESPA welcomes two new member countries - Kenya and France. C would easily score 50 and win. Alas, it wasn’t me. And so to my final game, against Jeff

Grant (New Zealand). A win would put me on 13-11 and in the top half of the field. Sadly A new Terms of Reference is being worked on for the new committee, to try and achieve as my first six racks decided otherwise and I finished on a depressing sequence of racks such much as possible in the next two years. as IIIPNUU and AIIINOU despite two changes. Elie Dangoor (Chair) Reminiscences of Malaysia While I was playing most of my games in the middle of the playing room, the cream of Scrabble players had been battling it out at the top tables. It was interesting to note some of the bonus I went to Malaysia for the Biennial General Meeting of WESPA and to be a part of perhaps words on those top boards. Ones of particular note that I wouldn’t have known or spotted the biggest festival of Scrabble to date. As well as the World Championships, there was the were SYMBIOTE, GUANIDIN, and PECORINO. During the final stages of the tournament any huge Causeway Event, the World Youth Scrabble Championship and the Progressive Round of a dozen or so players could have made the top two places for the best-of-five game grand Robin. I was only able to stay for the first two. final. As the dust settled on the final round it was Nigel Richards (2007 World Champion) who led the field with an 18-6 record. Just behind him, also on 18 wins but with a lower I arrived in Malaysia after a 12 hour flight from Heathrow, to be met by Michael Tang, the spread, was two-time WSC runner up Pakorn Nemitrmansuk of Thailand. Causeway organiser, at Singapore airport. I also came across Herve Bohbot from France, The grand final was played the following day with the game details relayed from the playing Akshay Bhandarkar from India and Irfan Siddiqi from Bahrain, so we all shared a car to Johor room by CCTV and played through on a splendid large stage board watched by all the other Bahru. It was morning and hot, and we were tired, so when we arrived at the hotel, it was players, who could also offer their own suggestions as to best plays. As an experienced a bit disappointing that our rooms weren’t ready, but I only had to wait a couple of hours. Scrabble tutor it was one of my duties to compere the stage for this pinnacle event. It was The hotel itself, the Zon Regency, was very large and pleasant. I came across John Chew a thrilling final and an opportunity to watch the excellence of Nigel and Pakorn in action. from Canada who told me there were some players practising in one of the restaurants, but Pakorn took the first game by a mere 6 points following a very exciting endgame. He then the last thing I felt like at this time was a game of Scrabble. had a superb flow in the second game hitting Nigel with bonus after bonus and finishing him off with a nine-timer (across two triple words) as Nigel desperately opened up the play as I had arrived in time for the Gala Dinner to welcome the WSC participants, and I was able the only way he might win. The luck swung the other way in game three with Nigel having a to renew acquaintances with some of my WESPA colleagues and players from around the midgame roll and forcing a fourth game. It was that fourth game that truly captured all that world. It was incredibly difficult to hear each other as the music was so loud - I think is beautiful and skilful with Scrabble. Pakorn kicked off with ADVENES, Nigel responded background music/classical music is much more pleasant when people are trying to socialise. with GRIFTERS. Others were GENETRIX BOTANICA (Pakorn’s) and FREEHOLD BOHEMIAN Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable occasion, with a feast laid on. (Nigel’s). In amongst those were words great words such as TIGLIC and MATZA. It was Pakorn who edged the win but only on the last play of BOWATS. And so Pakorn Nemitrmansuk The next day, the WSC started, and 108 players were locked in combat. As I wasn’t playing, I became the very worthy 2009 World Scrabble Champion and I didn’t! But I had a great time was able to do other things such as visit Singapore and catch up on some much-needed sleep. and experience being there. There were different restaurants in the hotel - Malaysian, Chinese, Thai which meant that we Allan Simmons sampled a great variety of food throughout our stay. There was a shopping centre attached TLW 130 24 25 TLW 130 to the hotel, but I didn’t find anything of interest. The hotel had 24 hour room service, and A new section of prices were very cheap compared to the UK. At night, there was a live band which also had blaringly loud music, which was not always to my taste, although one day I heard a brilliant rendition of Hotel California. It was great watching the final of the WSC on the giant board, SCRABBLE TIPS and seeing such a high standard of play from both players. The feat of Pakorn being in his For home players and those new to the ABSP third consecutive final (he didn’t play in 2007) was remarkable. It was also Nigel’s second by Allan Simmons consecutive final, so although many players would welcome more games in the WSC, it cannot be argued that it doesn’t produce worthy champions.

A couple of days after the WSC, began the Causeway event. This is the Singapore/Malaysia This is a new section within The Last Word that is specifically for newer players or those Causeway but it could also be called a Giant Causeway with almost 200 players competing. that might have joined the ABSP as a home player. Some of the material is new but a lot There were 50 of the very best players in the world competing in the Premier section, and Thisof it isis tailoreda new section from articles within Thethat mayLast haveWord appeared that is specifically elsewhere forover newer the years. players As or a gamethose that might have joined the ABSP as a home player. Some of the material is new but a lot 136 in the Open section, in which I played. One grand room was used for this purpose, and with more than two players, Scrabble becomes primarily a game of luck (and perhaps of it is tailored from articles that may have appeared elsewhere over the years. As a game laid out were the vary smart Sam non-glare boards, large racks, large bags, tiles and clocks, withpatiencemorewhilethanyoutwowaitplayers,for yourScrabbleturn becomesto come primarilyround again). a game It is of only luck the (and two-player perhaps all provided by Michael Tang. I could tell that a lot of thought and preparation had gone gamepatiencewherewhilethereyouiswaitreallyforscopeyour turnto provideto come meaningful round again). advice. It is In only these the pages two-player I will into this event, as I chatted to Michael on the very interesting tour of Johor Bahru that was sometimesgame whereusetherecontrivedis really positions,scope to provideand sometimes meaningful actual advice. tournament In these pagesgames, I will to provided very kindly by the state government. The event ran like clockwork, which is no demonstratesometimes useaspectscontrived of skill andpositions, vocabulary. and sometimes actual tournament games, to mean feat, given the number of players. Self-adjudication with a number of laptops nearby, demonstrate aspects of skill and vocabulary. GETTING HOOKED facilitated the process, as well as the policy of providing the draw based on two games GETTING HOOKED previous, so that when you finished one game, you knew who your opponent was in the One of the skills of Scrabble is spotting unexpected hooks (single-letter extensions) of next game. We played 9 games a day over 5 days, with the evenings free after dinner. I felt One of the skills of Scrabble is spotting unexpected hooks (single-letter extensions) of existing words. It is not difficult to see that MOPE can become MOPED, but it is easy to I didn’t perform as well as I should have, and given that there were very few weak players, miss the subsequent -S hook for MOPEDS unless you change the pronunciation to “mo- even in the Open division, I was duly punished for that. Nevertheless, it was a wonderful ped”. Similarly, although an -S hook to MANTRA is obvious, it takes an adventurous tournament and I thoroughly enjoyed it. brain to spot the potential of MANTRA(P), even though the word itself is not unusual.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O Overall, the experience was highly recommendable, and given that next year there will be A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O Premier, Masters and Open divisions, all standards will be catered for. A particular type of end hook 1 H toA particularwatch out typefor ofis endone hookthat 1 Elie Dangoor 2 AH extendsto watch anout existingfor is wordone that 32 NA extendsis already an existingpluralised. word thatIt’s instinctiveis already topluralised.assume It’sno 34 ND further extension beyond the 5 4 DL instinctiveS, so you needto toassumekeep yourno 6 avE E Mr Perfect witsfurther aboutextension you to spotbeyond these.the 5 L S, so you need to keep your 7 hoaRs 6 avE E I knew that it would take a little longer to be accepted by my fellow males but I am not witsBearing about this you toin spotmind, these. how 8 xU 7 overly concerned. The only drawback is would you reply to your 9 hoaRs that parts of my make-up are negative opponent’s HANDLES with Bearing this in mind, how 108 xU virtues. For instance I am not the one who this rack? would you reply to your 11 appears to have short arms and long 9 opponent’s HANDLES with 12 pockets when it comes to buying deinrsw 10 this rack? 13 a round of drinks. You see what I 11 mean, chaps. It would be extremely 14 12 boastful to state baldly that I am very deinrsw 15 generous and always step forward, no matter 13 how big the crowd and pay up with good 14 grace. Come to think of it, I couldn’t state 15 anything baldly since I am blessed with a fine head of hair.

TLW 130 26 27 TLW 130 Here’s a small selection of some of my favourite hooks of six-letter plurals worth noting: CHANGE OR PLAY? CELLOS(E)Here’s a small selection CURIOS(A) of some of my DIVERS(E) favourite hooks of FOLIOS(E)six-letter plurals worth noting: Most regular Scrabble players wouldCHANGE probably OR agree PLAY? that the worst racks are either those GUANAS(E)CELLOS(E) GEODES(Y)CURIOS(A) SHINES(S)DIVERS(E) ZEBRAS(S)FOLIOS(E) with all vowels or with all consonants. In both situations, you can probably play GUANAS(E)A B C D E GEODES(Y)F G H I J SHINES(S)K L M N O ZEBRAS(S) Mostsomething regularon Scrabblethe board, playersbut wouldideally probablyyou would agree need that to the play worst four racks or fiveare eithertiles (highthose Now use your hook skills with all vowels or with all consonants. In both situations, you can probably play 1 and the board position turnover) to have a chance of redressing the balance. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O Now use your hook skills something on the board, but ideally you would need to play four or five tiles (high shown on the left to find 12 and the board position turnover) to have a chance of redressing the balance. two spots for the only If you can’t achieve a high turnover, it might not mean you have to resort to changing. shown on the left to find 23 playable anagram with this Perhaps there is a good score to be had for just a few of the letters which would make it two spots for the only If you can’t achieve a high turnover, it might not mean you have to resort to changing. 34 V rack. worthwhile delaying a change. It will mean that you won’t be able to complain about playable anagram with this Perhaps there is a good score to be had for just a few of the letters which would make it 45 your poor rack the next turn and should be prepared to change at some point, but you may S VI rack. worthwhile delaying a change. It will mean that you won’t be able to complain about aefrstw have a lucky pickup of badly needed vowels or consonants could still resolve the 56 STheIsE your poor rack the next turn and should be prepared to change at some point, but you may aefrstw imbalance and render a change unnecessary. If not, you have at least scored something in 67 ThA esIE have a lucky pickup of badly needed vowels or consonants could still resolve the To assist you, I’ll tell you the meantime and not revealed that you have a problematic rack to your opponent. 78 B MA IT that the playable seven- imbalance and render a change unnecessary. If not, you have at least scored something in To assist you, I’ll tell you the meantime and not revealed that you have a problematic rack to your opponent. 89 BO MP TO P letterthat theword playable is a compound seven- word, so it is not the A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O 910 OUnclPE bOriefeRP letter word is a compound With each of the following obviousword, so WAFTERS! it is not the 10 UnclE briefeR racks, and the board 1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O 11 G D I obvious WAFTERS! With each of the following triggerS 11 position shown, there is 12 GH D weEIr racks, and the board 21 ItriggerS 12 positioneither a shown,play usingtherefouris 13 H weEr 32 I s letters to be made, or a good N 13 s either a play using four 14 scoreletters tooverbe made,25 pointsor a good for 43 DN rEmeX 14 15 scoreplayingovertwo. 25 Usepoints yourfor 54 ED rEmL eX 15 playingScrabble skillstwo. toUse determineyour 5 6 bREuiT AdZEL whichScrabble solution skills to fitsdetermine each 6 bRuiT AdZE whichrack. solution fits each 7 y awL V 7 y awL V rack. 8 HE e A LOOK AT HOOKS 8 HE e A LOOK AT HOOKS eeiioou 9 o daNk surprise your opponent with these hooks of everyday C words eeiioou 9 o daNk surprise your opponent with these hooks of everyday C words 10 10 aaeiiiu 11 A CIDER more sharp, sour aaeiiiu A-CIDER more sharp, sour 11 Y CLAD 12 Y-CLAD clothed dfhnptv 12 COAL A dfhnptv 13 COAL-A an alternative spelling of KOALA (bear) 13 - an alternative spelling of KOALA (bear) O-CREATE having a sheathe formed of two stipules (botany) bdfghtv 14 - having a sheathe formed of two stipules (botany) bdfghtv 14 CUBE B 15 CUBE-B the dried berry of a Sumatran pepper shrub 15 CULT-I a plural of CULTUS, a religious ritual

:VS\[PVUZ JHU IL MV\UK VU 0UZPKL )HJR *V]LY

TLW 130 28 29 TLW 130 153 0793 Joanne Hiley 146 John Dunlop Ratings contd. 153 0105 Elisabeth Jardine 146 Mike Evans 160 1375 Mike Chappell 153 Brian Jones 146 0933 Ann Golding ABSP Ratings 160 1486 Ashley Coldrick 153 0837 Peter Liggett 146 0232 Iain Harley (GM) Grand Master, (Exp) Expert 160 0573 Gary Fox 153 0154 Mike O’Rourke 146 0589 Anne Steward ABSP membership number for members is shown before name 160 1429 Stewart Houten 152 0997 Phil Kelly 146 Lesley Trotter 160 1649 Paul{Hull} Thompson 152 Mario Saliba 145 0738 Margaret Armstrong Ratings at 12.01.2010 Prepared by 159 John Barker 151 1210 Graham Bonham 145 Chris Downer At least 30 games, and at least 1 since 12.01.2009 John Grayson 159 1116 Paul Bassett 151 1145 Peter Darby 145 1242 John Garcia 213 Adam Logan 178 0005 Brian Sugar(GM) 167 Andrew Goodwin 159 0199 Graham Harding 151 1466 Suzanne Dundas 145 0688 Lorraine Gordon 205 Nigel Richards 177 1016 John Ashmore 167 0060 Terry Kirk(GM) 159 1608 David Holmes 151 Christina French 145 1051 Elizabeth Hull 202 1355 Craig Beevers(GM) 177 0041 Gareth Williams(GM) 167 1006 Ross Mackenzie 159 1619 Joseph McGinley 151 Stu Harkness 145 0100 David Lawton 201 0338 David Webb(GM) 176 1202 Jason Carney 167 0123 Noel Turner(Exp) 158 1440 Tim Charlton 151 0020 Janet Phillips 145 0161 Margaret Pritchett 200 0057 Mark Nyman(GM) 176 0072 John Grayson(GM) 166 Mark Goodwin 158 1211 Ian Coventry 151 1380 Anthony Pinnell 145 0476 David Shenkin 197 0158 Ed Martin(GM) 175 Rik Kennedy 166 0307 Dick Green(Exp) 158 Chris Cummins 151 1131 Russell Smith 145 1287 Stuart Solomons 197 Chris May 175 0004 Philip Nelkon(GM) 166 0530 George Gruner(Exp) 158 Alan Georgeson 151 0919 Peter Thomas 145 0876 Evelyn Wallace 195 0751 Paul Allan(GM) 174 Gerry Carter 166 1164 Karl Kwiatkowski 158 0463 Helen Harding 151 0116 Martin Thompson 144 0534 Caroline Atkins 195 0497 Andrew Davis(GM) 174 0202 Penny Downer(Exp) 166 0609 Bob Lynn 158 1203 Greg Kelly 151 0229 Graham Wakefield 144 Rose Calder 195 1750 Kevin McMahon 174 0115 Diane Pratesi(Exp) 166 0049 Bob Violett(Exp) 157 0978 Andy Becher 150 0789 Alan Bailey 144 0471 Anne Hidden 194 0764 Lewis Mackay(GM) 174 Feargal Weatherhead 165 0914 Vincent Boyle 157 1217 Carolyn Emery 150 Tony Bearn 144 0923 Teresa Hill 191 0147 Helen Gipson(GM) 173 0103 Danny Bekhor 165 0079 Chris Finlay 157 Ed Garrett-Jones 150 0228 Adrienne Berger 144 Pinaach Kolte 191 Dennis Ikekeregor 173 0014 Di Dennis(GM) 165 1349 Fidelis Olotu 157 Ralph Gibbs 150 1301 Rick Blakeway 144 Christine McKenzie 190 0745 Harshan 173 1057 Mike Whiteoak 165 1170 Paloma Raychbart 157 Malcolm Quirie 150 0069 Moira Conway 144 1050 Yvonne McKeon Lamabadusuriya(GM) 172 0734 Nick Deller 165 1102 Paul{England} 157 1389 Paul{Tranmere} 150 1404 Chris Harrison 144 0480 Anne Ramsay 189 1618 Paul Gallen 172 0888 Chris Keeley Richards Thomson 150 0713 Trish Johnson 144 1097 Ronnie Reid 188 1427 Mikki 172 1687 Howard Wilde 165 0088 Sandie Simonis(Exp) 157 Frances Ure 149 1635 Nick Ascroft 144 1468 Kathy Suddick Nicholson(Exp) 171 1191 Neil Green 164 1120 Anand Buddhdev 156 1228 Mark Lane 149 John Balloch 144 1189 Martin Taylor 187 1497 Azu Ogbogu(Exp) 171 1419 John Hardie 164 0836 Chris Fenwick 156 0408 Nuala O’Rourke 149 0066 Sue Bowman 143 0080 Mary Allen 187 1672 Philips Owolabi 171 0281 Steve Perry 164 Frankie Mairey 156 0986 Robert Pells 149 0449 Alan Childs 143 Graham 186 0058 Russell Byers(GM) 171 0101 Robert Richland(Exp) 164 0165 Cecil Muscat 156 0873 Matthew Pinner 149 0732 Wanda De_Poitiers Buckingham 185 0015 Phil Appleby(GM) 171 1163 David Sutton(Exp) 164 0479 Andrew 156 0795 Chris Quartermaine 149 0895 David Reading 143 Alan Catherall 185 1428 Martin Harrison 171 0162 Alec Webb(Exp) Roughton(Exp) 156 1231 David Steel 149 1123 Chrystal Rose 143 1484 Karen Game 185 0846 Austin Shin(Exp) 170 Christian Brown 163 0241 Bob Berry 156 0719 Kate Surtees 148 0635 Philip Aldous 143 0242 Sheila Green 184 1220 Theresa 170 1460 Paul Burton 163 Catherine Costello 156 1032 Kevin Synnott 148 0081 Joyce Cansfield(Exp) 143 0084 Pauline Johnson Brousson(Exp) 170 0045 Barry Grossman(Exp) 163 Billy Dott 156 1279 Ben Wilson 148 Tim Knight 143 Martin Leverton 184 0814 Jared Robinson(Exp) 170 0368 Chris Hawkins(Exp) 163 0213 Neil Rowley 156 0094 Rachelle Winer 148 Timothy Lawrence 143 Wendy Lindridge 184 0007 Allan Simmons(GM) 170 1408 Rael Hayman 163 1268 Abraham Sosseh 155 0003 Laura Finley 148 0135 David Meadows 143 Nola Marrow 183 Olatunde Oduwole 170 Clement Ikolo 163 0268 Donna Stanton 155 0967 Gerard Fox 148 1019 Lynne Murphy 143 Nicky Vella-Laurenti 183 1368 Phil 170 0038 Jackie McLeod(Exp) 163 0810 Linda Vickers 155 1044 Paul Howard 148 0028 Lorna Rapley 142 0254 Ian Burn Robertshaw(Exp) 170 0224 Gary Polhill(Exp) 162 1221 JOjo Delia 155 0488 Marion Keatings 148 1732 James Squires 142 1294 Christine 181 0478 Elie Dangoor(Exp) 170 1488 Ed Rossiter 162 0059 Simon Gillam(Exp) 155 Theo Kumi 148 0272 Ivan Swallow Strawbridge 181 0362 Gary Oliver(GM) 170 1469 James Rossiter 162 0226 Alan Sinclair 155 Raz Naot 148 0637 Val Wright 142 1053 Stephen Wintle 181 0482 Neil Scott(GM) 169 1679 Toke Aka 162 0292 Wilma Warwick 155 1715 Paul{Austral} Richards 147 1754 Quentin Baker 141 1473 Neil Broom 180 1000 Stewart Holden(GM) 169 0006 Darryl Francis(Exp) 161 0766 Christo Davison 155 0489 Tom Wilson 147 0399 Louise Brundell 141 0395 Pat Colling 180 Abiodun Olaleru 169 1714 Karen Richards 161 David Delicata 154 Olakunle Ajayi 147 0124 Ivy Dixon-Baird 141 0469 Tony Davis 180 1570 Adrian Tamas 169 1369 Ben Tarlow 161 1243 Doj Graham 154 1412 Melanie Beaumont 147 0024 Angela Evans 141 Marta Dunsire 179 0880 Femi Awowade(GM) 169 Chris Vicary 161 Paul Nind 154 0631 Alison Sadler 147 1115 Nick Jenkins 141 1413 Geoff Goodwin 178 Evan Cohen 169 1674 Ricky Zinger 161 1663 Mihai Pantis 154 0790 Margaret Staunton 147 0093 Ruth MacInerney 141 1025 Marion Kirk 178 1423 Calum Edwards 168 1348 Alex_Gboye Balogun 161 1510 Jessica Pratesi 154 1459 Ronan Webb 147 Sanmi Odelana 141 1743 Naomi Landau 178 0770 Jake Jacobs 168 0343 Amy Byrne 161 1746 Dan Sandu 154 David White 147 1273 Peter Winnick 141 0458 Eileen Meghen 178 0823 Wayne Kelly(GM) 168 0999 Kay McColgan 161 0555 Raymond Tate 153 1046 Paul Ashworth 147 Richard Woodward 141 Michael Zinger 178 Biyi Oyadiran 168 0428 Kwaku Sapong 160 0852 Maureen 153 1456 Andrew Eames 146 Ed Breed 140 0330 Viv Beckmann 178 0021 Evan Simpson(GM) 167 Adekoyejo Adegbesan Chamberlain 153 1602 Kim Hands 146 0835 Maurice Brown 140 1693 Rafal Dominiczak TLW 130 30 31 TLW 130 134 1391 Jan Bailey 130 1533 Colin Kendall 123 Jennifer Clifford 118 Willie Scott 113 1113 Christabel Jackson Ratings contd. 134 1559 Joe Bridal 130 Bryn Packer 123 0009 Sheila Hockey 118 1683 Janet Southworth 113 Gail Jarvis 134 1005 Verity Cross 130 Pauline Russell 123 1136 Ted Lewis 118 Michael Thomas 113 Jo Tebbutt 140 0456 Margaret Keegan 134 1262 Ginny Dixon 130 1320 Rita Todd 123 Josephine Mayo 117 Shirley Angell 113 Maureen 140 0035 Lois McLeod 134 1591 Mick Healy 130 0177 Henry Walton 123 1003 Sheena Wilson 117 Hilda Bennun Underdown 140 1198 Maurice McParland 134 0032 Ron Hendra 129 Phyllis Fernandez 122 1158 Wasinee Beech 117 Lorna Franks 113 Jane Weston 140 1270 Len Moir 134 0802 Patricia Pay 129 0718 Pat Friend 122 1513 Linda Bird 117 Cara Goldberg 112 Jill Burgess 140 Omri Rosenkrantz 134 0470 Norman Smith 129 0401 Sharon Landau 122 1784 Gila Blits 117 0941 Audrey Harvey 112 Cecilia Cotton 139 Nick Baker 133 1631 Jack Anscomb 129 0886 Ruth Marsden 122 1670 David Follows 117 1574 Ken McGinness 112 1735 Miles Daniels 139 Alasdair Dowling 133 Jean Bridge 128 0110 Liz Barber 122 Frankie Latham 117 1089 Vivienne Newman 112 Carmen Dolan 139 1519 George Downing 133 0238 Margaret Burdon 128 0557 Janice Bease 122 1237 Dorn Osborne 117 0634 Edith Smith 112 0420 Marie English 139 Eileen Farmer 133 David Carrod 128 1020 Derek Bower 122 0911 Marie Perry 116 0257 Syd Berger 112 1212 Marjorie Gillott 139 1282 Barbara Goodban 133 1607 Annie Hawes 128 Joe Caruana 122 0829 Kim Phipps 116 1540 Rowan Callaghan 112 Maureen Hoch 139 Robert Johnston 133 Sheila Hinett 128 0840 Rhoda Gray 122 Liliane Servier 116 Eileen Douglas 112 Marielouise Mifsud 139 Brenda Margereson 133 1514 Victoria Kingham 128 Jonny Maitland 122 Tom Sharp 116 Mary Doyle 112 1554 Vicky Nelson-Owen 139 1744 Mark Murray 133 0077 Joy Lloyd 128 Celine McCart 122 Pauline Weatherhead 116 1729 Paul Harding 112 0782 Richard Pajak 139 0690 Maureen Reynolds 133 0875 Jim Lyes 128 Julie Nelkon 122 Carole Wheatley 116 0263 Sheila Jolliffe 112 1445 Jean Robinson 139 0632 Carol{Norwich} 133 0932 Jill Parker 127 Sue Ball 122 0248 Jean{Cardiff} Williams 116 Ann McDonnell 112 0169 Sue Thompson Smith 133 0423 Alec Robertson 127 0603 Linda Bradford 121 0512 Etta Alexander 116 1656 Damian O’Malley 112 1521 John Wilcox 139 0422 Carol Stanley 133 0996 Kenneth Ross 127 1257 Mary Hopwood 121 0915 Shirley Chidwick 116 0452 Peter Sime 112 0356 Pamela Windsor 138 0096 Diana Beasley 133 Martin Sheehan 127 Fred Rankin 121 0948 Eileen Foster 116 0826 Elizabeth Terry 111 0735 Hilary Birdsall 138 0822 Jill Bright 133 0960 Mary Siggers 127 1315 Tanya Robson 121 1265 Joy Fox 116 1666 Brid Ui_Bhriain 111 1625 Georgie Burchell 138 0163 Yvonne Eade 133 1149 Jim Wilkie 127 Brenda Rodwell 121 0737 Margaret Harkness 116 1520 Paul Walford 111 0107 Joan Caws 138 1424 Len Edwards 132 Abiodun Adeyemi 127 0246 Wendy Tiley 121 0715 Barbara Hill 115 1532 Lyn Allcock 111 0668 Ceridwen Davies 138 0150 David Longley 132 1739 Feroza Bartlett 127 1598 Carmen Toscano 121 1696 Ena McNamara 115 1503 Maureen Barlow 111 1410 Hilbre Jenkins 138 0267 Graham Maker 132 0682 Janet Bonham 127 Margaret Yeadon 121 1183 Priscilla Munday 115 0106 Ian Caws 111 1786 David Phillips 138 1269 Richard Moody 132 Terry Jones 126 0922 Barbara Allen 121 1642 Alan Payne 115 Terry Corps 111 1253 Philip Turner 138 Huw Morgan 132 0537 Carol Malkin 126 0639 Esther Bacon 120 Harry Beckett 115 Paul Dundas 111 Albert Zammit 138 1153 Colin Parker 132 0505 Gordon Procter 126 0419 Michael Baxendale 120 0868 Christine Gillespie 115 1064 June Johnstone 110 1669 Andrea Bailey 138 1457 Amanda Sodhy 132 0775 Pat Wheeler 126 1455 Angela Burke 120 0776 Peter Hall 115 0858 May Macdonald 110 1049 Ken Bird 138 0291 Sylvia Swaney 131 0943 Carol Arthurton 126 Barbara Dein 120 1575 Margaret Marshall 115 Tova Serkin 110 1403 Emma Brown 138 0624 Lesley Watson 131 Gillian Ashworth 126 0223 June Edwards 120 1738 Heather Roberts 115 0477 Malcolm Shaw 110 1489 Anne Cheesman 137 1035 Andy Gray 131 0924 Linda{Lincoln} 126 0381 Michael Harley 120 1442 Gordon Winter 115 1478 Vivienne Stokes 110 1029 Tricia Cooper 137 Alan Guy Barratt 126 Paul Heasman 119 0518 Eileen Basham 115 Cyndy Walker-Firth 110 Mary Orr 137 1199 Richard Hitchcock 131 Mario Camilleri 126 1054 Barbara Lukey 119 1765 Beverley Calder 114 0953 Peter Bailey 110 Helen Sandler 137 1383 Sarah-Jane Jamison 131 0992 Geoff Cooper 126 1066 Barbara Morris 119 0402 Sally Fiszman 114 Irene Catherall 110 1675 Mark Smith 137 0414 Jill Jones 131 Marian Hamer 125 0856 Minu Anderson 119 Norma Galley 114 1306 Margaret Emmott 109 0761 Mary Adams 137 0863 Kay Powick 131 0759 John Harrison 125 Sheila{Perth} 119 1169 Yvonne Holland 114 David French 109 Anna Borg 137 Jo Ramjane 131 Peter Hunt Anderson 119 1022 Nicky Huitson 114 1331 Carol Grant 109 1694 Florence Fontaine 137 0636 David Williams 131 1146 Leonora Hutton 125 0252 Steve Balment 119 Dennis Hussey 114 0736 Molly Lane 109 Sylvia McCulloch 136 0427 Peter Ashurst 131 1509 Heather Laird 125 1555 Bob Christie 119 1181 Sue Ison 114 0185 Lou McMeeken 109 0931 Janet Milford 136 Liz Dunlop 131 Mary Oram 125 0332 Debbie Holloway 119 1773 Cody McCormick 114 Paul Mifsud 109 0976 Adrian Noller 136 1504 Andrea Waddington 131 0236 Hazel Parker 125 Mauro Pratesi 119 0692 Margaret Seabrook 114 0036 Dot Taylor 109 0952 Jean Owen 136 1206 Sarah Wilks 131 Mario Seychell 124 1298 Helgamarie Farrow 119 0864 Margaret White 114 Sally Twine 109 0938 Helen Polhill 136 1175 Rosalind Wilson 131 1317 Marjorie Struggles 124 0544 Marjory Flight 118 1263 Barbara Barker 114 Pamela Vahed 109 Elizabeth Ramsay 135 Brenda Baxter 130 0511 Samantha Beckwith 124 1305 Jason Goddard 118 0565 Ann Coleman 113 1373 Stany Arnold 109 0152 Marjorie Smith 135 1092 Heather Burnet 130 0899 Jake Berliner 124 0975 Jill Harrison 118 0854 Joseph Doku 113 0743 Nora Bain 109 0917 Nicola Staunton 135 0406 Moya Dewar 130 0061 Lorraine Crouch 124 Angie Jones 118 1762 Reeyaaz Goolamhossen 113 1752 Carol Bartlett 109 1655 Maria Treadwell 135 Linda Hillard 130 0092 Priscilla Encarnacion 124 1768 Charles Micallef 118 1238 Juliet Green 113 Linda Beard 109 1276 Evelyn Wansbrough 135 Helen Jones 130 0570 Jean Gallacher 124 Ralph Obemeasor 118 0572 Val Hoskings 113 Fran Burling 109 1640 Nova Williams 135 1770 Tia Knowles 130 1479 Bob Jarvie 124 1580 Nigel Sibbett 118 0142 Jane Lowndes 113 1680 Maisie Culpin 109 Rosemary Wood 135 0523 Kate Leckie 130 0655 Mary Jones 124 0029 Marlene Skinner 118 0211 Philippa Morris 113 0442 Agnes Gunn 109 Yair Yehuda 135 1511 Colin Nicol 130 Jayanthi Kannan 123 Pat Broderick 118 0972 Denise Saxton 113 0374 Joy Hodge 108 1686 Angele Andrews TLW 130 32 33 TLW 130 103 1704 Paul Carter 99 1726 Duncan 93 1465 Doreen Clayton 86 Pat MacLellan 75 Hilda Bristow Ratings contd. 103 1289 Kerry Constant MacFarlane 93 1008 Yvonne Goodridge 86 Olive Matthew 75 Pat Carr 103 Lena Cook 99 0376 Claire Violett 93 1052 Barbara Haggett 86 Beryl Trace 75 1586 Sheila Cresswell 108 0982 Ron Bucknell 103 1207 Hannah Corbett 98 Marie Anderson 93 Joan Johns 85 0799 Cindy Hollyer 75 Teresa Haycock 108 Marlene Calleja 103 Amos Fabian 98 0985 Carmen Borg 93 1734 Olive Martin 85 1781 Carol Joahill 75 1719 Eileen Johnson 108 1327 Sonia Cox 103 1112 Peter Johnson 98 Jean Buckley 93 1523 Kath Williams 85 Linda Marguy 75 1290 Mary Kennedy 108 Frans Farrugia 103 1654 Ian Kendall 98 John MacLellan 92 0517 Peter Basham 85 Judith Puttick 75 1531 Lydia Sharkey 108 1007 Margaret Irons 103 1297 Graham Pace 98 1252 Ruth Turner 92 Prue Buckingham 85 Dorothea Talbot 74 0908 Ted Anderson 108 0320 Fay Madeley 103 David Paine 98 0844 Jan Vokes-Taylor 92 1767 Martin Byrne 84 0684 Mary Keevy 74 1399 Carol Russell 108 1646 Sylvia Pryce 103 1641 Helen Rendell 98 1084 Rod Winfield 92 Marjorie Hislop 84 Grace Peel 73 1545 Helen Nelson 107 Joyce Ashmore 103 1118 Remie Salazar 97 1630 Ted Anscomb 92 1779 Joseph Knapper 84 1390 Maria Raffaelli 73 Jil Stein 107 1063 Irene Atkinson 103 1171 Susan Thorne 97 1248 Margaret Coleman 92 1648 Irene Lawes 84 1527 Brian Rowell 73 1086 Margaret Webb 107 Gill Carr 103 1450 Christine Tudge 97 Florence Davies 92 Monica Marden 84 1232 Brett Scaife 73 Steve Wilkinson 107 0725 Paul Cartman 103 0818 Rose Wall 97 1524 Malcolm Davis 91 0526 Keith Churcher 83 1553 Brenda Keast 72 Ann Duncan 107 0928 Iris Cornish 103 Judy Young 97 Alan Everitt 91 Dorothy Clark 83 0132 Lorna Llewellyn 72 1485 Winnie Haston 107 Les Costin 102 Eileen{Rdng} 97 1742 Lee Fisher 91 1453 Anne Corpe 82 1733 Kate Carney 72 Gisele Yomtov 107 1119 Anne Darby Anderson 97 1073 Jenny Harris 91 Josephine Croasdale 82 Pauline Cilia 71 Mary Harris 107 Maggie Fleming 102 Matthew Denby 97 1688 Jenetta Mills 91 1176 Gordon Lamb 82 Dorothy Henry 71 Helen Thompson 107 Doug Hill 102 Joan Everitt 97 1492 Peggy Moore 91 1392 Chris Leathem 82 Lionel Howard 71 Millie Ward 107 Anne Lyng 102 Pawlu Frendo 97 1560 June Peck 91 Michelle Minnaar 82 Masha Katz 70 Charlotte Perlin 107 Barbara McLaren 102 1577 Esther Kasket 97 0083 Pat Rockley 91 1587 Irene Newberry 82 1541 Marjorie Lunn 70 1787 Natasha Pratesi 107 0451 Vera Sime 102 Moreen Shillitoe 97 1009 Jenny Sakamoto 91 Esme Norris 82 1727 Anne Lynas 70 Jane Thomas 107 Sandra Walton 102 1788 Julie Tate 97 0485 Ann Toft 90 1235 Rita Barton 82 Trevor Warwick 69 Margaret Cooke 106 1038 Jacquie Aldous 102 Julie Wise 97 0134 Isla Wilkie 90 0030 Ruby Flood 82 0871 Fergus Williams 68 1745 Douglas Morris 106 Eve Dwyer 101 Moses Azzopardi 97 Alfred Xuereb 90 Paul Roberts 81 0563 Fred Burford 68 Muriel Mortimer 106 1458 June Faulkner 101 Dominic Borg 96 0527 Dorothy Churcher 90 1448 Joy Rowe 81 0410 Myra Copleston 68 Joan Murphy 106 1525 Caroline Foy 101 0474 Eileen Bradshaw 96 0827 Ann Clark 90 0564 Jean Stevens 81 1709 Linda Hopley 68 Shirley Stokley 106 1261 Jo Holland 101 Miriam Erez 96 Anne Connolly 90 Rena Waddell 81 Mona Nobil 67 Michael Slow 106 Barbara Kent 101 1804 Fay Goble 96 1225 Lena Glass 90 Joyce Watson 81 Alison Peters 65 1316 Veronica Baker 106 0357 Jean Shaw 101 0486 Marjorie Lefley 96 1480 Doreen Jarvie 89 Margaret Aldous 81 1588 Angela Rigley 65 Shelagh Howes 106 1552 Charles Tollit 101 1304 Linda Moir 96 1633 Robert Peters 89 0726 Christine Cartman 80 0359 Vera Allen 65 Helen Tegg 105 1259 Sheila{Rmfrd} 101 Joan Rees 96 Colin StHill 89 Norah Cole 80 Jane Craig 64 0541 Pamela Brown Anderson 101 Jeanne Rossiter 95 1168 Brian Beaumont 89 0683 Mavis Ernest 80 Yvonne Delia 64 1599 Margaret{Fife} 105 Marlene Diskin 101 Beryl Shoesmith 95 1548 Viv Bishop 89 Marcia Hall 80 0998 Jean Hendrick McGhee 105 1200 Caroline Elliott 101 1085 Betty Simmonds 95 1653 Tim Butcher 89 1267 Margot Montgomery 80 Sheila Johnston 63 Brigitte Brath 105 Joan Ellis 101 0872 Jacqui White 95 1643 Rhoda Farrington 89 0119 Mary Ralfs 79 Hazel Boddy 63 1247 Edna Lindeck 105 0405 Peter Ernest 100 0709 Betty Benton 95 Rosemarie Howis 89 1397 Christine Silvester 79 1616 Iris Grover 62 0949 Barbara Horlock 105 1222 Bronagh Kenny 100 Shirley Cave 95 1134 Dorothy Kemlicz 89 1332 Sheila Wyatt 79 Margaret Scamell 62 1028 Peggy Lavender 105 0798 Peter Lindeck 100 Jenny Corps 95 June Lindridge 88 Juliet Collins 79 1629 Maggie Shutt 60 1805 Marion Loewenstein 105 Jean Mainwaring 100 1340 Paula Docherty 95 Ovidiu Tamas 88 0828 Moira Metcalf 78 Margaret Barratt 59 Margaret Hallin 105 Greger Nassen 100 Barbara Etheridge 95 1506 Gill{Norwich} 88 Jill Russell 78 Eileen Hunter 58 1741 Bill Croft 105 1502 Cathy Poacher 100 Joyce Frost Thompson 87 John Macdonald 78 Dorothy Jackson 58 Gusta Gross 105 1341 Pamela Sparkes 100 Paul Grimshaw 95 0935 Ian Whyte 87 Doreen Searles 78 1795 Valery Jansen 57 Peggy Fehily 104 0384 Mabel Choularton 100 0298 Mavis Harding 95 Pippa Yates 87 Avril Shaw 78 Norman Marcus 57 1748 Connie Walton 104 Ann Croll 100 0696 Mary Manson 94 1104 Hazel Brannan 87 1174 Peter Trembath 78 John McCart 55 1740 Zandra Begg 104 Rita Hennessey 100 Marina Mehta 94 Len Choules 87 0900 Amabel Winter 78 1135 Sylvia Oates 55 1474 Carol Mouncey 104 0791 Rosemary Jordan 100 Renee Paine 94 0783 Barrie Hall 86 1544 Anne Atherton 77 1143 Letty Burrell 51 Jody Petrie 104 1644 Kenneth Lovell 100 0851 Sheila Smith 94 1496 Margaret Keeper 86 Agi Brener 77 Marie Cross 50 Elisheva Auerbach 104 Sheila Tutt 99 Madelaine Baker 94 Gwen Linfoot 86 Sheila Bromly 77 1121 Ann Gregson 50 1614 Simon Rosenstone 103 Elisabeth{Clvlnd} 99 Sue Bullock 94 1398 Jill Warren 86 James Christie 77 Keith Woodruff 50 Beryl Thacker Allen 99 1700 Linda Christie 94 1454 Janet Watson 86 1039 Dorothy Edwards 76 Frank Goodier 103 Nancy Alroy 99 Carole Crame 94 1501 Brenda Young 86 1148 Renee Gilbert 76 1759 Margaret{Edbgh} 103 Bridget Busk 99 Anne Lawton 93 1471 Scott Bowman 86 Joyce Hoffbrand McGhee TLW 130 34 35 TLW 130 pomato potato + tomato splake SPeckled (trout) EDGEWAYS prissy prim + sissy + LAKE (trout) pulsar pulsating + star squarial square + aerial Some different contributors this month - many thanks - Ed. quasar quasistellar + radio squiggle squirm + wiggle qubit quantum + bit stagflation stagnant + inflation sexercise sex + exercise, exercise tangelo tangerine + pomelo Portmanteau Words David Sutton designed to strengthen the telegenic television + photogenic pelvic area telethon telephone + marathon Portmanteau words, or blend words as they are known in linguistics, are words formed by sexpert sex + expert telex teleprinter + exchange the fusion of two or more separate words. The term is sometimes extended to cover simple simulcast simultaneous + broadcast tigon tiger + lion compound words, but is more properly be reserved for words where some portion of a sitcom situation + comedy webinar web + seminar contributing word is elided, often giving a slightly jocular effect. The name ‘portmanteau skyjack sky + hijack zebrass zebra + ass, the offspring of a was coined by Lewis Carroll in ‘Alice Through The Looking Glass’, where Humpty Dumpty smaze smoke + haze male zebra and a female ass explains as follows: “’Slithy’ means ‘lithe and slimy’. You see, it’s like a portmanteau - there smirting smoking + flirting zebrinny zebra + hinny, the offspring are two meanings packed into one word.” ‘Portmanteau’ is itself a portmanteau word, coming of a male horse and a female from French porter, to carry, plus manteau, cloak. zebra It’s a bit early to start thinking about the next word list, but quite a few new portmanteau ‘Slithy’ did not catch on, but Carroll did give us ‘chortle’, a combination of ‘chuckle’ and words are likely to be coming our way in 2012. For example: ‘snort’, and ‘galumph’, a combination of ‘gallop’ and ‘triumph’. The portmanteau technique has now become almost the standard way of creating neologisms. Here is a selection of docusoap documentary + soap, a television series that follows the lives of real people portmanteau words, with a bias towards the ones most useful in Scrabble. nitrox nitrogen + oxygen, a mixture used in underwater breathing apparatus splog spam + blog affluenza affluence + influenza, fanzine fan + magazine spork spoon + fork a malaise said to affect feminazi feminine + nazi, a militant vlog video + blog affluent young people feminist wholphin whale + dolphin, the offspring of agitprop AGITation + PROPaganda a whale and dolphin avionics aviation + electronics geep goat+ sheep, avoision avoidance + evasion (of a hybrid taxes) of a sheep beefalo beef + buffalo and a goat RISING PLAYER PROFILE bionic biology + electronic ginormous giant + enormous biopic biographical + picture glitz glamour + ritz My scrabble journey so far ***Twinkles*** blog web + log hazmat hazardous + material bohunk Bohemian + Hungarian humongous huge + monstrous Well where to begin?... I had never really played Scrabble brunch breakfast + lunch jeepney jeep + jitney before and like many new players started on ISC. I joined camcorder camera + recorder liger lion + tiger the on line site 5th November 2005 after much nagging chunnel channel + tunnel (yes, this malware malicious + software by a friend to give it a whirl. Within a matter of weeks is playable, though normally mingy mean + stingy I was hooked by the game and the online community. seen capitalised) moblog mobile + weblog The void option made it much easier to quickly learn cineplex cinema + complex motel motor + hotel Kim Hands new words and enjoy playing. contrail condensation trail muppet marionette + puppet cybrarian cyber + librarian: a person netiquette Net + etiquette It was also where I discovered that people actually played competitive tournament in charge of computer netizen Net + citizen Scrabble and had National ratings and such. So on 21st April 2007 I played my first archives nucleonic nuclear + electronic ever tournament at Collier Row in Essex which had been organised by an online digerati digital + literati: people ortanique orange + tangerine + unique friend. It was fabulous to meet people I played on line face to face for the first time literate in computers palimony pal + alimony and to play on a real board (something I still hadn’t done in years). By the end of drice dry + ice :) pharming pharmaceutical + farming the day I was totally hooked. emoticon emotion + icon pixel picture + element

TLW 130 36 37 TLW 130 Cryptogram

10 25 5 14 25 5 13 I was aware of the Most Improved Player award because I knew a friend Calum Edwards had won it in 2007. My own quest to win actually started at the 9 8 4 19 9 4 16 15 11 5 12 Peterborough 24hr event. Last year’s winner picked up the trophy and I played well and went up 5 points. The structure of the tournament meant that I also 20 21 14 3 18 17 9 23 23 12 26 got to play some of the A division players and one in particular commented that my game had come a long way in a short time. I’m quite competitive by nature 7 18 15 5 14 22 12 13 23 23 18 and the idea of striving to win the award firmly rooted. 12 23 12 12 4 21 12 16 4 22 13 Over the course of the year I set about working to improve my game. I play at Castleford, Sutton and Sandwell scrabble clubs and also (after much nagging) 16 18 23 12 26 5 14 16 7 22 5 succumbed to using zyzzyva to practice. I’m endlessly captivated by the innumerable variations in the game. I doubt there has ever been the same game 16 4 24 13 4 23 18 2 5 14 12 played twice since its invention. I love playing variations on the game and have worked with a friend to develop a whole host of different ways to use the board 12 24 5 21 12 26 13 5 13 4 14 12 and tiles. This has certainly helped me to understand more about the game and improved my word knowledge and strategy. 5 21 12 14 18 13 4 13 14 20 9

After Peterborough the next major highlight of my year was qualifying at Bristol 6 2 10 22 23 4 14 22 1 12 26 for the NSC semis. I somewhat amazed myself by beating 2 out of the 3 top players there and despite getting totally trounced in my last game (and learning 1 9 4 13 5 22 1 12 12 18 18 GIDJEES) I finished 5th and went up 5 again. Over the last quarter of the year my rating gradually crept up 1 or 2 points at a time and I had my first and only 5 14 14 3 12 4 26 21 4 12 13 divisional win at Bournemouth in October. I had lots of fun and friendly banter with my nearest rivals for MIP this year Calum Edwards and Heather Laird and 26 5 25 16 4 10 12 13 12 21 12 as the end of the tournament year approached it looked like I might actually win. On +26 with one other person on +25 should I play Twixmas? Sound advice 5 23 5 12 16 5 16 4 13 10 13 to go play and try to win rather than just wait and see what happens confirmed what I was thinking. So over the holiday I played as much as I could and kept 13 6 15 22 23 5 21 up the study. Twixmas is a lovely event and it was fabulous to go and play again, I finished nd2 in division B and went up 5 giving me a +31 for the year and a fabulous end to my Scrabble year. 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 I’ve had such wonderful support and encouragement from friends and fellow players throughout the year I certainly couldn’t have improved so much without 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 them. I love that the Scrabble community brings together people from all walks of life and that competition is lively, friendly and above all great fun. I’ve got such a lot still to learn and I know I’m going to have a tough time holding onto my new rating, but am really looking forward to the coming tournament year 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 and continuing my Scrabble journey. G Kim Hands

TLW 130 38 39 TLW 130 Anagrid

1a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o FORTHCOMING 2 EVENTS Compiled by Steve Perry 3 Nottingham Nomads (16 games) Registration 9:15 4 Saturday 6th – Sunday 7th February First game 9.45 Departure 17:45 Contact Clive Spate Tea/Coffee available on arrival and 5  0115 9200208 throughout the day. Entry costs: £13.50 for ABSP member 6 £15.50 for non-ABSP member Deduct 50p if bringing clock which you are 7 Southgate Project Trust (7 games) Saturday 13th February 2010 prepared to lend. Please note players entering both this and the free challenge event can 8 Contact Philip Nelkon  07785 737530 deduct £6 from the combined entry fee. Cheques payable to Peterborough Scrabble 9 Venue Guide Hut, St Thomas Church Prince George Avenue, Southgate, Club, and sent to Chris Hawkins, 10 London N14 4SN 39 Peterborough Road, Eye, Peterborough, Registration 09:30 PE6 7YA 11 First game 10:10 Departure 18.15 3 division tournament (max 20 per division). 12 Lunch included and tea/coffee available on Grand Hampshire Open, Andover arrival and throughout the day. (6 games) 13 Entry costs:£17.00 for ABSP member Sunday 21st February £19.00 for non-ABSP member Contact Alan Bailey 14 Cheques payable to PA Nelkon and sent to  02392-384360 21 Oakwood Avenue, London N14 6QH Emergency number on day only 15 Tournament proceeds will help to fund a gap  07763-894738 year placement in Peru for Philip’s daughter. Venue Sports Hall, John Hanson School, HORIZONTAL CLUES VERTICAL CLUES Floral Way, Andover, SP10 3PB Registration 09:15 1. ROOFSTAZ a. SCROATII Darlington (15 games) First game 10:15 Departure 17:15 2. KAZICWEB b. WANGDIUM Saturday 20th – Sunday 21st February Tea/Coffee available throughout the day. 3. ILODIPSY c. VAIZIEST Contact Amy Byrne Entry costs: £13.50 for ABSP member 4. UNSVRULT d. JISTETTE  0131 6613869 £15.50 for non-ABSP member 5. OURSIOUX e. GAVIATOR Cheques payable to Andover & District 6. ECURLIES f. THRAYIZE Scrabble Club and sent to Alan Bailey, 84 7. NEOTTOFO g. GREETEAL Peterborough 5 point penalty – 7 games East Lodge Park, Portsmouth, PO6 1AQ 8. IGASETTA h. FRUSSYKS Saturday 20th February 2010 9. HASMATS i. OSCALIA Contact Chris Hawkins 10. SLEERLIVE j. SPURSOOOO  01733-223202 11. ANBROOD k. RUBBEST Emergency number (on the day) Eastbourne (20 games) 12. SSCATTILY l. HOTLINLIZ  07919-804261 Friday 26th – Sunday 28th February 13. RINETTA m. EXEMATA Venue Millfield Community Centre, 439 Contact Amy Byrne 14. AEROMINUI n. QUARTTIER Lincoln Road,  0131 6613869 15. SEELESS o. DEETASS Peterborough, PE1 2PE

TLW 130 40 41 TLW 130 Leicester (6 games) Harrogate 160+ 5pp (15 games) Southsea (14 games) Glevum/ Easter Matchplay Saturday 27th February 2010 Saturday 13th – Sunday 14th March Friday 19th – Monday 22nd March Friday 2nd – Monday 5th April 2010 Contact Alison Sadler Contact Amy Byrne Contact Viv Beckmann Contact Ronnie Reid  01509-550797  0131 6613869  0191 274 2420  01256 895690 Emergency number on day only or John Harrison  07773-629118  01661 854336 Venue St. Peter’s Church hall, Church Road, East Sussex (6 games) Peterborough 24 Hour (24 games) Glenfield, Leicester. LE3 8DP Saturday 13th March Saturday 10th – Sunday 11th April Registration 09:15 Contact Ed Breed Contact Chris Hawkins First game 10:00 Departure 17:45  01424- 19334 Peterborough free challenge (7 games)  01733-223202 Tea/Coffee available throughout the day Venue Hailsham Community Hall, Vicarage Saturday 20th March 2010 Entry costs: £11.50 for ABSP member Lane, Hailsham, East Sussex, Contact Chris Hawkins £13.50 for non-ABSP member BN27 7AE  01733-223202 Southampton (6 games) Deduct 50p if bringing clock which you are Registration 09:00 Emergency number (on the day) Sunday 11th April 2010 prepared to lend. Cheques payable to Leicester First game 10:00 Departure 17:45  07919-804261 Contact Alan Bailey Scrabble Club and sent to Alison Sadler, 31 2/3 divisional tournament Venue Millfield Community Centre, 439  02392-384360 Kenilworth Avenue, Loughborough, LE11 4SL Tea/Coffee available on arrival and throughout Lincoln Road, Emergency number on day only the day. Peterborough, PE1 2PE  07763-894738 Entry costs: £13.00 for ABSP member Registration 09:15 Venue Hedge End Village Hall, SO30 4AF Blackpool (14 games) £15.00 for non-ABSP member First game 09.45 Departure 17:45 Registration 09:10 Friday 5th March – Monday 8th March Deduct 50p if bringing clock which you are Tea/Coffee available on arrival and throughout First game 10:00 Departure 18.00 Contact Viv Beckmann prepared to lend the day. Tea/Coffee available throughout the day.  0191 274 2420 Cheques payable to East Sussex Scrabble Entry costs: £13.50 for ABSP member Entry costs: £13.00 for ABSP member or John Harrison Tournament, and sent to Ed Breed, 19 £15.50 for non-ABSP member £15.00 for non-ABSP member  01661 854336 Magdelen Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, Please note players entering both this and the Cheques payable to Southampton Scrabble TN40 1SB 5 point penalty event can deduct £6 from the Club and sent to Alan Bailey, 84 East Lodge combined entry fee. Park, Portsmouth, PO6 1AQ New Malden (7 games) Deduct 50p if bringing clock which you Saturday 6th March 2010 Swindon (7 games) are prepared to lend Cheques payable to Contact Maggie Fleming Sunday 14th March Peterborough Scrabble Club, and sent to Aylesbury (7 games)  020 8337 8111 Contact Steve Perry Chris Hawkins, 39 Peterborough Road, Eye, Saturday 17th April 2010 Emergency number on day only  01367-244757 Peterborough, PE6 7YA Contact Janet Bonham  07995 090101 Venue St Joseph’s Catholic College, Ocotal  01296-483717 Venue Christ Church Centre, Coombe Road, Way, Swindon, SN3 3LR Venue Stoke Mandeville Village New Malden, KT3 4RE Registration 09:00 Community Centre, Eskdale Park, Registration 09:15 – 09:45 First game 10:00 Departure 18.15 Ramsgate (15 games) Eskdale Road, Stoke Mandeville First game 10:00 Departure 4/5 division tournament Tuesday 23rd – Thursday 25th March HP22 5UJ 17:45 Tea/Coffee available on arrival and throughout Contact Len Moir Registration 09:15 4/5 divisional tournament the day.  0151 606 1112 First game 10:00 Departure 17:45 Tea/Coffee available throughout the day Entry costs: £13.50 for ABSP member 3/4 divisional tournament Entry costs: £14.00 for ABSP member £15.50 for non-ABSP member Tea/Coffee available 9.30 onwards £16.00 for non-ABSP member Cheques payable to Steve Perry and sent to Entry costs: £13.00 for ABSP member Deduct 50p if bringing clock which you are 29 Elm Road, Faringdon, Oxon SN7 7EJ or Coventry Double (22 games) £15.00 for non-ABSP member prepared to lend Paypal to [email protected] (please send Saturday 27th – Sunday 28th March Cheques payable to Aylesbury Scrabble Cheques payable to Elizabeth Terry confirmatory email with standard information Contact Len Moir Club Tournament Account, and sent to Janet Tournament a/c and sent to Maggie Fleming, and pay credit/debit card charges)  0151 606 1112 Bonham, 14 Earlswood Close, Aylesbury, 10 Manor Way, Worcester Park, Surrey, KT4 Bucks, HP21 7PG 7PH

TLW 130 42 43 TLW 130 Newcastle (7 games) Stonnall, Staffs WS9 9DS Bournemouth Spring (7 games) English Grand, Coventry (30 games) Saturday 17th April Registration 09.15 Sunday 9th May Friday 28th May – Monday 31st May Contact Rona Falconer First game 10.00 Departure 18.00 Contact Ruth Marsden Contact Len Moir  0191 273 8473 Tea/Coffee/biscuits available on arrival and  01202 707148  0151 606 1112 Venue West Denton Community throughout the day. Emergency number on day only Association, Hillhead Road, Entry costs: £12.00 for ABSP member  07720 949 825 Newcastle-upon-Tyne £14.00 for non-ABSP member Venue Rooper Hall, 5 Victoria Park Road, Registration 09.00 Cheques payable to R. T. Blakeway and sent to Moordown, Bournemouth Anglesey (14 games) First game 10:00 Departure 17.45 1 Hillcrest Road, Moseley, Registration 09:20 Friday 11th – Monday 14th June Refreshments available most of the day, food Birmingham B13 8EX First game 10:00 Departure 17.30 Contact Viv Beckmann facility not expected to be open at the venue Tea/Coffee available throughout the day  0191 274 2420 Entry costs: £13.50 for ABSP member Entry costs: £13.50 for ABSP member or John Harrison £15.50 for non-ABSP member £15.50 for Non-ABSP member  01661 854336 Cheques payable to ‘Newcastle Scrabble Bourne (7 games) Cheques payable to Bournemouth Scrabble Club’, and sent to Rona Falconer, 18 Nuns Sunday 25th April Tournament and sent to Ruth Marsden, 27 Moor Crescent, Fenham, Newcastle-upon- Contact Betty Benton Spencer Road, Canford Cliffs, Brighton & Hove (6 games) Tyne, NE4 9BE  01778 425234 Poole, BH13 7ET Sunday 13th June Venue Bourne Corn Exchange, 3 Abbey Contact Doj Graham Road, Bourne, Lincs, PE10 9EF Morecambe (14 games)  01273 317565 Havering Evergreens – Over 50’s Registration 09:15 Friday 14th – Monday 17th May Venue The Woodland Centre, Woodlands (6 games) First game 10:00 Departure 18.15 Contact Viv Beckmann Avenue, Saturday 24th April 3 divisional tournament  0191 274 2420 Rustington, West Sussex, BN16 3HB Contact Cindy Hollyer Entry costs: £13.50 for ABSP member or John Harrison Registration 09:45  01277 822050 £15.50 for non-ABSP member  01661 854336 First game 10:15 Departure 17:45 Venue St John’s Church Hall, Church Road, Deduct 50p if bringing clock which you are 3 divisional tournament Mountnessing, Brentwood, Essex, prepared to lend Cheques payable to Bourne Tea/Coffee available throughout the day CM15 0RH & District Scrabble Club and sent to Betty Malta (20 games) 5 point penalty Entry costs: £13.00 for ABSP member Registration 09:30 Benton, Walnut Farm,Twenty, Bourne, Lincs Friday 14th – Sunday 16th May £15.00 for non-ABSP member First game 10:00 Departure 18:00 PE10 0BH Contact Theresa Brousson Cheques payable to Brighton & Hove Scrabble Tea/Coffee available at points during the day  0035699496970 Club and sent to Doj Graham, Flat 2, 8-9 but lunch is not provided. email [email protected] Hanover Crescent, Brighton BN2 9SB Entry costs: £12.50 for ABSP member £14.50 for non-ABSP member Deduct 50p if bringing clock which you are Spring Matchplay, Staverton Luton (7 games) Bournemouth H-B (14 games) prepared to lend (30 games) Saturday 22nd May Friday 25th – Monday 28th June Cheques payable to Havering Scrabble Club Friday 30th April – Monday 3rd May Contact Rosalind Wilson Contact Viv Beckmann and sent to Cindy Hollyer, 78 Peartree Lane, Contact Amy Byrne  01582 507249  0191 274 2420 Doddinghurst, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 0RH  0131 6613869 Emergency number on day only or John Harrison  07753 143262  01661 854336 Venue Whitefield Junior School, Stockholm Way, Luton LU3 3SS Sutton Coldfield (6 games) European Open, Malta (32 games) Registration 09:20 Saturday 244h April 2010 Saturday 8th – Tuesday 11th May First game 10:10 Time of departure 18.00 Harrogate H-B (14 games) Contact Rick Blakeway Contact Amy Byrne Tea/Coffee available throughout the day Friday 2nd – Monday 5th July  0121 249 0892  0131 6613869 Entry costs: £13.00 for ABSP member Contact Viv Beckmann Emergency (on day only) £15.00 for Non-ABSP member  0191 274 2420  07849 404283 Cheques payable to Rosalind Wilson and sent or John Harrison Venue Stonnall Village Hall, Main Street, to 22 Sherborne Avenue, Luton, LU2 7BB  01661 854336

TLW 130 44 45 TLW 130 Entry costs: £14.00 for ABSP member Havering Autumn (7 games) NCS Semi-final Romford (7 games) £16.00 for non-ABSP member Saturday 4th September Saturday 11th – Sunday 12th September Saturday 3rd July Deduct 50p if bringing clock which you are Contact Cindy Hollyer Contact Philip Nelkon Contact Cindy Hollyer prepared to lend  01277-822050  07785 737530  01277 822050 Cheques payable to Elizabeth Terry Venue Kelvedon Hatch Village Hall, Venue Kelvedon Hatch Village Hall, Tournament a/c and sent to Maggie Fleming, Kelvedon Hatch, Brentwood, Essex School Road, Kelvedon Hatch, Brentwood, 10 Manor Way, Worcester Park, Surrey, KT4 Registration 09:15 Southsea (14 games) Essex, CM15 0DL 7PH First game 10:00 Departure 18:00 Friday 17rd – Monday 20th September Divisions according to entries Tea/Coffee available at points during the day Contact Viv Beckmann Registration 9.15 but lunch is not provided.  0191 274 2420 First game 10.00 Departure 18.00 Nottingham Nomads (16 games) Entry costs: £12.50 for ABSP member or John Harrison Tea/Coffee and biscuits available before the Saturday 7th – Sunday 8th August £14.50 for non-ABSP member  01661 854336 start and between games Contact Clive Spate Deduct 50p if bringing clock which you are Entry costs: £12.50 For ABSP members  0115 9200208 prepared to lend £14.50 for non-ABSP member Cheques payable to Havering Scrabble Club Norwich (7 games) Deduct 50p if you are able to bring and lend and sent to Cindy Hollyer, 78 Peartree Lane, Sunday 26th September a timer Wetherby (7 games) Doddinghurst, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 0RH Contact Carol Smith Cheques payable to Romford Scrabble Sunday 15th August  01603 898791 Club c/o Cindy Hollyer, 78 Peartree Lane, Contact Anne Hidden Venue Hethersett Village Hall, Hethersett, Doddinghurst, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 0RH  01937-573053 Norwich, Norfolk Venue Collingham Memorial Hall, Main Middlesbrough Open (6 games) Registration 09.30 Street, Collingham, Wetherby, LS22 Sunday 5th September First game 10:00 Departure 18.00 , Coventry (21 games) 5AS Contact Samantha Beckwith 2 or 3 divisional tournament depending on Friday 16th Sunday 18th July Registration 09:30  01915-866436 entries Contact Len Moir First game 10:00 Departure 18.15 Venue Linthorpe Community Centre, Tea/Coffee provided (but not lunch)  0151 606 1112 3 divisional tournament Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough Entry costs: £11.00 to ABSP members Entry costs: £14.50 for ABSP member Divisions/prizes according to entries £13.00 to non-ABSP players £16.50 for non-ABSP member Registration 9.45 No further discounts Southport (14 games) Deduct 50p if bringing a clock which you are First game 10.15 Departure 17.30 Cheques payable to Carol Smith, 31Christine Friday 23rd – Monday 26th July prepared to lend Tea/Coffee and biscuits available before the Road, Spixworth, Norwich, NR10 3PH Contact Viv Beckmann Cheques payable to Anne Hidden and sent to start and between games  0191 274 2420 Anne Hidden, 245A Woodfield Road, Entry costs: £13.00 For ABSP members or John Harrison Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG1 4JE £15.00 for non-ABSP member Cock o’ the North, Coventry (22 games)  01661 854336 Deduct 50p if you are able to bring and lend Friday 1st – Sunday 3rd October a timer Contact Len Moir MSO, Potters Bar Cheques payable to Cleveland Scrabble Club  0151 606 1112 New Malden (7 games) Friday 20th – Saturday 21st August and sent to Samantha Beckwith, Saturday 24th July Contact Steve Perry 91 Hatfield Place, Peterlee, Contact Maggie Fleming  01367-244757 Co Durham SR8 5SU Bournemouth Autumn (7 games)  020-8337-8111 Sunday 3rd October 2010 Emergency number on day only Contact Ruth Marsden  07995-090101 Scarborough (14 games)  01202 707148 rd th Venue Christ Church Centre, Coombe BMSC, Yarnfield Friday 10 – Monday 13 September Emergency number on day only Road, New Malden, KT3 4RE Friday 27th – Monday 30th August Contact Viv Beckmann  07720 949 825 Registration 09:15 – 09:45 Contact Sarah Wilkes  0191 274 2420 Venue Rooper Hall, 5 Victoria Park Road, First game 10:00 Departure 17:45  07703 014789 or John Harrison Moordown, Bournemouth 4/5 divisional tournament  01661 854336 Registration 09:20 Tea/Coffee available throughout the day

TLW 130 46 47 TLW 130 First game 10:00 Time of departure 17.30 :63<;065: Tea/Coffee available throughout the day Isle of Wight (16 games) Membership fees for 2010 Entry costs: £13.50 for ABSP member Friday 5th – Sunday 7th November should have reached me by now, Contact Noel Turner Cryptogram answers but if you still need to renew £15.50 for Non-ABSP member Cheques payable to Bournemouth Scrabble  01983 614426 1=H, 2=X, 3=W, 4=I, 5=A, 6=K, 7=J, 8=B, 9=U, 10=M, 11=Z, the easiest way is via the ABSP 12=E, 13=S, 14=N, 15=Y, 16=T, 17=F, 18=O, 19=Q, 20=P, website: Tournament and sent to Ruth Marsden, 27 21=D, 22=C, 23=L, 24=V, 25=G, 26=R.

Spencer Road, Canford Cliffs, Anagrid answer http://www.absp.org.uk Poole, BH13 7ET Luton (7 games) Saturday 13th November D J Y S F O R Z A T O Using the Paypal function on the Contact Adrian Noller Z W I E B A C K O I R site is very easy and completely safe. More traditionally you can  01582 656234 A T H Y P S I L O I D Nailsea (7 games) join or renew by sending your th Saturday 9 October Emergency number on day only V U L T U R N S P L Q details and a cheque for £15 Contact Jason Goddard  07753 143262 M I Z U X O R I O U S to Anne Ramsay, membership Venue Whitefield Junior School,  01275 390758 C I S E L E U R R O E secretary, made payable to ABSP Stockholm Way, Luton LU3 3SS to: N S I F O O T N O T E Registration 09:20 A G I T A T E S U T R ABSP, 8 Glen Clova Place, Israeli Open (20 games) First game 10:10 Time of departure 18.00 O Z V G A S T H M A S Kirkcaldy, Fife KY2 6UL Friday 8th – Sunday 10th October Tea/Coffee available throughout the day Entry costs: £13.00 for ABSP member R E V E I L L E S U E E Contact Evan Cohen If you wish to write to Anne her Email [email protected] £15.00 for Non-ABSP member I E G A O N B O A R D email address is Cheques payable to A. P. Noller and sent to S Y S T A L T I C B T A [email protected] Adrian Noller, 1 Wendover Way, T T T E I T E R A N T or telephone: Luton LU2 7LS I M I N O U R E A R X E 01592 640130 Ramsgate (15 games) C A R E L E S S E E S Tuesday 12th – Thursday 14th October Contact Len Moir Winter Matchplay – Milton Keynes th st  0151 606 1112 Saturday 20 - Sunday 21 November Scrabble TTipsips Solutions Contact Mike Willis  07976 256554 GettingGetttting HHooked:ooked: You may have spotted that HANDLES can become HANDLHANDLESSEESS enabling SWINE K8a (48), but didd Oxford (14 games) youyou spotspot HOARS(E)HOARS(E) whichwhich enablesenables RREWINDSEWINDS L6dL6d (91)(91) ? th th Friday 15 – Monday 18 October FRETSAWFRETSAW isis thethe aananagramnagram ooff WWAFTERSAFTERS aandnd ccanan bbee pplayedlayed aatt JJ2d2d (for(ffoor 84)84) (making THESES, the Contact Viv Beckmann Harrogate (14 games) plural of THESIS) andd C12a ( (forffoor 91)91) (making(making SSTAMPEDE)TAMPEDE) th th  0191 274 2420 Friday 26 – Monday 29 November Change or Play or John Harrison Contact Viv Beckmann EEIIOOUEEIIOOU – playplay OUTRIGGERSOUTRIGGERS A1aA1a (36)(36) AAEIIIUAAEIIIU – playplay ADIEUADIEU B4aB4a (12)(12)  01661 854336  0191 274 2420 or John Harrison DFHNPTVDFHNPTV – playplay DEPTHDEPTH M3dM3d (30)(30)  BDFGHTVBDFGHTV – play ELEVENTHELEEVENTH K4dK4d (28).(28). StrategicallyStraattegically iitt mmightighhtt bbee bbetteretttter ttoo playplaayy FIBFIB E5dE5d (24)(24) first,firstt, 01661 854336 knowing you might be able to play ELEVENTH K4d (28) thee next turn irrespective of what you picpick,ck, Cheadle (15 games) plus the GHT combo hhas synergy onon youryour rack.rack. Saturday 23rd – Sunday 24th October Contact Amy Byrne  0131 6613869 Twixmas, Staverton (15 games) Wednesday 29th – Thursday 30th December Hereford (14 games) Contact Amy Byrne Calendar  Friday 29th October– Monday 1st November 0131 6613869 cont’d from back pagee Contact Viv Beckmann S S 6RXWKVHD6HS WK  WK  9LY %HFNPDQQ   0191 274 2420 All details supplied by Steve Perry 1RUZLFK6HS WK  &DURO 6PLWK   or John Harrison &RFN R WKH 1RUWK 2FW VW  UG  /HQ 0RLU    01661 854336 %RXUQHPRXWK 2FW UG  5XWK 0DUVGHQ   ibciibcibcbcc TLW 130 48 5151 TLWTLLWW 130