No 68-October 1999
The bi-monthly magazine of the ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH SCRABBLE PLAYERS
ANDREW PERRY 1999 BMSC CHAMPION
Scribble® it a regutercd trade mark of J W Spear and Soni pic Leicester LE3 2WT. United Kingdom. The Last Word Page 2 Octtbtr 1999
THE LAST WORD No 68-October 1999 The official magazine of the Association of British Scrabble Players
Contents The ABSPs flagship event, the British Matchplay ABSP Meeting 3 Scrabble Championship, was won by ANDREW Annual GeneralMeeting 5 PERRY with GARY POLHILL and JAKE Chairman's statement 6 JACOBS in silver and bronze position. The Tournament prize allocation 7 SOWPODS division was won by DAVID ACTON Premier Count-Up timer 8 from ALLAN SIMMONS and BRETT Leaers 9 SMITHERAM. Congratulations to all those Chaifont news 13 involved in the Scrabble calendar's most gruelling ABSP Accounts 14 marathon. PaulPye 14 Playing for an apartment 15 This year's ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING was PC Scrabble... review 16 not held. It will, instead, take place just before the Ratings at 21 Sep 1999 18 Winter Matchplay at Milton Keynes. Detailed news Twenty Questions 24 oftheexact event taking place in Nottingham are to Mattel's Helping Hands 25 be found inside. 1-That's Your Lot! 26 OSW4 Additions/Deletions 29 A couple of goodbyes to mention. GARETH How Do They Do That? 34 WILLIAMS has decided to step down as Secretary litt'ss Bbuuggggiinngg Mmee 35 of the ABSP. I'm sure everyone will thank Gareth for Tournament Reports 36 the tireless efforts he put in to this very time- Forthcoming Tournaments 42 consuming job. His duties are taken by AMY The Back Page 44 BYRNE for the time being.
Sadly, we also say goodbye to DAVID ACTON who is no longer part of the editorial team, although The 71W editorial team is always looking we hope that he will still be able to contribute on an for contributions from you, the members/ irregular basis. Amy is also looking after board positions and annotations until a replacement steps Perhaps you have played in an interesting forward - please nominate your friends and enemies game which could be annotated or featured in for this task to one of the usual addresses. our Across The Board section? Seen a Scrabble story in thepapers which might Finally ... no issue is complete with a plug for one of interest our members; Any particular word lists which give you trouble? Youmay even my own tournaments. I will be directing the inaugural have an opinion on some the articles JERSEY FESTIVAL OF SCRABBLE between 18 published in our Letters pages! and 24 March 2000. More details will be given next issue, but there will be SOWPODS and OSW Addresses for submissions are on the divisions, and local sponsorshave already stumped up back page. Don't delay, send in today! £ 1,000 for what will hope to become a regular and richer event on the island ... PG October 1999 Page 3 The Last Word
ABSP Netting 3. Graeme Thomas submitted his resignation, taking responsibility for the causes of the failure of the AGM to take place, but was Proceeding! of the ABSP meeting held at persuaded to reconsider for the time Nottingham. 29 August 1999 being.
I. Graeme Thomas opened the meeting by 4. It was agreed nem con that Andrew Rsher apologising for the fact that the Newsletter continue to check the accounts. did not reach members three weeks in advance of the date set for the AGM. Clive 5. The Committee proposal to maintainthe Spate then argued that for that reason, and annual subscription at £10 was agreed also because the accounts had not been made nem con. available in advance ofthe meeting, a valid AGM could not be held. After some 6.1. (Motion to retain OSW3 for thetime discussion ofthe practicalities involved in being) postponing an AGM, Andrew Rsher Philip Nelkon spoke on behalf of Mattel. He proposed that a motion of short notice be urged the meeting to adopt OSW4, and adopted, such that the AGM could proceed. confirmed that Mattel will recommend OSW4 to the clubs, will use 0SW4 in the The Vote For Agst Abst Hall 55 37 2 National Club Tournament, and that the organisers of the 2001 World Championship Therefore, since a rule change of this kind will use a World Word Source (WWS) of the required a 2/3 majority, the motion failed. "American" book and OSW4. He also reported that although Chambers have stated It was then proposed that the AGM be held that they intendto introduce a WWS, plans at Milton Keynes around lunchtime before was still at the discussion stage. Philip also the Winter Matchplay, after the proceedings noted the contribution that Chambers had of this meeting had been published in the made to the Scrabble movement October edition of The Last Word'. This meeting would proceed, but with no official The principal arguments, developed in the standing, with a straw poll taken on each following discussion, in favour of the motion. Voting would be carried out by post, retention of OSW3 were that there is very for all members (those who had submitted little new in OSW4 and that it would proxy votes would be given anopportunity to be better to stay with OSW3 if a WWS were change their votes) via an enclosure in the to be adopted in the near future. October edition. In favour of adopting OSW4: Apart from the The Vote For AgstAbst points raised by Philip, it was also pointed out Hall 87 4 3 that (a) the current version of Chambers Dictionary is always the source of the lexicon Therefore the motion carried. used, (b) dubs will adopt OSW4. and most ABSP members are club players, and (c) that 2. Andrew Fisherstated that he had perused there is no sign of a WWS being available for the accounts, and that they were fine. A the foreseeable future. report is included in this magazine. The Last Word Page 4 October 1999
undertaking clear. It was also suggested that Straw Poll For Agst Abst the motion should include die word 'rated' Hall 1 82 11 Postal 12 53 4 before 'games'. Total 13 135 15 Andrew read die statement from David 6.2. (Motion to introduce four-digit ratings) Webb contained in die agenda. Graeme explained the meaning of die four- figure rating system being proposed, eg. Allan Simmons said dm die motion was that someone whose rating was quoted as about flexibility. 153, with an underlying figure of 153.2 from the data, would henceforth be quoted as Against die motion, Jackie McLeod argued 1532. that die gap between players would become unbridgeable if some players were Philip Nelkon countered die argument that continuing to diverge, for example by four digits would bring die UK into line playing with SOWPODS in 22 minutes with with die rest of die world by pointing out penalty challenges. that there is no equivalence between the various systems. Straw Poll For Agst Abst Hall 21 56 11 Postal IS 46 S The argument in favour was that a four digit Total 36 102 19 system gavea way of distinguishing between players, e.g. for Tournament 6.4. (Motion to introduce penalty challenges) organisers to split into divisions, regardless of Andrew Fisher read out David Webb's the significance to be attachedto die extra statement in favour. Mike Willis argued that digit. fewer challenges would mean less runners were required. Against die motion, it was argued that since the fourth digit is not statistically significant, it Against die motion, it was widely suggested was suggesting a spurious accuracy. that die game would have a significant However, die question of die meaning to be element of bluff. Allan Simmons also pointed attachedto "significance" was disputed, with out dm there is not really a world Mathematics graduates ranged on both sides. standard to which die movement can move on the subject of penalty challenges. Straw Poll For Agst Abst Hall 21 47 24 Straw polls were taken separately for die two Postal 49 15 5 Total 70 62 29 levels of proposed penalties.
6.3. (Motion to widen range of allowed time 6.4.1. (Points penalties for erroneous limits to 20-30 minutes) challenges) Graeme statedthat die seconder for both 6.3. and 6.4. was Andrew fisher, not Mike Straw Poll For Agst Abst Hall 11 66 7 Willis as stated in the agenda. He also stated Postal 11 49 9 that the ABSP has no intention of introducing Total 22 US 16 any time limit other than 25 minutes into its tournaments. Nick Deller suggested drat die motion could be amended to make this October1999 PageS The Last Word
6.4.2. (Lost turn for erroneous challenges) recorded. Members are invited to attend; diose who cannot attend are invited to send Straw Poll For Agst Abst in a proxy vote. There ore proxy votes on pie Hall 4 75 A from several members; those votes will be used Postal 5 55 9 Total 9 130 13 unless the members contact tlie Quotmon agoin with fresh instructions. 7. Any Other Business Furdter proxy votes may be sent to die Pauline Johnson proposed that in a situation Chairman: where players have opted to play in a higher division but the size of the division is thereby Graeme Thomas compromised, then players of the highest 3 Grove Lea rating should be allowed their choice first, Hatfield and so on down the list. Herts ALI0 8LA. Donna Stantonpointed out that she had paid £3 extra to play in the 'A' division. Mike Email: [email protected] O'Rourke observed that the 'A' division of the BMSC is a special case, being the most A proxy voting form is included in the prestigious tide in any ABSP event, and that it magazine. Those wishing to save on postage was assumed that everybody had a right to may renew dieir membership by including a tryfor it cheque for £10, made payable to the ABSP.
Rob Dowse querieddie differential prices for Full details ofdie motions were published in divisions: it was pointed out that division 'A' die August newsletter. They are repeated players played one more game for their£3. below. The wording of motion 6.2 has been altered to reflect Gareth Williams' resignation Graham Harding suggested that die criteria from the Committee. The wording of for inclusion in die ratings lists should be motions 6.3 and 6.4 has been changed slightly, stated at die top of die lists. to reflect the clarifications suggested at die BMSC meeting. No-one offered a voteof thanks for die work of die Committee during die year. Notice of Annual General Meeting
Annual General The 1999 Annual General Meeting will be held on 27* November 1999 at 11:30 am in Meeting the Forte Posthouse Hotel in Milton Keynes.
Agenda Elsewhere in die magazine is a report of what happened at the meeting at the BMSC. 1. To receive the Chairman's report. Because of this we need to hold an AGM at some other time, and die most convenient 2. To receive and consider the accounts of date will be at die Winter Matchplay die Association for 1998, dieAuditor's tournament in Milton Keynes in late report on die accounts, and die November. The meeting will be a formal Treasurer's report on die financial one, with no discussion, and only votes being position of die Association. The Last Word Page 6 October 1999
positionat work of greater responsibility, and 3. To elect the officers and other members he feels that he must apply his many talents to of the Committee his new job. Unfortunately this means that he will no longer be able to carry on his role as The current Committee comprises: Secretary of the ABSP. Margaret Browne, Ian Burn, Amy Byrne, Bie Dangoor, Pete Finley, Martin Fowkes, Gareth has worked tirelessly as Secretary for Lois McLeod, Vanessa Peters, Graeme the past five years, and he was on the Thomas, Fran Thompson, Gareth Committee for four years before that. I have Williams, and Mike Willis. Martin and come to rely on his unflagging good humour Gareth are not standing for re-election. and his total reliability during that time, and I and the Association will miss him. 4. To confirm that the Auditor remain in office. He will also be able to devote what little spare time he has to improving his Scrabble 5. To fix the subscription for 2000. It is skills, and so we'll continue to see him at proposed that the subscription remain at Scrabble tournaments. In particular I wish £10.00. him good fortune in the forthcoming World Championships. 6. To alter the rules: For the moment Amy Byrne will act as 6.1. To maintain the current choice of Secretary. Her address is: lexicon. Le. OSW3 or SOWPODS. 6.2. To publish the ratings to four Amy Byrne significant figures instead of the 12 Northfield Terrace current three. Edinburgh 6.3. To allow the length ofa rated game to EH87PX be altered to any time between 20 and 30 minutes. E-mail: [email protected] 6.4. To allow penalty challenges of the following types to be permitted in I hope that she will agree to continue after rated games, in addition to the free being confirmed at the next Committee challenge that is currently allowed. meeting. ... GT 6.4.1. Penalties of 5, 10, IS, or20 points for each valid word A PERSONAL STATEMENT FROM challenged, when the challenge THE CHAIRMAN fails. 6.4.2. Lossofa turn when the In the report ofthe AGM it mentions that I challenge fails. tendered my resignation from the Committee, and that I was persuaded to GARETH WILLIAMS withdraw it and to reconsider my position.
Itis with deep regret that I have to announce Over the past couple of weeks I have the resignation of the ABSP Secretary, Gareth received messages from many members Williams, from his post and from the ABSP praising the work I have done for the Committee. He has recently been offered a Association over the years, and urging me to October 1999 Page 7 The Last Word stay on as Chairman. I am grateful for all of us to adopt the combined dictionary, those messages, as well asfor the few that SOWPODS. Negotiations with Chambers have urged me to go. I must mention, and Mattel to produce a single book have though, that die praise is in some measure failed, so far, to make any progress, and so I misplaced, as I could not function adequately feel that we must bite the bullet I will as Chairman without the unstinting support propose that die Association should agree and hard work of die rest of die Committee. that from some future date, to be decided, diat we shall all use die combined word list After much deliberation I have decided to If we make that date (say) January 2003, we stand for re-election to the Committee again will all have plenty of time to prepare this year. Part of the reasoning behind that for die new words, and we can all look decision is that it is not dear who would take forward to the end of die damaging schism. over if I resigned. As always, all Committee members will be I have not made up my mind fully on the delighted to hear from you all, on either of future, but at this stage I feel itis unlikely that die points I have mentioned. I shall stand again for the Committee in 2000. Much of my efforts in the next year, ABSP Tournament then, will be devoted to selecting and grooming a suitable successor. Prize Allocation
I want to leave the Association in better By Graeme Thomas health than when I took over. At the moment there are two cankers eating at the Lois McLeod was recently asked how die heart of the Association. The first is die prizes at the BMSC were determined. The widely-held, but erroneous, belief that details below apply in various measure to all the Association is run forthe exclusive tournaments, to ABSP-organized benefit of die top players. The second is the tournaments, and to those in which I have schism caused by SOWPODS. a direct input
The first problem cannot be solved without The first step is to determine how much the cooperation of those players who are not money there is in the pot This is simply "top players". The Committee, and the rest described as die difference between die of the Association, would welcome your money collected and the estimated volunteer efforts in many fields. If you have outgoings. Since the A division players and wanted to help, but have been held backby a the SOWPODS players each paid £3 extra belief that you have to be an elite Scrabble (as they pay 17 games, and not die 16 played player, put those thoughts aside, and talk by die others) I set aside £3 a head for die to a Committee member about what you can players in these divisions. do to assist. ABSP-organized events are constrained to The second problem can only be solved by have die same prize money per caput in each agreeing to use a single word source for all division, and so diat immediatelygave me the players. The Committee is united in its belief prize fund for each division. At this point I that we cannot go back to using only OSW, added back the £3 for the A and SOWPODS and so the only way forward is for all divisions. The Last Word PageS October 1999
instructionsgiven. To try to overcome this I then decided how many prizes there should be. problem we have issued a supplement to the A simple rule of thumb suggested that about I in instructions which we are now enclosing with 6 players should get a place prize, and one player each Timer. For the benefit of those who do per division should get a ratings prize. Things not have a copy of this the text is as follows: worked outa bit better with two ratings prizes in the A division. We have had a number of Timers returned to We thus had 5 place prizes in A. 3 in B-F. and 2 in us as faulty and the greatest majority of these SOWPODS. all tested perfect. The most likely explanation My personal preference is that place prizes is that a white button was not pressed should be awarded in arithmetical progression. In sufficiently for 'latching1 to take place. This is the B-F divisions that meant dividing the prize an absolute requirement, as written in the fund into 6 pieces, and awarding 3 pieces (1/2 the instruction leaflet, for reasonsto do with fund) to the pulses generated etc and neutralising the winner, 2 pieces (1/3 ofthe fund) to die runner other control. Graeme Thomas has also up, and one piece (1/6 of the fund) to the 3rd addressed the problem in the August 1999 place player. The ratings prize was £20. In the A issue of The Last Word and he says if one division I split the prize fund into15 pieces, and presses the red button within half a second of awarded 5 pieces to the winner, 4 to therunner- pressing one of the white buttons the timer up, and so on, down tothe 5" place player who will get out ofstep with the LEDs and each got just one piece. In the SOWPODS division other. Graeme goes on to say, with great the winner got 2/3 of the fund, and the runner-upgot 1/3. truth, "there should be no reason to press The ratings prizes were £20. the buttons that quickly in normal play*. This also is true and, as has been pointed out by Other ABSP tournament organizers have Graeme and others, these are "basic time different methods for allocating the prize fund, keepers", designed to keep the price down but they are all constrained to offer the same with no frills at the request of the ABSP prize money per caput in each division. Committee. They are not suitable for Organizers of other rated events are free to reaction-timing games and care should be allocate prize money as they see fit. taken [by both players] to usethe timer as per the written instructions and no problems will occur. If the timer is not used correctly all is not Special Notice lost. One simply puts both Timers on 'hold' regardingthe with the red button, records both times elapsed as shown, completely restart both Premier Count-Up Timers at zero and bear in mind that the earlier used time hasto be added Tinier respectively. Not ideal but there as a last
resort.
We, the Designers and Manufacturers of the I have always mentioned to my opponent Premier Count Up Timer are very concerned before the start of the game that the white that a small minority of users are returning button must be pressed firmly to the full Timers as faulty when, in fact, it is just not extent of its travel and not just 'stroked' and being used in accordance withthe have never had any problems. Of the 2 dozen October1999 Page9 The Last Word or so Timers we have sold to Nigeria we from a lack of understanding of what that have not had one problem and I am glad to change would involve. Those who have strong realise that they have ALL read the feelings one way or the other perhaps begin Instructions thoroughly and acted upon them. their arguments assuminga certain amount of understanding on the part of the general Margaret Browne membership of the Association. I have heard it said that the 'top players' want to alter the game to suit themselves with no thought for We have been put toa lot of extra work and the general dub players. I am by no means a cost returning Timers which are not faulty "high flyer' with a 143 rating, but I love the and obviously we cannot continue to bear game and enjoybeing part of the overall this cost. Regretfully we will have to, at least, Scrabble scene. charge return carriage on any Timers which, as in the majority of cases, are working I have children who have taken part in various perfectly satisfactorily. Also we would point activities such as judo, swimming and running. out that it is not sufficient to wrap the Timer, From the day they started, they were even in thin card, and submit it tothe tender introduced to the game in the form (and with mercies of the Post Office. We sendby the rules) used for international play. They Insured Courier and cannot accept aspire to one day represent their country responsibility if Timers, faulty or not, suffer although realistically, that is unlikely. damage in transit It should also be However, those who do succeed at emphasized that those wishing to invoke the international level are held up as examples of guarantee should only be those who have excellence and youngeror less able taken the elementary stepof registering their participants follow their progress with pride ownership withus at the time of acquiring! and admiration.
GD & MM Browne, Premier Elmech, Local talent is actively supported by those at Luton grass roots level both in terms of moral support and the raising of funds to help forward their careers. There is the triangle with the wide base ofpeople who play for Letters love of the game, a narrower band of those who compete at local level, leading eventually to the point at which experts compete at Our "non-ACM" has given some of our members international level. Change happens at the much (bod for thought... and as The Lost Word top level and is filtered down. Not so in is truly the "Home Of The Whopper", here are a Scrabble, it seems; those who succeed are couple of king-size portions, complete with fries accused of wishing to hijack the game and to go... PG spoil it for everyone else. Those who work hard to achieve success are scorned, accused Like many others, I am very worried about of becoming 'the elite' and are made to play the state of the Scrabble movement at the to a different word source when they moment; the 'us' and 'them' split is growing progress beyond British tournaments. In the wider and 'SOWPODS' is often treated like past, our players who competed in World an obscene word. I may be wrong, but I think Championships or other international that in many cases the fear of change comes tournaments were disadvantaged before they The Last Word Page 10 October 1999 started playing because of the word source classes at my daughters' school, I've mentored we use. Despite that, they did us proud and young up-and-coming players. Perhaps a I, for one, would like to see a system which different word authority is required for actively supports those who achieve school Scrabble - maybe a cutdown$ version excellence in the game we all love. ofOSW3.OSW4. OSPD. whatever. If we don't all support school Scrabble, where 'SOWPODS* (our OSW and the N. American will tomorrow's players come from? equivalent, OSPD) does not have to be in one publication. It is what it says, our book and The ABSP should also actively support and theirs. At the moment it is OSW3 and promote "kitchen-table" Scrabble - the sort of OSPD. If we adopt the new book, it will be Scrabble that one plays at home with one's OSW4 and OSPD. I have no problem with immediate family. Maybe there's a looser set that • I'd have to learn a few2 and 3 letter of rules and word authority - or range of words to get started but then we'd soon be word authorities • needed for this sort of picking up words from each other as we Scrabble played. It is much the same as when we moved from The Shorter Oxford Dictionary The ABSP should also support and promote to The Chambers Dictionary many years ago, club and tournament Scrabble, which is where except then, we all had to 'forget* a lot of much of its effort has gone during recent words. We only gain words in the move to years. Perhaps there's a different set of rules, SOWPODS. and authorised variations of the rules, that clubs and tournaments can play to. I know there are matters to be sorted out withthe makers of the game and the And, die ABSP should also support and publishers of thebooks,but I am ready and actively promote Scrabble-playing by UK eagerlyawaiting die change to SOWPODS. players at die highest level • ie on die world Then those who come new to the game will stage. This type of Scrabble can justify know they are playing to die same rules and different rules, options, playing conditions, wordlists they will need when they eventually word authority to the previous sorts of represent their countries. Scrabble - school, kitchen-table, clubs/tournaments. Laura Flnley, Sunderiand If at this highest level, there is validity in I will say it now, and I will say it again any allowing tournament directors the options of number of times 25, 22 and 20-minute games (and any other length deemed appropriate), then the ABSP The ABSP should be sufficiently broad- should put in place an infrastructure of rules thinking to allow for many different types of that allow this. At the other end of the Scrabble. spectrum, maybe school Scrabble needn't have to play with docks against any set time It should actively encourage • and organise, if limit or maybe play with clocks and have a needbe - school Scrabble, the sortof thing 35-minute limit that Terry Hollington has been championing for some while. In the past, I've done my bit Similarly, the ABSP should support an for school Scrabble • I've adjudicated at acceptable set of variations for challenges (eg national schools events, I've given Scrabble double challenge, 5-point penalty, 10-point October 1999 Page 11 The Last Word penalty, etc) that are appropriate to the Spencer's financial performance over the past style/level of Scrabble being played. No-one 2 years hasn't been that great let me respond is suggesting that one rule fits all play. by asking why. The reason is because they aren't offering their customers sufficient Why isit that so few ABSP members are choice, and their customers are voting with preparedto tolerate a range of rules and rule their wallets. They're switching to BHS, QS, options to support the widest spectrum of Next Gap, Arcadia and wherever else itis players, from 6-year-old kids to wannabe£ that people buy clothes. world champions? In preparation for the real AGM at Milton No-one is trying to ram any particular set of Kernes, let me urge all ABSP members to rules down anyone's throat If David Webb vote for as much diversity in the rules as and co want to play rated 22-minute games in possible! Support David Webb's motions. preparation for next year's Singapore, we shouldapplaud that If Norah Batty in the Darryl Francis, Carshalton Nether Wapping Scrabble Gub wants to play a 30-minute game, then we should all support This letter from Darryl was first posted onto the that too. UK-Scrabble Internet mailing just after the &MSC (For those ofyou unfamiliar with this, it is very If David Webb and co want 5-point penalties much like an electronic "gentleman's dub", with for incorrect words played, great! If Norah many a viewpoint expressed in a congenial and Batty wants no penalty rules at all, fine. If civilised atmosphere as messages are furiously some players want to play double-challenge (I typed and despatched into the ether), ft did give exclude Pete Rnley from this © ), then we theopportunity for our esteemedChairman to should let them. answer some of the points:
The ABSP's rules and variations should be This is where things geta bit tricky. I don't permissive enough to support all these disagreethat the things Darryl listed need to different arrangements. Instead of all be done, but I am far less certain that the squabbling about this rule or that rule being ABSP is the organization to do it The ABSP imposed on the rest of the members, we was founded to promote Tournament should strongly promote, support and even Scrabble. (More particularly, it was encourage diversity. matchplay, and not high score, tournament Scrabble, but that's not an issue any more.) It Let me suggest an analogy..... was not founded to promote schools Scrabble, kitchen-table Scrabble, and Marks and Spencer sell clothes. They don't so on. All those things require a great deal of just sell one range of clothes, they don't just hard work,which the currently overworked sell one colour, or one size. They offer a Committee cannot find the time to do. wide range of styles, colours, sizes,etc. They have to try toappeal tothe widest set of It would be nice if someone were paid full consumers possible. Why shouldn't the ABSP time to do all the things Darryl mentioned. strive towards a similar principle, and then Philip Nelkon has some of them as his work out the practical details as to what this responsibilities at Mattel, but not all. means for the different classes of play? If anyone wants to suggest that Marks & I don't have a solution to this problem, but it The Last Word Page 12 October 1999
is not just as simple as Darryl listing the things I am an occasional player at Highworth that need to be done, and declaring that The Scrabble Club and write in the hope that you ABSP needsto do it". Just who within the can get a response to my query. On 18 ABSP should do it? All the members? The November 1998, the year of Scrabble'* 50* Committee? The Chairman? anniversary, I made my interesting achievement. I played a good game and Graeme Thomas, Hatfleld managed three bonus words, these being: (I) INERTIA. (2) INERTIA and (3) INERTIA. Fed up with the growing number of generic entry forms given away with every newsletter Can you cast out a net to see how often this that you will never use and likely to throw true Scrabble hat-trick has occurred? I would away? To save on more generic form being imagine it is infrequent but could it be unique? printed why not save them up and send any unused, 3 to view entry forms, back to the Nicholas Gough,Swindon envelope suffer (Margaret Browne, I think) or any committee member.
Maura Pratesi, London Here's the board from that game ...
Having recently taken part in yet another tournament which has started late to allow for latecomers, may I make a plea to Tournament Organisers to start tournaments on time? It is not fair on the vast majority who turn up for tournaments on time to find that the starting time is to be deliberately held over for a very small number of persons who have been delayed.
George Gruner, Rickmaniworth, Herts
I was most surprised to find that I had seconded David Webb's motions tothe AGM as I hadnever been approached by David on the matter! Apparently there was a transmission error in the preparation of August's The Last Word' and in face Andrew Fisher was theseconder. Whilst being in favourof at least an experiment with Nicholas won the game 505 — 377. Can anyone some penalty challenge, I do not agreewith match this? Let us know in time for this year's all of David's reasoning." XmasspedaP. ...PC
Mike Willis, Milton Keynes October 1999 Page 13 The Last Word
Now back to our special correspondent on die'Chalfont front line, George Grunen
Dear Paul
With regard to /our report in TLW on die NSC and following your telephone call from the Bucks Advertiser about diecomplaint from Scrabble sparks a row Chalfont St Giles Parish Council about not COMPETITORS from u far afield publicity. My wife and t would being informed of the event taking place, the u Thailand tad Singapore flew to bave gone along if we'd known." Chalfont forthe rational Scrabble Deborah Edge, spokesperson for following article appeared: championships al the weekend • the college, said: "Unfortunately but moil villagers knew nothing publicity for these events is the about it responsibility of ihc organisers. Pariih council chairmaa Arthur We're just the hosts." Rand was upset with the organisers And tournament organiser Paul for not getting the community GoMer remarked: "It's not really a involved in the tournament held it local event, it's a national event. Ihc Bucks Chillerns University The tournament on Saturday, College campus at Newland Park, which attracted 165 competitor*. near Oulfont SiGiles. was won by Evan Simpson from He said: "It's disgusting that we Eastcote. Middlesex who will go on weren't notified. A big etent like to represent the UK in the 2001 this should have received more World Scribble Championships.
I took it upon myself, as probably I am die only competitor who sees the Bucks Advertiser regularly, to reply thus ...
Scrabble in peace IN your uttele on ihe National Scrabble Championships on July 25/26 at by Chaffonl Parish Council Chairman about •tillagere not having the opportu nity to get involved' should Sot be allowed to pasa without comment Scribble Tournaments, in common wnh chew and bridge tournaments, do not provide forthe public lospectaie As a competitor myself, | cannot ima* u» anything more distracting than hav ing people peering over my shoulder 'ookj"IB« «T •»«■ Would Chairman Anhar Rand go to a Bridge Tournament
Scrabble tournaments cater for enihu- f'"? Yrlf" Wfefcly •d««i«l * club level. If he were • Scrabble enthusiast, fee would belong to a club and would have known about the Naiional i^amptonsmps. CiorteRCnintfer Many thanks to George for protecting the good Balchworth Heath, Blckmansworth name of our beloved game. Notice that the articles can be verified as genuine due to the local paper's inability to spell George's name ... PG The Last Word Page 14 October 1999
ABSP Accounts Note: Tournamont Surplus Is made up as follows:
Ourham -19.49 YEAR ENDING Exotor 20.00 31 December 1998 Sheffield -36.81 BHSC 258.72 Hilton Keynes 219.85 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT Total 442.27 1998 1997 Membership 5.351 4.330 Tournament Surplus 442 502 REPORT ON THE ABSP ACCOUNTS Bank Interest 590 384 FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31/12/98 Sundries 204 34
Total Income 6,587 5,249 The ABSP committee is responsible for the preparation of the accounts. My News1etter/Yoarbook/ responsibility is to examine the system on a souruDS Kit/noetino test basis in order to verify whether relevant Expenses 4,807 3.689 Insurance/Sundr 1 es 250 0 controls have been complied with, and that Bank Chargos 0 18 income, expenditure, assets and liabilities Legal:FDF Surplus 0 -1.235 have been correctly processed and recorded.
Total Expenditure 5,057 2,473 In my opinion, the results of the tests Surplus on the Year 1.530 2.776 undertaken enable me toconclude that the Surplus b/forward 7,517 4,381 system is operating correctly and that the accounts are fairly stated. Surplus c/forward 8.687 7,157
Andrew Fisher, Hon Auditor BALANCE SHEET -oOo- 1998 1997 Current Assets Bank Deposit A/c 6,598 5,171 Bank Current A/c 3,656 10,259 PAUL PYE Timers 1,500 625 Scoresheets 436 0 The TLW team was very sad to learn of the 12,495 17.472 untimely death of Paul Pye who died in a cycle accident on 2 September, aged 35. Well Current Liabilities known for his attendance at tournaments in fPrpnfll w^O 41 Ud nulUUuiMonth ArchAll i1 fln Fees 2.055 2,125 Scotland and his organisation of the Northern HiltonKeynos Hotel 0 7,568 Scrabble League. Paul was also well known for News1e tter/Travel 1.753 621 his charity bike rides in aid of local animal and disabled charities. 3,808 10,314
Retained Surplus 8,687 7,157 He will be greatly missed by friends in Scrabble clubs on both sides of the border. October 1999 Page 15 The Last Word
Woman wins That's when one ofthe roommates had an idea worthy of King Solomon. Scrabble for "Someone had jokingly suggested, "How apartment about a poker game to decide?" Not everyone plays poker so we thought, "How found in American newspaper The National Post, about Scrubbier Everyone knows how to 23 August 1999 (thanks to Sherrte Stjohn) play and it's the only game we have here.
Shalini Roy owes her new home to lox. Not "If you were in our situation how would you the salmon, but the three-letter word that picka roommate? Raying Scrabble is just a helpedrack up 25 points in a winner-take-all way to choose." Scrabble game to decide who would get share in a coveted midtown apartment. Ms. Roy didn't know they were serious until they called her back a few hours later saying With her lease up this September, Ms. Roy, they were organizing a game. 24, had been on a mad hunt for a "reasonable place with a reasonable rent." "I said I have to think about this. I was tired and fed up with looking at places. I thought it But after two months of calling hundreds of was crazy, but I had to do it. I'm good at apartments and getting in bidding wars for Scrabble," she said, adding her experience places not worth the effort, she had all but comes from two yearsof playing the game given up hope. with her ex-boyfriend in their apartment because they didn't own a television. "It's been a terrible search. Theywere all overpriced, with shady roommates, invisible Ms. Roy left work early and, armed with her landlords and obvious problems." Scrabble dictionary, came prepared to win. Her three opponents, one a PhD student in Finally, she came upon her dream apartment, sociology and another a drama teacher, didn't a home near Bathurst Street and Bloor Street have a chance. West to share with three others, with cheap $350 rent and a nice big bedroom to boot. "The first word I did was lox and I was able to attach it to other words and got 25 But she wasn't the only prospective tenant to points," Ms. Roy explained. zero in on the place. It was hardly a competition. Though saddled "The first day we had 90 calls," says the with some "crappy letters" she was up by a person who organized the hunt for a new hundred points after an hour. With one of roommate, who chose not to be identified. the candidates having to return to work, the game was called and Ms. Roy declared the After 20 people showed up to an open house, winner. they were able to narrow the candidates down to four. "We just couldn't get it down "All of a sudden they handed me over a rental any further thanthat but we had to come agreement I was really excited my Scrabble down to our decision." had come in handy." The Last Word Page 16 October 1999
PC Scrabble sees your letters magically explode from die board. You can choose one of three different screens for the game, all of which are much Paul Colder reviews the long-awaited new better than die dowdy TSP. Scrabbk product the first OSWgame to appear on CD ROM...
I'm assuming most people who would be interested in this review already own a copy of TSP, the previous version of computer Scrabble available to all of us, published by US Gold in 1995. PC Scrabble is not an upgrade, more ofa complete rewrite. It's the first computer Scrabble game published by J W Spear and Sons, who previously did so under licence.
The whole program and its files take up78 MB instead of the 1.4 MB that TSP gotby with, and dumps 41 MB of data on your hard Probably not the best medium to show off PC disc I tested the programme on a Pill 450 • I Scrabble's graphic capabilities, but you might just couldn't tell you the minimum specification, be able to make out the firework display! but you will need a computer with a CD ROM to play it. and I would guess that any Pentium would be okay. Concerned readers It's just about now that you notice these little with prehistoric PCs made before 1999 will differences which are obviously tilted towards need to check on die side of the box when it the casual player and not us hardened sees the light of day. tournament types. You're given three minutes per move by default not 25 minutes for die The game play is different from TSFs engine, whole game (this figure can be altered from which was based on the American "Maven" 30 seconds to5 minutes). The animations programme. Instead, Spears have decided to become irritating. Players using the "entire plump for the one used by French company dictionary" are reminded that some of the Azursoft, who have been producing mainly words played may be offensive! duplicate Scrabble programmes for the French language market for several years. And then there's the little bits which are positively annoying. As soon as you have When you actually get going, you notice played die game's final move, a poindess 10 several changes. The sound and graphics are second animation comes up and when you greatly enhanced and there are several are returned to die board, a great big (and animations, maleor female voices telling you unmoveable) message box obliterates the which tetters you've picked, and other bottom half of the screen, not allowing you features that would seem very attractive to the chance to bask in your glory or die average game player interested in otherwise. The "game history" (recap of racks Scrabble. Playing a bonus allows die computer and words played) is confusing, being in one to treat you to a firework display, white column instead of one column for each playing an illegal (rather than an invalid) move October 1999 The Last Word player; if you turn the hint mode off it won't One of the two big differences is that for the tile track for you like TCP did. Keyboard first time, Duplicate gameplay is allowed. For entry is limited and you are reliant on using the uninitiated, this means all players the mouse for virtually everything. (including the computer if you so wish) try to find the highest move with a set rack, and Azursoft's little Gallicisms remain ail over the each player scores what they find. Playing pbce, from the use of 1° and 2° instead of 1st against die computer is great fun and highly and 2nd, through to the file names demoralising as it whacks down one brilliant (ilreste.wav, prenez.wav, rejetl.bmp). The move after another. advance word search lets you look up letters that contain one of five letters - Q, Z, X, J The other major innovation is that you can and.~ W, every French player's bogey letter! now play with a friend or an adversary via the On the first demo game I tried, it even internet or a direct telephone link, This could started with the word JEUNE (although I'm be useful if you livein an area which sure this was just a coincidence!) experiments with free local calls, as you can dial your friend's number direct if you don't An unusual programmer's tease is that the want to play by dialling through to an Internet general options allow you to "Choose Service Provider. Of course I only had one Dictionary". Great you think, maybe it copy of PC Scrabble, so I wasn't able to test doesn't just contain OSW4 but that other this! one that I've heard people talking about? You click on the box and the list of viable The help files are much more detailed than dictionaries comes up: The Chambers before, and there is even an advert for the Dictionary, erm .... that's it Oh well. ABSP just off the main menu to encourage the casual player into the club and So what's good about it? Well it obviously tournament fold - although it would just looks better. The anagram and look-up happen to be bad luck on the part of all features are greatly enhanced too, although concerned that the programme allows the there wasn't much wrong with TCP on this user to email the now erstwhile secretary for countThere are only four skill levels, which further information! means that many of TCP's pointless twelve levels are now discarded. If you like giving With PC Scrabble, Spears are launching a yourself an advantage, you canalways choose product which will delight stay-at-home to play first! For those who have memorised players and could even have positive effects OSL. you can choose tohave your rack into bringing more people into clubs and the displayed in alphabetical order, or in ABSP, although players used to the simplicity vowel/consonant order or vice versa. You of TCP shouldn't expect any early Christmas don't have to type in words from the manual presents. to get going, hooray! At the time of printing, Spears did not have an exact date for the release of PC Scrabble. The official date is "Autumn, hopefully in the shops in time for Christmas". The Last Word Page 18 October 1999
Ratings at% I September 1999 After the Alness tournament. A minor change to the ratings format - aswell as rank and rating, those players who have played less than 100 games have the number of actual games played shown after their name.
1 197 David Acton 43 174Stevon Gruzd (41) 82 164David Nuitn (38) 1 197Phil Appioby 43 174Mary Gryils (58) 82 164Martin Reed 1 197Andrew Davis 46 173Hartley Hoorhouso (58) 89 163 Edward Garrott-Jonos (50 4 196Brott Saithoram 46 173Robert Richland 89 163SiBon Gil lam 5 195Androw Fisher 48 172 Rob Dowse 89 163ChrUt1no Hani 1 ton 5 19SDavid Webb 48 172 Paul Goldor 89 163 Mary Jones ., 7 194 Hark Nyoan 48 172 JackieHcLood 89 163Los Nyman (95) 8 193Allan Simoons 48 172Cecil Muscat 89 163Nell Rowley 9 192 Andrew Cook 48 172 Noel Turner 95 162 Irene Bell 10 188Paul Allan 53 171 Barry Grossoan 95 162ChHstma French 10 188C11VO Spate (60) 53 171 David Kondix 95 162 Hoion Groenaway 10 188Aloe Webb 55 170Chris Hawkins 95 162David Lawton (74) 13 187 Andrew Perry 55 170Shankor Henon 95 162D1ano Pratos 1 (54) 13 187Garoth Williams 55 170 Marco Post (40) 100 161Ko1ra Conway 15 186 He Ion Gipson 55 170 Peter Preston 100 161Kon Hoaton (52) IS 186Terry Kirk 55 170 Andrew Roughton 100 161 WayneKelly 15 186 Phi Up Nolkon 60 169N1cho1as Ball (71) 100 IBlNuala O'Rourko 15 186Brian Sugar 60 169 Hoi en Grayson 100 161 Martin Thomas (67) 19 lBSFemi Awowade (93) 60 169 Marl on Keatings 105 160 Rachello Utnor 20 184 Gerry Carter (31) 60 169Chris Vicary 106159 Paul Chadwick (64) 21 183Russell Byors 60 169W11oa Warwick 106159 Peter Dean 21 183 John Grayson 65 168 Phi lip Cohan 106 1590av1d Ellis 21 183 All an Saidanha (92) 65 168 John Howell (87) 106 159Alan Georgeson 24 182Karl Khoshnaw (97) 65 168Lewis Nackay 106 159Brian Jones (74) 25 181 Dick Green (97) 65 168Sand1o Sioonis 106 159H1ko O'Rourke 25 181 Gary Pol hi 11 65 168Martin Thoapson 106 159Janet Phillips 25 181 Evan Simpson 70 167Adebowale AJose (45) 106 159Carol Stanley (39) 28 180Bob Violett (98) 70 167 Bob Berry (63) 106 159 Petor Thoapson (41) 29 179 Joyce Cansfioid 70 167 Simon Carter (87) 106 159Graham Wakefioid (84) 29 179Petor Finley 70 167Jano Gibson (93) 116158 Ivy Oixon-Baird 29 179Graemo Thomas 70 167Oonald MacLood 116158 GeorgeGruner 32 178 El 10 Oangoor 75 166 Danny Bekhor 116 158Terry Hoiiington 32 178 Penny Downor (91) 75 166 Ruth Haclnernoy 116 158Elisabeth Jardino 32 178 Richard Evans 75 166Shot la Spate 116 158Andruw Kcmpley-Soith (33 32 178Ruth Morgan-Thcoas(89) 78 165Adr1enno Borger 116 lSBPaul Nind (58) 32 178H1ko Willis (90) 78 165David Oawson (35) 122 157 Pat NacBoan 37 177 01 Dennis 78 165 0obb1e Heaton (56) 123 156Carol1ne Atkins (87) 37 177Ian Guckihom (58) 78 165Alan Sinclair 123156 Shell a Green 39 176 Carry1 Francis 82 164 Any Byrne 123 156 Iain Harloy 39 176Jako Jacobs 82 164NICK Dollar 123 156Joy tloyd 39 176Nell Scott 82 164Grahaa Harding 127 155D1ana Beasley 42 175 Steve Perry 82 164Timothy Lawrence (47) 127 155Loz Crouch (46) 43 174Martin FoMkes 82 164 Frank)o Hal ray 127 155Chr1stophor Finlay October 1999 Page 19 The Last Word
127 155David Holland (34) 176 148Chris Kooloy (70) 229142Marjory Flight 127 155Robert Johnston (45) 176 UBPotor Liggett (63) 229142Kathy La Grove 127166 KuwMorgan (45) 176 148 0oreen Harsh 229 142Alison Sadler 127 15SR«yoond Tata 176 148 Marl a Thomson 229 142 Donna Stanton 127 155Ricky Zinger 176 148L1nda Vickers 229 142Val Wright 13S J54Eryl Barker (78) 176 148Las)ey Watson 237 141 Shot la Andorson (82)
13S 154HartIn Bloomberg 176 148Richard Woodward (70) 237 141 AlanBailoy 13S 154 Angel a Evans (66) 188147 El lean Anderson (84) 237 141 Lois HcLeod (91) 135 154Chris Lloyd 188 147Patrtc1a Fonn (42) 237 141 Anno Steward 136 154 Fran Thompson (54) 188 147Kato Leek to 241 140Liz Barber 135 1540ann1s Walker (39) 188 147Carol2 Smith (48) 241 140V1v1en Bockmann 135 154Too Wilson 188147 Josef Thompson (45) 241 140Dorson Blake (30)
142153 Bob Lynn 188 147Toona Walls (96) 241 140Graham Buckingham 142153 Anno Ramsay 194 146Hargaret Burdon 241 140Theresa Cole 142 153 ram Titheradgo 194 146Er1ca Cruickshank (34) 241 140Ann Davidson 145 152 Margaret Browne (75) 194 146Brian Maaaillan (45) 241 140Hoather Frankland (82) 145 152Chris Oavison (93) 194 146Graham Maker (64) 241 140J111y Garnott 145 152Joan Rappitt 194 146 8ryn Packer (41) 241 140 Maureen Groentng-Stoer (
145 152 Maureen Rayson 194 146Abraham Sosseh (43) 241 140Shell» Hinett (51) 149 151 Stove Baloont 194 146Henry Walton (75) 241 UODavtna Latham (57) 149 151 Hargarot Bright 194 1460av1d Williams (54) 241 MOBrenda Nargeroson (76) 149 151 Dorothy Churchor (42) 202 145 Ian Bettoridgo (74) 241 140H1chao1 Partner 149 151 Gary Fox 202 145Suo Bowman (52) 241 UOJayne Reilly 149 lSUoanne H1ley 202 145 Linda Bradford 241 140Dorothy Taylor 149 151Kon HatthOMS (35) 202 145 Hoi onMitchell 241 140Frances Ure (43) 149 151 David Hoadows 202 145Chr1s Quartormaino (96) 241 140Bri an Watson (30) 149 151 Thomas Hensah (65) 202 145HalcolQ Roberts (41) 241 140 Jean Will lams (86) 149 151Kwaku Sapong (57) 202 145Aloe Robertson 259 139 Maureen Brough 149 1510av1d Shonkin 209 144 Philip Aldous 259 139Barbara Dein (57) 149 151 Angola Swain (46) 209 144Maureen Austin (73) 259 139Pri sell la Encarnacion 160 ISO Ian Burn 209 144 Tony Oavis 259 139Linda HI Hard (46) 160 150Alan Chi Ids 209 144Laura Finloy 259 139 Sandra Hoffiand
160 ISO Paulino Johnson (99) 209 144 LorraineGordon 259 139Carol Halkin 160 150Stella Landor (52) 209 144 Steven Hopper (78) 259 139Gwynfor Owen
160 150Matthew Pinnor (55) 209 144 Terry Jones (31) 259 139K1Q Phipps 160 ISOMalcoitn Qu1r1o 209 144Holen Jones (41) 267 138L1I Allen (98) 160 150Carole Rison (59) 209 144Lorna Raploy 267 138Lois Cakebread (60) 160 150Norman Smith(94) 209 144Carol Smith 267 138A11sta1r Dowling (54) 160 150Sylvia Swaney 219 143Mary Allan 267 138Chris Fonwick (69) 169 149Cathy Anderson (31) 219 143 Trevor Bontly (56) 267 138 Lou McMooken (33) 169 149Louise Brundoll 219 143Pat Colling (74) 267 138Adosanai Odelana
169 149Billy Dott 219 143Edo11o Crane 267 138Mary Oran (81) 169 149 Pam Fairless (59) 219 143 Maya Oewar 267 138Susan SkIrving (60) 169 149 David Longloy (47) 219 143 Adam Phil potts (59) 267 138 Angel a Spilsbury (40) 169149 Kate Surtees 219 143 Margaret Pritchott 267 138Derrick Thorno (91) 169 149 Ivan Swallow (43) 219 143 Rose Sponcer (59) 277 137 Margaret Armstrong 176 148Aa1e Ballantyno 219 143Judy Straughan (78) 277 137 Janice Bease 176148 John Balloch 219 143Lesley Trottor (55) 277 137 Janet Braund (65) 176 148Doug Brown (35) 229 142 Kate Barratt (98) 277 137Jaoos Crooks (59) 176 148 Yvonne Eado 229 142Brian Bull 277 137Mar1e English 176148 Ron Hendra (81) 229 142 June Edwards 277 137 Agnes Gunn (86) The Last Word Page 20 October 1999
277 137 SharonLandau (39) 330 132 Moby Cook 384 125Eileen Bradshaw (76) 277 137 Jane Lowndos (79) 330 132Pol tiersDo (45) 384 125Karon Buckloy (30) 277 137Eddte HcKaown 330 132Eric Howarth 384 125 Ian Caws (68) 277 137Sylvia Itoyrick (55) 330 132 Joan Lawronco (75) 384 125 Joyce Gorshon (50) 277 I37Joyco Squire (97) 330 132Tr1c1aPay (SO) 384 125Barbara Hill (69) 277 137Rita Todd (67) 330 13261111 Simons (37) 384 125 AnnHughes (35) 289 136 Etta Aloxandor (63) 340 131 Sally Fiszman (45) 384 125Kitty Rugcwn (37) 289 136Shirley Angoll (37) 340 131 Joan Gailachor 384 125U1111O Scott (78) 289 136Kathy Bull on (64) 340 131 Doug Hill (30) 384 125Potor Sloo 289 136 Joan Carter (40) 340 l3lMarJor1e Smith 384 125Er1c Smith (80) 289 136Va) Couzens (32) 340 131Sua Thompson 384 125Monica Stockwoll (36) 289 136Juno Hill (34) 340 131 Handy Ueathoriii (31) 384 125Wondy Tiloy 289 136Kay Johnston (85) 346 130Morag Chamberlain 397 124Potor Ashurst 289 136 Jan Turner (71) 346 130Sh1r1oy Chidwick (59) 397 124Corldwen Davios (77) 297 135Joan Bridge (50) 346 130Garry Clark 397 124Sharon Solder (87) 297 135Joan Caws (68) 346 130 Joseph DokU (98) 397 124 Val Hoskings 297 13SH1ehae1 Harloy (95) 346 130Cannon Dolan 397 124Hargaret Irons (45) 297 135Roma Hoiiingworth 346 130 Evan Terrott (32) 397 124 Shell a Jolliffo 297 135 Peter Hunt (38) 346 130Gladys Tiernoy (77) 397 124PhilIppa Morris 297 135Jul1e Noikon (34) 346 130Evelyn Uallaco (71) 404 123Sanantha Beckwlth 297 13SGort1o Roberts 354 129 El loon Bashaa (74) 404 123Jonn1for Clifford (73) 297 13SKov1n Synnott (89) 354 129Jess1o Brown (65) 404 123 Joy Hodge 297 135 Mai coln yearn (64) 354 l29U1nn1o Bulk 404 123 Joe Marsh (85) 306 134 Syd Berger 354 129Juno Clark 408 122Elizabeth Allen (37) 306 134Vora Flood (66) 354 129Dorothy Doan (71) 408 122Hilary Btrdsaii (72) 306 134Dobb1e Holloway (88) 354 129Eileen Foster 408 122Goorg1na Cook (67) 306 134Sally Lewis 354 129 Kenneth Gordon 408l22HarJor1o Gillott (31) 306 134Nary Lindsay (98) 354 129 Fay Hadeloy 408 122Lona Glass (32) 306 134 Toss McCarthy (97) 354 129Ann Pitblado (32) 408122Potor Hall 306 134 Stuart Pierce (43) 354 1Z9Mariano Skinner 408 122Toresa Hill (55) 306 134 KayPowlck (74) 364 128MtkO Buckloy (41) 408122Tr1sh Johnson 306 134Hauro Prates 1 (66) 364 USNtchoias Jenkins (79) 408 122 Col la Osbom 306 134 Pat Wheelor (69) 364 128Edith Smith (80) 408 122Hazol Parker (41) 306 134tsla Wilkie 364 128Julio Tata 418 121 Joan Bakewell 317 133J111 Bright 364 128Juno Wilson 418 121 Martin Calms (90) 317 133Alan Buckley (36) 369 127Nora Bain (66) 418 1210av1d French
317 133Elizabeth Drapor 369 127 Janet Bonhaa 418 121 John Jones (34) 317 133Jill Fisher (37) 369 127 Rita Brookos 418 121 Joan Price (63) 317 133Norma Galley (39) 369 127Martin Byrno (74) 423 120Audroy Barrington (38)
317 133 Norman Haddow 369 127 Joan Dymock (76) 423 120Maurice Brown (86) 317 133Hlko Holland (35) 369 127Phyllis Fernandez 423 120Louise Gray (35)
317 133Noraa Howarth 369 127Potor Kelly 423 120Hav1s Harding (49) 317 133Maureen Reynolds 369 127Mart1n Levorton (87) 423 120 Margaret Harknoss 317133 Barbara Sharaoas 369 127David RoadIng (37) 423 120MarJor1e Hislop 317 133Austin Shin(76) 378 126Kolon Cowio 423 120 Joan Murphy 317133 MargaretStaunton 378 126Jill Dyer (37) 423 120Edith Tempest (89) 317 133Margaret Yoadon (65) 378 126 Hay Hacdonald 423 120Simon Wood 330 132Htchael Baxondalo (58) 378 126 Janet Mil ford (54) 432 119All stair Baker (S3) 330 132Linda Bird (68) 378 126 Vanessa Potors 432 119Oon Beavis (43) 330 132Stolla Brown (74) 378 126Sheona Wilson (94) 432 119 Shirley Hoal 330 132Boryl Brown (99) 384 125Linda Barratt (59) 432 119 HI Ida Hudspeth October 1999 Page 21 The Last Word
432 119 Barbara Kont (31) 484112 Irene Lindsay (74) 538 105Joan Ellis (38) 432 1190or1t Stroet (32) 484 112Shot la Moore (33) 538 105Alan Everttt (32) 432 119Sandra Walton (65) 484 1120enn1s Nelson (37) 538 105Betty Sharp (63) 439 llBJaan Buckley (36) 484 112 Roy Saunders (32) 538 105Anne Walker (40) 439 USHaather Iiott 484 112Malcolm Shaw (70) 542 104Kathy Carson (35) 439 118Alice Nadin (73) 484 112Vera Sine 542 104Eve Conion (36) 439 118 Paul Stoadnan 484 112Joanna Sktrving (80) 542 104 Margaret Hacdonaid (30) 439 118Elizabeth Terry (70) 494 111 Ruby Hood 542 104He1on Sandlor (58) 444 117Nicholas Butler (81) 494 111 Ann Solding (95) 542 104Winifred Smith (70) 444 117MarJor1e fiarrett 494 111J111 Harrison (37) 542 104 Irene Wool ley 444 117John Harrison (30) 494 111 Jim Lyes (35) 548 103Karon Allen (42) 444 117Marigold Page 494 111 Sheila Roevo 548 103 Fred Burford 444 117Hay Quigloy (36) 494 lllFuad Shinmas 548 103Kathleen Higgins (64) 444 117W1n1frod Stitt (96) 494 UUacqui Uhtto 548 103 01 Ive Holroyd (40) 444 117 Margaret Whito (66) 494 111 Chris Wido 548 103Dennis Lockwood (31) 451 116A11CQ All wood (60) 502 UOBotty Balding (30) 548103Mary Hanson (60) 451 116Shoill Booth-Mi Hard (54) 502 110Margaret Bigg (51) 554 102Ann Clark (73)
451 116 Barbara Grant 502 HOPotor Edwards (45) 554 102 Marc Is Davios 451 116Helen Morris (33) 502 110Paul Harding (73) 554 102 Rom Dryden (97) 451 11601 Ivia Patton 502 110Ann Kingham 554 102Adole Jones (59)
451 116Joan Shaw (62) 502 llOHolly Lano (91) 554 102Anglo Jones (75) 451 116Joan Swallow 502 llOEvo Hiilington 554 102 Judy Monger (40) 451 116Jo Tebbutt (49) 502 HOSonJa Uyld (42) 554 102Chr1st1ne Nicholson 459 H5Molan1e Akod (30) 510 109Anno Lawton (74) 554 102Bronda Northcott (50) 469 115Audrey Harvey (63) 510 109Doroan Morris (61) 554 102 Norah Thompson 459 115Ko1th Haynos (48) 510 109Connie Riach 563 lOlVera Allen 459 115 Freda Marcus (91) 510 109Wonna Robinson (38) 563 101 Jenny Jaques (37) 459 115 Isabella McLean (83) 510 109Eric Rowland (65) 563 101 Mary Keevoy (51) 459 115Dawn Ptorco (43) S10 109 Jessie ToMick 563 lOlLoma Llewellyn 459 115 Helen Pol hi 11 510 109Dorothy Wilks (52) 563 101 Miriam Moss (41) 459 115Pat Rockloy 517 108Miry Broadhead (64) 563 101 Mary Raifs (31) 459 115 Peter Thorns (47) 517 108Paul Cartaan 563 101 Ian Whyte (34) 459 115Shot la Tutt (42) 517 108Gordon Cox(59) 570 100 Pat Burgess (47) 459 115Pamela Ulndsor S17 108Florence Follows (57) 570 100Mabel Choularton 470 114Suo Ball 517 108 Daphne Fiotcher (64) 570 100 Nay Gray 470 114 Peter Ernest 517 108Pat Friend (97) 570 100 Joyce Jarvis (50) 472 113Botty Bonton (92) 517 lOBAgnes Gray (30) 570 100Gerry Pearce (51) 472 113Sue Bullock (80) 517 108MarJor1e Lofley 575 99Jako Berliner (63) 472 113Floronco Davios S17 108 All son Pritchard (40) 575 99Keith Churcher (37) 472 113Paul Farnworth (34) 526 lO7E11oen2 Andorson (38) 575 99Fay Goble (62) 472 U3Rhoda Gray (85) 526 107Julia Glen 575 99Joan Johns (59) 472 113Brian Keogan (70) 526 107 Ruth Harsden (56) 575 99 Stuart Ross (40) 472 113Peter Ltndock (37) 526 107 Dorothy Pearson (34) 575 99Son1a Temple (31) 472 113 Stuart Hay 526 1070ouglas Robinson 575 99Daphne White (31) 472 113Mary Stggers (36) 531 106Peggy Frawloy (50) 582 98 Mary Adams (41) 472 113Harry Sinclair (75) 531 106Porry Fung (80) 582 98She11a2 Andorson (47) 472 113Kathleen Ward 531 106Peter Hunting (54) 582 98Myra Copioston 472 113Lorna Wishart (82) 531 106V1olette Little 585 97 Jack Baker 484 112N1nu Bhattacharya (71) 531 106Stan Morris (33) 585 97 Susan Bury (63) 484 112Kate Boutinot (87) 531 106 Margaret Soabrook (86) 585 97 Vornon Draper 484 112 John Brown (98) 531 106Claire Vioiett (97) 585 97 Man an Iiatt (35) The Last Word Page 11 October 1999
585 97Jean-Iris Williams (46) 606 91 Nancy Hard (72) 629 81 PinoU Brown 59096 Cindy Hoi Iyer 606 91Anabe1 yintor (31) 629 81 Christine Cartman 591 95 Peter Bashata (73) 611 89Edith Grant (64) 629 81Naroarot Suthorland (35) 591 95Shirley Cave (82) 611 8901 Ive Matthew (90) 629 BlJano Thomas (68) 591 95Una Coilinson (35) 613 88Ted Anderson (43) 629 81 Lucy White 591 95Barr1e Hall 613 88Lionel Howard (96) 634 60 Joan Cussens (45) 591 95Marie Perry (31) 613 SBRoira Ketcalf (8S> 635 79Hary Shi oils (36) 59694 Barbara Cox (60) 613 88Boryl Traco (41) 636 78John Kacdonald (98) 598 94 Jean Fothorgill (40) 617 87Ralph Edwards (48) 638 78 Nancy Yorkston (65) 596 94U1nn1o Haston (80) 617 87(Uy Sinclair (50) 638 77 Audrey Nedhurst (37) 596 94Rosa1yn Lishak 617 87ROSO Hill (36) 639 76Hargarot Craig (31) 596 94 Grace Simmers (56) 620 86Chris Chapoan (36) 639 76Shot la Johnston (30) 601 93Hargaret Hills (54) 620 86 Joan Johnstone 641 71E11zaboth Williams(35) 601 93Sho11a Saith (45) 620 86Joan Ross (65) 642 70Lotty Burrsli (36) 603 92Noll1o Cox(70) 623 84 0orothy Honry (74) 642 70Har11yn Graham (33) 603 92Mavis Ernost 623 84 PatriciaHo linos (31) 644 67Alan Fothorgili (40) 603 92Potor Shuttlowood (99) 623 84Kary Warwick (58) 645 61H1chaol Herraghty (40) 606 91 RichardBrookos (33) 626 83 Dorothy Edwards (50) 646 S9Poggy Lavender (42) 606 91Jo Holland (35) 626 836won Linfoot 606 91 Los Searle (46) 626 83Poggy Shortt (32)
American Sowpods whiz Bob Lipton still heads the (unofficial) list of provisionally rated pla/ers:
1 177Bob Lipton (16) 26 143Kov1n Soil art (26) 53 127V1ncont Boyle (29) 2 174H Laoabadusuriya (27) 28 142 Eddy Brood (15) 53 127 Marl a Treadweil (IS) 3 172Jarod Robinson (22) 29 140Bill Fleming (20) SS 128Bronda Ashwin (16) 4 164Jayno Mackenzie (16) 29 140H1M Purse (15) 55 126L111y Laker (22) 5 163Dav1d Oelicata (19) 31 139Joce1yn Soutar (18) 55 126 Joan Roes (26) 6 160Alan Cathorali (25) 32 138Chris Dossott (20) 58 125Bobb1o Bennett (25) 6 160Russell Kurch (19) 33 137Sto11a Magnus (28) 58 125Jonny Burgoss (IS) 6 160Karon Willis (21) 34 136Paul Bassott (20) 58 125Lorna Franks (IS) 9 156Tony Bailey (22) 34 136Verity Cross (17) 58 12SBronda Rodweii (27) 9 156Kenneth 01 Ivor (22) 34 136Ann Edwards (28) 62 124David Phillips (28) 11 154Caroline Oavios (15) 34 136Ion Shuttloworth (15) 62 124 Mo Tilloy (16) 12 lS3 01uyooi1 Adosiyan (27) 38 135 Joe Caruana (25) 64 123011ve Dolan (26) 12 153Jacqu1 Brown (26) 38 13SN Volla-Lauronti (19) 64 123Carol Grant (25) 12 153Anne Hidden (25) 40 134Ross Brennan (23) 66 122 Joy Coonber (20) IS lSlChristino Cooper (21) 41 133Barbara Prico (16) 66 122Luko Koogan (28) 15 151 Ralph Gibbs (25) 42 131 Margaret Koogan (18) 68 121 Margaret McLean (IS) 17 150John Dunlop (16) 42 131 Margaret William (IS) 68 121 Joyce Smith (29) 17 150Coltn Hall (28) 44 130Mr Cruickshank (17) 70 120 Joy Howgill (17) 19 149 Barbara Allon (24) 44 130Martha Mitchoil (16) 70 120Gill Thompson (IS) 20 148Harta Ouniiro (20) 44 130Sho11a Wall (16) 70 120 Judy Young (23) 20 148Uondy Lindridgo (18) 44 130Jill Zinzan (15) 73 119Hado1a1no Baker (20) 22 146John Httchell (16) 48 129 Carol Arthurton (20) 74 llSKathy Gibbons (27) 23 14SJames Horsfaii (26) 48 129Esthor Nay lor (26) 74 llSOale Lloyd (26) 24 144Kato KcNulty (19) 48 129Stan Skinnor (27) 74 118Potor Shilling (24) 24 144Helen Roes(27) 48 129Philip Thoaas (19) 74 MSIsobol Smith (15) 26 143L1Z Dunlop (21) 52 128Kathleen Barnos (16) 78 117Jill Burgess (20) October 1999 Page 23 The Last Word
78 117 Irene Catherail (15) 117 106Joan Gelly (15) 159 90 Joan Hughes (20) 78 117Eleanor Oobson (16) 117 lOBChristino Jukos (21) 159 90M1na Rao (20) 78 117Eileen Douglas (20) 117 106M1chael-John Turp (15) 159 90Shell* Ross(20) 78 117Hazel Smtth (IS) 117106 Aoy Vye(25) 159 90Sad1e Watson (25) 83 116Ann Coieoan (IS) 123 105Dorothy Borohao (28) 163 89H1111O Black (IB) 83 116Barbara Ethertdgs (15) 123 105Geoff Coopor (24) 16389 Stoll! Burnhao (16) 83 USJune Lindrtdge (18) 123 lOSToresa Haycock (IS) 16S SBPru Buckinghaa (15) 83 116 Iris Shuttloworth (15) 123 lOSSteve PomoII (28) 16S 88Doreen Coleraan (22) 83 116 Ann Toft (20) 127 104 Angel a Garrard (28) 165 88Elizabeth Mustard (20) 88 HSNaureen Barr (20) 127 lO4Hagg1e Sly (16) 165 88A1ox Sadler (25) 88 US Elsie Lucas (IB) 129 103Carolyn Emery (20) 169 86Roso Ford (IS) 88 US Dorothy Potrio (15) 129 103Pearl Smith (25) 169 86Irene Gowor (23) 91 114Don Davis (16) 129 103Ruth Surry (24) 171 85Poter Hunt (15) 91 114 Lynn Giles (26) 132 102Carole Crane (22) 172 84Mary Bradley (20) 91 114Alice Tozeiand (27) 132 102Rona Falconer (15) 172 84Andy Daly (25) 94 113Janice Ball (17) 132102 Enid Gerrard (23) 172 84 Edna Lindeck (20) 94 113Eva Paino (IS) 132 102Choryl Tracoy (21) 172 84 Betty Keazoy (25) 96 112Shirley Wright (15) 136 101 Paul Charlton (15) 176 BSEIIeen Crow (28) 97 111 Marlon Bonnie (20) 137100 Lyn Brookes (28) 177 SlCath Cameron (15) 98 110Raj Luchoun (22) 137 lOOOwen Clarke (26) 178 80LeoBarnes (22) 98 110Kay Naipass (28) 137 lOORontca Urquhart (16) 178 BOJayne Harrison (16) 98 110John NeLoan (IS) 140 99 Gall All on (27) 178 80Jamos Hay (16) 98 HODoreon Pratt (IS) 140 99Va1 Stewart (21) 178 80Jud1 Shaman (22) 98 110Phyllis WIIkins (21) 142 98 Any Arnstrong (25) 178 80Stanley Wilkinson (26) 103 109Paulino Aves(20) 143 97Joan Flynn (IS) 183 79Ann Harvey (20) 103 109Hoien Blyth (15) 143 97 Yoke Shin(16) 184 78Agnes Dodds (22) 103 109HIIf Gibbons (27) 143 97 Joyce Wo1 ton (16) 184 78 Alec West (20) 106 108Ann Campbell (20) 146 96Dorothy Black (21) 184 78Boss1e Winter (25) 106108 Peter Groves (20) 147 94Kath Jennings (16) 187 77 Mary Craddock (25) 106 108 Joan Stevens (21) 147 94 Rosemary Jonos (22) 187 77Gertie Holtby (15) 109 107Poter Andrews (16) 147 94Jill Parker (20) 187 77Helen Thompson (25) 109107 Eve Owyer (22) 147 94Brian Soith (28) 190 76Josoph1no Croasdale (15 109 107June Faulkner (22) 151 93John Ball (25) 191 75 Shot la Stanton (28) 109 107Christine Giiiospie (IS) 151 93Bornard Dolan (26) 192 73 Iris Cornish (26) 109 107 Hoi He Koran (20) 153 92N1shal Caliychurn (17) 193 69 Joyce Frost (19) 109 107Estne Morris (15) 153 92Marla Davie (20) 194 67Michael Hurray (29) 109 107Patricia Parton (15) 153 92Joan Greenland (20) 195 54Bill Gray (22) 109 107CoHn Rivington (16) 153 92N1cola Staunton (27) 196 48Goorge Aitken (IS) 117 106Boryl Browner (16) 157 91 Stove Davio (20) 117 106Bover1oy Burgess (20) 157 91 Barry Slogon (20) The Last Word Page 24 October 1999
Twenty Questions I would mend die schism created by ANDREW PERRY SOWPODS and OSW - which would probably mean introducing SOWPODS nationwide. 1. I know that you had A-levels this year, what are you going to do now and 7. What other hobbies/pastimes do you what will that lead to? indulge in?
I am goingto take a Gap Year before going to I enjoy playing tennis and table-tennis and I Warwick University to read Mathswhich will have just taken up golf. hopefully lead to a career in finance. 8. Have you ever appeared on 2. Who are your favourite and least television? favourite opponents, and why? Yes. I have been on Countdown a few times. I At the moment my favourite opponent is got to the final of my series and into die Gary Polhill, because I have beaten him seven quarter-finals of the Supreme Championship. times in a row, twicewhile playing off for 9. What is your current ABSP rating major OSW tournaments (Exeter and and what doyou think it should be? BMSQ! My least favourite opponents are ones who moan about their letters and are Currently it is 187, and if I learnt some words bad losers. it could be in die 190s.
3.How did you get into playing 10. How far would you travel to play in Scrabble? a one day tournament or is that dependent on Dad? When I was five, my parents bought me Junior Scrabble. After a week I found it boring It is dependent on Dad but I wouldn't want to and I wanted to move onto die realthing. My be a passenger for much more thana four mum found me a dub in London and it hour round trip progressed from there. 11. Who would be your ideal date for a 4. Tell us one thing that no one knows romantic evening out? about you. I'm too young for romantic evenings out! When I was ten I took a hat-trick in a school cricket match. 12. What was your greatest moment in Scrabble? 5. Do you keep the fact that you play Scrabble secret from other friends? Winning the OSW section at the BMSC having won the OSW section at Exeter No. If they find it odd or funny then it is their earlier in the year. problem - most of them don't mind though. 13. On average how many games of 6. If you could change one thing about Scrabble do you play a week? Scrabble what would It be? October 1999 Page 25 The Last Word
Probably about 6 - most of them against Dad. because adults don't appear on Blockbusters, Some weeks we don't play much but then children shouldn't appear on Countdown. play 12 the next week.
14. Do you support a football team or is your passion for another sport? Mattel's Helping
I support Tottenham Hotspur. Hands Found in the Independent. 2 7 August 1999: 15. What do you think is the best word you have ever played? BARBIE, EVERYONE agrees, has fine physical assets. We now know, however, that the best I've been playing too long to remember many features of the impossibly slender doll are nother older ones so it would have to be REJONEOS waist or her perky bosom. We must praise her which virtually assured me victory at the for her knees. BMSC This comes tous courtesy of a laboratory making 16. What*s the best place you have ever prosthetic limbs at Duke University in North visited? Carolina. It has recently stumbled upon an astonishing truth: Barbie has knee joints that Scafell Pike provided an amazing view of the make ideal knuckles in prosthetic surrounding area, once I had climbed it! fingers for amputee patients. The unlikely 17. Who do you think is the best discovery was made by jane Bahor, who makes life-like body parts at the University. The Scrabble player of all? knees are ideal for people with fake fingers There are so many good players: I would be because theycan be bent intoposition to grip doing someone a disservice if I didn't mention objects and will stay there until they are bent back again. about 15 names and I certainly couldn't pick one and say that he is the best. Ms Bahor anda patient Jennifer Jordan, came up 18. What*s your favourite book, film with die idea three years ago while discussing and TV programme? how to make Ms Jordan's prosthetic finger more realistic and useful. When Ms Bahor pointed out Favourite book: The Chamber byJohn the miracle of the knees to Mattel, the maker of Grisham. Favourite film: The Shawshank Barbie, the company sent her a bagof spare knee Redemption. Favourite TV programme: The parts. Bill She has been incorporating them in prosthetic fingers ever since. 19. What would be your Ideaof a perfect day? "She's made her cultural contribution, now she can make a medical contribution," Ms Bahor said Winning the World Scrabble Championships. yesterday. Noting that her patients are thrilled with their Barbie parts, she added: "Just a simple 20. Has your age ever caused any thing like that is an enhancement." problems? To which "MYT from Mitom Keynesadds _ "Did you Not really. When I was tenhaving appeared know that Mattel an bringing out a new doll called on Countdown someone said that 'D/roree Barbie' at £999.99 - it's a regular Barbie but you Countdown was a programme foradults and also get Ken's car. Ken's credit card. Ken's house- " The Last Word Page October 1999 I - That's Your Lot? punchline for that before I delivered the feed...
Leo Lard Lichens: Hey hey. I'm back after FRIGHTS: Well, yes, a common enough my Irtdo break. Refreshed? Nope. Raring to word. Seems like the sort of word that you got Absolutely not! Dangerously close to my could build a bad limerick around. Never one deadline? Mais, oui! to duck a challenge, here goes...
For reasons which evade me, but will have at "I've caused frights on nights out on the town least one reader nodding and saying "Yep, When I've gone out all set to get down that doesn't surprise me" (Hello Martin!), I Disco dancing's not great thought it would be rather nice to sort out When you're size 58 those surprising 7 letter bonuses with only an And your belt won't go all the way round..." I to break up the mass of consonants. You know, the ones you don't see because you're HIGHTHS: Woo-hoo! Ray that blank! It's an noteven looking for them... obscure, obsolete form of HEIGHT, and rightly so! BUGHTS: A common enough word which is good, since it lets me ease myself back into KNIGHTS: Really bizarre geezers that this writing stuff. It's something so horribly improve their horsemanship by dressing up as bad that it actually taints the surrounding area tin cans, or go straight through bishops on as well. Speaking of which, I apologise to route to taking the queen, or give money to whoever wrote the article that follows this die sitting Prime Minister. one! MIGHTST: Thou mightst think that this is a CHRISMS: Holy oils and anointments and really REALLY obscure word... Thou'd be such things. Not that I'd know about such right things; I can't even produce a pun that works on the subject. PLIGHTS: Real real problems. Tracking your opponent's final rack to AEINRST while DIRNDLS: Right this very minute, someone is you're sitting with JQXZKW is a good one, nodding and saying "Yep. here we go!". A sort especially if it's them to play! of peasant girl's dress in Germany, Switzerland, anywhere in the Alps realty. A PLINTHS: Common enough. The platforms word that I heard for the first time in May or that statues stand on, and equally the bits of thereabouts, and has cropped up a frightening wood that fall off the bottom of MFI kitchen number of times since. units.
FLIGHTS: Oh, all sorts of stuff. To the best of SCHISMS: Well, it's broadly speaking when my knowledge the only one of this month's people have a disagreement so bad that they words to have featured in the lyric of a can't work together any longer and split off Eurovision entry, Ireland's Terminal 3" from from each other to everyone's disadvantage. 1984. Gosh. For some reason, no examples immediately spring to mind. FRICHTS: Scots for "Frightens". So, how do you frighten a Scotsman? Umm, I suppose I should have checked to see if I had a October 1999 Page 17 The Last Word
SCHISTS: Sometimes Chambers definition of SHRIFTS: A penance, or confessional or a word is so wonderful that it must be similar is a shrift; and contrary to popular quoted verbatim. This Is one of those times: opinion, it needn't be short you can quite a schist is "any crystalline foliated happily have a long shrift if you wish. metamorphic rock not coarse and feldspathic enough to be called gneiss, such as SHRIGHT: Spenser rules OK! It's another mica-schist, hornblende-schists; sometimes shriek or screech, and the etymology suggests extended to shaly rocks". Roughly translated, that it might have its origins in Spenser it's lumps of rock. misreading Chaucer. We're doomed, aren't we? SCHUCH: Finely crushed lumps of rock, separated by water in some way which I'm SHRILLS: Something that's shrill is a shrill, and not mineralogical enough to entirely if you're shrill then you shrill. Excessively understand. stridentand high-pitched, sort of like Alan Ball. SCHTICK: I thought it was what you did towards the end of a well-watered game of SHRIMPS: Tiny little bright pink edible seafish pontoon, but apparently it's more or less a type things. comedian's catchphrase. Don't know how I'll remember that, I've got to have a system. SHRINKS: Ah, take your pick. I'm going to go Hmm, got to have a system... for "becomes smaller", largely because I can't spell sykia... pyschyer.. pxykiert... dang! SCHTIKS: I bought a lovely record the other day, Ann Widdecombe sings the Vengaboys. SHRITCH: Another shriek. Spenser strikes What a lovely record that is. Guess what a again. I don't know whether to kiss him or SCHTIK is? Got a system yet. hmm, got a decry him. Frankly the second is more likely system? Comedian's schtiks/three-pack of though. Twix... and that's how I always remember. I wonder how many heads this is going SHTCHIS: That's not easyto say! It's Russian straight over... cabbage soups, and can be spelt with or without the T. SCUFFS: Another Scots word, scliffs are lots of small pieces. SHTICKS: Got to have a system, mm, got to have a system. The pork or the lamb, those SCRIMPS: And saves. are the main two...
SCRIPTS: The things that stand-up SKUFFS: Guess what - another sort of improvisational comedians never use, oh dear SCLIFFS, which we came across earlier. me no. Scottish bits.
SCRITCH: jUST ANOTHER KIND OF SKRIMPS: Better cross-referenced in SCREECH. Aaaghhh! Caps Lock key... get off. Chambers '98 than Chambers '93. but it's a get OFF!!! Umm, sorry about that., one of variant of scrump, which is more or less to my pet bugbears... gather windfalls, ie to steal apples from orchards. The Last Word Page 28 October 1999
SLIGHTS: Common enough, a discourteous you make by doing strange things with your disrespect for someone. tongue. You know the one, it's sort of like... urn™ TCHICK"! SMIGHTS: Spenser, yet again, with a variant form ofSMITES. Just how much of our THIRSTS: Urgent needs for drink, alcoholic lexicon DO we owe to a 450 year old author or otherwise, eg, students who "get a thirst who couldn't spell?... at Cambridge".
SPIGHTS: ...More than I thought since he THRIFTS: Quite ludicrous levels of frugality. apparently couldn't spell SPITE either! Thinking that my collected works area perfectly adequate substitute for a dictionary SPILTHS: Spilth is anything that's poured out might be considered thrift Cf "Stark staring or spilled lavishly, so the difficult to say bonkers". SPILTHS (ethpethlaily if you lithp!) is lotth of them. THRILLS: Actually, my favourite version of the definition of this is "passes tinglingly". But SPUFFS: A marijuana cigarette, which despite let's face it, you don't need me to tell you the appearance of my column at times, I that... never partake of! THRISTS: Right I have absolutely *had* it SPUNTS: Bits of wood used in medicine for with this bloke. It appears that Mr. so-called sticking things together, or in chemistry for Spenser (if I may call him that) couldn't spell setting fire to them. THIRST.
SPRIGHT: I have my suspicions... oh, they're TWIGHTS: Spenserian. Twits, (in the old unfounded. It was Shakespeare who couldn't sense of the word, meaning to taunt spell SPRITE not Spenser. However, it is somebody). from this noun and verb that the common SPRIGHTLY comes. WHISHTS: I daren't even look. It's got to be some sort of a joke, [summons up courage...]. SPRINGS: Ah, spring's in the air... boinnggg! Oh, that's not as bad as I thought WHISHT is a Scots word for silence, and it's a verb as SPRINTS: Goes like the bloomin' clappers, well. honestly. WRIGHTS: People who make stuff. STRIFTS: Archaically, a struggle. Same sort of root as STRIFE Right that's me done. I'm now off in the time machine I invented a week ont Thursday to STRINGS: Oh, far too common. I won't string go back and kill Spenser's grandfather. Or. it out. knowing the family, more likely his gradnfaathr or something. See you six TCHICKS: I never knew there was a word months ago! for this! It's that funny little clicking/clucking noise October 1999 Page 29 The Last Word
OSW4 Additions
We might be jumping the gun a bit here, but assuming that OSW4 becomes the official wordlist at some point in the future, here's a list of some ofthe new delights in store for you, from 2 to 9 letters:
OP COYED AMNIOS KAGOUL CROST APPLET KAIZEN BAC CRUDY BASUCO KARKED KOI CRUES BLOKEY KIDULT LOD CYTES CAVIER KIDVID OPS DENET CAHOOT KLATCH OUD DHOLS CHAFFY LEFTER DINOS CIDING LINISH BACS DRICE CIZERS LIVEST CIDE EMAIL CLAMBE LOGINS COCH FIEST CLOYES LOGOFF CONF GAZAR CLUNKY LOGONS CRUE HAZAN COCHES LOGOUT CYTE HIMBO CODERS LOMATA DHOL IDANT COLOGS LURVES DINO KARKS COMBIS LUVVIE FIER KUZUS COOSEN LYTTAS KARK LOGIN COOSIN MASALA KEKS LOGON COYING NEWBIE KUZU LURVE COYISH NOSODE LODS LUVVY DEFRAG OBELIA HEME MELTY DENETS ONLINE OPPO MEMES DEVORE PHREAK ORZO MONTY DOOFER PLEBES OUDS OPPOS DOURLY PUCEST PHAT ORZOS DRICES PUNKER SPAM OTAKU EMAILS QAWUAL VIBE PUCER ENDURO QINDAR WONK RAGGA FESSED RADDER ZINE REIKI FLATTY RADGES ZORI SADDO FUNNER RAGGAS SPAMS GASHER REBOOT ACIDY SPAZZ GAZARS REIKIS AMNIO STRAG HAZANS SADDOS ANTSY TUINA HAZZAN SCALLY CIDED VOXEL HIMBOS SCHMOE CIOES WONKS HIPPEN SMILEY CLOYE ZINES HIPPIN SPINTO CODER ZOPPA HOUSEY SPLENT COLOG ZORIS IDANTS SPOKED COMB I IDEAED SPRITZ CONFS ALIYOT KAGOOL STIFFY The Last Word Page 30 October 1999
STRAGS COMBIES KLATSCH SUKKOTH SUCCOS CONIQUE KLEZMER SYMBION SUCCOT CONPAND LADDISH TAWIEST SUETTY COMPEND LADETTE TECHIES SUKKOS CONKIER LEFTEST TELNETS SUKKOT COOSENS LOGOFFS TWIGLOO TAWIER COOSINS LOGOUTS UPLOADS TECHIE CRACOWE LUVVIES VEGGING TELNET CULOTTE MASALAS WEBSITE TRIPPY CURTAXE MEISTER WOOPIES TUINAS CUSTODE MELTIER ZAITECH UPLOAD CYATHIA MINIBAR ZYDECOS VEGGED DAYSACK MISPLED VEGGES DEFRAGS MONTIES ABLEISMS VOXELS DOOFERS MORPHED ABORTEES WHEATY DROPOUT MUTUALS ACIDIEST WOOPIE DWARFER NETIZEN ACRASIAS ZYDECO EBONICS NEWBIES ACTIONER ENAILED NOSODES ACUPOINT ABLEISM EMPAYRE OFFLINE ADOPTEES ABLE1ST ENDUROS OMPHALI AEROTONE ABORTEE FATTISM PASSATA AIRGLOWS ACIDIER FATTIST PEARTER ALCOPOPS ACRASIA FEELBAD PHATTER ANTHEMIC ACRATIC FESSING PHREAKS ANTSIEST ADOPTEE FUNNEST PUNKEST ARCOLOGY AIRGLOU FURRIES QAWWALI AYURVEDA ALCOPOP GANGSTA QAWWALS BALDIEST ALETHIC GASHEST QINDARS BATTERER ALIYOTH HARDBAG RADDEST BICOASTAL ANTSIER HAZANIM REBADGE BIOTOPES APPLETS HAZZANS REBOOTS BITESIZE BALDIER HERNIAE REDBIRD BLEARILY BASUCOS HIPPENS RESKILL BLOKEDOM BIGFEET HIPPINS ROOKIER BLOKIEST BIOTOPE HOLDOUT SAVVIER BLUGGIER BLOKIER HOMEBOY SCANNED BOBBITTS BOBBITT HOUSIER SMILEYS BOGEYING BOGEYED INFAUNA SOKAIYA BOOTABLE BUMMEST IRONIER SPAMMED BOSOMIER CACUMEN JOCKNEY SPAMMER CACUMINA CAPABLY KAGOOLS SPAZZED CALFLICK CARJACK KAGOULS SPAZZES CAPUCCIO CAVIERS KAIZENS SPINAGE CARDCASE CHARACT KARKING SPLENTS CARJACKS CHIPSET KERAMIC STEEPUP CATATONY CLIPART KIDULTS STIFFIE CAUSEYED COALPIT KIDVIDS STROBED CAVIARIE COELOME KINKILY SUCCOTH CENTONEL October 1999 Page 31 The Last Word
CHAFFIER EPIFAUNA LINISHES STAMINAL CHARACTS ESCROWED MAILSHOT STANCHLY CHARRIER EXTRANET MEDCINAL STANDOUT CHAZANIN FARRAGOS MEGAFLOP STEEPEUP CHECKSUM FATTISMS MEGASTAR STICHERA CHIPSETS FATTISTS MEISTERS STIFFIES CIABATTA FEELBADS MELTIEST STOMODEA CIABATTE FIREWALL MINIBARS STROBING CILANTRO FLAMEOUT MONOKINI SUBMENTA CLIPARTS FLATPACK MORBIDER SUETTIER CLOTPOLL FLATTIES NETIZENS SULFATIC CLUNKIER FOCACCIA NOTITIAE SUPERBUG COALPITS FRASCATI ONIONIER SUPERFIT COELQMES FREEWARE ORANGIER SYLPHINE COKEHEAD FROIDEUR OUTPLACE SYMBIONS COLTUOOD FUNBOARD OVERTYPE SYRUPIER COMIQUES GANGSTAS PAPERIER TANTALIC COMPANOS GIGABYTE PASSATAS TAQUERIA CONPENDS GIGAFLOP PEARTEST TIMELINE CONKIEST GOBSHITE PHATTEST TOUSTIER COOSENEO HANDBALL PLUMPIER TRIPPIER COOSINED HARDBAGS PRIMSIER TURGIDER COYISHLY HAZZANIM PRINTOUT TWIGLOOS CRACOUES HELPDESK PRIVATER UPLOADED CROPSICK HERPESES PROPERER VEGELATE CROSTINI HERSTORY PURPLIER VIATORES CRUSTIES HOLDOUTS QAWWALIS VOLUMISE CURSEOER HOMEBOYS REBADGED VOLUMIZE CURSORES HOROEOLA REBADGES WAVERIER CURTALAX HOUSIEST REBOOTED WEBSITES CURTAXES IDEALESS REDBIRDS WHEATIER CYATHIUM IDOLATOR RESKILLS YAKIMONO CYBERPET IMMANTLE ROOKIEST ZAITECHS CYBERSEX INFAUNAE SARCONET CYMATICS INFAUNAL SAVVIEST ABNORMALS DAYSACKS INFAUNAS SCALLIES ABSOLUTER OENETTED INFOBAHN SCAMMING ACTIONERS DIALOGED INTRANET SINEWIER ACTUALITE OIRENESS IRONIEST SKINCARE AEROTONES D06G0NER JAGGEDER SLAPHEAD AFFLUENZA OROPOUTS JOCKNEYS SLEEPOUT AIRBUSSES DUMPSTER JUNGLIST SPAMMERS ALITERACY OWARFEST KERAMICS SPAMMING ALITERATE DYBBUKIM KLATCHES SPAZZING ANOVULANT ENAILING LADETTES SPICULAE APOPTOSES EMOTICON LEMONIER SPINAGES APOPTOSIS EMPAYRED LEUCOSIN SPRITZED APOPTOTIC EMPAYRES LINISHED SPRITZES APPRAISEE ENTROPIC LINISHER SPUMANTE ARBOVIRUS The Last Word Page 32 October 1999
AYURVEDAS CREESHIER KLATSCHES RICKETIER BACKSLASH CROSSUORT KLEZHORIH RIGATONIS BAIRNLIER CROSTINIS KRAKOWIAK RIGHTSIZE BATTERERS CUCKOLOLY LAHPERSES RUBBERIER BATTLEBUS CUKNINGER LATHERIER SAPORIFIC BIOSENSOR CURSEDEST LEADERENE SARCONETS BLOATVARE CYBERCAFE LEHONIEST SHIVERIER BLOKEDOMS CYBERPETS LEUCOSINS SINEWIEST BLU66IEST CYNOKOLGI LINISKERS SKINCARES BOBBITTEO DATACOMHS LINISHIN6 SLAPHEADS BOOACIOUS 0ATA6LOVE LIVERUING SLEEPOUTS BOSOMIEST 0EFRA6GE0 HAGGOTIER SLEEPOVER BOXERCISE DELIMITER HAILSHOTS SOUKOCARO BREAKBEAT DENETTING MARSQUAKE SPAMHINGS BRIEFCASE DIALOGING MEGAFLOPS SPRITEFUL CAFETIERE DINOHANIA MEGASTARS SPRITZING CALCARATE D0G60NEST METALWARE SPUNANTES CALFLICKS DOUNSHIFT MISERLIER STAHINEAL CAPUCCIOS OUMPSTERS MONOKINIS STANDOUTS CARBONARA EMOTICOMS H0R8IDEST STEELWARE CAROCASES ENPAYRING MOTORBIKE STICHARIA CARJACXEO EKERGISER KOTORBOAT STOCKLOCK CARJACKER ENERGIZER MULTIPACK STOMODAEA CARPACCIO EPIFAUNAE NEWSGROUP STOHOOEUM CARROTIER EPIFAUNAS OCEANARIA STRAWLESS CASHPOINT ESCROWING ONIONIEST STROBINGS CASKSTAND EXTRANETS ORANGIEST SUBWOOFER CAVIARIES FELOSPATH OUTPLACEO SUETTIEST CENTONELL FIDGETIER OUTPLACER SULPHATIC CENTONELS FIREWALLS OUTSOURCE SUPERBUGS CEREAL1ST FLAHEOUTS OVERTYPED SUPERWAIF CHAFFIEST FUTPACKS OVERTYPES SWINGBEAT CHAIRDAYS FLATSHARE OVIRAPTOR SYNTHRONI CHARBROIL FLOPTICAL PANICKIER SYRUPIEST CHAR6RILL FOCACCIAS PAPERIEST TALLITHIM CHARRIEST FOCUSINGS PARCHEESI TAQUERIAS CHECKSUMS FRASCATIS PARTYGOER TECHNOPOP CHOIRGIRL FREEUARES PASTORALI TIMELINES CIABATTAS FROIDEURS PATIENTER TOENAILED CILANTROS FUNBOAROS PEPPERIER TOUSTIEST CINEPHILE GIGABYTES PERITONEA TOWELHEAD CLERKLIKE GIGAFLOPS PHREAKING TRIPPIEST CLERKLING GOBSHITES PIERCINGS TURGIDEST CLOTPOLLS GROUPWARE PLACEBOES UNBUNDLER CLOUDTOWN HANDBALLS PLASTICKY UNINSTALL CLOUTERLY HELPDESKS PLUKPIEST UPLOADING CLUNKIEST HOLOHEDRA PRIMSIEST VARIFOCAL COCHLEARE IDIOPATHY PRINTOUTS VEGELATES COCLLEARS IDOLATORS PRIVATEST VELVETIER COKEHEADS imANTLED PROBIOTIC VOLUHISED COLOHOUSE imANTLES PROPEREST VOLUMISES COLICKIER INFOBAHNS PURPLIEST VOLUHIZED COLTVOODS INFOMANIA OUAVERIER VOLUMIZES COLUBRIAD INHABITOR QUEERCORE WALLCHART COKNOOIFY INOCULUMS QUIVERIER WAVERIEST COMPANOED INTERRAIL RACKETIER WHEATIEST CONCISION INTERTEXT RASTERISE WILLOWIER CONNATURE INTRANETS RASTERIZE UOODSHOCK CONNEXIVE JAGGEOEST REBADGING WORKGROUP CONSOLATE JITTERIER REBOOTING YAKIMONOS COOSENING JUNGLISTS RECYCLATE YELLOWIER COOSINING KARYOGRAM RESKILLED CREATA8LE KETONURIA RESURFACE October 1999 Page 33 The last Word
OSW4 Deletions
Likewise, a short list of all the words you won't be able to play in OSW competition if OSW4 replaces OSW3:
ECO HYDRIAS 08ELI0NS CACUMINALS TRIKING PARAQUAT* CHALDAISMS UGLI SPICULAS HORDEOLUMS ZOPP BIGFOOTSS TREPIDER LANDSCRIPS BOATRACE TRIPENAN OMPHALOSES HYPNA CABERNETS TRIPEMEN RICEGRAINS SHHOE COLETITS YAKIKONA STICHERONS TATIN CROMBIES SUBMENTUMS UGLIS FURTIVER LANDSCRIP GRECISED LEADLINES BARMIZVAH FALSIEJ GRECISES LIVEAXLES BOATRACES MONERS GRECIZEOS LOATHIEST CABERNETSS PHYLES GRECIZESJ PARAQUATS$ CHALDAISN TRIKED INSIGNES RICEGRAIN DIANETICS INTERNET SLIVOVICS FURTIVEST COLETIT LAPSUSES TREPIDEST GRECISING CROMBIE LEADLINE YAKIMONAS GRECIZINGS GRECISE LIVEAXLE INTERNETS GRECIZES LOATHIER BARMIZVAHS
A $ means that the word is currently good for Sowpods play. Of some of the more familiar words that are disappearing:
ECO is now shown as a prefix; SHMOE is now shown as only being spelled as SHMO; UGLJ(S) is a trade name; CABERNET is now one of those capitalised wines; INTERNET is now capitalised, for some reason.
HOW TO WIN AT SCRABBLE An alternative strategy by Joan Johns
I was a member of a Salisbury team playing a league match against a Southampton team. It was a beautiful day and I and my opponent were in the garden. She was in the lead by about 30 points when suddenly, a ball from a neighbouring garden landed right in the middle of the board! Tiles flew everywhere! After consulting the Team Captains we were told theonly thing to do was start the game afresh. I then went on to win by a very comfortable margin. The Last Word 34 October 1999
How do they do may cause our planet to spin dangerously fast The widespread use of non-wood that? Profiles is the Scrabble's community service to the world and many Scrabblers are Thanks to Australian Scrubbier CartBarish for the incensed that they did not receive enuf following ankle (submitted with no previous recognition for their efforts. knowledge of motions put forward to our own AGM ...) HONOURABLE MENTION (Subject Linguistics) The quantity of consonants in the English A contest was held for people to submit their language is constant If omitted in one place, theories on ANY subject Below arethe they turn up in another. When a Bostonian winners: "pahks his can." the lost R's migrate southwest causing a Texan to "warsh" his car 4th RUNNERAJP (Subject Probability Theory) and invest in "erf wells. And you thought If an infinite number of rednecks riding in an some SOWPODS words are weird.... infinite number of pickup trucks fire an infinite number of shotgun rounds at an GRAND PRIX WINNER (Subject Perpetual infinite number of highway signs, they will Motion) eventually produce all the acceptable Scrabble When a cat is dropped, it always lands on its words in every dictionary inBraille. feet and when toast is dropped, it always lands buttered side down. It was proposed to 3rd RUNNER-UP (Subject BktMechanks) strapgiant slabs of hot buttered toast to the Why Yawning Is Contagious: You yawn to back of a hundred tethered cats; the two equalize the pressure on your eardrums. This opposing forces will cause the cats to hover, pressure change outside your eardrums spinning inches above die ground. Using the unbalances other people's ear pressures, so giant buttered toast/cat array, a high-speed they then yawn to even it out At a recent monorail could easily link New York with Scrabble tournament Player A was Chicago. Shortly after the opening of the admonished not to yawn while Player B's TabbyToasdJnk. a Scrabble Challenge was dock was running. Yawning is allowed only arranged between the dubs in New York and when your own dock is running. Chicago on the monorail. The Scrabble rules had to be modified to meet the strict 2nd RUNNER-UP (Subject Symbolic Logic) TabbyToastLJnk timing schedule reducing Communist China is technologically each players clock to 15 minutes. The underdeveloped because theyhave no TabbyToastLJnk players liked the short time alphabet and therefore cannot use acronyms games so much they insisted that all to communicate technical ideas at a faster tournament games be reduced to 15 minutes rate. As this concept spread, the Scrabble per player. An additional schism developed in community was at odds as to how toadapt Scrabbledom, TTLSt (TabbyToastLink anamonics for use in Communist China. Scrabble timing) being the IS minute dock and cSts (classic Scrabble timing scheme) 1st RUNNER-UP (Subject Newtonian Mechanics) being 25 minutes. Along with other schisms The earth may spin foster on its axis due to created additional acronyms such as deforestation. Just as a figure skater's rate of TTLStTWL and cStsOWL Chambers is spin increases when the arms are brought in releasing their new acronym dictionary dose to the body, the cutting of tall trees shortly; it has 1157 pages. October 1999 Page 35 The Last Word
litt'ss word did appear there, then I'm sure it was one of my articles or puzzles. Bbmiagggiinngg The only other word with 4 adjacent pairs of Nmee doubled letters is COOKKOOOOSE, another name for die Coos Indian tribe in Oregon in die north-western USA. This is obviouslya flawed A recent discussion on the internet regarding example because die 1st. 3rd and 4di pairs are double-letters in words threw up the die same letter, O. following gems:
If anyone wants a precise source for From: Graham Wakefield COOKKOOOOSE. it's in "A Handbook Can anyone come up with a word that contains 3 of American Indians North of Mexico11, edited by pain of identical letters, each pair coming directly Frederick Webb Hodge, originally published by after die one before? I was asked this the other die US Smidtsonian Institution in 1906, and dayand have been racking my brain (which didn't republished in die USA in 1965. I mention this take a lot of time) until it's got todie point of because if you get a chance to see this book, you bugging me. will see it's full ofdie most amazing odd spellings of proper names of Indian tribes, villages, From: J1ra Geary geographical features, etc. It has some really odd Yes. Per the 1997 WSC Bios, there should be at combinations of letters, many words/names that least 2 members of this list who do it for a living. use numbers. Greek letters, superscripts, upside- down letters and various non-letter characters. From: Martin Reed BOOKKEEPER! For example, it contains die following:
From: Paul Golder Is someone who works under a bookkeeper • die name CHI8 (yes, CHI8) as another name for die Dakota Indian tribe; called a subbookkeeper? Of course, someone who keeps a raccoon in a nook is technically a • the spelling CHIKAGW (yes. raccoonnookkeeper. CHIKAGW) as an early spelling of die place-name Chicago; From: David Lawton • the names CKUTC. KKHALTEL, I seem to remember the old Games & Puzzles NQUIPOS, OUAOUIECHKAIRINI, magazine coming up with subbookkeeper. but QNIVIRA. QRA. QUITXIX. SXQOMIC, Chambers doesn't recognise it for some reason XABOTAj and ZUXT. (Theseare all (the same applies to the famous spelled correctly - no typos!) benzoxycamphors). From: GraemeThomas From: Darryl Francis That's because die chap who invented written Paul Golder and David Lawton have also Indian language. Sequoia, had access to printed wondered about SUBBOOKKEEPER. I books but he couldn't read, and so he just copied can confirm that this word appears in Webster's the signs he saw in die books. Second New International Dictionary of the English, published between 1934 and I960. (This was the forerunner of the current Webster's -oOo- Third New International.) The book Danyl mentions is on safe in the UK, from David Lawton recalls the word from a Games & the Greenwood Press, London; ISBN no. 837119839, Puzzles magazine article many years ago. If the priced £81.25. (That's not a typoother... PC) The Last Word Page 36 October1999
Tournament When two of the first three results sheets Reports handed in showed drawn games Steve Balment and I wondered if we were the NOTTINGHAM NOMADS victims of a practical joke. The scoresheet Saturday 7 - Sunday 8 August 1999 details, of course, were correct - unlike one Report by Cffve Spate which would beproduced from die final round on Sunday and lead to some confusion when diat day's prizes were awarded. Saturday report (Statistical note: only one other draw
Adams occurred in die other 771 games played 1 Steve Perry 6 +160 during the weekend). 2 Andrew Perry S +375 3 Nick Del lor 4 +185 Ninety-six players attended die tournament
Barnard including 16 who were making their debuts at 1 Helen Greenaway 7 +570 the Gateway Hotel. The SOWPODS group 2 MoIra Conway 6 +360 included several who had recently played in 3 Ivy D1xon-Ba1rd 5 +218 Singapore and some who would be going to
Cassini Melbourne in November plus Gerry Carter 1 Margaret Burdon 7 +326 visiting the UK from Thailand. For once,the 2 David Ellis 5 +364 weekend temperatures weren't in die 80's, 3 DavidShenkin 5 +257 (we'd had die British summer die week
Draper before), so die air-conditioning didn't have to 1 V1v Beckmann 7 +554 go into overdrive. 2 Theresa Cole 6 +105 3 Lesley Watson 5 +250 The £25 ratings prize was won by Theresa
Eddington Cole. Consolation prizes of small docks 1 Elizabeth Draper +151 were won by: 2 Derrick Thorne +83 3 Marjorie Smith +228 • Best last 3 games: Adam Philpotts, 3
Flamsteed wins. +292. 1 Tess McCarthy 7 +648 • Highest spread: Grace Summers, 547. 2 Ph1l1ppa Morris 5. 5 +363 3 Eric Smith 5 +88 Sunday report
Galileo 1 Ann Kinghan 6 +456 Kepler 2 EileenFoster 5 + 181 1 Andrew Perry 5 +262 3 Trish Johnson 5 +180 2 Moira Conway 5 +73 3 Steve Perry 5 +66 Herschel 1 Paul Cartman 6 +457 Laplace 2 Pat Rockley 6 +362 1 Adrienne Berger 7 +646 3 Shirley Heal 6 +230 2 Rob Dowse 7 +270 3 David Ellis 5 +441 Jeffreys 1 Hyra Copieston 6 +522 Messier 2 Jack Baker 6 +277 1 VIv Beckmann 5 +197 3 Grace Summers S +547 2 Lesley Watson 5 +107 3 Sheila Green 5 -5 October 1999 Page 37 The Last Word
Newton in losing a higher scoring entry from Jill 1 Kate Barratt 6 +357 Bright. I should also mention that Jill accepted 2 AlisonSadler 6 +308 3 Pat Col11 no S +163 my mistake with good grace - though I hope to make amends next time. The question Oort "What loosely connects Countdown's 1 Tess McCarthy 7 +391 Richard Whiteley to Britain's last total 2 Kathy BuiIan 5 +225 3 Jill Bright 5 +136 eclipse?" generated some amusing if less than complimentary answers. Ptolecay 1 Joyce Squire 7 +320 • The £30 prize for best runner-up: 2 Syd Berger 6 +653 3 Eileen Foster 6 +167 Eileen Foster, 11 wins. • Best last 3 games: Kay Powick. 3 wins, Quetelet + 187. 1 Shirley Heal 6 +250 2 MarigoldPage 5 +148 • Highest spread- Syd Berger. +653. 3 Val Hoskings 5 +112 The prize for the weekend's best word with Ryle an astronomical theme was won by Ruth 1 Joan Price 6 +301 2 Fuad Shamraas 5 +371 Macinerney who played HEAVENS. Others 3 Christine Nicholson 5 +215 submitted included SOLAR. ORBIT, LUMINANT, ANTHELJA. METEORS, Scoerviiie SELENIUM, SUN and. perhaps nearest to an 1= Jake Berliner 6 +261 1= Norah Thompson 6 +261 actual eclipse. SUNSHADE Jackie McLeod 3 Vernon Draper 5 +362 benefited from one of the quiz answers by playing ISOHELS. Outside the theme word The da/ started with the presentation of we had the rarity ofViv Beckmann playing prizes for Saturday's play. No one could SCRABBLE and a twelve-letter word manage to win all eight games, Tess McCarthy (PRESIDENTIAL) from David Shenkin. foiling at the final hurdle after starting with seven wins. Conversely, no one had the truly The SOWPODS group produced a dose miserable experience of losing all eight -1 finish. After two days play this was won by won't say who came closest with a draw and Terry Kirk's final move of AEGROTAT seven defeats! enabling him to pip David Webb by just 4 points. Even closer was the tie for first place After round I the raffle draw took place. between Jake Berliner and Norah Thompson Sheila had sold £190 worth of tickets, which in the Somerville group. This is the first such together with £100 from the hotel and profit tie in a Nomads weekend. Off hand, I can't from the event meant that £400 would be think of any others - perhaps people with split between The Lymphoma Association and better memories or records will correct me? the Nottinghamshire Leukaemia Fund. Sincere thanks to everyone who contributed. The prizegiving confusion referred to in the opening paragraph stemmed from the winner The quiz was won by Darryl Francis and and loser in one final round game being Sandra Walton with 12 correct answers out transposed on the scoresheet by the two of 20. (Our regular winner, Joyce Cansfield, players. An indecipherable signature didn't was away in Austria on an eclipse viewing help in spotting the error. In future, I won't holiday). I must record an error on my part be so tempted to expedite players' The Last Word October 1999
departures by having the prizegiving before Garao Nasal a the final round results have been displayed. It 1 Phyllis Fernandez S +218 2 Barbara Grant 4 +205 simply isn't worth saving five minutes if 3 Gooff Cooper 4 +58 confusion can be more easily avoided. Hyssop Thanks to everyone who supported the 1 Helen Polhill 7 +803 2 DorothyPearson 5 +247 event, particularly Steve Balment in the 3 Frod Burford 5 +209 unaccustomed role of non-player, helping me with die tedious, but essential, paperwork Sunday rosults: tasks. Acharn 1 Noll Scott 6 +435 The next Nomads weekend is scheduled for 2 Barry Grossman 4 +268 February 5th & 6th, 2000. The entry form is 3 Alan Sinclair 4 +144 enclosed with this newsletter. Bruar 1 Iain Harley 6 +133 2 Nuala 0 Rourke 5 +303 SCOTTISH ROUND ROBIN 3 Pao Titheradge 5 +78 Saturday 14-Sunday 15 August 1999 Clyde Report by Donald Madeod 1 Any Byrne 7 +755 2 Alec Robertson 5 +66 Saturday results: 3 Anne Ramsay 4 -10
Allspice Dollar Glen 1 Alan Sinclair 5 +495 1 Moya Dewar 5 +402 2 Barry Grossman S +59 2 Kate Lockie 5 +140 3 Wilma Warwick 4 -15 3 Janice Boase 4 +650
Basil Eas Coul Aulin 1 Caroline Atkins 5 +87 1 Margaret Armstrong 6 +144 2 Alan Goorgeson 4 +64 2 Sandra Hoffiand 4 +59 3 Marlon Keatings 4 +7 3 AgnesGunn 4 +37
Coriander Foyers 1 Iain Harley 5 +336 1 Phyllis Fernandez 6 +367 2 Para Titheradge 4 +18 2 Kenneth Gordon 5 +456 3 Helen Mitcholl 4 -ll 3 Jean Gallacher 5 +286
Dili Glooach 1 Alec Robertson 5 +270 1 Carmen DoIan 5 +558 2 SylviaSwaney S -54 2 Vai Hoskings 5 +131 3 Marjory Flight 4 +229 3 Marjorie HI slop 4 -110
Endive Hermitage 1 Ann Davidson 5 +422 1 Margaret Harkness 6 +3B1 2 Moya Dewar 5 +388 2 Jessie Tollick 5 +282 3 Janice Beaso 4 +368 3 Ian Uhyte 5 +33
Fenugreek 62 players (2 more than last year) enjoyed a 1 Agnes Gunn 5 +388 smooth 14 games of Scrabble at Stirling 2 Paul Pye 5 +103 3 Margaret Armstrong 5 +10 University. I even managed to play on the Saturday this year, metamorphosing into October 1999 Page 39 The Last Word
Simon Gillam on the Sunday. 17 players came In May, any thoughts of the Perth Club from southofthe border. holding a tournament seemed very remote but after an emergency meeting Dewar's Remarkably, not one but TWO Sunday Rinks wasbooked for 21 August. groups were won by Saturday group winners - has this happened at the Nomads? On the 19th with the usual last minute entries and cancellations we discovered we had an There were three contenders for the runner odd number of players but Jim Falconer, a up prize of an expensive botde, Phyllis past member, offered to play thoughhe Fernandez from Essex bettered lain Hariey hadn't had much practice in the previous 2 and Margaret Armstrong on spread. She years. chose the Brut over the 15-year old Dahvhinnie. thus answering the prayers of As is usual for this event it was a beautiful, this organiser. warm and sunny day when 80 players gathered for the 8* Perth Tournament. A Best word I saw was played by Ursula non-arrival meant that our reserve was not Moonraker over her hapless partner Horace needed. The players were split into 2 Euromilk. The word was LJTUUSES. divisions with 36 in A and 44 in B.
High game (and 2nd highest game) Janice The day ran relatively smoothly with the Bease 574, 549. biggest hiccup being players failing to indicate their lunch choice on the menus provided. High word Alan Sinclair 203 (EQUITANT v However, the staff coped well and no one Danny Bekhor). went hungry.
Themes: In Division A. Marion Keatings beat Moya Herbs/spices (Saturday) - BASILS Winnie Buik Dewar in the final game to take first place. Waterfalls (Sunday) - CAULD (Scots weir) Playing in A for the first time, Perth Club's Alan Georgeson Jacquie Brown won 4 games and finished in 7* place.
PERTH In Division B, Margaret Armstrong, Helen Saturday 21 August 1999 Polhill and May Macdonald all had 4 wins out Report byjayne Rally of 4. May beat Helen but Margaret won her game and with a higher spread took first Division a place. 1 Marlon Keatings S +393 2 Nell Scott 4 +605 3 Anne Ramsay 4 +545 With the highest turnout since the first 4 Paul Allan 4 +495 tournament in 1992. Dewar's Rinks once 5 Helen Mitchell 4 +256 again proved itself to be a popular and excellent venue for Scrabble. Division B 1 Margaret Armstrong 5 +735 2 HayHacdonald 5 +327 3 Stella Brown 4 +378 4 Helen Pol hi 11 4 +312 5 Joe Marsh 4 +190 The Last Word Page 40 October 1999
MIND SPORTS OLYMPIAD BMSC Saturday 21 - Thursday 26 August 1999 Saturday 28 - Monday 30 August 1999
Division A Results provided by Terry Kirk 1 Andrew Perry 13 +991 2 Gary Pol hi 11 12 +758 Weekend Sowpods 12 games. 20 players 3 Jake Jacobs 12 +352 1 PhilipNelkon 9 £1,200 4 Hike Willis U +1093 2 Mark Nyman 9 £800 S Russel1 Byors 11 +635 3 Feral Awowade a £400 9 Hike 0 Rourke 9.5 +604 4 Terry Kirk 8 (Rating Prize)
Weekend OSW 12 games, IB players Division B 1 Simon Carter £200 1 DavidEllis 13 +482 2 Sandie Simonis £100 2 Sheila Green 12 +535 3 TonyKilltlaa £50 3 Pauline Johnson 11 +633 4 Hargaret Bright 11 +506 Weekday Sowpods 10 player• round robin 5 Diana Beasley 11 +387 1 Nark Nyman 8 £550 2 Feo1 Awowade 7 £350 Division C 3 Allan Saidanha 6 £200 1 Graham Haker 13 ♦783 4 Terry K1rk S 2 LindaVickers 11 ♦793 3 Philip Aldous 11 ♦387 Weekday OSW 10 players 4 Vai Wright 10 +399 1 Tony Killiloa £150 5 Laura Finley 10 +314 2 Jackie KcLeod £100 3 Peter Dean £50 Division D 1 Kin Phipps 13 +813 2 L1z Allen 12 +800 3 Hargaret Yeadon 12 +423 4 Harjorie Smith 10 +496 BMSC LADIES 5 Syd Berger 10 +187 Friday 27 - Saturday 28 August 1999 Division E 1 Peter Ashurst 15 +1394 G#DivisionWWW 9M 9 Wll flA Elleen Foster 13 +762 1 Ruth Madnernoy 5 +396 2 Carmen DoIan 11.5 + 123 2 Amy Byrne s +253 3 Cell a Osborn 11 +699 3 Nuaia 0 Rourke 4 +495 4 Janet Bonham 11 +505 4 Pauline Johnson 4 +269 5 5 Shot la Green 4 +234 Division F Division B 1 Chris Wide 13 +375 1 Janet Bonham S +275 2 Sue Ball 12 ♦ 1161 2 Kim PMpps 5 + 138 3 Ann Golding 12 +215 3 HarjoMe Smith 4 +303 4 Ruby Flood 11 +669 4 Samantha Beckwith 4 +161 5 Paul Cartman 10 ♦407 S June Wilson 4 +138 SOWPODS 1 David Acton 12 + 1367 2 Allan Simmons 11.5 +248 3 Brett Smitheram 11 +1018 4 Andy Davis 10 + 106 5 Andrew Cook 9 +279 October 1999 Page 41 The Last Word
Report by Lois McUod BMSC CLABBERS KO Saturday 28 - Sunday 29 August 1999 There was the usual last minute flurry of changes to be made to the piadngs before the Report by Horace Euromilk BMSC 1999 got under way. One competitor who was unable to takepart because of ill- 16 Intrepid souls were variously bullied, health was GraemeThomas who spent most volunteered, cajoled or bribedto enter die of die weekend resting in his room. It was 1999 BMSC Clabbers Knockout which took good tosee that he was able to act as runner place over die weekend. Eariy shocks towards die end of the time, having included die first round departures of Conrad recovered sufficiently. Ewok at die handsof Horace Euromilk (504- 501) and Patrick Kain at the hands of Leafy The venue was new. It had proved to be Urinal. However, die other favourites (Terry impossibleto book any other Hall of Veeps. jack Seajob, Arden Frewish, Wanda Residence in Nottingham and we found Hugh Divers. Embert Titmarsh and Dr Warren Pye) Stewart Hall to be not quite as convenient in all made it through to the Qtr final. The many ways. ensuing batdes were memorable and are still talked about in Clabbers circles. Jack Seajob The Ladies Competition attracted 38 players, emerged victorious from die first Semi-final some coming along just for that event A against Terry Veeps and Embert Titmarsh major problem in the main competition was claimed die odier final spot by beating Dr caused by die defection of the two local Pye. In a close-fought final played in die bar runners. They opted out after completing on Monday lunch-time, both players had their one session and nothing more was heard chances but it was Embert Titmarsh with a from them. The organiser therefore had to colossal score well into die 600's who help, despite a recent knee operation. Once emerged die Champion and took die £20 again, the value of the Round Robin system first prize, jack Seajob won £10 and die £2 for die majority of die players was apparent - consolation prize was shared by Embert and having a player in each sessionactas runner Diane Missions for die longest words played ensured that queries were attended to (only 9 letters). quickly. Probably die highlight of the championship The programme was adhered to with great was Arden Frewish's record score of 753 regularity, everyone being ready to begin die against Leo Lard Lichens in die first round. next game right on time: in general the weekend was largely thought to have been successful. The Last Word Page 42 October 1999
Forthcoming This is a commercial event and is not ABSP rated. Tournaments lit Barber. 9 Birkswood Drive, Sheffield S35 OHY 901723 361248 EAST LONDON Saturday 16 October 1999
EppingForest College, Borders Lane, ISLE OF WIGHT VECTIS Loughton, Essex. Registration 09.45. 6 Friday 29 October to Saturday 30 October games, £11.50 (+ SOp non-members). ISLE OF WIGHT Saturday 30 to Sunday 31 October Pot Macbean, 7 Etloe House, 180 Church Road, Leyton EIO 7DF 9020 8539 1358 Noel Turner 901983 290027
PORLOCK MIDDLESBROUGH Monday 8 to Friday 12 November 1999 Sunday 17 October 1999 This is a commercial event and games will be Linthorpe Community Centre, Linthorpe ABSP rated. Road, Middlesbrough. Registration 10.15. 5 games, £7.50 (+ £4.00, non-members, + 50p Ove Spate 90115 920 0208 no clock).
Tony Davis, 13 Thames Road, Redcar TSIO IPW HAVERING 901642 457108 Sunday 14 November 1999
Doddinghurst Village Hall, Church Lane. ELGIN Doddinghurst, Brentwood, Essex. Saturday 23 October 1999 Registration 09.30. 5 games, £10.00 (+ 50p non-members, + SOp no clock). SOWPODS Elgin Community Centre, Trinity Road, Elgin. division if sufficient demand. Packed lunch Registration 10.00-10.30. 5 games. £10.00. recommended. Cheques to "Havering Closing date 13 October. Cheques to "Elgin Scrabble Club". Scrabble Club.
Christina French, 127 Carkon Road, Gidea Park, Lorraine Gordon, "Qenview", Aberdeen Road, Romford, Essex RM2 5AU. 901708 701578. Huntly AB54 6]D 901466 79433.
RIVELYN HOTEL, SCARBOROUGH SWANSEA Saturday 20 November 1999
Friday 29 October to Monday I November Robert Johnston, 8 Y Berllan, Dunvant, Swansea 1999 SA2 7RVV. 9 01792 296886. Oaobtr 1999 Page 43 The last Word
GLASGOW WEST SUSSEX Saturday 20 November 1999 Sunday 13 February 2000
Mary Jones, 40 Riverside Park, Netherlee, Peter Hail 901903 717571 Glasgow G44 3PG9Tom WOson 01698 263054 LEICESTER WEST END Saturday 26 February 2000 ABSP WINTER MATCHPLAY Saturday 27 to Sunday 28 November 1999 Marjorit Smith 90116 255 1176
FortePosthouse. Milton Keynes. Entry form included with this newsletter. DSS NEWCASTLE Saturday 12 March 2000 Mike Willis 901908 668117 John Harrison 90191 2434682
CHESTER WEEKEND Friday 14 to Sunday 16 January 2000 JERSEY FESTIVAL OF SCRABBLE Saturday 18 - Friday 24 March 2000 Kothy Rush, Riverside Cottage, 10 The Quay, Frodsham, Cheshire WA6 7JG. 901928 Hotel de Normandie, St Helier. Jersey. Two 733565. tournaments to be held: a weekend tournament of 11 games, and a weekday evening tournament of 20 games. Both NOTTINGHAM NOMADS tournaments will have SOWPODS and OSW Saturday 5 - Sunday 6 February 2000 divisions. ABSP Rating will be applied for. £1.000 in prize money will be available. Entry form included with this newsletter. Paul Colder 901277 633339 Give Spate SOUS 920 0208
Note to Entrants:
Those rules apply to all tournaments!
The entry cost of all rated tournaments includes the ratings levy. Position! are determined on winand spread unless otherwise stated. Smoking ij not permitted within the playing area. You will normally be placed in a division equivalent to your rating or ability. You may request to enter a higher division but ihe Tournament Organiser reserves the right eo reject your request. Entries are at the sole discration ofthe Tournament Organiser. You must always include a SAE with your application for entry. PleaM arrhfo on time! The Last Word Page 44 October1999
The Back Page
The ABSP Newsletter is published in February, April, June, August. October and December. The deadline for the next issue is 29 November 1999. Thank you for all the cakes (and drawings of cakes).
Letters and Paul Golder, 117 Passingham Avenue, Billericay, Essex CM 11 2TA event entry forms Tel: 01277 633339 rax: 01277 651505 e-mail: [email protected]
Events Information Mike O'Rourke, 22 Kestrel Lane, Oakham, Rutland LEI5 6BU Tel: 01572 756968 e-mail: o'[email protected]
Word-related pieces Nick Deller, 17 Windsor Road. Godmanchester, Cambs PEI8 8DD Tel: 01480 454464 e-mail: [email protected]
Anything else... Amy Byrne. 12 Northfield Terrace. Edinburgh EH8 7PX including Game Tel: 0131 661 3869 positions for now e-mail: [email protected]
David Ellis, winner of the B division at the BMSC. Many thanks to Maura Protest for supplying the photos.