97 The bi-monthly magazine of the 7 APRIL 8 APRIL CCAALLEENNDDAARR OOFF EEVVEENNTTSS 7 APRIL A P R IL ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH A quick reference to forthcoming events SCRABBLE PLAYERS (fuller list and details inside) Apr 18th Brighton (6) Jim Lyes 01273 813006 Apr 24th Newcastle (5) Viv Beckmann 0191 273 1705 Apr 24th Southend (6) Evelyn Wallace 01702 302569 Apr 30th-May 2nd Rhein, Germany (14+) Karl Khoshnaw +49 5541 954794 May 1st-2nd Scottish Championships (12) Amy Byrne 0191 273 1705 May 2nd MSO Cambridge (6) Helen Latchem 01223 440642 May 9th Bourne (6) Betty Benton 01778 425234 No 95 APRIL 2004 May 9th Newport (5) Terry Jones 01633 775313 May 16th Bournemouth (7) Ruth Marsden 01202 707148 Deadline for next issue 7th May May 29th-31st Stoke Rochford (18) Christina French 01708 701578 June 6th Melton Mowbray (5) Maureen Rayson 01664 563330 Scrabbling to be on TV Jun 13th Peterlee (5) Samantha Beckwith 0191 586 6436 Jun 26th Luton (6) June Edwards 01908 679041 “Did you see how well my mate Clive did?“ Yes, it's always good to see our Scrabbling chums on TV, especially when they are doing well, like Clive Spate on Millionaire and July 24th Lincoln (6) Teresa Hill 01427 838741 Stewart Holden on Countdown. We get the chance to bask in a little reflected glory. And now there’s another opportunity for The National Scrabble Champion- Scrabblers to appear on screen coming up soon. ships and the National Scrabble Club Josh Whitehead is a journalist who is working Tournament will take place this year, on a Scrabble documentary for Channel 4 inspired by the best-selling book Word Freak. initially with five regional heats. Jackie McLeod ABSP Publicity Officer says You should find full details of the “He first made contact last year after the NSC SCRABBLE HOLIDAYS 2004 tournament format, venues and qualifying round, with a view to meeting the 30 Apr - 3 May Best Western Berkeley, dates on an enclosure with this issue semifinalists. He gathered loads of info about Worthing the whole UK Scrabble scene - history, rules, 14 - 17 May Lothersdale Hotel, of The Last Word. dictionaries, events, ratings, players etc, then Morecambe Stewart Holden, standing under the clock, won a commission from Channel 4 to make a 11 - 14 June Best Western Heronston has a rendezvous with the Countdown Anagrid Solution one hour documentary. Along the way he Hotel, Bridgend quarter-finals in May. 25 - 28 June Ramada Jarvis, Caledonian, WAL I SES FYLFOTS started to play and to enter tournaments. Ayr HULLED AORTAE “He has now reached the stage of filming and interviewing and will be at the Exeter. 23 - 26 July Ramada Jarvis, Bingley ETALAGE JUPAT I S tournament His working title is Scrabble Stories. He has chosen his main “characters“ - a 3-6 September Clifton Hill Hotel, Penrith RUNS YCOND SOLA varied and representative selection of players, although I won’t say who at this stage - but EME R I A MEM 1 - 4 October Best Western Park Lodge he is still seeking other interesting stories and characters. Hotel, Falkirk INRO VULNS KADE 17 - 23 October Hotel Le Relais Alpin, NOXERSADOWNS In his own words: “Between their stories I’m looking for little Scrabble vignettes to fill the Switzerland BOA AWE programme, generally of ‘living room’ Scrabble but I’m keen to spread my net. For instance 29 Oct - I Nov Cairn Hotel, Harrogate Q BONIE ZILLS T there’s a couple who’ve played every lunchtime for 20 years and keep their scores in a huge 12-15 November Standish Moat House, ADAW CROON ACME leather bound tome that they treasure. Another couple proposed at an airport using a Travel Wigan SAC BUR UVA Scrabble set.“ IWI S P IKI S AMUS Enquiries to Viv Beckmann So if your club has a notable “character“ or someone with an interesting story, or if you DILUVIA LEGIBLE 01912 731705 have an entertaining tale to tell, please contact Josh direct: [email protected] ASLEEP CALLER [email protected] SH I TT IM POSSESS SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark of J.W.Spear & Sons Ltd., Maidenhead SL6 4UB ISSUE CONTENTS Committee Corner .......................... 1 Edgeways ........................................ 36 CCOOMMMMIITTTTEEEE CCOORRNNEERR The Dictionary Issue ........................ 4 Xtras ................................................ 39 Tournament Results and Reports .... 10 Lambs to the slaughter .................... 42 Across The Board ............................ 22 Forthcoming Events .......................... 43 The Committee held its most recent meeting on Sunday 21 March in Nottingham. Allan Putting a face to the name .............. 31 Edgeways Answers .......................... ifc Simmons opened by welcoming the committee’s two newest members: Elie Dangoor as Ratings ............................................ 32 Calendar of Events ..........................obc Data Controller, and Darryl Francis as part of the ABSP’s Dictionary Committee. The British Matchplay Scrabble Championship, the ABSP’s flagship event, will this year be Throughout this publication, comments by the Editor do not represent the views of the held from Saturday 28 to Monday 30 August, with the AGM on the Sunday night of that ABSP Committee. Any statements by the Committee are clearly marked as such. All weekend. For further detail, see elsewhere in this issue. other contributions to The Last Word represent only the views of the contributor. Distributed with this issue of TLW is the 2004 Handbook, containing the updated game rules and administrative information such as contact details for the Committee. Please keep THE LAST WORD TEAM this somewhere safe so that any time you feel the need to contact the committee or check The Last Words Team welcomes contributions from readers to their respective areas, on a game rule, you know where to find it. either as letters, articles or suggestions. Contact information: Continuing on the subject of publications, the Committee has reviewed the role of TLW General Editor: Games and Strategies: Words and Puzzles: editor, and agreed that under Alec Webb TLW has never been so professional, in both its Alec Webb Phil Appleby, Raymond Tate, appearance and its content. Given that TLW is one of the biggest advantages of ABSP 17 St Margarets Road Thorns Cottage, 6 Amochrie Glen membership, and that being editor requires a great deal of both commitment and flexibility, Lowestoft Mount Pleasant Lane, Hollybrook the Committee felt it was time to remunerate this role. This is both as an incentive to Suffolk Lymington, Paisley maintain the current high standards, and as a thank-you for all the hard effort, always NR32 4HS Hants SO41 8LS PA2 0DY within tight deadlines, that the role demands. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Alongside TLW, another benefit to ABSP membership is the availability of support should Forthcoming events: Features: you need it. Everyone attending any Scrabble event should be entitled to be treated with Paul Cartman, Christina French dignity and courtesy – in the unlikely event of you feeling that someone has behaved 9 Chapel Terrace, 127 Carlton Road, inappropriately towards you at a tournament, perhaps making you uncomfortable, you Stafford ST16 3AH Gidea Park, Romford, should have no hesitation in calling the Tournament Organiser’s attention to this. As a 01785 211851 Essex RM2 5AU [email protected] 01708 701578 member of the ABSP, you can also alert the Committee to any problems in this area, [email protected] knowing that your complaint will be taken seriously and followed up with any action the Deadline for next issue 7th May 2004 committee sees as appropriate. In the event of issues of The Last Word not being received, or if you change The Committee operates through the input of members, so it seems appropriate at this point your address, please contact Viv Beckmann to remind members of the particular issues on which we are currently seeking input. We Tel: 0191 273 1705 or email: [email protected] are still seeking nominations for the Terry Hollington award – details on this are advertised elsewhere in this issue. Additionally, any readers who have yet to return the Dictionary Questionnaire distributed with the last issue should do so as soon as possible, so that their Refer-a-friend Scheme views are not neglected in the months ahead. The latest news on the proposed switch to a Collins lexicon is contained elsewhere in this issue. If by 30th June, through your encouragement, someone joins the The next meeting of the Committee will be held around the middle of June. If you have any ABSP for the first time, you will receive a voucher giving you £5 queries or comments you would like passed on to the Committee, please write, phone or discount on your subscription for 2005. Be sure to make Viv Beckmann aware of accost a committee member at your convenience. your entitlement. Tel: 01912 731705 or email: [email protected] There is a limit of three vouchers per member. Ross Mackenzie 1 AGM 2004 World Scrabble Championship 2005 This year’s AGM will again be at the West Bromwich Moat House in conjunction with the Here is a reminder of the qualifying criteria for the 2005 World Championship. 2004 British Matchplay Scrabble Championships - Sunday 29th August. England has 9 places for the events; Scotland and Wales each have 2 places. The winners Although that’s still a long way off, now’s a good time to start thinking if you are of the 2004 and 2005 National Championships will take two of these spots, the rest will pondering submitting a motion. Although a further reminder will be given next issue, it be selected from the ABSP Ratings at the end of 2004. Players must have played at least 60 can help to air a motion well in advance to increase awareness of the thinking behind a rated games during 2004, including at least 30 in the second half of the year.