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Category: News
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Best improver for this quarter is Wanda de Poitiers, ahead of Richard and Michael Spencer in second and third places.   Welcome to Joanne (Jo) Hepburn and Megel Barker. 

High-scoring words:

·       112       EXOTICS                      Wanda

·       105       SOUPING                     Sharon

·       104       SQUIRTER                   Joy

·       102       TRACHEAS                  Megel

·       101       QUINTARS                   Helen

·       98        FRONTAGE                  Graham

·       97        WEEDING                    Graham

·       96        TRAYFUL                     Graham

·       95        DASHIEST                    Helen

·       94        CLIENTS                      Helen

·       94        STREAMED                  Deborah

·       93        SECTION                     Hepzi

·       92        EVASION                     Helen

·       92        EXAMINER                   Helen

·       91        PARSONS                    Graham

·       91        STUNTED                     Graham

·       89        SLINKER                      Maire

·       89        SKIVERS                      Charles

·       89        STAINED                      Charles

·       86        FAIREST                      Helen

·       86        SOAPIEST                    Jim

·       85        IRISATE                       Jim

·       85        SPANGLE                     Keith

·       84        STRIDER                      Jim

·       82        BLASTER                     Maire

·       82        HIDEOUT                     Charles

·       81        DOUBLET                     Helen

·       81        URINATE                      Maire

·       80        BEAUTIES                    Helen

·       80        UPRIVER                      Mary

·       79        STREAMS                    Charles

·       78        CINEMAS                     Martin

·       77        DERIDERS                   Joy

·       77        EASTERN                     Jim

·       77        HAIRNET                      Jim

·       77        HASTIER                      Maire

·       77        ZESTY                          Maire

·       76        HUNTERS                    Maire

·       76        PAUSING                     Keith

·       75        PASTIER                      Jim

·       75        THINNERS                   Maire

·       74        DUMPIER                     Jim

·       74        OFFENCES                  Martin

·       73        STERNER                     Maire

·       72        BANDAGES                  Jim

·       72        SOLDIER                      Jim

·       70        ATONERS                    Maire   

·       Other words: BENDERS 69 Maire, BITTERS 69 Maire, DETAILED 69 Maire, LADDERS 69 Maire, LASAGNE 69 Jim, BRASSING 68 Charles, PIRATES 68 Maire, SHELTIE 68 Jim, RAISERS 67 Maire, TAENIAE 67 Jim, TOUSLES 67 Maire, URINATE 66 Keith, DELETING 64 Keith, INERTIA 64 Keith, NASTIER 64 Jim, SEQUINS 64 Keith, SNAGGLE 64 Helen, ARSENAL 63 Jim, FESTERS 63 Jim , SMELTING 63 Maire, CANISTER 62 Maire, LAMENTS 62 Joy, LOOPIEST 61 Jim, VIOLINS 54 Charles, BASQUE Charles, BREADED Amanda, NATTERS Maire

 

Many bonuses or high-scoring moves by one player in a game:

·       GAZE 50 QUINA 56 HURRIES 77 JETON 71 LOWRIES 87 OVARIAN 87 INTITLE 60           Helen

·       AEROBIC 73 TRAWLERS 74 DENIERS 85 LACQUER 79 FOXED 65        Wanda

·       ANNOYING 64 INFECTS 88 TAXI 55 IZAR 57 REVERED 94                  Helen

·       EJECTOR 104 STANGED 92 FLOATIER 67 LOUDENS 70                     Wanda

·       REBUTTED 63 OPIATES 71 NOSTRIL 70 CUSHION 80                         Graham

·       CONVENES 101 FORESTER 72 HARKENS 74                                      Wanda

·       DECANTER 68 TEMPLED 84 RESTIVE 79                                            Graham

·       DELUDED 71 ODDMENT 96 ERECTING 74                                          Wanda

·       DINGBAT 83 RETIRAL 72 EGOTIST 72                                                 Richard

·       DOCKING 84 RECLINER 57 ANODISE 82                                             Fiona

·       FASTENER 90 UNITARDS 70 OUTLIER 76                                           Helen

·       GENTEEL 69 SORBENT 80 DENTILS 83                                               Wanda

·       HETAIRA 89 TOLERANT 74 NEOGENE 85                                            Richard

·       LACTEAN 70 LEAVENED 74 SHINTIED 83                                            Richard

·       LINEATED 76 SECTIONS 80 STARTERS 84                                         Wanda

·       LODESTAR 68 COMATOSE 78 BESTAIN 81                                         Graham

·       NERVILY 76 DIACTINE 74 IODURET 66                                                Richard

·       OSTEOID 77 ESCALATE 72 STROKER 91                                            Wanda

·       POUTING 67 TINDERS 73 FURCATED 80                                            Richard

·       RERAISED 69 FENESTRA 62 ALOETIC 68                                           Wanda

·       RESIDUES 80 AUSTERE 73 INUTILE 77                                               Wanda

·       RESTAGED 74 INSANER 76 ANTLERED 74                                          Wanda

·       TAGETES 73 RECITING 72 BANEFUL 66                                              Wanda

 

Other things:

·       New personal bests:      Helen 609

·       11-letter word:               ADMINISTERS 34 Michael

  

Name

Old rating

New rating

Rating change

P

W

D

L

Average

Highest score

Highest ever

Wanda de Poitiers

164

182

18

34

29

0

5

437.5

575

598

Richard Spencer

185

202

17

28

26

0

2

439.0

531

625

Michael Spencer

80

93

13

32

9

1

22

313.6

407

502

Hepzi Rodrigues

129

137

8

20

10

0

10

349.8

465

554

Martin Stephens

109

113

4

25

11

0

14

332.9

443

477

Fiona Titcombe

148

152

4

23

14

0

9

396.3

494

551

Amanda Lowe

80

82

2

26

6

0

20

306.2

379

392

Joy Wade

106

107

1

14

6

0

8

333.2

442

484

Sharon Hewitt

131

130

-1

14

9

0

5

359.2

418

548

Graham Harding

180

179

-1

44

33

0

11

428.5

571

661

Helen Harding

190

186

-4

42

33

0

9

444.6

609

609

Maire Bennett

61

55

-6

32

2

0

30

264.0

343

498

Pat Llanwarne

130

123

-7

17

8

0

9

346.4

442

516

Deborah Porter

137

130

-7

28

14

0

14

354.3

440

542

Charles Parker

113

104

-9

32

14

1

17

320.4

443

509

Jim Macey

126

116

-10

19

7

0

12

354.8

447

478

Keith Radbourn

82

69

-13

36

3

0

33

282.8

380

418

Insufficient games – a previous quarter’s results, or 13 games in a quarter, needed to qualify

Megel Barker

 

174

1

6

4

0

2

400.8

464

464

Joanne Hepburn

 

38

-26

3

0

0

3

269.3

292

292

Mary Twomey

99

106

7

9

3

0

6

319.9

377

430

Jen Brennan

50

 

0

0

0

0

0

 

0

436

Maureen Barlow

122

 

0

0

0

0

0

 

0

528

Details
Category: News
Hits: 147

 

The National Scrabble Championships took place at the end of May. Richard was our sole participant - and here is his report as to how he fared :

....

I attended this year's National Scrabble Championship (23 games over 3 days in Coventry) during the last weekend in May. I was the only East Berks player attending.
 
In the main division there were 50 players. It was a strong field as usual and I was at the  bottom end ranked 37 of the 50.
 
I had a good start winning the first game with bonuses of BENITIER and TYLOSIN giving a win by 450-412. Then came 3 games against high rated players which I lost. Gambled on ZARECHS in one of those but wasn't good. Should gave played ZAS for 47 keeping CHE? which given I lost by 31 could have changed the result. However won games 5 and 6 and finished day 1 on 3 wins.
 
Then had the first of 2 bad spells losing 5 straight including the first 4 on day 2. 4 of those were lost  by over 80. I did win a close game in game 12 by 460-442 and then game 13 but in game 14 got hit with a 149 point 9 timer of PEARLITE after playing a bonus.
 
Did manage to get back on track with a few more wins to get me to 8 wins but didn't feel I got the breaks at the end where opponents drew better tiles. I did lose two close games by 9 and 3 towards the end though so with better play might have added to my tally.
 
However, enjoyed the challenge and will enter again in the future. There was a quiz after day 2 which was fun.
 
Bonus highlights were as follows;
 
Played by me - Benitier, Tylosin, Eventide, Adnation, Imposted, Uralite, Entoptic, Agrates, Minivets, Sorbitol, Outrance, Spiering
Played by opponents - Voidance, Cornute, Capriole, Whoopers, Pearlite 9x
 
---
 
Thanks Richard for the report - you had some tough games and some fantastic words played in your games.
 
Here is one of Richard's boards :
 
 

Details
Category: News
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Richard recently played in a tournament in Broadstairs. Here is his report :

 

There are several events held at Broadstairs during the year including one and two day tournaments with two one day events planned in August. I entered a two day event over the weekend of 20-21st April -the theme was Saucy Seaside Special and some of the players came in fancy dress outfits.
 
It was the first time I'd attended and as well as Broadstairs there are nearby seaside towns in Margate and Ramsgate within a few miles of the venue. 
 
 The event (held next to Crampton Tower museum) was split into 3 divisions of similar rated players with 43 players after one late dropout. I was the one East Berks player involved and played in Division B (The Randy Ruperts Division) in a round robin format.
 
On day one I split the first 4 games but after drawing game 5 lost the last three so not the best of starts.  
 
Day two was better winning 4 out of 7 and finishing with 6 and a half from 15.  
 
A selection of my favourite words/bonuses played by me and against me are as follows;
 
Me - ANNOYERS, SPIERED, QUINZE (non bonus), FRIEZED (non bonus), TAILGATE, VOTARIES, RARENESS, ENPRINTS, AIERIES, RAUCLEST, ATTRITS, FILCHER
 
Opponents- SAPROBE, GNOCCHI, PENTOSAN, PANTHEON, SLEEVING
 

Details
Category: News
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Best improver for this quarter is Charles Parker, ahead of Fiona Titcombe and Martin Stephens/Wanda de Poitiers, tied in third place.

 

 

High-scoring words:

·       149       CALIBERS                    Richard (9-timer)

·       140       DELOUSER                  Graham

·       125       REQUITED                   Richard

·       106       EXTENDS                     Wanda

·       106       SEXPOTS                     Deborah

·       102       DORKIEST                   Richard

·       102       MOUNTED                   Wanda

·       101       ZETA                            Wanda

·       100       ZINCITE                       Helen

·       98        DELIVERS                    Martin (4-timer)

·       96        COALING                     Charles

·       95        THRIVES                      Mary

·       94        HAMSTER                    Maire

·       94        ZEAL                            Graham

·       93        MOISTER                     Graham

·       93        PAINTED                      Fiona

·       92        SHAKERS                     Michael

·       92        TOFFEES                     Hepzi

·       91        FAINTED                      Graham

·       90        REBATES                     Graham

·       90        RECLAIM                     Fiona

·       90        SCARING                     Graham

·       89        SEALING                      Michael

·       88        THREADY                     Martin

·       87        WINTERY                     Michael

·       85        ANSATED                     Fiona

·       84        CHAPTERS                  Maire

·       84        HARPIES                      Maire

·       83        DISCRETE                    Joy

·       83        KEENEST                     Deborah

·       83        PARTISAN                    Deborah

·       83        PORTIERE                   Helen

·       82        BLADDER                     Michael

·       82        MINSTER                     Maire

·       81        DARNEST                     Maire

·       81        TRAINEE                      Maire

·       80        ADJURES                     Charles

·       80        EXERCISE                    Keith

·       80        TESTERS                     Maire

·       80        WEDGIES                    Maire

·       Other words: 79 STREAMS Charles, 77 SPINDLE Charles, 77 SWATTED Maire, 77 TERRIES Maire, 77 TRAWLER Maire, 76 TINDERS Maire, 75 COSHING Charles, 74 MARINER Keith, 74 PLUNGES Maire, 74 SWAGGER Maire,73 DIRTIER Keith, 73 SERVING Charles, 72 BOATERS Maire, 72 LAIRING Maire, 72 SAGGIER Maire, 71 RANTER Maire, 71 SALTIER Keith, 70 FORAGER Keith, 70 TWANGERS Maire, 69 ANTLERS Maire, 69 ROASTER Maire, 68 STAIDER Maire, 67 EQUALISE Joy, 67 STATUES Keith, 67 TEASERS Maire, 66 DISTAIN Keith, 66 INVESTOR Charles, 65 COATING Maire, 65 MAX Maire, 64 TAINTED Keith, 61 RETAINS Maire, 57 LINSEED Keith, 57 UTENSIL Maire, 54 VIOLINS/SCANT Charles

 

Many bonuses or high-scoring moves by one player in a game:

·       DORKIEST 102 GANNETS 69 DERISION 68 GENTILIC 74 BRAIDERS 64  Richard

·       ATONIES 74 SLEIGHT 83 SOLATION 70 STOOLIE 70                                       Helen

·       DEARIES 74 MACERATE 86 BANTERS 74 EPERIAS 93                                    Richard

·       FROISES 80 SENATOR 78 TANAGERS 89 RETINUE 88                                     Wanda

·       HELIAST 78 EXPORTED 69 RECITALS 73 CRISPER 84                                    Helen

·       JANITOR 88 GLISTEN 82 PERINEA 73 EROTISED 80                                       Wanda

·       MOLINETS 61 PANTIES 74 STONERN 72 SAVOURS 82                                   Wanda

·       PROMOTER 95 CRUISES 68 STARTING 82 SALTIER 78                                  Joy

·       RATEENS 71 INLIERS 73 PRETEND 77 EBONIST 77                                        Graham

·       RETINAS 74 HEMLINES 66 NUTRIAS 70 OXO 53                                                Helen

·       TAENIAE 66 READING 74 RATOONS 67 PUTZ 70                                            Wanda

·       ACROSTIC 76 AGNISED 88 ISOLATE 63                                                          Helen

·       DEMOTES 79 ENGAOLS 84 MOUNTED 102                                                     Wanda

·       FANZINE 92 RATINGS 73 TRAINEE 63                                                             Helen

·       IGUANAS 74 NAIADES 81 EXTENDS 106                                                         Wanda

·       NARDINE 71 OVERDOSE 70 TELFORDS 65                                                     Richard

·       VOLLEYS 70 REMAINED 70 REHIRES 72 ZETA 101                                         Wanda

·       FERRETS 75 PARDINE 73 BLURTING 70                                                         Fiona

·       MASONITE SPLATTED 86 MINIVERS 98                                                          Helen

·       MATTERS 75 WEARIES 92 EDENTATE 72                                                       Wanda

·       PAINTIER 64 FIREDOGS 67 SNORERS 80                                                       Helen

·       SEXPERT 93 OVERSAD 85 DEVIANTS 89                                                        Helen

·       SNEAKED 84 OVERNETS 64 DEMENTED 66                                                    Helen

·       THRONES 78 COINTER 92 ATTUNED 88                                                         Wanda

·       TOREDOS 70 SOBRIETY 82 TRAIPSE 70                                                         Richard

·       UTILISE 74 OTARINE 76 UNITIES 74                                                                Wanda

·       VALETING 89 CELLIST 87 REZERO 75                                                             Wanda

·       WAISTED 84 HUNTERS 73 MONSTERA 83                                                      Helen

·       SHITTER 75 RENTALS 81                                                                                Maire

There’s something of a theme in this quarter’s words:  DEVIANTS DIRTIER EROTISED PANTIES SEXPERT SEXPOTS WEDGIES, among others : was there something on people’s minds?

Other things:

·       New personal bests:      Jim 478, Maire 498, Wanda 598

·       10-letter word:               EXPOUNDERS 60 Michael 

Name

Old rating

New rating

Rating change

P

W

D

L

Average

Highest score

Highest ever

Charles Parker

98

113

15

30

14

2

14

338.3

459

509

Fiona Titcombe

134

148

14

23

18

0

5

421.4

550

551

Martin Stephens

101

109

8

27

11

1

15

334.3

442

477

Wanda de Poitiers

156

164

8

39

29

0

10

440.1

598

598

Graham Harding

175

180

5

47

38

0

9

439.0

595

661

Deborah Porter

133

137

4

33

16

1

16

355.6

485

542

Michael Spencer

77

80

3

34

8

0

26

303.6

424

502

Jim Macey

124

126

2

20

9

1

10

351.2

478

478

Helen Harding

188

190

2

43

36

0

7

432.3

557

597

Mary Twomey

99

99

0

17

7

0

10

318.5

396

430

Richard Spencer

186

185

-1

35

28

0

7

434.8

619

625

Hepzi Rodrigues

133

129

-4

27

14

0

13

370.5

498

554

Pat Llanwarne

134

130

-4

14

7

0

7

347.1

415

516

Sharon Hewitt

137

131

-6

14

6

0

8

342.5

436

548

Keith Radbourn

91

82

-9

27

5

1

21

290.5

372

418

Amanda Lowe

92

80

-12

29

4

0

25

290.9

383

392

Maire Bennett

74

61

-13

33

2

0

31

294.0

498

498

Joy Wade

120

106

-14

25

6

0

19

335.6

449

484

Insufficient games – a previous quarter’s results, or 13 games in a quarter, needed to qualify

Jen Brennan

50

49

-1

8

1

0

7

287.6

344

436

Maureen Barlow

122

 

0

0

0

0

0

 

 

528

 

Details
Category: News
Hits: 1886

Every Easter there are two tournaments run by the Association of British Scrabble Players.

The first is a 10 game tournament starting on Good Friday, and finishing Saturday lunchtime. There is then a larger event consisting of 23 games, starting on  Saturday afternoon and continuing until late Bank Holiday Monday afternoon.

This year, three East Berks Scrabble players attended the warm-up event playing in Division A. It should have been a 10 player round-robin for 9 rounds (followed by one duplicate pairing). However the numbers attending were not divisible by 10 and Division A consisted of 18 players.

Richard, Helen and Graham finished midway in the Division, with Richard and Helen winning 5 out of 10 games, and Graham 4. Surprisingly there was only one round when EBSC players played against each other, and here is a photo of Richard and Helen and their completed board.

 

Richard started well winning 4 of his first 5 games (scoring over 500 in two of those games) but then had to play the top 3 players which halted his progress to the prizes.

 

Helen’s highlight occurred in game 2 when she played the runner-up in last year’s world championships and won with a score of 496! 

 

Graham started off the tournament with several high scoring losses, but as the tournament progressed, his scores improved and managed a 9-timer dRAISENE for 122 in his penultimate game.

Some of the more unusual words laid in EBSC member games included :

COONTIE. CANTARS, ELINT, WINDAGE, TITMOUSE, VELARISE,RANZEL, JEELIE, YNAMBU, MANTOES.

 

A very enjoyable tournament!

 

PS : If you want to know what an YNAMBU is.... here is a picture!

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