This year the Milton Keynes tournament returned after a 3 year absence. 2 club members played in the 17 game tournament, Pat and Richard. 

 

Pat writes

This is a long running tournament but had not been held since 2019. It was over a weekend with 9 games on Saturday and 8 games on Sunday.  The first game was at 11.30 on Saturday, which allowed for easy travel to the venue. I stayed at the hotel on Sunday night too, which made it more relaxed than last time I went, when I had to dash off for a train home.   I played in Division C and won 8 of the 17 games, and was pleased to increase my ABSP rating by one point.

Some of my bonus words were DEEMING for 100 points, REBITTEN which was a gamble but won me the game, and I'm glad I had the bottle to play COJONES.

Richard writes

I had a difficult first day losing 4 of the first 5 games but secured a vital 5 point win in game 6 with 3 bonuses in the last 4 turns. Day two was better with some hard fought wins and I was pleased to come away with 7 wins overall and perform to his rating. 

Best bonuses played were - ULCERATE, MISENTRY, ADMONISH, MELILOT, OLIVINES, FLOREANT and BASILECT.

 

Well done both!

 

These statistics cover the two quarters in 2019-2020 before the club closed for the duration of the pandemic, and the period since the club reopened in August 2021. 

The quarterly improver prizes went to Evelyn Wansbrough, Joy Wade, Anne Connolly, Charles Parker, Joy Wade, and Pat Llanwarne.  In the League (2019-2020), Division 1 was won by Helen, Division 2 by Hepzi, and Division 3 by Charles.  The All-play-All (2022) was won by Richard Spencer and Pat Llanwarne won the Handicap (2022).

 Highest game scores were:

           618       Graham Harding

           614       Graham Harding

           593       Richard Spencer

           587       Graham Harding

           586       Richard Spencer

           582       Wanda de Poitiers

           577       Richard Spencer

           573       Graham Harding

           570       Richard Spencer

           568       Helen Harding

           568       Richard Spencer

           558       Richard Spencer

           557       Richard Spencer

           556       Graham Harding

           556       Graham Harding

           553       Graham Harding

Other players scoring over 500 points in a game were: Peter Tart (highest score: 539), Fiona Titcombe (535), Hepzi Rodrigues (506), Michael Spencer (502)

 The highest single moves were:

           185       COMMERCE                Keith

           167       HIDEOUTS                   Wanda

           149       CHERRIES                   Charles

           149       RETWISTS                   Charles

           134       QUERIED                     Hannah

           131       STIRRING                    Joy

           115       REFLECT                     Graham

           113       YORKERS                    Peter

           107       REMAKING                  Charles

           106       CAMPSITE                   Graham

           105       UNDYING                     Fiona

           104       HUTTING                     Graham

           104       QUARRIES                   Charles

           104       SEPTORIA                   Fiona

           103       BURGLED                    Sharon

           103       CHORTLE                    Richard

           103       SHEARED                    Wanda

           102       CAVERNS                    Michael

           102       HEARKEN                    Charles

           102       QUID/DIRK                   Joy

           102       SAVAGES/JAMS           Michael

           101       QUERIES                     Michael

           100       FOLDERS                     Maureen

Name

Old Rating

New Rating

Rating Change

P

W

D

L

Average

Highest score

Highest ever score

Michael Spencer

66

93

27

177

43

1

133

305.9

502

502

Joy Wade

97

121

24

130

53

0

77

338.2

452

452

Keith Radbourn

65

74

9

201

26

3

172

284.1

400

400

Charles Parker

103

111

8

170

60

0

110

316.4

479

509

Deborah Porter

136

138

2

82

38

1

43

352.4

492

542

Hepzi Rodrigues

148

150

2

90

57

0

33

370.3

506

554

Richard Spencer

178

176

-2

205

159

0

46

426.4

593

625

Helen Harding

174

171

-3

229

174

1

54

422.0

568

597

Maire Bennett

77

73

-4

176

30

2

144

281.6

430

448

Graham Harding

174

169

-5

252

200

1

51

424.6

635

661

Martin Stephens

114

103

-11

148

60

0

88

333.8

477

477

Wanda de Poitiers

169

156

-13

215

153

0

62

418.7

582

592

Maureen Barlow

137

121

-16

208

113

1

94

361.6

487

528

Tricia Walker

149

132

-17

81

46

0

35

375.8

493

512

Fiona Titcombe

156

136

-20

98

54

0

44

382.8

535

535

                     

Guests and people playing less than 80 games

 

Anne Connolly

123

172

49

29

14

0

15

367.1

478

478

Patrick Beatty

112

132

20

4

4

0

0

391.5

447

459

Joyce Charlesworth

68

86

18

10

3

0

7

292.1

340

380

Sue Ashwell

50

65

15

22

5

0

17

286.9

351

351

Mary Twomey

83

96

13

71

16

0

55

315.6

430

430

Peter Tart

125

136

11

33

18

0

15

377.3

539

539

Evelyn Wansbrough

131

140

9

38

25

0

13

365.8

459

555

Jan Bailey

135

131

-4

57

25

0

32

348.1

496

568

Pat Llanwarne

153

149

-4

56

34

1

21

357.7

458

458

Julie Wise

120

113

-7

38

14

1

23

329.9

435

493

Kathy Smith

89

81

-8

34

9

0

25

283.2

413

413

Frank Charlesworth

105

96

-9

20

8

0

12

332.1

436

447

Sharon Hewitt

152

143

-9

58

28

0

30

368.2

523

548

Tricia Cooper

168

144

-24

7

3

0

4

352.1

396

512

Hannah Corbett

130

79

-51

15

5

0

10

359.6

447

510

Nina Thornhill

 

124

 

3

2

0

1

371.3

376

376

Ahmad Khalim

 

124

 

2

1

0

1

283.0

350

350

Umair

 

82

 

1

0

0

1

289.0

289

289

Paddy Davis

 

123

 

1

0

0

1

323.0

323

323

Kathleen

 

124

 

1

0

0

1

302.0

302

302

Richard Llanwarne

 

50

 

3

0

0

3

262.7

279

279

Ben

 

66

 

1

0

0

1

288.0

288

288

Most years, the qualification for ‘Best Improver’ is 52 games or more ie at least one per week.   This time, 80 games has been chosen because the period covers the time from October 2019 to mid-March 2020, when the club shut for the pandemic) plus the time between mid-August 2021 and the end of September 2022.  

On 9th October, Richard played in the Luton one-day tournament..

It was a well attended, enjoyable day with 42 players split between 3 divisions of 14 and the first tournament held there since 2019. Richard played in Division A and won 4 out of his seven games which was enough to finish 7th, win the ratings prize for the division and a cash prize. 

The highlight was Richard managing to win 2 games against an expert player that he had not managed to defeat before.

Bonuses played in the tournament by Richard were as follows;

MORULAE, GRANULES, VAPORING, GREASING, ARTLESS, YPERITES, SNORTER, CREASING, BLISTER, RADIATE, LINEAGE, WHIRRING, ORACIES, DELATING, ENSLAVES, AERONAUT, TRIDENT, LISTENED.

 

Well done Richard - here is a photo of Richard receiving his rating prize from Tournament Organiser, James Burley. Thanks to Angele Andrews for supplying the photo.

 

Best improver for this part of the year is Pat Llanwarne, ahead of Michael and Richard Spencer, and Keith Radbourn.  

High-scoring words:

·       167       HIDEOUTS                   Wanda              9-timer

·       113       YORKERS                    Peter

·       104       QUARRIES                   Charles

·       98        UNPROVEN                  Charles             4-timer

·       95        OVERSEA                    Keith

·       95        OUTDARE                    Maureen

·       93        EXHAUST                     Michael

·       92        FUMIEST                      Joy

·       91        LOPPERS                     Michael

·       91        ZEAL                            Helen

·       90        ATTAINS                      Charles

·       90        TENORINGS                Mary                 not a valid word!

·       87        ERADIATES                  Wanda              9-letter word

·       87        UPRISEN                      Peter

·       86        MARSHAL                    Keith

·       85        GUTTLES                     Charles

·       85        SQUAW                        Hepzi                not allowed in the latest dictionary!

Also: VINEGAR 84 Helen, STRIPED 84 Maire, SQUIRTER 84 Keith, INTERLAY 83 Helen, LACROSSE 81 Charles, EGGIEST 81 Peter, PREMISE 80 Keith, COMPLAIN 80 Keith, PAPERING 80 Peter, TRAMLINE 80 Helen, ATOMISE 80 Helen, STAPLES 78 Maire, RESTATION Charles, RELENTS 77 Maire, BARONET 76 Charles, ZOUAVES 75 Fiona, INTEREST 74 Keith, REVALUES 72 Michael, DARLINGS 71 Mary, ROTATING 71 Helen, NOINTERS 70 Helen, STINGER 69 Maire, ELASTICS 68 Keith, ASTRIDE 67 Maire, RATTLES 67 Maire, ROTOVATED 66 Graham (9-letter word), RELINES 64 Keith, TELLERS 64 Maire, SOLDIER 63 Keith, LONELIER 57 Charles

 

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

·       TRIOSES 80 SIRNAMED 78 OUTRAGED 70 QUAYD 66 DESCALE 85 HURPLE 51 Helen

·       KILTERS 89 ROSITED 71 FIELD(IN)GS 65 HEDGIER 82 TRUMPED 79                           Graham

·       AMMONITE 78 AROINTS 63 POSTMAN 85 HARDLINE GRAZE 79                                    Graham

·       GOBLETS 72 STENCIL 70 SOAPIER 66 FORESAID 63                                                 Wanda

·       THRIVER 84 IONISES 75 RATTLING 60 SERAFIN 80                                                    Richard

·       RAGBOLT 87 ATONIES 75 REVOLTS 83 INSIDER 69                                                   Wanda

·       NEWSMEN 65 CONSIDER 90 BLUSHING 104 SOAPIER 66                                          Graham

·       SAUTOIRE 66 UNTAILED 68 INWARDS 94                                                                   Graham

·       FIREARM 93 WEENIER 83 AINSELL 69                                                                        Graham

·       WASHRAGS 95 SCANNED 74 RENDERS 65                                                                Graham

·       LINGERIE 78 AERIEST 72 LITANIES 66                                                                        Graham

·       RENAGUED 70 FLATTEN 72 GLITZIER 86                                                                    Helen

·       SPATTER 71 IRIDEAL 71 NESTLED 71                                                                         Richard

·       ATONERS 69 STAINED 89 BRAMBLE 79                                                                      Maire

·       SPINNER 76 DEGAMIS 107 FALTERED 62                                                                   Wanda

·       HOARIEST 78 GRAYEST 76 REDIALS 74                                                                     Wanda

·       PANACEA 72 RESHAPE 77 ENABLES 73                                                                     Fiona

·       OUGUIYA 76 ANODISE 89 STAINER 88                                                                        Graham

·       ONBOARD 68 AVENGERS 65 INFLICT 89                                                                    Richard

·       NITERIE 91 BARONETS 61 MARDIEST 72                                                                    Helen

·       STILLAGE 70 AEGIRINE 70 IDEALISM 74                                                                     Helen

·       SPRAINED 83 EARLIEST 77 AZO 51                                                                            Helen

·       AERIALS 70 MITIGATE 63 ASSWIPE (!) 87                                                                   Fiona

·       VELATURA 61 EVERSION 65 ROTATES 75                                                                  Richard

·       STEARIC 77 CANNIEST 70 RELISHED 68                                                                    Richard

·       NIPTERS 71 BLINDING 72 FISTIER 67                                                                         Richard

·       TEENIEST 68 HUNDRED 89 ROOTING 68                                                                    Richard

·       TRAYNED 72 VIGILATE 66 PASTIES 80                                                                       Richard

·       GOLDEST 82 PURIFIES 76 OPERATIC 89                                                                    Peter

·       INSANER 85 SERENITY 62 EROTISE 79                                                                      Helen

·       FOXIEST 91 NEONATE 72 SIGNORS 65                                                                       Helen

·       INSANER 85 SERENITY 62 EROTISE 79                                                                      Helen

·       FOXIEST 91 NEONATE 72 SIGNORS 65                                                                       Helen

Also:

·       New personal bests:      Mary Twomey 430, Keith Radbourn 400

Name

Old rating

New rating

Rating change

P

W

D

L

Average

Highest score

Highest ever

Pat Llanwarne

135

149

14

17

14

0

3

366.6

443

458

Michael Spencer

80

93

13

24

8

0

16

312.4

404

502

Richard Spencer

165

176

11

35

30

0

5

438.6

568

625

Keith Radbourn

64

74

10

36

6

1

29

292.2

400

400

Hepzi Rodrigues

148

150

2

24

17

0

7

383.9

506

554

Helen Harding

169

171

2

35

28

0

7

429.3

544

597

Maire Bennett

72

73

1

26

3

1

22

264.5

411

448

Graham Harding

169

169

0

37

29

0

8

436.9

614

661

Charles Parker

112

111

-1

32

9

0

23

307.7

382

509

Martin Stephens

105

103

-2

24

9

0

15

335.3

420

477

Joy Wade

123

121

-2

30

11

0

19

327.6

413

452

Maureen Barlow

123

121

-2

31

13

0

18

351.3

482

528

Peter Tart

139

136

-3

15

7

0

8

371.2

539

501

Wanda de Poitiers

167

156

-11

43

27

0

16

415.8

582

592

Fiona Titcombe

151

136

-15

30

12

0

18

375.0

503

535

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Mary Twomey

80

96

16

6

3

0

3

354.0

430

430

Sharon Hewitt

135

143

8

3

1

0

2

338.3

392

548

Deborah Porter

133

138

5

6

1

0

5

337.7

396

542

Nina Thornhill

124

 

0

0

0

0

0

 

0

376

Jan Bailey

131

 

0

0

0

0

0

 

0

568

Patrick Beatty

132

 

0

0

0

0

0

 

0

459

Tricia Walker

132

 

0

0

0

0

0

 

0

512

Anne Connolly

172

 

0

0

0

0

0

 

0

478

 

 

Last Saturday, East Berks Scrabble Club had the opportunity to promote ourselves at a ‘Clubs and Activities’ event in Bracknell.
 
 
There were about 20 or so other exhibitors including U3A, Wildlife Groups, various dance groups, singing groups and a ukulele band.
 
 
We had great fun chatting to everyone that came by – there were of course some people not interested in Scrabble, but others we lured in with our ‘interactive’ boards. We invited people to find the highest scoring word on each of 2 boards. Many got nowhere near, but that wasn’t the point. We could see their vocabulary level and gauge strength by what they played.
 
We gave out leaflets, lots of leaflets, and took names of those 7-8 people who were really, really keen. So on the basis of the publicity alone we are hopeful of seeing 3-4 visitors over the next few weeks.
 
Here are the three puzzles we set :
 
What is the highest score you can achieve on each board, and what are the 3 anagrams of ACEHLST ? Answers at the end...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Answers coming soon
 
 
 
 
Soon
 
 
 
 
 
 
Soon
 
 
 
 
 
Board 1 (Z)
Highest score ZEBRA Column B, row 10 down making BONE - 78 points
 
 
Board 2 (Q)
Highest score EQUATION played through the O of FOXES for 86 points.
 
 
ACEHLST anagrams
 
CHALETS, LATCHES, SATCHEL