NSW Championships - October 5th - 7th 2002


It was back to the old faithful Henry Lawson house for this year's NSW State Championships, despite previous assertions that the last tournament ever had been played there. Surely though, this will have been the last State Championship at least!

This year the NSW committee decided to alter the format so that those higher rated players that could not play for three days could be accommodated. Some welcomed the chance to be able to gain rating points in the Open, while others bemoaned the lost opportunity to get amongst the trophies. Maybe we will try a different format again next year in the endless quest to keep everybody happy.

Before summarizing the Scrabble side of the tournament, I need to acknowledge the NSW Committee members who gave their time and effort into making this tournament a success. Firstly, Jean Balmer, our Liaison Officer, for organising the beautiful trophies, including the engraving. Secondly, Audrey Newman, our Treasurer, for organising the collection of entry fees, and distribution of prize monies. Next, Nanette Reynolds, for her tireless work catering for the event (assisted by her hand-picked team of helpers). Also to George Khamis for giving up his day to help on our last day, and lastly to Wilma (in absentia) and Rod for organising tournament booklets, nametags and the equipment generally.

The Open Competition was a victory for the North Shore Scrabble Club, who provided the winner, Kris Logan, and third place-getter Linda Dimond. I believe the champagne will be flowing at the Turramurra Club tonight, with the club founder, Barbara Berlin being in attendance for the celebrations. Kris led all the way to end up with 12 wins out of 14 games, and a comfortable two games margin. Up-and-comer Jan Pincott from the Blacktown Club came a creditable second, gaining 71 ratings points in the process. Both Jan and Linda finished on 10 wins.

The prize for the highest rating gain in the Open went to Jayanthi Viswanathan who shot up a remarkable 295 points. Jayanthi recently joined in through the newly-formed Borders Bookstore Club, and has since been playing at Balmain. The award for the fighest finisher in the 700 to 1000 rating bracket went to Lynn Parnell, while the award for the highest finisher in the below 700 rating bracket went to June Dillon of the Woy Woy Club.

The three day Advanced competition was a tight struggle with the lead changing several times. Young Alastair Richards led early, was overtaken by Betty Forman, regained the lead, then was overtaken by Moana Nepia who hung on to win (16 games) despite late challenges from Alison Pollard (runner-up, 15 games)) and Trish Windhurst (third place-getter, 14.5 games). Alastair finished in fourth place and gained 134 rating points, a truly excellent effort from the ten-year old, while Moana gained 74 points. Noel Coulter's tales of woe were cancelled out by a notable 145 ratings points rise, in finishing in sixth place.

In the Masters event, the scene was set. Paul Cleary was shooting for his fourth consecutive NSW Championship. Rising star Michael Hornung was making his first trip north from Melbourne to stake a challenge, and seven of Australia's Trans-Tasman team were in attendance.

Day 1 finished with Paul Cleary and John Holgate leading on 7 wins and Rod Talbot close behind on 6 wins. I lost three games on the first day to be well back in the field. At the end of Day 2, Rod Talbot had established a one game lead to be on 12 wins, losing only one game on the day. Paul Cleary and Michael Hornung were close hehind on 11 wins with high spreads, while I lost only one game on Day 2 to be just behind on 11 wins with a lower spread.

Going into the three King of the Hill rounds half way through Day 3 the placings were:

1. Michael Hornung 15 wins 1093 spread
2. Paul Cleary 15 wins 1011 spread
3. Rod Talbot 14 wins 918 spread
4. Bob Jackman 14 wins 762 spread
5. John Holgate 13 wins 945 spread
6. Joanne Craig 12 wins 627 spread

It looked certain the winner would come from either of the top 2, with Michael being in a strong position to take out a major title. In Michael's first KOH game against Paul, he got down the nine-timer RAGGIEST, but later tried SEANERS* when he had an opportunity to win the game. In my game against Rod, I opened with the incorrect VIRULar* which Rod failed to challenge, and went on to win by a healthy margin. Joanne beat John to move to 13 wins

This meant that the second KOH round pairings were identical for the top six players above. Again Michael went down to Paul, again Rod lost to me by a large margin, but this time John beat Joanne to overtake Rod on spread.

The situation going into the last round was now:

1. Paul Cleary 17 wins - large spread
2. Bob Jackman 16 wins - 278 spread points behind Paul
3. Michael Hornung 15 wins
4. John Holgate 14 wins
5. Rod Talbot 14 wins
6. Joanne Craig 13 wins

For me, the equation was clear. I had to do the seemingly impossible and beat Paul by 139 points or more to prevent him winning four consecutive titles. And this is exactly what happened in a dramatic final game in which I won by 153 points to edge out Paul by a mere 28 spread points. For me payback time had come for the many times Paul had accounted for me in previous finals of major events. This victory was certainly my sweetest ever. Meanwhile John beat Michael to take overall third place over Michael on spread, while Joanne beat Rod to take fifth place over Rod on spread. Despite losing his last three games, Michael recorded a 96 rating point gain.

Some notable plays during the Masters event were Peter Shaw's play of WHISPERY for 194 against Graeme Lock Lee, equalling the previous record high-word score for the event. Paul got down EXPEDITED through the X and the second E also against Graeme, who unsuccessfully tried to extend it to UNEXPEDITED*. Chris May got down the nine-letter ADORATION, but the play of the Masters event must surely have gone to Jan Serisier who played UnIONISMS through the second I and M against Joan Rosenthal.

In all the excitement of the finale I forgot to retrieve the tourney file from the laptop, so full results and ratings will have to follow later. Time permitting, I hope to write a game by game summary, with special emphasis on that deciding final game, of course,

Results after game 22
NSW CHAMPIONSHIPS 2002 -- MASTERS

Rank Player            Wins     Mar
---------------------------------
  1  Bob Jackman         17    1139
  2  Paul Cleary         17    1110
  3  John Holgate        15    1041
  4  Michael Hornung     15     799
  5  Joanne Craig        14     695
  6  Rod Talbot          14     572
  7  Anne Drew           13     591
  8  Joan Rosenthal      13     440
  9  Chris May           12     443
 10  Robyn Flynn         12    -174
 11  John Barker         11     373
 12  Jean McGiffen       11     355
 13  Peter Shaw          11     175
 14  Barbara Berlin      11      30
 15  Graeme Lock Lee     11    -194
 16  Zina Costanzo       11    -409
 17  Nicole Findlay      10    -381
 18  Karen Richards      10    -473
 19  Ivor Zetler          9    -281
 20  Hanne Marks          9    -481
 21  Sue Gergelifi        8    -438
 22  Jan Serisier         8    -634
 23  Barry Harridge       7    -550
 24  Sal Costanzo         7   -1322
 25  Norma Tracey         6   -1144
 26  Tony Hunt            4   -1282
HIGH GAME: Anne Drew         559
HIGH WORD: Peter Shaw        194
            "WHISPERY"

 Results after game 22
NSW CHAMPIONSHIPS 2002 -- ADVANCED

Rank Player            Wins     Mar
---------------------------------
  1  Moana Nepia         16     751
  2  Alison Pollard      15     649
  3  Trish Windhurst     14.5   201
  4  Alastair Richards   14     811
  5  Paul Richards       14     307
  6  Noel Coulter        13.5   319
  7  Betty Foreman       13     385
  8  Susan Macgillivray  12     432
  9  Ram Mohe            12     266
 10  Audrey Newman       12      63
 11  Ian Close           12      41
 12  Pat Schuberg        11     479
 13  Judy Hay            11      80
 14  Denise Smith        11    -182
 15  Cheryl Michler      11    -451
 16  Jean Noonan         10     -72
 17  Jenny Templeton     10    -316
 18  Margaret Andrews     9     166
 19  Gary Pollard         9    -337
 20  Nonie English        8    -827
 21  Gordon Meggs         7    -411
 22  Michael Adler        7    -626
 23  Fay Van Oyen         6    -828
 24  Nanette Reynolds     6    -900
HIGH GAME: Pat Schuberg      501
HIGH WORD: Betty Foreman         133
            "REALIZE"

 Results after game 14
NSW CHAMPIONSHIPS 2002 -- OPEN

Rank Player            Wins     Mar
---------------------------------
  1  Kris Logan          12    1112
  2  Jan Pincott         10     534
  3  Linda Dimond        10     388
  4  Jeff Chelton         9     898
  5  Lynn Parnell         9     641
  6  Angie Farrington     9     574
  7  Rex Shakespeare      9     341
  8  Edith Lowbeer        9     101
  9  Dolores Barbon       9       0
 10  Rene Chelton         8     410
 11  Natalie Tadday       8     373
 12  Richard Farrington   8     158
 13  Sandra Elliott       8     108
 14  Tricia Shephard      8      20
 15  Campbell Shanks      8      17
 16  Basil Sands          8     -12
 17  Jayanthi Viswanathan 8     -56
 18  Margaret Ackman      8    -554
 19  Veena Mohe           7     179
 20  Sue Tuckett          7      84
 21  Val Ryan             7      22
 22  Alan Gauci           7      16
 23  Ivana Duria          7     -67
 24  Jacquelin Hochmuth   7     -88
 25  Ann Fiddler          7    -138
 26  June Dillon          7    -370
 27  Jean Balmer          6     273
 28  Heather Sorensen     6     129
 29  Barbara Chenevier    6      96
 30  Janine Whittaker     6     -41
 31  Frank Hunt           6    -144
 32  Bill Condon          6    -250
 33  Maree Heynen         6    -322
 34  Gial Leslie          6    -375
 35  Esther Rolfe         5.5    -3
 36  Teresa Traynor       5.5   -96
 37  Daisy Bates          5.5  -434
 38  Audrey Barrett       5     -97
 39  Sunny Wright         5    -371
 40  Pearl Gillott        5    -423
 41  David Wiseman        5    -734
 42  Merle Young          4    -363
 43  Diana Field          2   -1186
HIGH GAME: Lynn Parnell      532
HIGH WORD: Rene Chelton          125
            "EQUATES"


Stats for Tournament : NSW CHAMPIONSHIPS 2002

+--------------------------+-----------+---------+-----------+---------------+
| state     Name           | National  | State   |   Wins    | Rating Points |
|                          | Old  New  | Old New | Exp  Act  | Old Change New|
+--------------------------+-----------+---------+-----------+---------------+
+Section: *MASTERS                     +         +           +               +
+--------------------------------------+---------+-----------+---------------+
| NSW Paul Cleary          |    6    4 |   4   2 | 15.9 17.0 | 1829 +18 1847 |
| NSW Bob Jackman          |    3    3 |   1   1 | 15.7 17.0 | 1844 +21 1865 |
| NSW John Holgate         |   13   12 |   6   5 | 15.0 15.0 | 1788     1788 |
| VIC Michael Hornung      |   32   20 |  15   9 | 10.2 15.0 | 1648 +96 1744 |
| NSW Joanne Craig         |   30   25 |   8   8 | 10.8 14.0 | 1661 +63 1724 |
| NSW Rod Talbot           |    4    7 |   2   4 | 15.8 14.0 | 1838 -28 1810 |
| QLD Anne Drew            |   25   27 |   3   3 | 13.1 13.0 | 1715  -1 1714 |
| NSW Joan Rosenthal       |    9   17 |   5   6 | 15.4 13.0 | 1801 -39 1762 |
| NSW Chris May            |   48   35 |  13  10 | 10.0 12.0 | 1605 +39 1644 |
| NSW Robyn Flynn          |   34   33 |   9   9 | 11.4 12.0 | 1644 +12 1656 |
| NSW John Barker          |   50   42 |  15  14 |  9.5 11.0 | 1590 +31 1621 |
| NSW Jean McGiffen        |   39   37 |  10  11 | 10.4 11.0 | 1622 +12 1634 |
| NSW Peter Shaw           |   70   46 |  19  15 |  8.3 11.0 | 1555 +54 1609 |
| VIC Barbara Berlin       |   53   49 |  26  24 | 10.0 11.0 | 1584 +19 1603 |
| NSW Graeme Lock Lee      |   45   38 |  12  12 | 10.3 11.0 | 1610 +14 1624 |
| VIC Zina Costanzo        |  104   64 |  55  34 |  7.5 11.0 | 1493 +71 1564 |
| VIC Nicole Findlay       |   42   50 |  21  25 | 10.9 10.0 | 1619 -18 1601 |
| WA  Karen Richards       |   61   53 |   3   2 |  9.3 10.0 | 1572 +14 1586 |
| NSW Ivor Zetler          |   57   70 |  17  18 | 10.6  9.0 | 1581 -32 1549 |
| NSW Hanne Marks          |  107   88 |  27  21 |  7.7  9.0 | 1489 +26 1515 |
| NSW Sue Gergelifi        |  109   99 |  28  25 |  7.5  8.0 | 1488  +9 1497 |
| NSW Jan Serisier         |   82   87 |  22  20 |  8.7  8.0 | 1532 -14 1518 |
| VIC Barry Harridge       |   36   80 |  18  42 | 12.1  7.0 | 1630 -102 1528 |
| VIC Sal Costanzo         |   71   92 |  37  50 |  9.3  7.0 | 1555 -46 1509 |
| NSW Norma Tracey         |   52  107 |  16  26 | 11.1  6.0 | 1588 -102 1486 |
| NSW Tony Hunt            |   75  140 |  20  37 |  9.5  4.0 | 1544 -111 1433 |
+-------------------------------------+---------+-----------+----------------+
+Section: *ADVANCED                    +         +           +               +
+--------------------------------------+---------+-----------+---------------+
| NSW Moana Nepia          |  166  110 |  48  27 | 12.4 16.0 | 1402 +74 1476 |
| NSW Alison Pollard       |  142  137 |  39  34 | 15.1 15.0 | 1436  +4 1440 |
| NSW Trish Windhurst      |  117  113 |  33  29 | 14.5 14.5 | 1466  +2 1468 |
| WA  Alastair Richards    |  281  180 |  26  15 |  7.8 14.0 | 1242 +134 1376 |
| WA  Paul Richards        |  133  130 |   8   8 | 14.2 14.0 | 1450  -2 1448 |
| NSW Noel Coulter         |  310  218 |  80  57 |  6.9 13.5 | 1179 +146 1325 |
| NSW Betty Foreman        |  115  139 |  31  36 | 14.8 13.0 | 1469 -33 1436 |
| NSW Susan MacGillivr:act |  116  159 |  32  43 | 15.2 12.0 | 1469 -60 1409 |
| NSW Ian Close            |  147  177 |  42  49 | 14.6 12.0 | 1429 -51 1378 |
| NSW Audrey Newman        |  143  165 |  40  46 | 14.0 12.0 | 1434 -37 1397 |
| NSW Ram Mohe             |  233  215 |  62  55 | 11.2 12.0 | 1309 +19 1328 |
| NSW Pat Schuberg         |  201  203 |  54  53 | 11.4 11.0 | 1345  -6 1339 |
| NSW Judy Hay             |  294  252 |  74  63 |  7.3 11.0 | 1211 +75 1286 |
| NSW Denise Smith         |  366  292 |  91  74 |  5.5 11.0 | 1105 +110 1215 |
| NSW Cheryl Michler       |  205  219 |  56  58 | 12.0 11.0 | 1341 -17 1324 |
| NSW Jean Noonan          |  168  226 |  49  60 | 13.9 10.0 | 1397 -76 1321 |
| NSW Jenny Templeton      |  206  235 |  57  62 | 11.8 10.0 | 1341 -36 1305 |
| NSW Margaret Andrews     |  382  315 |  93  82 |  5.1  9.0 | 1088 +78 1166 |
| NSW Gary Pollard         |  192  258 |  52  65 | 12.7  9.0 | 1352 -72 1280 |
| NSW Nonie English        |  315  313 |  82  81 |  7.8  8.0 | 1165  +5 1170 |
| NSW Gordon Meggs         |  261  296 |  65  76 | 10.4  7.0 | 1272 -66 1206 |
| NSW Michael Adler :act   |  258  301 |  64  77 | 10.7  7.0 | 1273 -73 1200 |
| NSW Nanette Reynolds     |  309  329 |  79  86 |  7.8  6.0 | 1179 -35 1144 |
| NSW Fay Van Oyen         |  326  341 |  86  88 |  7.2  6.0 | 1152 -23 1129 |
+-------------------------------------+---------+-----------+----------------+
+Section: *OPEN                        +         +           +               +
+--------------------------------------+---------+-----------+---------------+
| NSW Kris Logan           |   99   98 |  26  24 | 12.1 12.0 | 1504     1504 |
| NSW Jann Pincott         |  430  371 | 107  93 |  6.6 10.0 | 1029 +71 1100 |
| NSW Linda Dimond         |  429  373 | 106  94 |  6.6 10.0 | 1029 +69 1098 |
| NSW Jeff Chelton         |  112  156 |  29  42 | 12.5  9.0 | 1477 -67 1410 |
| NSW Lynn Parnell         |  455  417 | 114 102 |  6.6  9.0 |  994 +49 1043 |
| NSW Angie Farrington     |  262  263 |  66  66 |  8.9  9.0 | 1269  +4 1273 |
| NSW Rex Shakespeare      |  410  409 | 101 100 |  8.8  9.0 | 1058  +5 1063 |
| NSW Dolores Barbon       |  395  365 |  94  92 |  7.5  9.0 | 1076 +31 1107 |
| NSW Edith Lowbeer        |  405  397 |  99  96 |  8.8  9.0 | 1067  +9 1076 |
| NSW Natalie Tadday       |  304  305 |  78  79 |  8.0  8.0 | 1184     1184 |
| NSW Richard Farrington   |   77  132 |  21  33 | 12.7  8.0 | 1539 -92 1447 |
| SA  Campbell Shanks      |  527  495 |  36  33 |  6.3  8.0 |  913 +39  952 |
| NSW Sandra Elliott       |  542  451 | 133 113 |  3.8  8.0 |  905 +94  999 |
| NSW Rene Chelton         |  136  168 |  37  48 | 10.8  8.0 | 1444 -50 1394 |
| NSW Basil Sands          |  610  548 | 155 133 |  5.4  8.0 |  846 +53  899 |
| NSW Tricia Shephard      |  679  616 | 173 155 |  5.2  8.0 |  782 +56  838 |
| NSW Jayanthi Viswanathan | 1136  673 | 325 174 |  1.2  8.0 |  500 +295 795 |
| NSW Margaret Ackman      |  724  617 | 186 156 |  3.9  8.0 |  743 +93  836 |
| NSW Alan Gauci           |  504  492 | 123 120 |  6.5  7.0 |  939 +16  955 |
| NSW Ann Fiddler          |  399  448 |  97 112 | 10.9  7.0 | 1072 -71 1001 |
| NSW Sue Tuckett          |  532  514 | 131 125 |  6.0  7.0 |  911 +20  931 |
| NSW Veena Mohe           |  593  522 | 149 129 |  4.6  7.0 |  868 +53  921 |
| NSW Ivana Duria          |  531  517 | 130 127 |  6.5  7.0 |  912 +14  926 |
| NSW Val Ryan             |  300  351 |  76  91 | 11.4  7.0 | 1198 -82 1116 |
| NSW Jacquelin Hochmuth   |  608  629 | 154 159 |  8.6  7.0 |  848 -21  827 |
| NSW June Dillon          |  828  743 | 213 193 |  3.9  7.0 |  667 +64  731 |
| NSW Jean Balmer          |  396  433 |  95 106 |  8.6  6.0 | 1074 -51 1023 |
| NSW Barbara Chenevier    |  319  410 |  83 101 | 11.4  6.0 | 1160 -101 1059 |
| NSW Heather Sorensen :ac |  552  558 | 135 136 |  6.3  6.0 |  896  -4  892 |
| NSW Bill Condon          | 1062  909 | 290 236 |  2.9  6.0 |  503 +106 609 |
| NSW Frank Hunt           |  638  628 | 162 158 |  5.6  6.0 |  820  +7  827 |
| NSW Gial Leslie          |  435  561 | 108 138 | 10.6  6.0 | 1025 -137 888 |
| NSW Janine Whittaker     |  688  690 | 174 175 |  6.1  6.0 |  774  -3  771 |
| NSW Maree Heynen         |  917  917 | 237 239 |  6.0  6.0 |  599  +2  601 |
| NSW Esther Rolfe         |  412  478 | 102 116 |  9.5  5.5 | 1048 -79  969 |
| NSW Teresa Traynor       |  798  776 | 206 203 |  4.6  5.5 |  689 +19  708 |
| NSW Daisy Bates          | 1021 1013 | 273 272 |  5.1  5.5 |  526 +13  539 |
| NSW Pearl Gillott        |  744  706 | 191 182 |  3.7  5.0 |  728 +32  760 |
| NSW Audrey Barrett       |  955  953 | 250 251 |  4.9  5.0 |  576  +5  581 |
| NSW Sunny Wright         |  490  568 | 120 141 |  9.2  5.0 |  960 -77  883 |
|*NSW David Wiseman        |    0  965 |   0 254 |  5.0  5.0 |  572      572 |
| NSW Merle Young          |  671  695 | 172 176 |  5.2  4.0 |  792 -24  768 |
|*NSW O Bye                |    0 1109 |   0 309 |  4.9  3.5 |  500      500 |
| NSW Diana Field          | 1053 1184 | 286 336 |  4.4  2.0 |  505 -47  458 |
+-------------------------------------+---------+-----------+----------------+