The bushfire crisis took its toll on numbers at the North Shore tournament when 17 disappointed Central Coast scrabblers decided to withdraw on Friday and not risk being stranded in Sydney. Only the valiant Terese Newman, Sandra Elliot and Jan Tomlin took their chances along with Liz & Bob Jackman - from the fire ravaged Berowra - who were not prepared to let natural disasters intrude on their games of Scrabble. A hasty rearrangement of the draw of 68 players into three divisions was accepted by all and the day proceeded at a relaxing pace under the no-nonsense direction of Fred Reynolds and suave look-up consultant Kim Logan.
The results saw a number of new faces on the NS Tournament honours list with the 3 Js - John Barker, John Holgate and Joan Rosenthal taking first, second and third places in A Division; Jean Balmer, Gordon Meggs and Linda Dimond in B Division; and Alan "it was written in the stars" Gauci, Jacquelin Hochmuth, and Jan Tomlin in C Division. The high game for the day - 634 - was achieved by Chris May who also won the high word in A Division with Advocate for 101. In B Division Judy Hay trounced me with her high game of 538 and Margaret Andrews had nothing to Quibble about when the word scored her 110 and some extra cash. In C Division Basil Sands enjoyed his high game of 459 and Janet Chambers went to great lengths to play Shorties for 106. Other results showed North Shore novice Kerrie Winter starting her Scrabble career very creditably by winning four games, Jean Balmer went up a massive 89 rating points and Beverly Nurick from the Chatswood Club 85 points.
The $100 raffle 1st prize was won by strong man George Khamis - who also took a few photos which will eventually be posted on the website - and Jean Balmer collected 2nd (vino to celebrate her win and rating gain). Margaret Coulter (her surname is a word) won some bubbly for her Christmas dinner with the lucky door prize and the best bushfire word - the subtle choice Fusion - was played by Ivana Duria.
The day ended on a festive note with a gathering of 20 or so celebrating at the Blue Gum Hotel, Waitara. The only hitch occurred when Liz & Bob were recalled to Berowra with a fire alert but all was resolved (the trophies were safe) and Bob eventually returned to finish his beer and party on.
Thanks to all the helpers from the North Shore Club - especially the cooks - and to everyone for coming.
Results after game 7
NTHSHR02 -- A DIVISION
Rank Player Wins Mar
---------------------------------
1 John Barker 6 399
2 John Holgate 5 557
3 Joan Rosenthal 5 393
4 Peter Shaw 5 273
5 Rod Talbot 5 189
6 Bob Jackman 4 441
7 Chris May 4 326
8 Ivor Zetler 4 253
9 Jean Noonan 4 20
10 Jan Serisier 4 -87
11 Moana Nepia 4 -288
12 Kris Logan 3 10
13 Jean McGiffen 3 -109
14 Gary Pollard 3 -164
15 Louise Kobler 3 -236
16 Alison Pollard 3 -247
17 Ian Close 3 -315
18 John Spaan 2 -58
19 Hanne Marks 2 -135
20 Audrey Newman 2 -315
21 Duncan Smith 2 -513
22 Betty Foreman 1 -394
HIGH GAME: Chris May 634
HIGH WORD: Chris May 101
"ADVOCATE"
Results after game 7
NTHSHR02 -- B DIVISION
Rank Player Wins Mar
---------------------------------
1 Jean Balmer 6 359
2 Gordon Meggs 6 338
3 Linda Dimond 5 114
4 Edith Lowbeer 5 48
5 Raya Wilkinson 4 284
6 Ann Fiddler 4 172
7 Margaret Andrews 4 80
8 Judy McGuinness 4 70
9 Jan Pincott 4 62
10 Margaret Berliner 4 4
11 Richard Birch 4 -88
12 Judy Hay 3 264
13 George Khamis 3 193
14 Nonie English 3 65
15 Liz Jackman 3 -19
16 Rex Shakespeare 3 -152
17 Joan Buchanan 3 -285
18 Terese Newman 2 -71
19 Nanette Reynolds 2 -226
20 Dolores Barbon 2 -295
21 Bev Purkis 2 -401
22 Fay Van Oyen 1 -516
HIGH GAME: Judy Hay 538
HIGH WORD: Margaret Andrews 110
"QUIBBLE"
Results after game 7
NTHSHR02 -- C DIVISION
Rank Player Wins Mar
---------------------------------
1 Alan Gauci 6 500
2 Jacquelin Hochmuth 5 392
3 Jan Tomlin 5 247
4 Frank Hunt 5 246
5 Margaret Coulter 5 211
6 Janet Chambers 5 121
7 Peggy Womersley 5 74
8 Daphne Bezuidenhout 4 161
9 Sandra Elliot 4 95
10 Silvana Newman 4 45
11 Basil Sands 4 -4
12 Ivana Duria 4 -15
13 Kerrie Winter 4 -143
14 Beverley Nurick 4 -168
15 Chris Phillips 3 124
16 Margaret Ackman 3 43
17 Joy Morris 3 -53
18 Maree Heynen 3 -143
19 John Smith 3 -149
20 Elwyn Smith 3 -377
21 Krystyna Batten 2 107
22 Rhonda Jefferson 2 -63
23 Nyree Ellen 2 -214
24 Diana Field 2 -304
25 Lan Knox 1 -233
26 A Bye 0 -500
HIGH GAME: Basil Sands 459
HIGH WORD: Janet Chambers 106
"SHORTIES"
Stats for Tournament : NTHSHR02
+--------------------------+-----------+---------+-----------+---------------+
| state Name | National | State | Wins | Rating Points |
| | Old New | Old New | Exp Act | Old Change New|
+--------------------------+-----------+---------+-----------+---------------+
+Section: *A DIVISION + + + +
+--------------------------------------+---------+-----------+---------------+
| NSW John Barker | 44 33 | 12 9 | 4.1 6.0 | 1623 +39 1662 |
| NSW John Holgate | 5 4 | 3 2 | 5.5 5.0 | 1849 -6 1843 |
| NSW Joan Rosenthal | 22 20 | 7 6 | 4.7 5.0 | 1718 +8 1726 |
| NSW Peter Shaw | 41 31 | 11 8 | 3.1 5.0 | 1627 +40 1667 |
| NSW Rod Talbot | 17 21 | 6 7 | 5.8 5.0 | 1740 -15 1725 |
| NSW Chris May | 37 41 | 9 11 | 4.8 4.0 | 1644 -14 1630 |
| NSW Bob Jackman | 4 5 | 2 3 | 5.4 4.0 | 1860 -21 1839 |
| NSW Moana Nepia | 160 138 | 44 34 | 2.2 4.0 | 1398 +35 1433 |
| NSW Ivor Zetler | 104 96 | 25 21 | 3.3 4.0 | 1485 +13 1498 |
| NSW Jean Noonan | 223 189 | 58 51 | 2.7 4.0 | 1332 +26 1358 |
| NSW Jan Serisier | 116 99 | 29 24 | 2.4 4.0 | 1463 +31 1494 |
| NSW Gary Pollard | 178 174 | 47 47 | 2.5 3.0 | 1370 +10 1380 |
| NSW Jean McGiffen | 39 44 | 10 12 | 3.7 3.0 | 1637 -14 1623 |
| NSW Kris Logan | 93 98 | 20 23 | 3.4 3.0 | 1504 -9 1495 |
| NSW Alison Pollard | 100 95 | 24 20 | 2.8 3.0 | 1493 +5 1498 |
| NSW Ian Close | 243 229 | 64 60 | 1.7 3.0 | 1299 +26 1325 |
| NSW Louise Kobler | 154 147 | 41 38 | 2.6 3.0 | 1408 +9 1417 |
| NSW Hanne Marks | 140 155 | 35 42 | 3.2 2.0 | 1431 -24 1407 |
| NSW John Spaan :act | 75 104 | 18 25 | 3.9 2.0 | 1526 -39 1487 |
| NSW Audrey Newman | 190 199 | 51 54 | 2.2 2.0 | 1357 -4 1353 |
| NSW Duncan Smith | 200 211 | 54 56 | 2.5 2.0 | 1352 -9 1343 |
| NSW Betty Foreman | 96 139 | 22 35 | 4.4 1.0 | 1501 -69 1432 |
+-------------------------------------+---------+-----------+----------------+
+Section: *B DIVISION + + + +
+--------------------------------------+---------+-----------+---------------+
| NSW Gordon Meggs | 302 283 | 77 69 | 4.3 6.0 | 1193 +36 1229 |
| NSW Jean Balmer | 433 359 | 105 92 | 2.6 6.0 | 1026 +89 1115 |
| NSW Linda Dimond | 370 340 | 94 86 | 3.3 5.0 | 1098 +38 1136 |
| NSW Edith Lowbeer | 403 364 | 99 93 | 3.0 5.0 | 1065 +46 1111 |
| NSW Ann Fiddler | 344 334 | 89 83 | 3.5 4.0 | 1130 +10 1140 |
| NSW Judy McGuinness | 268 272 | 67 67 | 4.6 4.0 | 1261 -12 1249 |
| NSW Jan Pincott | 363 350 | 91 89 | 3.1 4.0 | 1109 +18 1127 |
| NSW Margaret Berliner | 277 279 | 68 68 | 4.4 4.0 | 1243 -7 1236 |
| NSW Margaret Andrews | 310 305 | 80 79 | 3.7 4.0 | 1171 +10 1181 |
| NSW Raya Wilkinson | 303 302 | 78 77 | 3.8 4.0 | 1187 +4 1191 |
| NSW Richard Birch | 285 291 | 71 75 | 4.6 4.0 | 1224 -10 1214 |
| NSW George Khamis | 431 419 | 104 102 | 2.6 3.0 | 1027 +11 1038 |
| NSW Judy Hay | 294 304 | 75 78 | 4.4 3.0 | 1209 -28 1181 |
| NSW Nonie English | 342 352 | 87 90 | 3.4 3.0 | 1131 -9 1122 |
| NSW Liz Jackman | 278 288 | 69 73 | 4.3 3.0 | 1242 -25 1217 |
| NSW Rex Shakespeare | 328 338 | 83 85 | 3.6 3.0 | 1149 -12 1137 |
| NSW Joan Buchanan | 331 329 | 84 82 | 3.1 3.0 | 1142 1142 |
| NSW Therese Newman | 320 344 | 81 88 | 3.6 2.0 | 1161 -32 1129 |
| NSW Bev Purkis | 397 406 | 97 100 | 2.7 2.0 | 1071 -14 1057 |
| NSW Nanette Reynolds | 366 385 | 92 97 | 3.2 2.0 | 1105 -22 1083 |
| NSW Dolores Barbon | 424 430 | 103 105 | 2.2 2.0 | 1033 -5 1028 |
| NSW Fay Van Oyen | 343 379 | 88 96 | 3.2 1.0 | 1131 -43 1088 |
+-------------------------------------+---------+-----------+----------------+
+Section: *C DIVISION + + + +
+--------------------------------------+---------+-----------+---------------+
| NSW Alan Gauci | 466 450 | 111 110 | 5.0 6.0 | 980 +21 1001 |
| NSW Jan Tomlin | 598 565 | 151 139 | 3.8 5.0 | 865 +24 889 |
| NSW Margaret Coulter | 705 679 | 176 172 | 3.9 5.0 | 765 +23 788 |
| NSW Peggy Womersley | 445 445 | 109 109 | 4.9 5.0 | 1004 +1 1005 |
| NSW Jacquelin Hochmuth | 565 541 | 139 133 | 3.9 5.0 | 890 +22 912 |
| NSW Janet Chambers | 467 470 | 112 113 | 5.1 5.0 | 980 -2 978 |
| NSW Frank Hunt | 551 526 | 135 127 | 4.3 5.0 | 906 +15 921 |
| NSW Sandra Elliott | 475 483 | 114 114 | 4.4 4.0 | 974 -7 967 |
| NSW Daphne Bezuidenhout | 524 530 | 125 129 | 4.4 4.0 | 925 -8 917 |
| NSW Silvana Newman | 786 734 | 201 188 | 2.3 4.0 | 707 +34 741 |
| NSW Basil Sands | 624 626 | 156 156 | 4.2 4.0 | 830 -2 828 |
| NSW Ivana Duria | 578 587 | 145 147 | 4.4 4.0 | 878 -7 871 |
|*NSW Kerrie Winter | 0 623 | 0 155 | 4.0 4.0 | 832 832 |
| NSW Beverly Nurick | 1108 952 | 308 248 | 1.8 4.0 | 500 +85 585 |
| NSW Chris Phillips | 736 730 | 188 187 | 2.8 3.0 | 738 +6 744 |
| NSW Margaret Ackman | 735 775 | 187 200 | 4.1 3.0 | 738 -22 716 |
| NSW Maree Heynen | 875 869 | 226 224 | 2.5 3.0 | 634 +9 643 |
| NSW Joy Morris | 931 925 | 242 240 | 2.7 3.0 | 597 +8 605 |
| NSW John Smith :act | 967 954 | 254 250 | 2.5 3.0 | 574 +10 584 |
| NSW Elwyn Smith :act | 1057 1020 | 289 276 | 1.9 3.0 | 507 +23 530 |
| NSW Krystyna Batten | 545 604 | 134 151 | 4.5 2.0 | 908 -50 858 |
| NSW Nyree Ellen | 862 913 | 221 237 | 3.3 2.0 | 651 -38 613 |
| NSW Rhonda Jefferson | 1026 1023 | 278 278 | 1.8 2.0 | 522 +5 527 |
| NSW Diana Field | 1067 1179 | 293 335 | 2.8 2.0 | 500 -16 484 |
| NSW Lan Knox | 588 688 | 148 174 | 5.6 1.0 | 871 -92 779 |
| --- A Bye | 1180 1181 | 2 2 | 0.2 0.0 | -6 -3 -9 |
+-------------------------------------+---------+-----------+----------------+