A lot of interest was generated for this year’s Marj Babb Tournament in Wollongong for several reasons. Our publicity officer, Rene Chelton, faxed media releases to TV, radio and the press and this resulted in a half page story and photo of Rod Talbot in one local paper, a feature story in the Illawarra Mercury newspaper, regular announcements and an interview with the loquacious Wilma Vialle on ABC radio, some news film footage by local WIN TV on the day, and a stream of interested spectators from the “the great unwashed”. This was also to be the last chance for NSW players to qualify for the Trans-Tasman team that competes in Wellington NZ in November. Our president, Rod Talbot, bravely put his Trans-Tasman place on the line and had some very nervous moments before surviving. A loss in his final game against Peter Shaw would have seen him surrender his Trans-Tasman team place. When Peter challenged Rod’s GORGIAS, Wilma happened to be on the challenge computer and just knew that Rod would have used the word deliberately as a homophone for one of her nicknames, GORGEOUS. The places of other entrenched TT members, Bob Jackman and John Holgate, were never seriously under threat but the Masters’ winner Jean McGiffen was left rueing that she hadn’t tried her luck in the Victorian Championships in an effort to gain a handful more of rating points. It was wonderful to see Betty Foreman pinch second place, beating Bob Jackman into 3rd place in the final game to miss 1st place by seven margin points but net the biggest rating gain of the day - 111 points. Rene Chelton was rewarded for her enterprise with 4th place in Masters’ after winning her opening four games.
After experiencing some anxious moments trying to be admitted to the premises while the first game was underway, peripatetic Tathra mum Sue Gordon managed to channel her angst brilliantly to triumph in Advanced ahead of the resurgent Moana Nepia and Richard Birch.
Home ground advantage seemed to play its part when other W.O.R.D.S. players achieved some personal highs – Keith Bioletti getting High Word in Masters’ along with a 45 point ratings gain, Esther Rolfe winning Intermediate and 56 ratings points in edging out Jann Pincott and Rex Shakespeare, Louise Ready 2nd behind Teresa Traynor in Recreation with excited new member Janine Whittaker finishing a meritorious 4th just behind the “crafty” Brian Irwin. After several years absence, we welcomed back famous children’s book authors, Di Bates and Bill Condon, who managed to play a tie in their match-up. There may be a story in that.
The Marj Babb shield was taken out by the Sydney “Beauties” team which included Jean McGiffen, Moana Nepia, Yvonne Edwards and Sue Tuckett. A confident Raya Wilkinson from last year’s winners, Blacktown, had told organisers that she didn’t know why she was bothering to bring in the Shield since she would be taking it back home again anyway. Her team managed 16 wins but were pipped by Sydney with 16.5 wins.
Results after game 7
GONG -- MASTERS
Rank Player Wins Mar
---------------------------------
1 Jean McGiffen 6 308
2 Betty Foreman 6 301
3 Bob Jackman 5 232
4 Rene Chelton 5 179
5 Rod Talbot 4 235
6 Peter Shaw 4 208
7 Tony Hunt 4 73
8 Keith Bioletti 4 71
9 Graeme Lock Lee 4 68
10 John Holgate 4 25
11 Cristine Small 3 161
12 Hanne Marks 3 32
13 John Spaan 3 -19
14 Audrey Newman 3 -26
15 Jeff Chelton 3 -140
16 John Barker 3 -328
17 Betty Coleman 2 -103
18 Ian Close 2 -350
19 Jean Noonan 2 -441
20 Alison Pollard 0 -486
HIGH GAME: Bob Jackman 537
HIGH WORD: Keith Bioletti 104
"TRINKETS"
Results after game 7
GONG -- ADVANCED
Rank Player Wins Mar
---------------------------------
1 Susan Gordon 6 171
2 Moana Nepia 5.5 577
3 Richard Birch 5 229
4 Liz Jackman 5 165
5 Pat Schuberg 5 122
6 Michael Adler 4 153
7 Ram Mohe 4 115
8 Gordon Meggs 4 97
9 Edith Lowbeer 4 -37
10 Raya Wilkinson 4 -51
11 Cheryl Michler 3.5 306
12 Margaret Berliner 3 99
13 Hari Nanayakkara 3 46
14 Gary Pollard 3 -4
15 Natalie Tadday 3 -58
16 Judy Hay 3 -96
17 Therese Newman 3 -147
18 Val Ryan 3 -257
19 Nonie English 3 -305
20 Fay Van Oyen 2 -210
21 Denise Smith 1 -526
22 Jean Balmer 0 -389
HIGH GAME: Gary Pollard 552
HIGH WORD: Pat Schuberg 140
"REBITTEN"
Results after game 7
GONG -- INTERMEDIATE
Rank Player Wins Mar
---------------------------------
1 Esther Rolfe 6 370
2 Jann Pincott 6 205
3 Rex Shakespeare 5 342
4 Ann Fiddler 5 114
5 Veena Mohe 4 348
6 Sunny Wright 4 311
7 Dolores Barbon 4 114
8 Yvonne Pollard 4 113
9 George Khamis 4 5
10 Mireille Minet 4 -12
11 Betty Irwin 4 -112
12 Heather Sorensen 4 -119
13 Alan Gauci 3 15
14 Sue Tuckett 3 -65
15 Mary Craven 3 -95
16 Merle Young 3 -99
17 Ivana Duria 2.5 -49
18 Tricia Shephard 2.5 -243
19 Sharon Sorensen 2 -153
20 Diana Hilly 2 -308
21 Anne Schick 1 -313
22 Pearl Gillott 1 -369
HIGH GAME: Ann Fiddler 493
HIGH WORD: Rex Shakespeare 134
"ATTAINED"
Results after game 7
GONG -- RECREATION
Rank Player Wins Mar
---------------------------------
1 Teresa Traynor 6 438
2 Louise Ready 5 281
3 Brian Irwin 5 149
4 Janine Whittaker 5 123
5 Yvonne Edwards 5 71
6 Maria Kaye 4 156
7 Denis Mahon 4 109
8 Joy Bresser 4 60
9 Lila Tucker 4 16
10 Merriss Adler 4 -87
11 Jacquelin Hochmuth 4 -95
12 Bill Condon 3.5 -6
13 John Smith 3 164
14 Maree Heynen 3 34
15 Shirley Taylor 3 26
16 Irene Brownlow 3 -22
17 Beryl Christensen 3 -203
18 Di Bates 2.5 -88
19 Diana Field 2 -77
20 Joy Morris 2 -279
21 Elwyn Smith 2 -281
22 Eleanor Ewart 0 -489
HIGH GAME: Brian Irwin 429
HIGH WORD: Brian Irwin 102
"ELIXIRS"
Stats for Tournament : GONG
+--------------------------+-----------+---------+-----------+---------------+
| state Name | National | State | Wins | Rating Points |
| | Old New | Old New | Exp Act | Old Change New|
+--------------------------+-----------+---------+-----------+---------------+
+Section: *MASTERS + + + +
+--------------------------------------+---------+-----------+---------------+
| NSW Jean McGiffen | 33 30 | 11 10 | 4.8 6.0 | 1666 +29 1695 |
| NSW Betty Foreman | 124 62 | 36 16 | 2.0 6.0 | 1466 +111
1577 |
| NSW Bob Jackman | 6 7 | 2 2 | 5.6 5.0 | 1808 -6 1802 |
| NSW Rene Chelton | 119 81 | 33 21 | 2.5 5.0 | 1472 +60 1532 |
| NSW Peter Shaw | 66 61 | 17 15 | 3.1 4.0 | 1559 +19 1578 |
| NSW Keith Bioletti | 134 96 | 40 24 | 1.9 4.0 | 1460 +45 1505 |
| NSW John Holgate | 7 9 | 3 3 | 5.5 4.0 | 1807 -21 1786 |
| NSW Graeme Lock Lee | 44 45 | 13 13 | 4.2 4.0 | 1620 -4 1616 |
| NSW Rod Talbot | 12 20 | 4 6 | 5.7 4.0 | 1776 -31 1745 |
| NSW Tony Hunt | 120 100 | 34 27 | 2.7 4.0 | 1472 +28 1500 |
| NSW Cristine Small | 80 83 | 21 22 | 3.4 3.0 | 1536 -6 1530 |
| NSW Audrey Newman | 75 79 | 19 20 | 3.6 3.0 | 1546 -12 1534 |
| NSW John Spaan :act | 97 98 | 24 25 | 2.9 3.0 | 1501 +1 1502 |
| NSW Hanne Marks | 95 95 | 22 23 | 3.0 3.0 | 1504 +2 1506 |
| NSW John Barker | 55 65 | 15 17 | 3.9 3.0 | 1590 -18 1572 |
| NSW Jeff Chelton | 118 120 | 32 35 | 2.9 3.0 | 1474 +3 1477 |
| NSW Betty Coleman | 96 110 | 23 30 | 2.8 2.0 | 1502 -15 1487 |
| NSW Ian Close | 133 142 | 39 41 | 2.6 2.0 | 1460 -11 1449 |
| NSW Jean Noonan | 104 125 | 26 37 | 3.0 2.0 | 1490 -21 1469 |
| NSW Alison Pollard | 67 114 | 18 32 | 3.9 0.0 | 1558 -75 1483 |
+-------------------------------------+---------+-----------+----------------+
+Section: *ADVANCED + + + +
+--------------------------------------+---------+-----------+---------------+
| NSW Sue Gordon | 169 158 | 48 46 | 5.1 6.0 | 1398 +19 1417 |
| NSW Moana Nepia | 191 181 | 52 51 | 4.5 5.5 | 1363 +23 1386 |
| NSW Richard Birch | 340 291 | 87 75 | 2.1 5.0 | 1135 +74 1209 |
| NSW Pat Schuberg | 196 191 | 54 52 | 4.8 5.0 | 1357 +5 1362 |
| NSW Liz Jackman | 208 206 | 57 56 | 4.8 5.0 | 1342 +5 1347 |
| NSW Gordon Meggs | 253 254 | 64 63 | 4.2 4.0 | 1276 -5 1271 |
| NSW Ram Mohe | 345 309 | 89 79 | 1.9 4.0 | 1126 +45 1171 |
| NSW Raya Wilkinson | 275 272 | 69 68 | 3.9 4.0 | 1240 +3 1243 |
| NSW Michael Adler :act | 287 278 | 74 70 | 3.3 4.0 | 1215 +16 1231 |
| NSW Edith Lowbeer | 377 347 | 94 90 | 2.4 4.0 | 1092 +32 1124 |
| NSW Cheryl Michler | 184 196 | 51 54 | 4.6 3.5 | 1374 -21 1353 |
| NSW Natalie Tadday | 302 303 | 76 77 | 3.2 3.0 | 1191 -4 1187 |
| NSW Margaret Berliner | 264 271 | 66 67 | 3.6 3.0 | 1256 -12 1244 |
| NSW Hari Nanayakkara | 269 274 | 67 69 | 3.4 3.0 | 1250 -7 1243 |
| NSW Gary Pollard | 217 238 | 58 60 | 4.6 3.0 | 1331 -32 1299 |
| NSW Nonie English | 343 343 | 88 89 | 2.8 3.0 | 1127 +4 1131 |
| NSW Judy Hay | 248 264 | 63 65 | 4.4 3.0 | 1281 -26 1255 |
| NSW Therese Newman | 376 354 | 93 92 | 1.8 3.0 | 1093 +23 1116 |
| NSW Val Ryan | 280 283 | 71 72 | 3.2 3.0 | 1228 -4 1224 |
| NSW Fay Van Oyen | 319 342 | 80 88 | 3.2 2.0 | 1157 -25 1132 |
| NSW Denise Smith | 357 389 | 92 96 | 2.6 1.0 | 1112 -32 1080 |
| NSW Jean Balmer | 382 423 | 95 103 | 2.5 0.0 | 1087 -50 1037 |
+-------------------------------------+---------+-----------+----------------+
+Section: *INTERMEDIATE + + + +
+--------------------------------------+---------+-----------+---------------+
| NSW Esther Rolfe | 454 406 | 113 100 | 3.6 6.0 | 1003 +56 1059 |
| NSW Jann Pincott | 520 475 | 127 117 | 3.7 6.0 | 924 +53 977 |
| NSW Rex Shakespeare | 439 424 | 106 104 | 4.2 5.0 | 1021 +16 1037 |
| NSW Ann Fiddler | 399 387 | 98 94 | 4.5 5.0 | 1071 +12 1083 |
| NSW Sunny Wright | 407 414 | 101 102 | 4.9 4.0 | 1062 -16 1046 |
| NSW Veena Mohe | 641 607 | 165 157 | 2.7 4.0 | 818 +27 845 |
| NSW Dolores Barbon | 443 444 | 108 109 | 4.1 4.0 | 1016 -2 1014 |
| NSW Betty Irwin | 588 568 | 147 142 | 3.0 4.0 | 861 +20 881 |
| NSW George Khamis | 449 458 | 111 113 | 4.5 4.0 | 1007 -9 998 |
| NSW Yvonne Pollard | 589 579 | 148 146 | 3.4 4.0 | 859 +11 870 |
| NSW Mireille Minet | 445 465 | 109 114 | 4.8 4.0 | 1009 -17 992 |
| NSW Heather Sorensen :ac | 606 572 | 156 144 | 2.6 4.0 | 846 +29 875 |
| NSW Sue Tuckett | 584 588 | 145 148 | 3.1 3.0 | 863 -1 862 |
| NSW Alan Gauci | 602 597 | 154 152 | 2.7 3.0 | 849 +6 855 |
| NSW Mary Craven :act | 455 486 | 114 120 | 5.0 3.0 | 1003 -39 964 |
| NSW Merle Young | 693 675 | 176 174 | 2.2 3.0 | 771 +16 787 |
| NSW Ivana Duria | 494 528 | 121 128 | 4.4 2.5 | 950 -37 913 |
| NSW Tricia Shephard | 694 691 | 177 177 | 2.2 2.5 | 771 +5 776 |
| NSW Sharon Sorensen | 538 585 | 131 147 | 4.1 2.0 | 908 -43 865 |
| NSW Diana Hilly | 643 654 | 167 171 | 2.5 2.0 | 816 -10 806 |
| NSW Anne Schick | 727 788 | 187 204 | 2.6 1.0 | 741 -48 693 |
| NSW Pearl Gillott | 720 749 | 186 194 | 2.1 1.0 | 750 -23 727 |
+-------------------------------------+---------+-----------+----------------+
+Section: *RECREATION + + + +
+--------------------------------------+---------+-----------+---------------+
| NSW Teresa Traynor | 840 773 | 220 200 | 3.7 6.0 | 651 +54 705 |
| NSW Louise Ready | 821 795 | 211 206 | 3.9 5.0 | 668 +22 690 |
| NSW Brian Irwin | 902 859 | 238 228 | 3.2 5.0 | 598 +36 634 |
| NSW Yvonne Edwards | 738 725 | 193 187 | 4.5 5.0 | 735 +10 745 |
|*NSW Janine Whittaker | 0 669 | 0 173 | 5.0 5.0 | 795 795 |
| NSW Denis Mahon | 787 813 | 203 211 | 4.7 4.0 | 694 -14 680 |
| NSW Maria Kaye | 878 867 | 233 232 | 3.6 4.0 | 617 +8 625 |
| NSW Lila Tucker | 853 845 | 224 223 | 3.6 4.0 | 640 +8 648 |
| NSW Joy Bresser :act | 762 769 | 197 199 | 4.4 4.0 | 718 -9 709 |
| NSW Jacquelin Hochmuth | 976 945 | 259 248 | 3.2 4.0 | 551 +23 574 |
| NSW Merriss Adler :act | 1014 991 | 275 265 | 3.1 4.0 | 524 +19 543 |
| NSW Bill Condon | 0 1016 | 0 277 | 2.8 3.5 | 500 +22 522 |
| NSW Shirley Taylor | 925 914 | 240 240 | 2.9 3.0 | 587 +4 591 |
| NSW John Smith :act | 963 971 | 255 255 | 3.4 3.0 | 562 -8 554 |
|*NSW Irene Brownlow | 0 1022 | 0 281 | 3.0 3.0 | 520 520 |
| NSW Maree Heynen | 926 940 | 241 246 | 3.5 3.0 | 585 -9 576 |
| NSW Beryl Christensen | 1045 1044 | 286 288 | 2.8 3.0 | 502 +4 506 |
| NSW Di Bates | 0 1166 | 0 331 | 3.2 2.5 | 500 -21 479 |
| NSW Diana Field | 1162 1165 | 327 330 | 2.8 2.0 | 500 -16 484 |
| NSW Elwyn Smith :act | 950 997 | 249 267 | 3.6 2.0 | 570 -32 538 |
| NSW Joy Morris | 944 983 | 247 262 | 3.3 2.0 | 574 -27 547 |
| NSW Eleanor Ewart | 0 1167 | 0 332 | 2.8 0.0 | 500 -84 416 |
+-------------------------------------+---------+-----------+----------------+