The website of the Australian Scrabble Players Association (Victoria) Inc.
Watch this space for the latest news and happenings in the Victorian Scrabble scene, and to find lots of information and to check on news from the past click on the links at left. Your social reporter is Marj Miller, and to pass on any news click here
mjwm9@bigpond.com
UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS:
Matchplay Kickoff 2017 ~ July 2 ~ 7 games ~ at Box Hill
Victorian Country Championship ~ August 6 ~ 6 games ~ at Ballarat
A.G.M. Tournament ~ Sunday August 20 ~ 6 games ~ at Box Hill ~ AGM at approx. 2.00 pm
For full details of all tournaments click HERE
The 2017 Victorian Scrabble Championship ~ June 10/11/12
The Winners -standing - Geoff Wright, Jane Taylor, Rod Talbot, Katie Rowe, Alan Burn, Noel
Coulter, Dianne Brumby. In front: Mythili Rudra, Jimmy Scarff, Trevor Halsall, John McNaughton.
The 2017 Champion Trevor Halsall with
TD Carol Johnsen. Well done, Trevor!
An initiative to run a concurrent event attracted insufficient numbers to make it viable, so generous Ratings Band prizes and extra High Word and High Game prizes were awarded within the Championship, and these were popular with the various winners.
This year's Champion is Victorian Trevor Halsall who had been victorious in Victoria in 2011, and more recently runner-up in the 2017 Australian Champs. Trevor was placed third at the end of Day 1, but led at the end of play on Day 2 and won six of his seven games on the final day, finishing on 19 wins with an excellent margin of +1440. Trevor was followed by three players on 16 wins - Jimmy Scarff (Victoria, margin +1153), Rod Talbot (NSW, +631) and Dianne Brumby (Tasmania, + 97). Jane Taylor from South Australia placed fifth on 15.5 wins, with a margin of +1108.
Joint winners of the Championship High Game Award were Alan Burn (Game 21), and Mythili Rudra (Game 22), both brilliantly scoring 613 points. The High Word Award went to Geoff Wright for his play of BRUNETTE for 140 points, well done, everyone.
The Ratings Band Prize for the best placed player rated 1201-1400 went to Victoria's Noel Coulter on 13 wins and 14th place overall, and New Zealand's John McNaughton was the best placed player rated below 1200, winning 12 games and finishing in 17th place overall.
High Game and High Word Awards for those rated 1400 and under were presented to John McNaughton for his great score of 569, and to Katie Rowe for her play of JESSIES scoring 110 points.
 From left: Noel Barrett, Geoff Wright, Barry Jordan, Rod Talbot |  Elize Plaganyi, Marisa Nuccitelli, Adam Kauschke, Paula Messer |  The Admin staff - Barry Harridge with TD Carol Johnsen |  From left: Mythili Rudra, John Barker, Karen Richards, Jimmy Scarff |  Adam Kauschke, Latha Weerakkody, Alan Burn, Paula Messer |
To see the Top 20 Most Improved Players, and those who played the most games over the past 12 months click here
 2016-17 Most Improved Player, Geoff with Carol Johnsen |  Trevor Halsall, Nick Ivanovski, Jane Taylor, Dianne Brumby |  Elize Plaganyi, Christiane McCann, Jeff Chelton, Marisa Nuccitelli |  Rob Hutchinson, Rob Marotta, Geoff Shepheard, Glen Chandler |  Some serious concentration - John McNaughton plays Mark Tully |
Thanks to everyone who helped out in any way over the weekend, as always your assistance was appreciated. This includes Norma Fisher whose contribution was enormous as always, and those who acted as reserve players, namely Christie Godby and Barry Harridge who played the final day, and also spent considerable time on improving technical matters.
To find the full results of the 2017 Vic Champs click HERE
The Cranbourne Tournament ~ May 28, 2017
On a very cold morning 58 players gathered at Box Hill Community Centre for the Cranbourne Club's annual tournament on Sunday 28 May for the last warm-up before the Victorian State Championships. It was great to welcome Frances Adams from Tasmania. As usual I have to thank Barry Harridge for help with the computing program. I only use it once a year and have to be reminded of all the little tricks. Elaine Capewell, Livia Caulfield and Gayle Cameron provided a great array of snacks and comfort food all day as well as competing in the tourney. My best thanks again. This year spot prizes were awarded for words related to AUTUMN, SPORT, TRAFFIC, POLITICS, CURRENT AFFAIRS, and CLIMATE, with plenty of imagination demonstrated by players. Recreation: Christiane McCann, Elizabeth McKean & Rena Aitken |  Inter: Kris Howat, Sylvia Galloway, Dorothy Barraclough & Mal Eden |  Advanced: Geoff Shepheard, Rod Casy & Lainie Chojna |  Masters players: Nick Ivanovski & Natasha Podesser |  Frances Adams, visiting from lovely Tasmania |
Kris Howat won 1st prize in the Intermediate Section with the best margin (385) of five players all on five wins, ahead of Sylvia Galloway (margin 301) and Mal Eden (margin 270). Kris Howat also had the highest game score of 510, and Dorothy Barraclough scored 109 for SUNDECK to take the High Word award.
Geoff Shepheard had a great day winning 6 games to take out the top prize in Advanced Section, with Rod Casey in second place with 5 wins and Lynn Weaver third with 4 wins. Rod Casey had a massive High Game total of 577, and Lainie Chojna played JANGLED (98) for High Word.
In the Masters Round Robin Natasha Podesser pipped Nick Ivanovski to win with 5 games and a margin of 315. Nick was a close second with 4 games (margin 331) and Geoff Wright took out third place, also with 4 wins and a margin of 214. Nick Ivanovski walked away with both High Game (561) and High Word (MISRATED 140).
 Elize Plaganyi plays Lauru Khan |  Dianne Davis versus Alan Burn |  Annette Casey plays Tim Whiting |  Rob Hutchinson & Lorraine Thomas |  John Metcalf with Gayle Cameron |
To check the full results of the 2017 Cranbourne event click HERE
Victoria wins the Tristate Challenge! May 13/14, 2017
Serious play in progress at the Gundagai RSL, a pleasant venue.
In the foreground Tony Williams (ACT) plays Christie Godby (Victoria)
A different format was used this year, with the four highest ranked players from each state doing battle in Division A, and all other participants competing in Division B, with as many interstate games played as possible - thanks to John for devising the program, and keeping everything in order over the weekend.
Overall results saw Victoria win 56.19% of games played against the other states, New South Wales were second winning 47.03%, with the ACT close behind, winning 45.78% of their games.
Individually Bob Jackman (NSW) placed first in Div A, followed by Joanne Craig and Rocky Sharma, also from NSW, so it was a clean sweep to NSW in the top section. Joanne Craig's score of 526 won the High Game award in Div A, and Noel Barrett from the ACT played COWRIES to win the High Word Award.
Division B was won by Mark Tully from Victoria, with Barry Harridge (Vic) second and Sharon Sorenson (NSW) in third place. The High Game award went to John Barker (NSW) for his score of 566, and Rene Chelton (NSW) played MAGAZINE for 126 points to win the Div B High Word award. Well played, everyone.
 Team Victoria |  Team New South Wales |  The Australian Capital Territory Team |
 The famous Dog on the Tuckerbox at Snake Gully, 5 miles from Gundagai |  Organiser John Hamilton hard at work, well done, John |  Angie Pearse, representing Victoria, plays Natalya Grace-Jones from NSW |  Happy players Noel Coulter and Alan Burn, both from Victoria |  Arie Holla from NSW competes against Balada Catanchin from Victoria |
The Nunawading Annual Tournament, April 30 2017
The winners - Mythili Rudra, Diyath Visidagamage,
John McNaughton, Gayle Cameron, Elize Plaganyi,
Katie Rowe, and Mal Eden
The High Game and High Word Winners - Lorraine
Thomas: HG Sections A-D, Lynne Goodinson: HW
Sections D-H, Elize Plaganyi: HW Sections D-H,
Shirley De Silva: HW Sections A-D.
The Nunawading Club hosted a happy Round Robin competition on 30 April with 60 participants including 3 novices (Elaine McGinnes, Phil Moller and Diyath Visidagamage) and we also welcomed John McNaughton from New Zealand, and Shirley De Silva on his annual trip from Sri Lanka.
Winners for each section were Mythili Rudra, Diyath Visidagamage, Katie Rowe, Mal Eden, John McNaughton, Gayle Cameron and Elize Plaganyi. In the top divisions Shirley De Silva won the prize for High Word with TRANNIES for 131 and Lorraine Thomas won High Game with 528. In divisions F-H Elize Plaganyi won High Word with TAXLESS for 119, and Lynne Goodinson won High Game with 571, the highest game score for the whole tournament.
 First time player Elaine McGinnes with friends from the Balwyn Club, Lynn Weaver and mischievous Rod Casey! |  Good times at Scrabble - John McNaughton from New Zealand, with Diyath Visidagamage from Sri Lanka |  New players Phil Moller and Elaine McGinnes, who both play at the Nunawading and Balwyn Clubs |  Shirley De Silva from Sri Lanka, concentrating! |  Friends from earlier WYSC events - Diyath Visidagamage, Barry Harridge and John McNaughton |
Thanks again to Tournament Director and Computer Operator, Marj Miller, and Barry Harridge who gave invaluable assistance when there were some technical difficulties. The Nunawading Club again will host a Round Robin next year, and thank you to all players for supporting us this year.
To check the full results of the 2017 Nunawading event click HERE
The National Champs & Plate, in Perth, April 15-17, 2017
 The top three! Trevor Halsall 2nd, 2017 Champion Russell Honeybun, Esther Perrins 3rd |  The 2017 Plate winner, Susan Roberts from South Australia |  Sharvin, best performed Junior player overall |  Young players - Liana, Rahul, Kaustav, Radheya and Sharvin, with Karen Richards |
The lead changed several times early in the Championship, with Hubert Wee, Esther Perrins, Gerry Carter, Tim Mason and Russell Honeybun leading the field at various times, but from Game 15 onwards Russell Honeybun rose to the top of the table, and stayed there for the rest of the tournament, a brilliant effort indeed. This is the first time that a Western Australian player has been crowned the Australian Scrabble Champion, congratulations, Russ, there's no place like your home state in which to do so well!
 The Vic players: Andrew Fisher, Khwanjai Thammaping, Barry Harridge (Webmaster), Latha Weerakkody, Peter Bauer, Carol Johnsen, Nick Ivanovski, Geoff Shepheard, Paula Messer, Heather Long, John Rider, Christiane McCann, Elize Plaganyi, Angie Pearse |  The keen players who travelled from Queensland: Jack Ashwin, Caroline Scowcroft, Paul Richards, Karen Richards, Shekinah Giffen, Arnold Appelhoff, Patti Ashwin, and Ben Munson |  The crew from South Australia: Fiona Braendler, Daniel Piechnick, Carmel Dodd, Jane Taylor, Susan Roberts, Antony Kimber, Francoise Finlayson, Barry Jordan, Emanuel Atsas, Oliver Jenner-O'Shea, Helen Jones, Louisa Atsas |
 The Champ, Russell Honeybun, during play |  Defending Champ, Trevor Halsall, 2nd |  Esther Perrins, New South Wales, 3rd |  NicK Ivanovski, Victoria, 4th |  Rod Talbot, New South Wales, 5th |  Gerry Carter, Thailand, 6th |  Daniel Piechnick, South Australia, 7th |  Andrew Fisher, Victoria, 10th |
 Daniel Piechnick and Sharvin with the Plate winner, Susan Roberts |  Rene Chelton, New South Wales, Plate 2nd |  John Hayes, Tasmania, Plate 3rd |  Angie Pearse, Victoria, High Rating Gain overall |  Carolyn Watt, WA, High Word Champs |  Liz Jackman, NSW, High Word Plate |  Webmaster Barry Harridge with Tournament Director Wilma Vialle |
Next year's Championship and Plate will be held in the nation's capital Canberra, from March 31st - April 2nd. To check the full results of the 2017 National Championship & Plate click HERE
Heading to the National Championship & Plate in Perth, Easter 2017
To follow the ups and downs of the players over the weekend click HERE
Trevor Halsall in 2016
Wilma Vialle and Barry Harridge
John Hamilton
A celebration dinner will take place on Monday evening at the venue, following completion of play.
The W.A. committee has worked tirelessly to have everything in place for the start, and will continue to be busy over the next few days. Also on the admin side Wollongong's Wilma Vialle is the Tournament Director, and Victoria's Barry Harridge has travelled to Perth to fill the position of Webmaster, good luck with everything, everyone.
Once again John Hamilton is conducting his Fantasy Dream Team competition, and full details can be found HERE Here are our contenders, with current ratings. The first eight are playing in the Championship, and the latter six in the Plate - we should do well!
 Andrew Fisher 2112 |  Angie Pearse 1401 |  Carol Johnsen 1553 |  Geoff Shepheard 1338 |  Heather Long 1625 |  John Rider 1321 |  Nick Ivanovski 1785 |
 Trevor Halsall 1763 |  Christiane McCann 902 |  Elize Plaganyi 904 |  1098 Khwanjai Thammaping |  967 Latha Weerakkody |  Paula Messer 1136 |  Peter Bauer 1264 |
The Nationals Warmup ~ 28th March, 2017
Play in progress in Round 5 - Geoff Shepherd plays
Geoff Wright on Table 1, with Angie Pearse playing
Gwen Lampre on Table 2.
The High Game award went to Trevor Halsall for his score in the final game of 642 points, nice game and great score, Trevor. Dorothy Rice was thrilled to play WEARIEST for 149 points to win the overall High Word award, well done Dot!
Three Ratings Band prizes were awarded and all were pleased with their efforts! The best rated Under 900 prize went to Lynne Goodinson (rated 730), a great effort for finishing in 32nd place with 3 wins, Lynne. An excited Christie Godby (rated 905) put in a stellar performance to take home the Under 1100 prize, well done Christie! And the Under 1300 award went to second placed overall Geoff Shepheard (rated 1281), well deserved, Geoff!
We were well looked after on the day by our caterer Liz McKean, thanks Liz, your hard work and lovely variety of food were appreciated by all. As Tournament Director I would like to thank all who helped in any way on the day, setting up and tidying up is so much quicker and easier with many helpers! Also thanks to Nick Ivanovski for the use of some of his photos, much appreciated as always, Nick.
Notable ratings gains on the day were achieved by Christie Godby +62, Geoff Shepherd + 57, Lorna Patching +35, Dilendra Nanayakkara +31, Alan Burn +30, Latha Weerakkody + 29, Geoff Wright + 28, and Lorraine Thomas +28.
 The overall winners: Geoff Shepheard 2nd, Geoff Wright 1st, Alan Burn 3rd |  Ratings Band Prizewinners: Geoff Shepheard, Christie Godby, Lynne Goodinson |  The High Word and High Game winners: Dorothy Rice and Trevor Halsall |  From left: Del Stitz, Christiane McCann, Balada Catanchin, Dominica Krstic, Shaun Donnelly |
The Langwarrin Tournament, March 6 2017
 The Langwarrin Club members: Geoff Gittus, Katie Rowe, Dot Rice, Mardi Healy, Chris Radin, Alan Burn, Elaine Capewell, Shirley Walker, Pat Judd. The Club meets on Tuesday nights at 7 pm, at the Community Centre |  Clockwise from top left: Eileen Mills & Faye Leeder, Mardi Healy, Brenda Thurgar & Fay Boxshall, and Geoff Gittus |  The Langwarrin scorebook showing the Community Centre, a good place to play! |  The end of the day, in the very pleasant playing room at the Community Centre, with Carol Johnsen and Club Convenor Mardi Healy doing the presentations. |
Once again, the player numbers were split up into 3 "equal" groups 14, 12 and 14 with play-up certificate holders being allowed to play-up, mostly in the A Section. Langwarrin Club players acquitted themselves very well in the results with Dorothy Rice and Mardi Healy first and second respectively in B Section, and standby player Geoff Gittus third in C Section.
Lynne Goodinson was dismayed when she discovered that a word she had played for 135 was a non-word but had not been challenged by her opponent. (N.B. if a high word is not included in our official word list, Collins Scrabble Words 2015 edition, it does not receive a prize in a tournament.)
Elaine Capewell and members of the Langwarrin Club catered amply for the event and we are all asking Geoff Gittus for the recipe for his delicious biscuits. Thank you for a lovely tournament once again, and Mornington Peninsula players can look forward to the Peninsula Tournament to be held in September at the Mt Eliza Community Hall.
 Division A: Carol Johnsen 3rd plus High Word (LEADMAN 106) and High Game (536), with Dianne Davis 2nd and Ray Alford 1st |  Div B: Mardi Healy 2nd, Dorothy Rice 1st, Khwanjai Thammaping 3rd, Glen Chandler High Word (FEASTING 95) |  Div C: Ann Goodwin 2nd, Marisa Nuccitelli High Word (WARMING 99), Laura Khan 1st, Geoff Gittus 3rd, Lynne Goodinson High Game (457) |  Gwen Lampre with Jan McDonald and Shirley Walker, with Rob York photo-bombing on the left! Thanks, Khawanjai, for the photos |
Thanks to TD Carol Johnsen for the above report, and to check the full results of the 2017 Langwarrin event click HERE
The Annual Melbourne Team Challenge ~ February 12, 2017
The overall individual winners on the day: Marj
Miller, Norma Fisher and Balada Catanchin
The Blue Caps, the winning team....Back - Siva
Sivapalasundram, Heather Long. Front - Marj
Miller, Jenny Brysha, Mary Mackie, Christiane
McCann and Paula Messer. Well done, team!
Individual awards on the day went to Balada Catanchin who finished as the best of all 56 players with 6 wins, ahead of Mardi Healy and Christiane McCann, also on 6 wins for the day. The High Game Award went to Norma Fisher for her score of 547, and Marj Miller won the High Word Award for her play of DESEXING for 119 points. Well done to Balada, Mardi, Chris and all for your excellent play, and the spirit in which you all participated in this event.
 Second place, the Team Builders, from the left: Peter Bauer, Noel Coulter, Angie Winkler, Nick Ivanovski, Dorothy Hunt, Elize Plaganyi, and Kris Howat. Well played, Builders! |
 Third team on the day, the Black Caps - Norma Fisher, Sandra Masel, Del Stitz, Ann Goodwin, Dominica Krstic, Diane Stoyan and Lynn Weaver. Well done to the only all girl team! |
 Team Scholten Pepper, a fine bunch of hearties! Fourth on the day, back: Rob Hutchinson, Chris Scholten, John Metcalf, Rob York. Front: Lorna Patching, Bridget Halge, Balada Catanchin |
 The Bunnies. Captain Eloy Gardea wore the yellow bunny ears all day, well done! Seen here with Trish Magee, Lorraine Thomas, Geoff Shepheard, Marisa Nuccitelli, Oliver Podesser, & Christie Godby. |
Excellent ratings gains on the day were achieved by Christiane McCann +47, Geoff Shepherd +46, Mardi Healy +43, Balada Catanchin +41, Peter Bauer +37, Glen Chandler and Kris Howat both +36, and Heather Long +31.
 Barry Harridge's team, The Twinkles, placed sixth. From left - Gayle Cameron, Rena Aitken, Cheryle Jerram, Lainie Chojna, Mardi Healy, Mal Eden and Barry Harridge |
 Gwen and her Green Caps, placed seventh. Left: Gwen Lampre, (Rod Casey photo-bombing,) Laura Khan, Wayne Stoyan, Glen Chandler, Carol Mascitti, Annette Casey and Angie Pearse |
 The eighth team overall, Carol's Crushers... Latha Weerakkody, Carol Johnsen, Rebeccah Booth, Liz McKean, John Parker and John Rider, with Rod Casey in front |
 The Green Caps versus the Blue Caps...Carol Mascitti doing battle with Siva Sivapalasundram on what appears to be a rather tight board, with Angie Pearse and Wayne Stoyan nearby |
The Annual City of Sydney International Masters ~ January 28/29, 2017
Seven of our Victorian players travelled to Sydney for this popular event, held at Club Burwood RSL in Burwood. A total of fifty-two players participated including Lyres Freeth from New Zealand, who had visited Australia for the Trans Tasman Challenge in Adelaide last year. Eleven games (22 minutes per player) were played on Saturday, and nine on Sunday. Bob Smith was in charge of directing the tournament, and regular updates were supplied by Edward Okulicz, thank you for those, Edward, and for the excellent website.Andrew Fisher took an early lead and held on to it for the entire event, winning nineteen of the twenty games played, a brilliant effort indeed. Second place went to Chris May on 16 wins, and third was Alastair Richards with 15 wins. Joanne Craig scored 666 to take out the High Game Award, and Carol Johnsen's early play of SPURNING for 158 earned her the High Game Award.
 Andrew Fisher from Victoria, first |
 Chris May from New South Wales, second |
 Alastair Richards from Queensland, third |
 Joanne Craig, New South Wales, High Game & 12th |
 Carol Johnsen, Victoria, High Word & 31st |
 Natasha Podesser, Victoria, tenth place |
 Trevor Halsall, Victoria, 22nd place |
 Alan Burn, Victoria, 25th place |
 Jenny Brysha, Victoria, placed 26th |
 Khwanjai Thammaping, Victoria, 51st place |
The BIL ROSE AESTIVAL ~ January 15 2017
Ah, summer is here, and that means the Australian Open is about to start. People are enjoying the weather, holidays from work and look forward to this yearly Round Robin event run strictly on ratings.Sixty-six players took part in eight sections named: Aiava, Barty, Cabrera, Duckworth, Ebden, Federer, Gavrilova and Hewitt. Norma Fisher is constantly updating the section titles (hoping to have all Australian Open players) and was pleased with Aiava and Cabrera being made wildcards this year, and Barty returning after a year off tennis, having played cricket for Australia for that year.
The winners in Sections A - D: Jenny Brysha, Andrew
Fisher, Lorraine Thomas, Peter Kougi, Barry Harridge.
Not in the photo: Naween Fernando
The winners in sections E - H: Latha Weerakkody,
Geoff Shepheard, Eileen Mills, Lynne Goodinson.
Not in the photo: Laura Khan, Trish Magee
After the lunch break, Naween Fernando treated us to a reading of one of Bil Rose's Scrabble poems which was delightful. Bil was a prolific poet and published many in our own magazine and in national publications over many years. Nick Ivanovski brought along a collection of his Scrabble magazines which featured Bil's poetry also.
Seven games were played with first placegetters receiving a monetary prize, along with one monetary prize each for high word and high game for the first 4 sections and the next 4 sections. Latha Weerakoddy and Lynne Goodinson shared the high game (494) in the second group and Siva Sivapalasundram (KARITES) and Eileen Mills (SKILLED) shared High Word 95 while Andrew Fisher scored 149 for LUNGWORT and Naween Fernando scored the High Game with 524 in the first 4-section group.
 Happy winner of the ticket to the Australian Open tennis, Ann Goodwin |
 Our new player, Sabir Khawaja, with veteran Barry Harridge |
 "EBDEN", with Khwanjai Thammaping playing Dorothy Rice |
 "CABRERA", with Dianne Gibson and Janet Bau partway through their game. |
 The "GAVRILOVA" players, with Rena Aitken and Laura Khan |
 "HEWITT" section, with Trish Magee and Lina Camilleri |
 "AIAVA", with Peter Kougi playing Carol Johnsen, and Jason Stockdale at Board 2 |
 In "DUCKWORTH" Diane Stoyan plays Rob York, a serious challenge! |
Excellent ratings gains were recorded by Latha Weerakkody +65, Dianne Davis +59, Barry Harridge + 56, Peter Kougi + 52 and Geoff Shepherd +40.
To check the full results of the 2017 Aestival in the National Archives click HERE
Vale Ann McBain ~ May 15 1931 ~ January 4 2017
Ann was married to Duncan, a ship's captain, and she loved telling the story of the ship that was named after her, the "Lady Ann". The privilege of launching the ship was given to Ann which delighted her, but sadly the Lady Ann sank just two weeks later!
Ann travelled extensively to many parts of the world, and this was a favourite pastime. She and good friend Gladys Minihan were part of the group who played scrabble down a gold mine in Bendigo, and the pair often played scrabble at airports on their interstate scrabble trips together.
Husband Duncan passed away a few months before Ann, and they are survived by their children Michael, Sheona and Caroline, four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Ann's funeral took place at 2pm on Monday 16th January, at St John's Church of England, Heidelberg, and family and friends will always remember Ann with love. Rest in peace, Ann.