Tuesday 16 May 2017

BikeGammon 2018 - Be part of history


BikeGammon is a backgammon tournament played in a series of venues over one weekend. The mode of travel between the venues is motorbike.

To be eligible to enter, you must be able to play backgammon and travel by motorbike.

When: Thursday 19th April - Monday 23rd April 2018*
Where: Southern England

We'll meet on the south coast - within an hour or so of London - and play the first round of matches there.
 
We'll travel on carefully selected, biking-friendly roads, never overreaching ourselves in terms of distance, and play subsequent matches on the evenings of Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The backgammon will be organised by Dicky Biddle of North London Backgammon renown. The rest will be organised by me - Simon Hopper.
 
The winner will hold the Magnificent BikeGammon trophy for one year.
 
Simon 'BG Boy' Hopper receiving the 2017 Magnificent BikeGammon Trophy
 
This trophy attracts beautiful lovers, enhances your charisma, bolsters your libido and generally burnishes your otherwise ordinary life.**
 
This is year two. There may be a year three, four, five and so on. Let's see.
 
 
DETAILS
NUMBERS: Entrants are limited to 8. First-come first-served.
 
PRIZE MONEY: There may be optional side-pools arranged at the time.
 
ROUTES, VENUES, TOURNAMENT DETAILS: will be finalised in good time - watch this space. Accommodation will tend towards the budget end of the spectrum.
 
DEPOSIT: A deposit of £50.00 secures a place: send your contact details to simon@simonhopper.co.uk and I'll let you have payment info. Deposits are refundable if the event does not take place or if a replacement is found in an otherwise fully subscribed event.
 
 
Well, you're only young once!
 
 
*(Those who wish/need to will be able to return to their 'normal' lives early on Monday.)
**( Some of these claims may be untrue.)

Monday 15 May 2017

The Ballad of BikeGammon '17 (unfinished)

On motorbikes from Germany, The U.S. and Japan
They rode into the Continent, a gladiator band
To vie in competition, for they were in accord
BG Boy, The Newbie and Biddle of the Board

The Newbie (Philip Nicolas)













The Newbie was the tyro, the younger of the three
He travelled with the others for to listen and to see
To learn, to battle-harden; he was not overawed
To stand his ground with BG Boy and Biddle of the Board

Biddle of the Board ('Dicky' Biddle)













Biddle's bike wore shining chrome, you knew when he'd arrived
He was the senior statesman, his status uncontrived
His was the highest rating – a certain source of joy
Now Newbie was his advers'ry – along with BG Boy

BG Boy (Simon Hopper)










The last one loved a contest; he came from Bethnal Green
And was convener of this trial such as had not been seen
He threw down a gauntlet - for a contest he adored -
To prick the pride of Newbie and Biddle of the Board

In Escalles and Valenciennnes, to Rouen, then to Ghent
The city streets resounded to their conflict as they went
No quarter sought or given as their battle-cry they roared
BG Boy, The Newbie and Biddle of the Board

(to be continued...)