A tradition is established...

The Magnificent BikeGammon Trophy

Two winners so far: who's next?

The Winner 2018 - The Wizard!

The Wizard (on right - aka David Potter) accepts the trophy from last year's winner

Well done to David for winning, well done to Dicky for acting as a creative TD and managing the events, well done to Christian for being one of four splendid riding team members. I organised the trip (hope it was good chaps!). A great and memorable weekend!


Final Positions
The Wizard - 10 points
BotB - 9
BGBoy - 7
Pilgrim - 4

Bulletin: Day #4

SCHEDULE

• Day 4 (Sunday 22nd April, [en route to] Epsom)
• Lunchtime 5-pointers
• Evening 7-pointer Round-Robin

COMMENTARY

North to Epsom, busy sunny Sunday roads, breakfast at an inn then the two final 5-pointers beside a pub beside a pond with the noisiest frog's chorus you've ever heard.

BotB wins his third of three, BGBoy does likewise in the negative and the final table sees the latter bottom, the former top and The Wizard and Pilgrim in between in that order.

With BotB having won the now completed lunchtime event, he and The Wizard both have a first and second place in a sub-competition. Seven points each. It's all going to rest on the Last Supper this evening - a 7-point round-robin - to decide who is BikeGammon Champion 2018!

BGBoy has finally relinquished his hold on the trophy and Pilgrim is discovering that his current approach to the game ('experimenting to see what happens') may need reviewing.

Suddenly the two leaders are very interested in the form of the trailers - at least in respect of how they perform against their adversary!

BGBoy cannot win BikeGammon, but he can win the evening event, triumph in one of the three sub-competitions and take the side-pool.

The first pairings see BotB v The Wizard and BGBoy v Pilgrim.

The Wizard takes it, beating his higher-ranked opponent and making himself huge favourite for the overall title. BGBoy wins his first, too, keeping him in the hunt for a sub-comp win.

Now it's The Wizard v Pilgrim and BotB v BGBoy. The Wizard wins at a canter. Now it's on the other second-round match. BotB is ahead but can't bring it home, BGBoy hangs in there, gets the dice he needs and beats his opponent for the first time in the weekend!

Finally, The Wizard v BGBoy and BotB v Pilgrim. Once again, Pilgrim contrives to lose quickly (but he's the best of losers - and a great playing and traveling companion!). Can BGBoy beat the favourite - and will it make a difference to the overall title?

The match is long and tense and BGBoy prevails to top The Last Supper table, take the side pool (BtoB and The Wizard having done so for the other two sub-tournies) and make something of his weekend.

It doesn't alter the final outcome, though and The Wizard is rightfully crowned the new BikeGammon Champion for 2018. He played well, made creative and intelligent plays when he needed them and enters backgammon history as one of only two players ever to have won this trophy! :)

RANKINGS

Evening 11-Pointers

Lunchtime 5-Pointers

The Last Supper (7-point round-robin)

Thanks to Len Brown for treating us to dinner!

Final Day Pics...

Ready to roll! (From Eastbourne)

Sunday Lunchtime 5-pointer venue

Bulletin: Day #3

SCHEDULE

• Day 3 (Saturday 21st April, [en route to] Eastbourne)
• Lunchtime 5-pointers
• Evening 11-pointers

COMMENTARY

A cooler yet still gloriously sunny day greeted the crew as they set off heading south-east towards Sussex.

Still no punctures.

Country lanes, architypal English hamlets and occasional ugly over-crowded arterial highways marked their way until, one delayed rendezvous later and having been denied leave to play the lunch-time 5-pointers overlooking an ancient bridge and waterway, a village pub presented the opportunity.

BotB prevailed against BGBoy - sustaining the latter's poor tournament and the former's status as favourite for the overall BikeGammon 2018 trophy and a permanent place in backgammon history.

A win for Pilgrim would have placed him joint leader of the lunch-time tournament but he was denied this by a tenacious The Wizard.

It was busy riding through Hove then Brighton on the hottest April Saturday in living memory - who'd a thought it!?

One more drinks stop overlooking water then, as the weather cooled and seemed to threaten thunder, Eastbourne.

In a noisy, bustling gastro-pub, the evening 11-pointers took place and backgammon's capricious nature asserted itself. Upsetting recent form The Wizard and BGBoy took two each.

By defeating BotB, The Wizard triumphed in the now completed evening sub-event, securing 4 points towards his BikeGammon 2018 Grand Total and establishing himself as the new favourite for the trophy. BGBoy's double win over Pilgrim placed him third in the evening table and an unlikely outside chance at the main crown.

One day to go and all to play for. It's still anyone's trophy...

North tomorrow!

RANKINGS

Evening 11-pointers
Lunchtime 5-pointers

Bulletin: Day #2

SCHEDULE

• Day 2 (Friday 20th April, [en route to] Winchester)
• Lunchtime 5-pointers
• Evening 11-pointers

COMMENTARY

As if to show its approval of their enterprise, the sun shone enthusiastically as the crew made their way via country lane, byway and A25 west, then north, then west again on their way to Winchester. Notwithstanding one temporary loss of load (to wit, one backgammon board) and a brief fragmentation of the riding formation (with BikeGammoners riding off to all points of the compass only to reconvene, shake their collective heads and agree to carry on 'as if this never happened'), Pilgrim made progress - as did his riding companions.

At least there were no punctures (yet).

After morning coffee in Westerham a stop was made in the Grasshopper Inn for the Lunchtime 5-pointers.

BotB v The Wizard
BGBoy v Pilgrim

BotB began to establish himself as tournament favourite by maintaining a 100% record with a win. BGBoy also continued his form of the previous evening by recording the first loss to a lower-rated player with Pilgrim demonstrating that existing status needn't prevail.

On to Winchester...

After tethering the mounts and checking into their hotel, the town-centre Witherspoon's (a busy and admirably friendly place) was selected as the venue for the Evening 11-pointers:

BotB v Pilgrim
The Wizard v BGBoy

Cementing his favourite's status, BotB took both matches sending Pilgrim to the bottom of the table. The Wizard conceded one to present BGBoy with his first win, but took the second.

Tomorrow, Eastbourne via Brighton - here's to another fantastic sunny day's riding!

RANKINGS

BotB is now strong favourite for the Evening 11-Pointers leg of the tournament and is tied with Pilgrim as leader of the Lunchtime 5-Pointers.

https://challonge.com/vj0q6bed/standings

https://challonge.com/fgxk7ijk/standings

Day 2 pics

Lunch-time 5-pointers in the sun

Parking up for the evening BikeGammon-stylee

Bulletin: Day #1

SCHEDULE

• Day 1 (Thursday 19th April, Maidstone)
• Evening 11-pointers

COMMENTARY
Our four combatants occupy different centuries in the UKBGF ratings. BotB is in the 1700s and The Wizard in the 1600s with BGBoy (1500s) and Pilgrim (1300s) trailing in their wake.

The first confrontations pitch the stronger two against the plucky challengers in the Evening 11-pointers.

BotB v BGBoy
The Wizard v Pilgrim

Will the underdogs prevail..?

Nope!

The results went very much with the pre-tournament rankings with the heavyweights asserting their credentials.

On to Winchester in the sun! Can the underdogs make their mark in the lunchtime 5-pointers?

RANKINGS (Evening 11-pointers)

1. The Wizard (David Potter) Points:2 (P:2 W:2)
2. Biddle of The Board (Dicky Biddle) Points:2 (P:2 W:2)
3. BGBoy (Simon Hopper) Points:0 (P:2 W:0)
4. Pilgrim (Christian Denereaz) Points:0 (P:2 W:0)

httpss://challonge.com/vj0q6bed/standings

The crew!

The Wizard, Biddle of the Board, Pilgrim, BGBoy

Tournament Format...

... as designed by Biddle of the Board, our TD, is as follows:

Evening Double Round-Robin: Two x 11pt rounds p/eve (vs one opponent - Thur, Fri, Sat)

Lunchtime Round-Robin: One x 5pt round p/day (Fri, Sat, Sun)

The Last Supper Round-Robin: 7pt all-play-all (Sun eve)

Each event's finishing positions will contribute towards the Final BikeGammon points tally.

• First - 4 points
• Second - 3 points
• Third - 2 points
• Fourth - 1 point

Individual event Tie Breaker - head to head results.  If three or more player tied, points shared.

(All subject to review.)

Who Rides!

And so it came to pass that there would be four to take up arms: two virgins and two who have lost their innocence.

Pilgrim and The Wizard join the band.

Christian 'Pilgrim' Denereaz

David 'The Wizard' Potter

BGBoy - the reigning champion - and Biddle of the Board ride again.

Simon 'BGBoy' Hopper

Dicky 'Biddle of the Board' Biddle

And all to compete over the board to decide who would be BikeGammon Champion 2018!

'I've heard it said by men who know

You don't regret the things you do

It's the opportunities you miss

They're the ones that you will rue'

Where and when

Dear BikeGammoners,

Here's the itinerary for our 2018 'Close To Home' motorcycle and backgammon peregrination:

When: Thursday 19th April - Monday 23rd April 2018

Where...

Thursday: Maidstone

The White Rabbit (hover/click for website)
Sandling Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 2RF

£75.95 B&B

Friday: Winchester

The Mercure Winchester Wessex Hotel

Paternoster Row, Winchester, SO23 9LQ 

£105.00 B&B

Saturday: Eastbourne

Citrus Eastbourne

King Edwards Parade Eastbourne BN21 4EB

£76.01 B&B

Sunday: Epsom

Premier Inn

2-4 St Margaret Drive, Off Dorking Road, Surrey KT18 7LB

£47.00 Bed Only

I have booked five rooms in these hotels as described. They are assigned to the rider/players who have currently paid their deposits (BGBoy, Biddle of the Board, The Newbie, LenLenLen and Christian**).

Please note the following

* I will assume you each are taking these rooms and accept responsibility for payment for them - unless I hear from you before April 1st when I can still cancel your booking.

* There is no obligation to stay in the hotel that others are staying in. Feel free to book a place of your own nearby. Bear in mind, however, that these places may be the centres for backgammon play and eating and drinking. But they may not be.

* Players enrolling from this point are responsible for their own room bookings.

* Anyone who wishes to, can bolt for home on Sunday evening - but the final night celebration is part of the ethos.

* Please arrive at The White Rabbit on Thursday evening at 5.30 pm for 6.00. (Anyone making jokes about pulling things out of hats stands a round.)

* I have the routes planned and will be leading the rides.

* If you're still considering whether to join us, please let me know ASAP. B.o.t.B. needs to know numbers to concoct a playing regime.

* To commit, pay £50.00 deposit (email me for details) and then confirm to me that you have.

* Also, know this: when your time comes, you will want to tell those gathered at your bedside that, yes, you were a BikeGammoner and life has been good!

** It is now traditional for BikeGammon players to be assigned a nickname by the organiser. Christian, I think I've decided your name is exotic enough as it stands. It conjures up Pilgrim's Progress. This is apt. Len, I reserve the right to amend yours.

'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...'

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.)

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...)

Armentieres, Ypres & Ghent: BikeGammon, day#4

Hopper accepts the trophy from Nicolas

It wasn't dull. A four-day motorcycle ride, two punctures (complete with recovery vehicle dramas), one abandoned Harley, several fabulous examples of French and Belgian cuisine, many lovely country lanes, a couple of motorways, some songs, wine, beer, lots of coffees and six fiercely-fought one vs two backgammon matches later, a winner: unabashed by the thought that it might be considered bad form for the event's founder to to take the trophy, Simon 'BGBoy' Hopper pipped Philip 'Newbie' Nicolas in a 1-point play-off to win the event.

On a gripping final day, the competition climaxed as the tour traversed the poignant territory of WW1's western front playing the final three matches (now extended to 7-pointers).

In Armentieres, Nicolas played a blinder as the noon-day sun warmed the players' al-fresco café table to beat the pre-tournament 'strongest' duo in some style. In future BikeGammon tours he'll keep his nom-de-guerre of 'Newbie', but we now know it's simply not appropriate.

Armentieres: Nicolas and Hopper, WW1-stylee

Competition Score
Hopper 4

Nicolas 3

Biddle 1

Ypres: (l-r) Hopper, Nicolas, Biddle

In Ypres, Hopper played solo knowing he needed to win to clinch the tournament. He didn't make it.

Biddle and Nicolas survived his potential backgammon/match/tournament-winning roll (four two-point checkers left, two enemy checkers remaining in his inner board, one-double-needed-but-not-obtained), to roll a 55 of their own to win a gammon on a two-cube and take the match.

Competition Score 
Hopper 4
Nicolas 4
Biddle 2

In Ghent, Biddle now knew he needed to beat the opposing pair, win two points, equalise the scores and take the competition to a three-way, one-point play-off. One earlier-than-theory-would-endorse gammoned double, however, made that task a bridge too far.

It would have been tough to come back from four down in a seven-pointer against two competition-seasoned opponents, but a series of fortunate doubles rendered 'Biddle of the Board' a spectator and the duo took the points.

Competition Score
Hopper 5
Nicolas 5
Biddle 2

With two players tied, the competition rules required a one-point play-off. It was Hopper v Nicolas. 'BGBoy' got the rolls and collected the trophy from his opponent.

There had to be a winner, but it really was a case of the taking part mattering most and the main topic of conversation on the morning after was where and when the second annual BikeGammon event would take place.

Well done to Dicky Biddle for running a great tournament and to Philip Nicolas for playing a blinder and demonstrating what a fine competitor he's developing into. The event was born of Hopper's fevered imagination. Whether that warrants congratulations is for others to decide! ;)

We were a new team, but we formed, stormed, normed and performed (he knew a thing or two did that Tuckman). And it was good.

Hmmm; BikeGammon 2018. Now there's a thought.

You coming?

Valenciennes: BikeGammon day#3

In the last, thrilling 17-pointer, the consulting duo of Nicolas/Hopper came back from 2 : 7 down to beat Biddle of the Board, 17 : 11 with Newbie Nicolas giving the lie to his nickname by authoritively steering the duo home courtesy of a doubled 2-cube.

Hopper 4
Biddle 1
Nicolas 1

Can BGBoy get over the line? Can Newbie nix him?! Can B.o.t.B. beat him to it?!

Who knows? Find out exclusively here!!

... is just plain careless.

Didn't matter how much they wanted to, the bike won't be ready before Tuesday, earliest. :(

Mr. 'I'm no little biker chick' Biddle had to ride pillion, wearing a Harley jacket - on a Honda. Oh, oh, the ignominy!

And worse was to follow...

Once is unlucky, twice...

Dicky's turn...

Rouen: BikeGammon day#2

Hopper, starting 3:0 up, never looked back. It may have been the luck or it may have been the skill, but either way he won it (notwithstanding an ill-advised, but well-negotiated 16-cube).

Hopper 3
Biddle 1
Nicolas 0

And - what would you do here? (White to play: 66 in a 17 point match, black leads, 9 - 3.)

The tournament possibilities begin to narrow. Biddle and Nicolas need to make inroads. However, there will be six points to be won on Sunday evening. And tomorrow, it's Biddle flying solo. Can the Nicolas/Hopper consulting pair triumph?

As for the evening - wine was taken, offal was eaten, songs were sung, coffee was drunk. It's France, after all.

On to Valenciennes!

Saved!

Philip's bike was taken to the tyre repairer...

... but while we were waiting we were able to begin match #2 with Hopper as the soloist. Either superior play or good dice propelled him to a 3:0 lead.

Three hours late, the trio set off via country roads, assertive overtaking manourvres and a delicious Petit Boullabaise lunch for an eventual arrival in Rouen where rooms have been taken, bikes secured and a match recommencement time of 20.15 agreed upon.

Can Hopper maintain his slender lead? What is the correct cube strategy when 14-away, 17-away? Will the consultees prevail for a second night? These questions and more beg answers.

Watch this space...