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...'