Cock of the North 2007 - Day 1

Allan and I had travelled down the day before. All was well until the M6. We eventually arrived at the venue, Leasowe Castle Hotel, at 8.15 p.m., and decided to eat in the hotel rather than drive to the restaurant a few of the others had gone to. This may have been a mistake as the service was slow and my steak was gristly so I could only eat half of it. I complained to the waitress but she didn't even apologise but I was too tired to make a fuss. We retired to the bar where a few others were gathered, and then I got a reasonably early night.

I got up early for me, and after a light breakfast had enough time to go back to my room and go through a few anagrams in my cardbox quiz before wandering down to the playing room. I know from studying at home that it takes me a while in the mornings for my brain to start functioning properly, and I hoped this would kick it into gear...


Game 1: Paul Thompson
I was pleased with how I played in this game with awkward racks at times. PAOLO to open with a vowel-heavy rack was hit with DEAFEST from Paul. OUT(AD)DED from ADDEOTU on move 3, as I had previously blocked the floating T with HIE, to regain the lead. I bonused on move 5 from AAABMOS for breathing space. 37 for WINING followed by NYE for 33 to kill off the opening I had just made. Paul bonused on move 10 with sAVAGER but was still more than 50 behind, but gave me a floater for NIT(E)RIES - I had been a little annoyed to pick an S after dumping the J as there is no seven. Paul played (S)OU leaving one in the bag. I could afford for him to bonus there, so blocked the 9-x to ensure the win.
W: 434-396

Game 2: Anne Ramsay
I broke my blank drought in this game, and just for good measure had all the Ss. ZILLA, HAKIM and a late (U)RETHANE added to Anne's misery.

W: 517-329



Game 3: Martin Harrison
An opening rack of EIIOMUU transformed into AUMAILs on move 2. ELANETS on move 6 followed by JUICE on move 7 for 87 meant I had a very healthy lead. Martin came back at me with SLOOMEd followed by SWOO(N)ING, but FRYIN(G) from a consonant heavy rack kept me a bonus lead ahead, which proved too much for Martin to overhaul.
W: 450-402

Game 4: Wayne Kelly
Another vowel-heavy opening rack and I dumped AUA. Wayne tried HEEDIER which I challenged off (HEEDY is okay). ZO(A) by me, knowing he couldn't benefit from the Z. Unfortunately neither could I, so I balanced with WI(Z) and then bonused with ETA(E)RIOS, with FEaTH(E)RY two moves later. I picked AACENOL. A face value ARE(N)ITES from Wayne, but there was another open N for my ANCO(N)EAL response. Wayne took off the triple with GR(A)VY. I was pleased to score/balance with FOV(E)A(L) but Wayned used the F for PUrI(F)IED. I was still a bonus ahead, and scored well with DINKS (38), AX (45) and then bonused again with ELEGANT.
W: 490-321

Game 5: Biyi Oyadiran
I opened with HOVEL, and opted for YEAR(L)ONG on move 2. ZUR(F) on move 3 and I still had a 20+ lead after Biyi bonused with RETI(A)rII. A consonant heavy rack, and I extended JA to JALOP. Biyi opened another 9-x with FOAM, and I had to balance again with DR(I)VEL, holding back the X. I was rewarded with (E)XTRA the following move. Biyi bonused on move 9 with STaND(I)NG. With 2 Ss I had no problems playing QIS to go 55 ahead, and picked the last S. (R)EACHED from Biyi emptying the bag blocked my AI(R)STOPS, but the game was mine.
W: 428-375

Game 6: Allan Simmons
Allan had won all 3 of our friendlies last week - it must be my turn to win. He opened with VAGROM, and I responded with (V)IBEX. (A)DIEU from Allan. I had AHNSTU?, and spent a long time trying to see something better but failing and played SUNHATs (I knew VAGROM does not take an S). I picked PINDARI from the bag to go 75 ahead. cREE(P)IER from Allan, but he was still behind and I scored well with PAWN on the triple. I maintained my lead, chickening out of (T)ULCHANS and playing (H)UNCH instead. I bonused again two moves later, choosing the lower scoring ASTABLE over (T)ASTABLE. JESSE near the end ensured victory.
W: 453-341

Game 7: Phil Robertshaw
I bit of a cock-up on the photo front here. It was quite dark up my end of the room, and the flash insisted on firing. In sorting them out later I managed to delete all of the ones I took of this game. Suffice it to say I broke Phil's run of wins against me :)
W: 454-362

Game 8: Mark Lane
Mark was having a very good tournament too... I wanted some breathing space.
I opened with a balancing GIG. WISP from Mark. Another balancing HUE from me. Mark also balanced with BRI(G). As is typical after playing my U I had picked the Q, but QI was playable. Mark also had an I. I had now picked another U and balanced again with DULL. JEST from Mark, and I opted for OE for 38 rather than bonusing with CEEOST?. WATChES on the next go. Mark was obviously struggling, AIA followed by a change, ZA (62) and FAY (48) for me. SOLDIER from Mark, but he was still over 100 behind. REMANDs by me on move 12 and a consolation bonus of CREATU(R)E from Mark did little to dint my spread.
W: 503-330

Game 9: Robert Richland
Unfortunately POPVIDS is not a word, so I opted for POP, having to dump VID on the next move. From AHRSSTT I played off TRASH and Robert bonused with MANDIRS. Still consonant heavy but with a blank I played off HM followed by B(OX). At last, DUSTILy to take a small lead followed immediately by CADGERs. Robert was pegging me back as I was struggling with non-bonus one-pointer racks (NOUN, TOLE). WOG followed by SNEEZE from Robert and he was only 12 behind. He got within 6 with FARCE, but used the last unseen E, and the remaining tiles looked pretty bad. JE(W) from me, YA from Robert. With GNNRTTU I played off G(R)UNT expecting to pick a vowel, but got an L. Robert had IIIIKOU...
W: 392-366

Game 10: Mikki Nicholson
I opened with the standard QI. ETAMiNE from Mikki on move 2. SHULE from me to level the scores. BEGOtT(E)N from Mikki on move 4, but I hit straight back with AGISTOR. OVA(R)Y from Mikki to retake the lead, but that let me balance a poor rack with IRID for 31. (V)ALUE from Mikki and I had choices for the Z, opting for ADZED. I now kept the lead, and ATTAINS on move 11 made the game safe.
W: 451-378

End of day 1, 10-0 with a very good spread, and two games clear of Mark who was a game ahead of a few others. I was absolutely shattered, and after a bottle of Becks headed for bed.