We’re delighted to announce the winners of the British Backgammon Awards, which were presented at the start of Sunday’s play at the UK Open. We had a lot of nominees and all have made significant contributions to the game – and it was difficult to make choices!
Most Courteous Player of the Year: Sue Keeble
Board Designer of the Year: Geoffrey Parker
International Player of the Year: Mochy
British Player of the Year: Eric McAlpine
Tournament Director of the Year: Rick Janowski
Most Significant Contributor of the Year: Peter Bennet
Thankyou to all our winners and other nominees for everything they have done for the good of backgammon; to everyone who nominated and voted; to Wayne Felton for compering the awards; to Tariq Siddiqi for gracefully being on the receiving end of Wayne’s jokes; and to Mark Dixon for presenting the awards and coping with some super-sticky envelopes…
I a would like to say how proud and delighted I am to receive this prestigious award. Thank you very much for all the UKBGF members who voted for me.
Congratulations to all the other winners who are all very worthy in their achievements and contributions.
It would be great if the UKBGF offered periodic awards for significant contributors to British Backgammon but not so easily categorised. I propose a system of annual “UKBGF You Make it Happen Awards and Commendations” and would immediately nominate Julia Hayward and Tony Lezard for the fantastic work they do in the Engine Room of the UKBGF.
Seconded
Seconded.
I absolutely disagree. In my opinion the board looks resplendent in the beautiful corporate colours of the UKBGF. The videos of the matches were very clear especially when blue transparent dice were used. A great credit to the manufacturer and to Aref for making the most of the board in his superb two-camera arrangement.
I would be very proud indeed to own this board or many similar exquisite designs offered by the manufacturer.
The last time I ventured into Harrods, they had nothing but Geoffrey Parker boards on show…
I’m sure Dalibor was not criticising the quality in any way. But I do know that some people really like contrast, whether to help pick out the chequers from the points, or the points from each other. I’ve even had a board where some players found the chequer colours too close, so I replaced them.
I can think of at least four players who, when setting up the chequers, make sure that any similarity with the points is minimised by avoiding the clash on the 6, 8 and 24 points! Of course, on Geoffrey Parker boards, the metal edging on the chequers helps them to stand out from the points, when the colours are similar.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this award – I am very humbled. I don’t think you all realise what the BG community means to me – live and on-line (not least in putting up with my miscounts, misrolls, drop dice and exhaustion). You have all been so supportive and positive (from the very beginning 3 years ago) and have helped me it so many ways – this award goes to you all. Sue x
Not that I do not like sleek
and modern design and manufacturing
of Geoffrey Parker BG board,
but it is about use of colours,
and rather using the same colours
for points and checkers.
With sets designed that way it is
very difficult to visualize
and distinguish checkers from the surface.
As a professional designer (printed
matters) I would add an element
of CONTRAST. With a change in nuances not different hues
(like Xmas one for example) great improvement can be achieved.
In the particular case of shown warm gray set,
if the checkers were darker slate
blue and whitish they would stand
out from the board yet the
design intenntion would be preserved.
But it is not just about design.
In the heat of the game triangles
and checkers may blend in the
eyes of a player leading to
serious oversights. This is not
without the ground; I spoke with
one oculist who confirm that
persons with high blood pressure
have elevated pressure as a
result of stress and/or
excitment during the game
and that pressure is transferred
in eyes causing some kind of
temporary blindness, the pieces
and the board melt in one blurred
unrecognizable form. The result
are blunders.
Contrasting colours of checkers
and board triangles would help
this NOT to happen.
My congratulations to all winners!!