Monthly Archives: August 2015
There’s magic in the SDSE venue! This club acts as a magnet to attract quality shuffleboard players
Hemet West Fun Day at the Courts!
“May the Force Be With You”
Tournament, Hemet,CA the brainchild of Marty Boyajian. It is an
invitational tournament restricted to 64 players in the District 7
area, therefore it is not a CSA sanctioned tournament, but, boy, its a
lot of fun and everyone had a rollicking great time. There have been
aforementioned articles written for this website by Dean Grattidge on
how it is conducted with its points system, brackets, and how the
winners are determined, frankly it is as complicated as playing with
Rubic’s Cube.
2015 marked the 20th anniversary of this tournament, and Carol
Anderson, Hemet Muni’s club president summoned Marty Boyajian from his
airy in Pueblo, CO to play the tournament he founded. As a neophyte,
Marty is a legend in District 7 for founding the “Bonspiel” and the
Soboba Casino Classic Team tournaments. I have heard over the past 2
years countless stories about Marty and how he cajoled and hoodwinked
in the beginning, volunteers to help start these tournaments that have
become so successful today. Many of the volunteers then have become
the principle organizers of today, Lois Deprecynski, Helen Bell, Nelda
Lichtwald, Marie Patterson, etc., and they regale in telling hilarious
stories about Marty.
I asked Marie Patterson to point Marty out to me and introduce me. I
saw a diminutive man walking with the aid of a cane, now in his 9th
decade. When I gazed upon his genial face I noticed the deep the
horizontal and vertical lines in his forehead where the Sun had kissed
him. His ever present smile is easily returned by strangers and first
time acquaintances. His brown eyes are a glow when he talks of
shuffleboard and the friends he has made through shuffleboard. He
reminded me of Yoda the Jedi-Master in “Star Wars,” dispensing advice
to me on how to play the game, as if I was Luke Skywalker. Don’t let
his appearance deceive you, as evidenced by his winning record in the
“Bonspiel” he handles his shuffleboard cue as Yoda handles his light
saber, with sublime dexterity. Even though there has been a long
interval years since he played at Hemet Muni, he remembered every
sinuous curve of the its 8 boards. Like Yoda, Marty has an indelible
memory and a “steel trap for a brain.” I asked him, to consider
playing in the Soboba Classic in March of 2016 for it will celebrate
its 10th anniversary, he replied, “God willing (and he winked at me
and chuckled)……I will be there.” So, Marty, “Let the force be with
you!”
There is a long list of volunteers who made this tournament possible
and their efforts deserve recognition, first the “Bonspiel” was
sponsored by our hometown bank, the Bank of Hemet, a stalwart and long
time sponsor of District 7 and CSA shuffleboard tournaments; second,
the tireless and ubiquitous Carol Anderson, Hemet Muni’s club
president; third, the fastest fingers on a calculator belong to Sharyn
Dichiro and Linda Goggin, the ATM’s who had to tabulate all the point
totals of the games by player and bracket; fourth, unflappable head
referee George Hayner, and scorekeeper Karla Winget. Fleece vests and
pins were awarded to the top 3 finishers in each of the 4 brackets and
door prizes from local merchants were given away, courtesy of Dean
Grattidge.
Bonspiel 20th Year TournamentJuly 13 – 15, 2015 Results
The 20th Annual Bonspiel Shuffleboard Tournament was held on July 13th, through July 15th, at Hemet Municipal Shuffleboard Courts. Atm’s in Charge of the scheduling and recording the results of each game were District 7 Tournament Director Sharyn DiChiro and her assistant Lynda Goggin. They did an outstanding job keeping the games running smoothly and on time. As Hemet Municipal Shuffleboard President, Carol Anderson with her expert crew of helpers organized delightful and nutritional lunches each day. Everyone was excited and honored to have the Founder of the Hemet Municipal Bonspiel, Marty Boyajian in attendance and playing once again with all his friends. It was a joyful time for all. The Bonspiel is a very different type of Tournament, which is only played once a year. There are four divisions, decided by wins and losses the first day. No one is ever eliminated, all play two games each day. If you win both games the first day you enter the Red division. If you win the first game and loose the second game you enter the Blue division. Players losing the first game but winning the second game are in the Green Division. Those losing the first two games remain in the purple division. The most appreciated part of the game is there is no penalty for landing in the kitchen. Players may accrue 30 extra spread points each game above their opponents score. Of course your opponent tries to take your scores out. It makes for an interesting and fun game. Players get 2 pts for each win. Final results total up the game winning points and the total of spread points for each player, making the play more equal for all. Carol Anderson assisted by Marty presented the pins to all winners, who will also receive the ever popular Bonspiel vest. The winners for the 2015 20th Anniversary Bonspiel were:
Red Division Winners: 1st. Place – Robert Brooks
Blue Division Winners: 1st. Place – Art Pretory
Green Division Winners: 1st. Place – Charles Morley
Purple Division Winners: 1st. Place – Royal Austin
Another Successful Bonspiel in the books and everyone had a good time and look forward to the next one.
Robust Doubles Contest Redefines Shuffleboard Competition.
NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES, MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.
ROAD TRIP
In June, 2014, Marolyn and I, along with several friends, went to Pasadena to play in the California Senior games Shuffleboard tournament, Hosted by John and Barbara Irogoyen. John is also a CSA District President. As is usual with shuffleboard, we met new people, renewed friendships and generally had a fine time, both during and after play. Winning a medal in this tournament qualified us to participate in the National Senior Games as a California “athlete”, to be held in July 2015 in Minneapolis.
Now the Road Trip part. After weeks of planning and preparing for our parks (Hemet West) annual 4th of July day of fun, food and games, on Saturday, Sunday and Monday we rested, packed and packed some more and bright and early Tuesday (8:30) morning we set off for Minnesota.
Through Las Vegas, through the beautiful Virgin River Canyon and north to Beaver Utah the first day, The second day we took I-70 over the Rockies, past Vail and into Denver. This was by far the most scenic day of driving on the whole trip and I recommend it if you have a chance. Then across the plains to Omaha and north to Minneapolis.
We roomed at the Super 8 in Bloomington along with 4 other couples. The price was fair and it was close to The Mall of America. We didn’t take into account that the games were downtown in the Convention Center and the 10 mile way there was the busiest freeway in Minneapolis. And parking was $10 a day.
AS ALWAYS YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO ENLARGE
At the Athletes Village on Friday evening we found that we could buy a weeks pass for the bus for $8 and that it picked up at our motel.
The 55-69 age groups ended Friday and Saturday was practice for 70 and up age groups,so we rode the bus to see how it would work out. 45 minutes and dropped us at the door.
After practice we visited the Mall of America. Quite a place. 3 floors of shops and restaurants. We went to Bubba Gumps.
One of our groups 8 year old granddaughter was with us and she zip-lined over the amusement park in the center of the mall. Scary!
Sunday was the first day of singles. Both men and women and all age groups. First game at 8:00 and last game at 5:00. 7 time slots in all. A long day and just the first one. I think this was where the “athlete” part came from. The larger the number of entrants in a group, the more games you had to play to qualify for the 8 spots in the final 3 games. Marolyn had 5 games the first day, 2 the next morning, and then the 3 game finals Monday afternoon. I had 4 on Sunday, 2 Monday morning and the 3 finals games Monday afternoon. The qualifiers were 12 frames and the finals were 16 frames Marolyn got 6th 70-74. I got first 75-79. We were worn out and we had to start the doubles at 8:00 Tuesday morning.
Rob Robinson ran the event in his usual excellent fashion. He had help on the computing end from Kathleen Cullop of PolyGlide. Board maintenance and court dressing were supplied by Mike Walker of Dura Dress.
Rob let us start the next game as soon as all players for that board were present so we were able to finish each days play shortly after 5:00. 10 minutes to a half hour wait for the bus, 45 minute ride back to the motel. quick trip to the restaurant, in the room by 7:00 Asleep by 8:30! Up at 4:45. In the breakfast room at 6:00. Catch the bus at 6:36. Arrive at 7:20. Start the doubles at 8:00.
The Doubles went a little faster because the 16 frames were counted 8 from each end. Games didn’t last as long and we were able to rest a little between them.Wednesday afternoon the games finished early. Marolyn and I were able to win the largest age group, 70-74.
We caught the bus by 4:30. On the ride back we all gave away what was left on our passes to people that we saw pay cash for their ride. We were just glad that we didn’t need them any longer. Back early, we were able to have a nicer more leisurely dinner and stayed up till 9:00!
There was so much going on during the 2 weeks of the games that maybe we should not play 2 years from now but just go and see it all. Opening ceremonies, athletes parade. Track, swimming, bowling, baseball, etc.
On the road again Thursday morning. A 10 hour drive to Rapid City, SD. Gained an hour so that helped. After the miles of prairie that just keeps repeating itself, the hills are really something. We passed by Walls Drug but didn’t stop. The motel manager gave us maps and highlighted all the roads for us to visit Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer National Forest and several very scenic roads between all of the major places. The Black Hills are truly magnificent. Saturday we drove more scenic roads and towns, Deadwood, Leadville, and stopped and bought a tee-shirt in Sturgis. 2 weeks until the motorcycles arrive.
Sunday to Rock Springs, Wy. Monday to Saint George, Ut. Tuesday to Home Sweet Hemet West. Quite a successful trip in all.