2000 Competitions
Entries are now invited for the 2000 Page Cup and the Handicap Competition.  The closing date for both is 30th May 2000, but please don’t wait until then.  Either put your name on the notice in the alley or contact me (see Contact Numbers below).  In the unlikely event that you are not planning to enter, please say so.  Do it now - the sooner we start, the sooner we will finish.
The draw will be made at the close of play on Tuesday 30th May or when all the players listed below have replied, whichever is sooner.
Arranging Matches
I intend to get both competitions finished within the year.  Novel idea, I know.  A bit of simple arithmetic - assuming twelve players enter the two competitions, that’s eleven matches in each competition; a total of 22 matches to play over about 55 nights.  In other words, we’re going to be playing competition matches two club nights in five.  To put that in context, since the new year, we’ve played 11 matches over 36 club nights.  So at that rate we would take 72 nights to play the competitions.
I have been urged to introduce the rules that used to apply some years ago and I’ve included some rules below.  I hope these won’t be needed though.  They’re very much a last resort, intended to settle disputes when matches are missed or just not arranged.  The trouble with cut-off dates is that people start working to those dates; the trouble with making the first-drawn player responsible for organising the match is that the second-drawn isn’t inclined to bother.  
The best way to get the matches played is to follow these guidelines:
•	Arrange your match straight after the draw.  
In subsequent rounds, do it as soon as you’re through to the next round if you have an opponent.
•	Fix a date for your match - even if it has got to be weeks ahead and may have to be rearranged anyway.
•	Put the date in your diary!
•	Contact your opponent – don’t leave it to him.
•	If you have any kind of problem with arranging matches, tell me – don’t leave it.
•	Tell me if your contact details change.
•	Plan ahead; don’t let your three-week holiday in Florida or your six-week business trip come as a surprise to everyone.
Rules
•	If a player fails to turn up for an arranged match he forfeits the match.  (If both fail to turn up, both forfeit their place in the competition).  
The match may be rearranged and played at the discretion of the player who did turn up and at the discretion of other players who have matches to play.  
The rearranged match must be played before the cut-off date.  
Arranged matches must be recorded on the club notice board.
•	There is a cut-off date for each round of the competitions.  
If any matches remain uncompleted at that time both players forfeit their place in the competition.  
However, if one player can show that he has contacted his opponent and attempted to arrange a match without success, he will be awarded the match.
Cut-off dates
These apply to each competition:
First round	8th August 2000	
Second round	17th October 2000	
Semi-finals	21st November 2000	
Finals	9th December 2000	

Byes
I’m aware that although the competitions are randomly drawn, it often seems to turn out that the same person gets a bye in both competitions or in successive years.   Therefore I propose to draw the byes as follows.
Assuming there are twelve entrants, there will be eight byes, four in each competition.  The five players who did not get a bye in either competition last year will automatically get one bye this year.  Those are Guy, Steve B, James, Pete and Lionel.  The four players who got a bye in one competition or weren’t in the competition last year will enter a draw for the remaining three byes.  Those are Paul, Steve H, Ian M and Ian C.  The remaining three players who had a bye in both competitions last year will not get a bye this year.  Those are Mark, Tom and Jonathan.
In the draw this year, the byes for both competitions will be drawn from this pool of eight players first.  Then each competition will be drawn in the normal way (from those players who did not get a bye, of course).
Contact Numbers
The matches won’t get arranged if you can’t be contacted readily.  Contact details for all entrants will be posted on the notice board in the alley.  I hope also to set up a password-protected facility on the web site.  Make sure your contact details are up-to-date and effective.  A work number for the place where you used to work two months ago, a home phone number if you’re always out or an email address when you check your mailbox once a week is no good.
Paul Robinson
Match Secretary