Duncan Grassie Wrote:

andyburnett Wrote:Out of interest, will the arbiters' reasoning for their decisions be made public? Not necessarily along with each arbiter's name (though I can't imagine why that should be a problem for them) but in the interests of transparency and open-ness.

For the record, Wandering Dragons don't much care who turns out against them for Bon Accord in the Richardson Final (highly-rated GM? multiple British Champion? Bring them on says our captain! )
nor even how much of an appearance fee and travel expenses they are reportedly receiving for turning up to play (we'll even offer to chip in towards it if BA need us to!), but we would like to know the what, why and how of the decisions taken - whichever way the arbiters voting goes. It would be useful information for all the other teams in Scotland to know also.

I can categorically deny that Bon Accord will be paying an appearance fee for me to play in the final. In fact after my performance in the semi-finals (only member of the BA team to lose), I will be taking the overnight Megabus all the way from London this weekend with no guarantees for my journey home if I'm forced to resign the game again.

hamish olson Wrote:

andyburnett Wrote:

Adam Bremner Wrote:I really hope that the decision is only made public after the final, as publically releasing the outcome of it would certainly help one of the teams prep.

I also find it sad to note that someone has been discussing our team selection with our opponents, which they are now trying to act upon.

As for taking a running jump, I'd rather not, unless of course it is into a swimming pool of champagne to celebrate our victory.

-I wouldn't expect or want the result to be made public before the final for the reasons you give.

-Apparently it's been reasonably common knowledge (as a rumour) since about an hour after the semi-final. You should look at your own team first perhaps - but feel free to thank me for getting your captain/whoever to do the job he ought to have done in the first place (re: checking bona fide membership status with the arbiter/controller). You're welcome. Anytime.

-I don't think a victory either way would be a surprise now. However, beating Hamilton is one thing; beating the Dragons quite another Not surprised, though, that you felt your team was needing a 'wee bit extra' to give us a decent match.

Has your captain checked the bona fide status of all your players?? I was at the AGM of the wandering dragons this season (unlike someone!) and I seem to recall discussion about how for example one Alan Tate had not paid his membership fee for two consecutive seasons? I would have to wrack my brains a bit to go back to last season but I seem to recall a lovely win as black vs calum macqueen and an exciting draw against IM steve mannion (again as black) - seems dragons feels they could do with a little non bona fide extra too perhaps. The reason I have not mentioned this earlier (and am not going to make an issue of it as I have too much class for that) is that I was (and am!) just wanting to play a nice friendly match on saturday with my second club (I was absolutely delighted when dragons beat Poly!) and think that Alan Minnican has enough of a life not to be worrying about the small print.
Interestingly the other main topic of conversation that I recall from the AGM (I only attended the first two thirds as it was clashing with Adam's birthday party - I felt it sufficiently important to help ensure a good attendance at the AGM to miss a good chunk of the festivities but not all of it!) was a certain individual negatively affecting the match with Hamilton on behalf of the club by creating lots of tension on the forum in the week before hand, and it was agreed that people were not to behave as if they were speaking for Wandering Dragons club as it was bigger than one man! Please note I do not blame Alan Minnican, the dragons team captain for any of this as it was him who was so keen for dragons to have friendly relations with richardson opponents in future! I don't think its me who's doing the gamesmanship here sadly.

Hugh Brechin Wrote:And someone get Bremner an inflatable sheep.