24-04-2016, 03:18 PM
Andy Howie Wrote:Adam Bremner Wrote:Andy Howie Wrote:Which begs the question when do you want to play it. 4NCL takes 2 weekends, SNCL one and there is normally at least one congress up here.
Avoiding 4NCL is not really going to be the easiest to do
Not the easiest, but very important if people want the top players playing, because this year it basically lead to the default of one of the best teams on paper, and I think there was a spare weekend right beside it.
I think the first round is in January, so no SNCL there. This year was also an exception, because there were some of the top players playing in the 4NCL div 3, but from next season onwards, everyone will be in the div 1 and 2 weekend. The last weekend of 4NCL is after the final, so it only leaves 2 weekends in the year to avoid. Also is an SNCL weekend completely impossible if you use the Saturday?
And this Jan had 2 4ncl and 2 congresses.
9th Jan- Lothians Allegro (one day)- 10th Jan free
16/17th- 4NCL div 3
23/24th- 4NCL div 1 and 2
30/31st- Livingston
6/7th Feb- free
Now I don't know how the 23rd was chosen, but was the 4NCL even involved in the thought process? If it was, you would know 6 players would be involved on 16/17th, and that an unknown but significant number of players would be involved on 23/24th. First weekend of Feb was completely free.
It isn't a complaint because it didn't make a difference for us, but the question was how to get top players playing next season. This season, 4NCL dates were a problem for some players. Next season, you will just have one 4NCL date clashing in Jan. If it is unavoidable then so be it, but please take it into consideration.