Latest update February 10th, 2025 2:25 PM
Scrabble Association hosts successful workshop ahead of school tournament
Leon Belony (left), one of the top rated scrabble players, explains to one of the students, Omari Dunn, his reason for making a particular move. Yvonne Murray, (left of Belony) also assists Shanice Bourne, another novice, in the acquisition of valuable tips.
Seven eager students, drawn from several city schools were tutored in the intricacies associated with scrabble as the Guyana Association of Scrabble Players (GASP) staged the first of several workshops, at the old Carifesta Sports Complex, Carifesta Avenue yesterday morning.
The sessions would continue on Saturdays from 10:00hrs-12:00hrs, over the next few weeks at the end of which, GASP executives plan to organise a school tournament.
Those that participated in the twohour session yesterday morning were, Omari Dunn, who was recently awarded a place at the St Rose’s High School after successfully completing the Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination, Shanice Bourne and Chelsea Weeks, both of St Rose’s High School, Christine Waddle of North Georgetown Secondary School, Brook Glasgow of the School of The Nations, Rashulata St Lewis of President’s College and Darnell Barker of Dolphins High School.
The decision to host the workshop arose out of a meeting among GASP executives following an influx of requests from persons desirous of playing the game, but had no knowledge of the rules and strategies.
Many were also impressed with Abigail McDonald’s success at the National Championships where she defeated Fred Collins to win the national crown.
Maybe, the most positive spin-off of McDonald’s victory was the high level of interest evoked after her achievement. Suddenly, throngs of enthusiasts became interested in participating in the sport. The problem was that many of them did not understand the finer aspects of the game.
As such, the executives of GASP convened a meeting to devise strategies to encourage wider participation. Subsequently, it was decided that several members of GASP would act as facilitators in a workshop involving beginners.
Yesterday’s session was the result of those deliberations and decisions emerging from the meeting. It also marked the first of several workshops to be staged at the very venue, every Saturday, over the August holidays.
During yesterday’s sessions, the students were given an opportunity to engage each other in games, under the guidance of senior scrabble players. They were also introduced to the basic two letter words and the formation of words using the ‘hook’ technique as well as forming words, while utilising letters already on the board.
They were also taught how utilise the premium squares on the board and to tally their respective totals.
At the end of the exercise, former national champion, Collins and the current champion, Abigail McDonald, competed against each other, while the students observed the respective moves.
Collins explained that the idea was to allow the tenderfoots to observe two seasoned players in action so as to fully digest what they had been taught during the morning sessions.
At the end of the sessions, the students admitted that it had been an enriching experience.
President of the GASP, Moen Gafoor said that even though the turnout was not as large as he had expected, he nevertheless felt heartened by the interest demonstrated by those in attendance.
He said that his executives would continue to encourage wider participation in the sport through constant advertisements.
He noted also, that the players were all eager to learn the game and the seasoned players were just as eager to teach them.
Already, several other school children have indicated they will be a part of next weekend’s sessions.
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