Berkeley 2004 Report
By Jay Woolrich

Just a quick note to add my thanks to Steve for organising a splendid event, and to all who helped and took part for making it so enjoyable. Also a special thank you for making Annie feel welcome - I'm sure she'll start playing in tournaments rather than spectating some time soon! I thought the Slimbridge venue was excellent – the hotel was good and the canal walks and cafe provided a good way of chilling out when not playing.

My favourite moment was beating a certain Alan Saunders with my aerial hero for the second tournament running! I succeeded in killing my opponents' generals in two other games and still managed to lose both of them, and almost made a game of it against the mighty Brian Pierpoint - so I must be doing something right even if I did finish reassuringly low down the list! Other highlights were being given an absolute tonking by James Ewins in the last round, being told that I was 'in danger of achieving mid-table mediocrity' by Steve, and buying lots of nice figures from the estimable Tony Horobin. I have to say it's also the first HOTT tournament where I've had my bottom pinched (you know who you are!!!)...........