BHGS Challenge 4-6 April 2014

[TimChild]

Hi guys,

Just a reminder for The Challenge - we need to know numbers so that we can book tables and order trophies, so please please please can you get your entries in a.s.a.p? http://www.bhgs.org.uk/the-challenge.html

The venue will be available to us from the Friday 4th April from about 4pm, when we will start putting up tables and clothing up, and will then be open until late for pre-tournament practice, fun and frivolity. In past years, as well as the usual friendlies and camaraderie, we have had large-scale games (an 8-hander refight of Chalons, for example), demos (Terry introduced us all to FOG N) and mini tournaments (DBMM100). I am delighted to be able to say that Chris Hanley will be coming on the Friday with his ever-popular "Biggles Flies Unzipped", which is a highlight of my wargaming year, and makes running the event worthwhile all on its own. )

Oh and just to confirm, because there was a rumour to the contrary, there's plenty of parking!

Cheers,

Tim Child

[madaxeman]

The BHGS Challenge is a 5-game FoGN competition, allowing you to get the full Napoleonic "all the way Moscow - and then all the way back again" experience, but hopefully with the frostbite, starvation, and general excess of human misery involved in the original being replaced by 5 friendly yet competitive games of toy soldiers followed by a few pints of Old Speckled Hen in an Oxford hostelry where you can regale your mates with fascinating stories of "how you rolled a 6" at a vital time in that afternoon's game....

Having 5 rounds means we are looking at a minimum of 6 players to make the period viable this year (with 6 we end up with a full round-robin tournament, which is pretty cool) and we are almost at that figure already - however if you are dithering we'd kindly ask that you dither-not and book yourself in so we can reach the magic number sooner rather than later. If we don't quite make it to 6, we'll of course offer everyone a full refund or the chance to transfer to another period of their choice - so basically, if you are thinking of coming this year, please hurry up and book !

The period details are:
800 points – any army from the officially-published army lists
72" by 48" tables
Games will be 3 hours 20 mins plus a 1-10 min(s) variable
Saturday 0900-1230, 1315-1645, 1730-2100
Sunday 0900-1230, 1330-1700
Terry is already signed up to Umpire and be on hand to help out (hoorah!)

The nice new venue we have in Oxford is also available to us from the Friday 4th April from about 4pm, when we will start putting up tables and cloths up (you are of course free to help..!), allowing you to arrive early and leave late after fitting in pre-tournament practice, fun and frivolity. Chris Hanley will also be making a repeat appearance on the Friday with his ever-popular "Biggles Flies Unzipped" - a highlight of many past players wargaming year.

Basically, what we are saying is that, even with the kerfuffle over being bumped out of our regular venue(s) in the past few years, we've actually all put in a lot of effort to make sure the BHGS Challenge 2014 is back and in full effect - and we'd be really happy if you can help us get a join us again this year and take part!

The price this year is just £30 for a weekend of wargaming action - our online booking system is up and running (so you can even see if any of your mates have already entered)

[TimChild]

I've had some queries about food at Challenge this year.

The venue is open late, but unlike previous years we aren't allowed to provide a buffet for you. You can bring your own food and drink. However, we have booked the Starbucks in the building opposite ours, so coffee etc, snacks and sandwiches will be available from 8.30 am to 6.30 pm (possibly later?) and 8.30 to 2.30 Sunday. There is a cost to us if there isn't a minimum sales level, so please do avail yourself of teas, coffees, sandwiches and all the rest from there.

David Fairhurst (who as the local lad has been lead contact with Oxford Brooks this year - much appreciation is due) has also suggested to them that it may be a good idea for them to come over and provide a waiter service. No idea whether they'll be able to do it, but it would be nice if it happens!

Cheers,

Tim Child

[TimChild]

I am very sorry to have to report that Biggles is grounded this year!! Sadly, Chris Hanley has had an unavoidable commitment arise, and passes on his apologies to everyone who (like me) was looking forward to this annual highlight.

Chris promises a triumphant return in 2015!

The venue itself will still be open on Friday night (we'll be in there setting up from c.4pm) , so if anyone has anything that they would like to try out on us in lieu of Biggles, please shout! It could be board games (probably not time for a full run through of Civilisation, sadly) or figure games or whatever takes your fancy. Get together 3 or 4 of the armies intended for the weekend and play a huge multi-hander?

For those desperate for a WWI aviation fix, and this year of all years it is virtually de rigeur, I bought Wings of Glory (Wings of War as was) and a 4-pack of planes at Warfare this year and so far haven't had a chance to play it. I'd welcome a chance to be taught how! If anyone else is coming who has WWI WoW planes, perhaps we could muster a mass dogfight of our own - it's bound to be a pale imitation of Chris's masterpeice, but should still be fun.

Cheers,

Tim

[madaxeman]

We are pleased to report that The BHGS Challenge 2014 appears to have been somewhat of a resounding success!

The results are now published on our site at http://www.bhgs.org.uk/challenge-2014-results.html , but to give you a flavour there were some notable highlights too, with 50% more players than 2013 and a number of landmarks as well, including:

9 themes, including Bolt Action, DBM and Epic all new/returned after long absence (and Saga in its second year)

Loads of entries - 128 players, including umpires, with increased numbers in all periods

Plenty of "buzz" in the main hall

David Fairhurst leading the FOW on Saturday night, despite playing an army picked up from scratch and not having played FOW for nearly 2 years

Darrell Pearce going one better and winning the DBM overall despite not having played it at all for 2 years

The help we had setting up the tables on Friday and taking them down/tidying up on Sunday night - would have been impossible for the Challenge team of David and Tim, but there were loads of guys there to help, in particular the members of Oxford and the Trunkies, Ian Mackay, Colin, Gary and Dave Redhead and Bob Medcraft and Ray Briggs

So, all in all a great weekend.

We look forward to seeing you all again at Roll Call in June !