Our longest-established and most passionate club-within-the-club reports on a year like no other. Words by Backgammon Club Captain Tim Cookson.
When we welcomed in 2020 the Union BG crew were in high spirits as we enjoyed being at the top of the London clubs league. By March we were still battling to achieve the unbelievable when nasty Mr Covid brought everything to a halt. The league was suspended and remains so. Our regular monthly club nights stopped and a new vocabulary emerged. Galaxy, Heroes, Zoom and Challonge soon became the norm.
So the boards were stowed away and Thursday’s at 17.30 became the new habit. The Channing room was replaced by Brenda’s wall art, Georges summer deck and Andy’s bedroom! All appearing on the weekly Zoom gallery as we racked up our on-line ladder games and swapped views on pom bears and cocktails.
As we mastered the on-line platforms we left London to take on teams from Copenhagen, Newcastle, Aberdeen and elsewhere. We entered world club competitions and ran our own tournaments to keep up our spirits [and a good reason to drink them too]
As the first lockdown lifted we took our chance and regrouped in Greek street for a rather long club lunch and [apparently] a few games back with the boards. As the next lockdown seemed inevitable a hardy group ventured out to Kent and played all night at Mr Blake’s wonderful Lantern Pub. It was great fun with stories still emerging and round 2 will be on the agenda once we are allowed out again.
The UCBG crew are a hardy bunch and an absolute pleasure to captain and to be with, whether virtually or otherwise. Whatever 2021 brings us the dice will still roll