Ideally we could do with 32 players but any less we will have a preliminary round plus some byes to establish a Round of Sixteen on Saturday 13thJanuary.
The idea is to have a head to head knock out tipping contest played on a Saturday that culminates in the two finalists playing off against each other on Saturday 3rd and and Sunday 4th of February 2018 which is the new Leopardstown February Festival weekend (Irish Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup)
RULES
Before the first week of the competition a full draw will be made.
Each person drawn at home in the first round gets to choose the NH meeting of their choice (British or Irish) plus a back up meeting in the event the selected meeting is off, for their match on the Saturday (but must declare by midnight Thursday. I will not issue reminders. If the home player fails to post their preference for either I will nominate it on their behalf.
If both meetings are abandoned on the day, players can mutually agree to either play another meeting on Saturday or defer it to the Sunday with the home player retaining right of choice.
Each competitor chooses one selection per race (plus reserves if you wish) from the first six races.(Any further selections will be ignored and will not be deemed part of the tie) Selections to be posted by start of first race. No amendments or substitutions are allowed once the meeting has started. If a selection is a NR, no points are scored so It is in your interest to nominate reserves !
If a player fails to post selections or posts selections for the wrong meeting, their opponent receives a walkover but their score will be taken into account when deciding home advantage in the next round.
Scoring is as follows
5 points awarded for a winner, 3 points for a second, and 1 point for a third.
In the case of a tie, the result will be decided by most winners, if still level by most seconds, if still level then by thirds, then if still level, competitors must replay the following day with the away player having home advantage and choosing the meeting.
From Round Two onwards persons scoring the most points in the previous week get home advantage against their opponent on the following weekend weekend and choose the meeting which must be a NH meeting. If both winning players score the same number of points and the result cannot be decided by number of winners seconds and thirds, then I will nominate a meeting on their behalf.
If for any reason competitors receive a bye, then in order to determine home advantage the following week, they must pick their selections at the same meeting as the tie producing the opponent they will be up against, this should maintain interest for all and maximise involvement.
Any disputes the decision of the administrator of the competition for that week is final.
The prize for the winner, donated by edgt, is a decorated and engraved hip flask along with a Club Enclosure ticket for one day at the 2018 Cheltenham Festival to enable a proper presentation of same trophy outside the Mandarin bar where Forum members gather each year.
Persons interested please sign up below ASAP.