Talking Horses Tjukurrpa Trophy 2019
Sponsored by edgt
The perpetual prize for the winner is a decorated and engraved hip flask, plus if either finalist is available to attend, a Club Enclosure ticket for either one day at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival where a proper presentation of said trophy will take place outside the Mandarin bar (where Forum members gather each year) OR the 2020 Dublin Racing Festival.in which case rather than wait twelve months the previous winner will be asked to forward the trophy to an address nominated by the latest winner.
The idea is to have a head to head knock out tipping contest which begins this season on Tuesday January 1st 2019 at Cheltenham, culminating at the Leopardstown Dublin Racing Festival on the first weekend in February which includes the Irish Champion Hurdle and Irish Gold Cup. The competition this season will be staged using the format used in the 2018 World Cup i.e. a group stage in which 32 players are divided into 8 groups of 4 who play one match against each of the other three players in the group with the top two players in each group (16 players) going through to the knock-out stages. This will ensure all contestants play a minimum of three matches rather than some just playing one using the previous format.
In the event there are more than 32 entries a qualifying set of matches will take place on the afternoon of Saturday December 29th 2018 at Newbury between the appropriate number of players needed to ensure a line-up of 32 for the start of the Group stages three days later. There is a contingency plan should entries be nearer 24 or 16 but we managed 32 players last season so hopefully will do so again.
A full draw will be made on Saturday December 29th 2018 once any matches in any qualifying round are complete.
The schedule will be
Group Stage Match 1 Tuesday January 1st 2019 at Cheltenham
Group Stage Match 2 Saturday January 5th 2019 at Sandown Park
Group Stage Match 3 Saturday January 12th 2019 at Kempton Park
Round of Sixteen Saturday January 19th 2019 at Ascot
Round of Eight Saturday January 26th 2019 at Cheltenham
Semi-Finals Saturday February 2nd 2019 at Leopardstown
Final Sunday February 3rd 2019 at Leopardstown
Please note the schedule is subject to change and may be influenced by number of entries for the competition, abandoned meetings, small number of fields etc.
Rules
Each competitor chooses one selection per race at the allocated meeting (plus reserves if you wish). Selections are to be posted by start of first race at the nominated meeting. No late entries, amendments or substitutions are allowed once the meeting has started. NO EXCEPTIONS.
If a selection is a NR, no points are scored so it is in your interest to nominate reserves!
Scoring is as follows
As regards selections for each race in a match, 5 points awarded for a winner, 3 points for a second, and 1 point for a third. In the event of a dead heat for first place, both horses receive 4 points, in the event of a dead heat for second place, both horses score 2 points. During the Group Stage think of these points as “points scored” and the points scored by the opponent as “points against”
As regards each match in the Group Stage, 3 points awarded for a win, one point for a draw. A league table will be posted after each set of matches.
If at the end of the group stage players are level on points, final positions will be decided firstly by “pointsl difference” if still level by “points scored”, if still level on a head to head basis, if still level by “points scored” in Match 3, if still level decided by “points scored” in Match 2, if still level decided by “points scored” in Match 1, if still level by best priced winner over the three meetings.
If any matches in any qualifying round or in the knock out stages are tied, a
sudden death penalty shoot-out based on the selections made will decide the winner. Only winning selections count as a penalty scored. The selection for Race 1 will represent first penalty, selection for Race 2 second penalty and so on. If still level the match will be replayed the following day and the penalty shoot out would apply once again.
Selections must be named no just putting fav or similar. If a player fails to post selections, posts selections for the wrong meeting or just puts “Fav” or any other generalisation their opponent will receive a walkover and will be awarded the match, if the match is in a Group Stage the other player will receive the appropriate points for a win. In that scenario the score will be adjudged to have been 18-15 for a seven race card, or 15-12 for a six race card.
Any disputes the decision of the administrator of the competition on the day in play is final.
Persons interested please sign up by Mid-Day Saturday December 22nd 2018 and be aware you may have to participate in a qualifying match (luck of the draw) on Saturday December 29th if entries are over-subscribed.