open nationals

[Nancy Stebbing]

Open Nationals costs have been confirmed, so you can start sending money!   Cheques to Nancy Stebbing for �135 (which includes BUF tax).  Send them to   10 Buckingham Road Brackley Northants  NN13  7HH   Deadline is September 20, no exceptions.  Please include a contact name with both email and snail mail addresses so we can contact you and send maps and thingies.   The tournament is open to the top 32 teams in the country, as determined by the Ultim8 Tour results.  If you didn't play in the Tour and want to come anyway, send a cheque now which we'll hold, and then allocate any spaces left over to you.   In case you missed them the first time, below are location and accomodation details.  Maps and directions will follow as soon as we get a decent set.       OPEN NATIONALS-  OCTOBER 6-7   DAVENTRY SPORTS GROUNDS, DAVENTRY   The Open Nationals are confirmed at Daventry for the above dates.  Daventry is between Junctions 16-17 of the M1, and about 16 miles north of Banbury (site of Tour 2).  More directions, maps, and web resources regarding location will follow.  Please be advised- you will need some sort of private transport.  As this is a last minute arrangement, the site is NOT near a train station (closest are Banbury and Northampton), and accomodation is off-site.  Please accept my apologies- this is the best we (the BUF) can do for now.   The tournament is open to the top 32 teams initially.  (Chris Hughes is handling the format, so please send any inquiries about it to him.)  However, in the event that some of those teams do not attend, the remaining spots will be passed down the rankings until the tournament is filled.  It is entirely possible (but maybe not likely) that teams who have not played in the Tour at all could be offered a spot.  If you want to come- send a cheque by the deadline and see what happens.  (Obviously, cheques will be returned if space is not offered).    At this time, it is expected that the BUF AGM will be held on Saturday night.  Therefore, there is no official party planned.  However, the bar at the hotel accomodation will be open to all players.  See below for details.   ACCOMMODATION   Camping is available for no cost at a local farm,  Meadows Farm.  The farm is 2 miles from the pitches, but it is not a journey that should be attempted on foot.  The camping will be BASIC.  This means port-a-loos, two sinks in the garage (that DO have hot water) and that's it.  Camping is available both Friday and Saturday nights.  If it's not raining, it's a really pleasant site.  You ARE permitted to bring cooking supplies/ barbecues, whatever.  Meadows Farm is part of a local B&B association.  You can check out the location and other info at www.northantsfarmholidays.co.uk   As well as Meadows Farm, there are other farm B&Bs nearby see the above site for more info.  (As well as campers, Meadows Farm will take B&B bookings.)  FYI, Drayton Lodge (one of the B&Bs on the web site) is almost directly across the street from the pitches.   Staverton Park Conference centre is offering a special room rate for the tournament.  It is located one mile from the pitches.  Rooms are available for Friday and Saturday nights.  Rooms are �50- single or double occupancy.  This rate includes full English breakfast, ensuite rooms, fully equiped rooms (tea&coffee, hairdryer, ironing board, radio, TV, etc.) use of the restaurant for dinner (at an additional cost) and use of the leisure club (which has a swimming pool and sauna).  The centre also has a bar.  And for those of you with more money than sense, Staverton has a golf course; tee times are available.  Check out the facilities at www.poolatstavertonpark.co.uk  Rooms are on a first-come first serve basis.  Call 01327 302 000 to book, and ask for the frisbee rate.  You'll need a credit card for a deposit.   OTHER INFO   There will be on-site food both Satruday and Sunday.  I am negotiating to keep costs down.   Entry deadline is September 20.    Any questions?  Contact me on this email address or on 01280 701 715.     Nancy Stebbing