Welcome to the Tournament and thanks to new entrants:

Andrew Newall
Henry Cook

So far pledging their allegiance to Manchester Birding and it's Tournament of the same name are:

Ian Woosey
Geoff Hargreaves
Jimmy Meadows
Andy Isherwood
Ian Mckerchar
Paul Heaton
Paul Hammond
Steve Collins
Rob Thorpe
Mark Rigby

If you're name isn't up there please get in touch and join in the fun.

ok fair enough

Trouble is Simon that those county birds you mention are all very sporadic, one year they're rare the next they're not particularly and you can never tell what sort of year it's going to be, think of the big flocks of Little Stint's we've had in the past or the 8 Wood Sands in a year I've seen at Hope Carr (never to be repeated no doubt), also in changing species points year on year it negates the possibility of judging which yearly total is best, as none are on a level playing field. Also, the points are set so that no one competitior can really run away with on one sighting alone without it being exceptional, think a nice flock of a dozen Beeaters! Sometimes, you have to just make do, which didn't help me any when I found both Mealy Redpolls and Little Egret this year, both county rarities (so should be worth 20 points) but reduced to only 5 and 7 a piece respectively for the Tournament but atleast we all get the same points no matter who finds them which is all that really matters

As for confirming your involvement, never mind what I'm doing, get yer name down

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar at 22:13, 2007-12-05

1. Come on Geoff the fat lady has started to sing surely this is in the bag for Mr McKerchar.. surely no more county firsts will turn up between now and the end of the year.Anyway 2008 if I enter it will be on the guarantee you will enter again Ian. It would be rude not too after all you are the founder of the tournament, owner of the forum, rulemaster etc etc so come on!

2. Fair enough boss, however I would tweak some points but thats me surely after a distasterous year for waders in the county the likes of Grey Plover Little Stint Wood Sand should be worth more points?

So confirm your involvement and I will confirm mine.

Two points Mr Warford...junior

1. I haven't won it yet! The Tournament has proved that it doesn't take much to change your fortunes, there have been two 60 point birds in the past week that have gone begging by Tournamenteers. As for competing next year, I haven't decided but it may well be rude not to. Either way, if I do, I certainly will be just incorporating it into my usual birding and not going all out, although I said that this year and have been hell bent of amassing points

2. The points system has been carefully thought out, as hard as that might be to believe , and there will be no alterations although I had thought of adding a couple of other species this may not be necessary either. Fact is we're all on a level playing field either way.

You're on my 'hit list' anyway so get that email sent to me and confirm your involvement

simon ,shame on you the fat lady hasn,t yet sung with almost a month to run i,m not giving in just yet,for anyone not following this fun tournament a bit of luck last week meant that 120 pointswent begging ,so come on one and all sign up for 2008 it,s free and good fun

cheers geoff

Ian, 2 questions please

Are you defending your title?
Are you going to alter any of the species points?

While it is not my intention to alert visitors to the forum to new items on the website (that's what the 'what's new' page is for ), if you miss 'em it's your own fault but with the Manchester Tournament for 2008 not far away I'd like all visitors to website and forum to give a little back and join in the fun. Please check the 'county notice board' page for details of this 'event' and most importantly...JOIN IN