1000 to 1


From the start of 2009 the 1000-1 award scheme has been sponsored by Roland Herrera (pictured left). Originally sponsored by John Slattery from late 2001 until 2007, there followed a brief period without sponsorship.
This is modelled on BIBA's "1000 to 1" award scheme, 1000-1 being the approximate odds against winning ten matches in a row.
An engraved memento is provided for any player achieving this feat in Bristol Backgammon competition, and what is more, the further a run goes, the larger the resultant trophy is!

These awards are to be presented annually, at the Awards Night each January.
Competitions covered are the Premier League, the Conference, both flights of Bristol Grand Prix tournaments and, since 2003, the Bristol Masters.
From 2010 Clock Tournament Grand Prix events were included, and in 2013 the GP5 and GP30 events were also added.

There have been several instances of the award being won, and 2009 saw Gaz Owen's record run of eighteen wins, equivalent to 250,000-1!
Roland's new sponsorship regime offered an additional prize of £50 for the first player exceeding his own record sequence, and Gaz was the recipient of this.
And now Gaz has offered a £100 prize for the first player to exceed his own sequence!
Ian Tarr, Simon Hughes, Andy Boysan and Phil Charlton are the most recent players to qualify for the award.

Current sequences

Since a large percentage of players enter knock-out events, where nearly all of those will have lost their last match, there is often a dearth of players with current winning sequences.
Winning a flight of knock-out, allied to a strong run in the league, is an ideal way to build a sequence.
Those players who currently (as at June 11th) have the best winning sequences in Bristol Backgammon are listed below:
NameWinning sequenceDetails of sequence
RICHARD OWSLEY73 Premier Two wins and 4 wins in the May GP5 main flight
Stuart Mann55 Premier One wins
Anna Mielech55 wins in the August 2010 Bristol GP main flight
Jerry Limb44 wins in the main flight of Lesters 84
Elliot Smart44 Premier Two wins
Mike Morse44 wins in the June 2000 GP consolation flight
Neil Young33 Premier Two wins
Pearl Foster33 Premier Two wins
Adrian Barnes33 Conference wins
Charlie Hetherington33 wins in the Lesters 61 consolation flight
Karl Thomas33 wins in the February 2001 IGP consolation flight
Dave Rees33 wins in the November 1999 pilot intermediate tournament consolation flight


Detailed below are all the instances of the award so far, most recent first:

PHIL CHARLTON 1,000 to 1:
the victims

beat JAMES LINTELL-SMITHPremier Two, Foresters, Downend, 19/07/12
beat RICHARD HOLNESSPremier Two, BCSC, 16/08/12
beat MICHAEL CORBETTPremier Two, Horseshoe, Downend, 25/09/12
beat JOHN CORRADOPremier Two, Prince of Wales, Westbury-on-Trym, 16/10/12
beat SEAN HOPSONPremier Two, Beaufort Arms, Hawkesbury Upton, 30/10/12
beat SEAN HOPSONPremier Two, Foresters, Downend, 06/11/12
beat ALAN PARFITTPremier Two, Foresters, Downend, 15/11/12
beat SIMON BAKERPremier Two Championship play-off, Foresters, Downend, 11/12/12
beat STUART MANNPremier One, Cornubia, 19/02/13
beat SIMON BAKERPremier One, Portcullis, Staple Hill, 13/03/13

No image available yet

ANDY BOYSAN 8,000 to 1:
the victims

beat MATT WALDERConference League, BCSC, 15/11/12
beat MATT WALDERConference League, BCSC, 15/11/12
beat TOM KOELLERConference League, BCSC, 19/11/12
beat TOM KOELLERConference League, BCSC, 19/11/12
beat TONY WALTERSClock GP, first round, BCSC, 29/11/12
beat JOHN PLUMMERClock GP, quarter-final, BCSC, 29/11/12
beat IAN TARRClock GP, semi-final, BCSC, 29/11/12
beat RICHARD OWSLEYClock GP, final, Adam and Eve, 30/11/12
beat ED TURNERGP5, first round, BCSC, 03/01/13
beat ANDY BROWNGP5, quarter-final, BCSC, 03/01/13
beat STEFFEN NOWAKGP5, semi-final, BCSC, 03/01/13
beat STEVE MORRISGP5, final, Merchants Arms (Hotwells), 10/01/13
beat NICK BARHAMPremier Two, Merchants Arms (Hotwells), 11/01/13

SIMON HUGHES 2,000 to 1:
the victims

beat CHAS PERRYPremier Two, BCSC, 01/11/12
beat TONY WALTERSBristol GP, second round, BCSC, 08/11/12
beat CECILIA SPARKEBristol GP, quarter-final, BCSC, 08/11/12
beat DEREK CLEWBristol GP, semi-final, BCSC, 08/11/12
beat ROLAND HERRERABristol GP, final, Grain Barge, 10/11/12
beat ED TURNERPremier Two, BCSC, 12/11/12
beat ED TURNERPremier Two, BCSC, 12/11/12
beat SIMON BAKERPremier Two, Albion, 20/11/12
beat SIMON BAKERPremier Two, Albion, 20/11/12
beat CYNTHIA ROBERTSClock GP, first round, BCSC, 29/11/12
beat ROLAND HERRERAClock GP, quarter-final, BCSC, 29/11/12

IAN TARR 32,000 to 1:
the victims

beat TONY WALTERSClock GP, consolation final, BCSC, 25/01/12
beat ROLAND HERRERABristol GP, first round, BCSC, 09/02/11
beat SIMONETTA HERRERABristol GP, quarter-final, BCSC, 09/02/11
beat STEFFEN NOWAKBristol GP, semi-final, BCSC, 09/02/11
beat STUART MANNBristol GP, final, BCSC, 09/02/11
beat DAVE PYMPremier One, BCSC, 23/02/12
beat SIMON HUGHESClock GP, quarter-final, BCSC, 01/03/12
beat GAZ OWENClock GP, semi-final, BCSC, 01/03/12
beat STEFFEN NOWAKClock GP, final, BCSC, 01/03/12
beat TONY WALTERSLesters 82, first round, BCSC, 08/03/12
beat STEVE MORRISLesters 82, quarter-final, BCSC, 08/03/12
beat SIMON HUGHESLesters 82, semi-final, BCSC, 08/03/12
beat SIMONETTA HERRERALesters 82, final, Roland and Simonetta's, 08/03/12
beat STEFFEN NOWAKPremier One, BCSC, 15/03/12
beat STEFFEN NOWAKPremier One, BCSC, 21/03/12

STUART MANN 4,000 to 1:
the victims

beat NEIL YOUNGBristol GP consolation, quarter-final, BCSC, 11/02/11
beat SIMON HUGHESBristol GP consolation, semi-final, BCSC, 11/02/11
beat BLAINE BUCHANANBristol GP consolation, final, BCSC, 11/02/11
beat ED TURNERPremier One, Ship, Park Row, 17/02/11
beat SIMONETTA HERRERAPremier One, BCSC, 17/02/11
beat RICHARD OWSLEYClock GP, quarter-final, BCSC, 03/03/11
beat STEVE MORRISClock GP, semi-final, BCSC, 03/03/11
beat IAN TARRClock GP, final, BCSC, 03/03/11
beat PHILLIP HILLLesters 78, second round, BCSC, 10/03/11
beat MANESHLesters 78, quarter-final, BCSC, 10/03/11
beat DEREK CLEWLesters 78, semi-final, BCSC, 10/03/11
beat JULIAN FETTERLEINLesters 78, final, BCSC, 24/03/11

SIMON HUGHES 2,000 to 1:
the victims

beat JAMIE NEVILLBristol GP consolation, first round, BCSC, 19/08/10
beat PAUL WEAVERBristol GP consolation, quarter-final, BCSC, 19/08/10
beat TONY WALTERSBristol GP consolation, semi-final, BCSC, 19/08/10
beat MILES FARRENBristol GP consolation, final, BCSC, 19/08/10
beat TIM LINEClock GP, first round, BCSC, 02/09/10
beat STEFFEN NOWAKClock GP, second round, BCSC, 02/09/10
beat BLAINE BUCHANANClock GP, quarter-final, BCSC, 02/09/10
beat SIMON TEMMEClock GP, semi-final, BCSC, 02/09/10
beat SIMONETTA HERRERAClock GP, final, BCSC, 06/09/10
beat NEIL YOUNGLesters 76, second round, BCSC, 09/09/10
beat CYNTHIA ROBERTSLesters 76, quarter-final, BCSC, 09/09/10

ED TURNER 8,000 to 1:
the victims

beat CHAS PERRYPremier Two, Fire Engine, Redfield, 03/02/10
beat CHAS PERRYPremier Two, Fire Engine, Redfield, 03/02/10
beat ANDREW COBBPremier Two, Ram, Bath, 28/02/10
beat ANDREW COBBPremier Two, Ram, Bath, 28/02/10
beat ANDREW COBBPremier Two, Ram, Bath, 28/02/10
beat IAN PRESTONPremier Two, Kings Head, Whitehall, 24/03/10
beat IAN PRESTONPremier Two, Kings Head, Whitehall, 24/03/10
beat SIMON TEMMEPremier Two, Colston Yard, 29/04/10
beat CYNTHIA ROBERTSPremier Two, Colston Yard, 10/05/10
beat CYNTHIA ROBERTSPremier Two, Colston Yard, 10/05/10
beat CYNTHIA ROBERTSPremier Two, Colston Yard, 14/06/10
beat SIMON TEMMEPremier Two, Colston Yard, 24/06/10
beat CECILIA SPARKEPremier Two, Colston Yard, 27/07/10

GAZ OWEN 250,000 to 1:
the victims

beat MICHAEL CORBETTPremier One, Watershed, 09/03/09
beat MICHAEL CORBETTPremier One, Watershed, 09/03/09
beat STEFFEN NOWAKLesters 70, first round, BCSC, 12/03/09
beat STUART MANNLesters 70, second round, BCSC, 12/03/09
beat PHILLIP HILLLesters 70, quarter-final, BCSC, 12/03/09
beat CECILIA SPARKELesters 70, semi-final, Two Magpies, 13/03/09
beat MARCUS WRINCHLesters 70, final, BCSC, 26/03/09
beat SIMONETTA HERRERAPremier One, Barcelo Hotel, Daventry, 04/04/09
beat MILES FARRENBristol Grand Prix main flight, second round, BCSC, 09/04/09
beat PETER EDWARDSBristol Grand Prix main flight, quarter-final, BCSC, 09/04/09
beat TIM LINEBristol Grand Prix main flight, semi-final, BCSC, 09/04/09
beat ED TURNERPremier One, Berkeley Wetherspoons, Clifton, 13/04/09
beat ED TURNERPremier One, Berkeley Wetherspoons, Clifton, 13/04/09
beat IAN TARRBristol Masters, first round, BCSC, 30/04/09
beat TIM LINEBristol Masters, quarter-final, BCSC, 30/04/09
beat SIMON BAKERBristol Masters, semi-final (doubled up as a Premier One match), BCSC, 30/04/09
beat STEFFEN NOWAKPremier One, BCSC, 11/05/09
beat STEFFEN NOWAKPremier One, BCSC, 11/05/09

ROLAND HERRERA 8000 to 1:
the victims

beat STEFFEN NOWAKBristol Grand Prix main flight, first round, BCSC, 10/01/08
beat CECILIA SPARKEBristol Grand Prix main flight, second round, BCSC, 10/01/08
beat PHILLIP HILLBristol Grand Prix main flight, quarter-final, BCSC, 10/01/08
beat COLIN SARABristol Grand Prix main flight, semi-final, Colin Sara's, 12/01/08
beat STEVE FERRERBristol Grand Prix main flight, final, BCSC, 16/01/08
beat PHILLIP HILLLesters 66, second round, BCSC, 13/03/08
beat MARCUS WRINCHLesters 66, quarter-final, BCSC, 13/03/08
beat TIM LINELesters 66, semi-final, BCSC, 13/03/08
beat BLAINE BUCHANANLesters 66, final, Colston Yard, 18/03/08
beat ANNE JEPPESENBristol Grand Prix main flight, first round, BCSC, 10/04/08
beat ANN POCKNELLBristol Grand Prix main flight, second round, BCSC, 10/04/08
beat TONY WALTERSBristol Grand Prix main flight, quarter-final, BCSC, 10/04/08
beat STUART MANNBristol Masters, first round, BCSC, 01/05/08

PETER EDWARDS 1000 to 1:
the victims

beat COLIN SARABristol Grand Prix consolation, quarter-final, BCSC, 08/02/07
beat CECILIA SPARKEBristol Grand Prix consolation, semi-final, BCSC, 08/02/07
beat COLIN SARABristol Conference, BCSC, 15/02/07
beat COLIN SARABristol Conference, BCSC, 15/02/07
beat MILES FARRENBristol Grand Prix consolation, final, BCSC, 15/02/07
beat JUDE PITTBristol Conference, BCSC, 15/02/07
beat NINA EVANGELOUBristol Conference, BCSC, 08/03/07
beat MARTIN HEMMINGLesters 62, first round, BCSC, 08/03/07
beat IAN PRESTONLesters 62, second round, BCSC, 08/03/07
beat SIMON BAKERLesters 62, quarter-final, BCSC, 08/03/07

PHIL CHARLTON 1000 to 1:
the victims

beat ROLAND HERRERABristol Premier League Div.2, BCSC, 27/07/06
beat ALAN PARFITTBristol Premier League Div.2, Chequers, Kingswood, 31/07/06
beat RICHARD OWSLEYBristol Premier League Div.2, BCSC, 31/08/06
beat SIMON BAKERBristol Premier League Div.2, Foresters, Downend, 20/09/06
beat JOHN PATONBristol Premier League Div.2, Hillgrove Porter Stores, 27/09/06
beat STEFFEN NOWAKBristol Premier League Div.2, BCSC, 28/09/06
beat TONY WALTERSBristol Premier League Div.2, BCSC, 03/10/06
beat BLAINE BUCHANANBristol Premier League Div.2, BCSC, 19/10/06
beat MARTIN HEMMINGBristol Premier League Div.2, Bear of Rodborough, 25/11/06
beat STUART MANNBristol Premier League Div.1, Cornubia, 07/02/07

ROLAND HERRERA 2000 to 1:
the victims

beat ED TURNERLesters 57, second round, BCSC, 08/12/05
beat PAUL WATTSLesters 57, quarter-final, BCSC, 08/12/05
beat SIMONETTA HERRERALesters 57, semi-final, BCSC, 08/12/05
beat MARK DIXONLesters 57, final, Roland and Simonetta's, 08/12/05
beat MARTIN HEMMINGBristol Grand Prix main flight, first round, BCSC, 12/01/06
beat STUART MANNBristol Grand Prix main flight, second round, BCSC, 12/01/06
beat SIMON BAKERBristol Grand Prix main flight, quarter-final, BCSC, 12/01/06
beat JASON CHAMPIONBristol Grand Prix main flight, semi-final, BCSC, 12/01/06
beat IAN TARRBristol Grand Prix main flight, final, Roland and Simonetta's, 17/01/06
beat TIM LINEBristol Premier League Div.2, BCSC, 26/01/06
beat IAN PRESTONBristol Grand Prix main flight, second round, BCSC, 09/02/06

TONY WALTERS 1000 to 1:
the victims

beat MILES FARRENBristol Conference, BCSC, 14/09/05
beat MILES FARRENBristol Conference, BCSC, 14/09/05
beat TIM LINEBristol Conference, BCSC, 14/09/05
beat TIM OLDFIELDBristol Conference, Gentlemen's Club, 20/09/05
beat TIM OLDFIELDBristol Conference, BCSC, 22/09/05
beat SUSY LIEDTKEBristol Conference, BCSC, 28/09/05
beat SUSY LIEDTKEBristol Conference, BCSC, 28/09/05
beat JON KENTBristol Conference, BCSC, 28/09/05
beat ROBERT HAMPSONBristol Conference, BCSC, 03/10/05
beat ROBERT HAMPSONBristol Conference, BCSC, 03/10/05

MARTIN HEMMING 2000 to 1:
the victims

beat THOMAS LIEDTKEBristol Grand Prix main flight, second round, BCSC, 13/01/05
beat CYNTHIA ROBERTSBristol Grand Prix main flight, quarter-final, BCSC, 13/01/05
beat ROLAND HERRERABristol Grand Prix main flight, semi-final, BCSC, 13/01/05
beat STEFFEN NOWAKBristol Grand Prix main flight, final, BCSC, 26/01/05
beat STUART MANNBristol Premier League Div.1, BCSC, 26/01/05
beat ALAN PARFITTBristol Grand Prix main flight, first round, BCSC, 10/02/05
beat ELLIOT SMARTBristol Grand Prix main flight, second round, BCSC, 10/02/05
beat TIM OLDFIELDBristol Grand Prix main flight, quarter-final, BCSC, 10/02/05
beat CHARLIE HETHERINGTONBristol Grand Prix main flight, semi-final, BCSC, 10/02/05
beat KEVIN JONESBristol Grand Prix main flight, final, Roland and Simonetta's, 10/02/05
beat SIMONETTA BARONEBristol Premier League Div.1, Roland and Simonetta's, 13/02/05

ED TURNER 1000 to 1:
the victims

beat STUART MANNBristol Grand Prix consolation, quarter-final, BCSC, 11/11/04
beat TONY WALTERSBristol Grand Prix consolation, semi-final, BCSC, 11/11/04
beat RICHARD CARTWRIGHTBristol Grand Prix consolation, final, BCSC, 11/11/04
beat STEVE FERRERBristol Premier League Div.2, BCSC, 11/11/04
beat ROLAND HERRERABristol Premier League Div.2, BCSC, 24/11/04
beat PHILLIP HILLLesters 53, first round, BCSC, 09/12/04
beat STUART MANNLesters 53, second round, BCSC, 09/12/04
beat IAN PRESTONLesters 53, quarter-final, BCSC, 09/12/04
beat ROSEY BENSLEYLesters 53, semi-final, BCSC, 09/12/04
beat DAVE PYMLesters 53, final, BCSC, 10/12/04

STUART MANN 1000 to 1:
the victims

beat DAVE PYMBristol Premier League Div.1, BCSC, 08/05/03
beat IAN TARRBristol Premier League Div.1, BCSC, 28/05/03
beat PAUL WATTSLesters 47, first round, BCSC, 12/06/03
beat ROSEY BENSLEYLesters 47, second round, BCSC, 12/06/03
beat MARTIN HEMMINGLesters 47, quarter-final, BCSC, 12/06/03
beat CHRIS JOHNSONLesters 47, semi-final, BCSC, 12/06/03
beat DAVE PYMLesters 47, final, doubled as Bristol Premier League Div.1, BCSC, 17/06/03
beat PHIL CHARLTONBristol Premier League Div.1, BCSC, 25/06/03
beat PHIL CHARLTONBristol Premier League Div.1, BCSC, 30/07/03
beat MARTIN HEMMINGBristol Premier League Div.1, BCSC, 30/07/03

STUART MANN 4000 to 1:
the victims

beat KEVIN WHITEJanuary GP, second round, BCSC, 10/01/02
beat ED TURNERJanuary GP, quarter-final, BCSC, 10/01/02
beat CHARLIE HETHERINGTONJanuary GP, semi-final, BCSC, 10/01/02
beat JERRY LIMBJanuary GP, final, The Leap, Downend, 17/01/02
beat CHARLIE HETHERINGTONBristol Premier League, BCSC, 24/01/02
beat ED TURNERBristol Premier League, BCSC, 30/01/02
beat JOHN SPRAGUEFebruary GP, second round, BCSC, 14/02/02
beat JERRY LIMBFebruary GP, quarter-final, BCSC, 14/02/02
beat IAN PRESTONFebruary GP, semi-final, BCSC, 14/02/02
beat JOHN SLATTERYBristol Premier League, Rosey Bensley's, 16/02/02
beat ELLIOT SMARTBristol Premier League, Rosey Bensley's, 16/02/02
beat PAUL WATTSFebruary GP, final, The Leap, Downend, 21/02/02


Sponsorship page
Back to home page