Bristol Winter 2024


Date
Jan 20 - 21, 2024
City
Bristol, City of Bristol, United Kingdom
Venue

Anson Rooms

Address
Anson Rooms, Richmond Building, University of Bristol, 105 Queens Rd, Bristol BS8 1LN
Contact
Organization team
Organizers
AJ Nicholls, Chris Wright, and UK Cube Association
WCA Delegates
AJ Nicholls, James Golding, Oliver Wheat, and Rich Casey
Download all the competition's details as PDF here.
Information

If you are a new competitor, please make sure to read all the information in the FAQ and the Important Information tabs before registering. All competitors should be familiar with the information in these tabs.

Spectators may attend for free!

Imgur

Kewbz

Events
Main event
Competitors
97
Registration period

Online registration opened and closed .

Registration requirements
This competition is over, click here to display the registration requirements it used.
Create a WCA account here if you don't have one.
If this is not your first competition, associate your WCA ID to your WCA account here.
Register for this competition here.
There is a competitor limit of 100 competitors.
The base registration fee for this competition is £30 (British Pound).
If your registration is cancelled before you will be refunded 75% of your registration fee.
Registrants on the waiting list may be accepted onto the competitor list until .
If you are a registered competitor you may change your registered events until on the Register tab.
No on the spot registrations will be accepted.


Make sure to register and pay for the competition to be accepted. We will not accept any registrations at the competition.

Once you have been accepted you will receive a confirmation email. If registration is full by the time you pay then you will not receive this confirmation email and you will be on the waiting list. If you do not make the competitor list by the limit date for refunds (specified above), then you will be refunded 100% of your registration fee. You may contact us to ask for your current position on the waiting list.

If you can no longer attend, let us know as soon as possible through the contact link on the General Info page. We often have waiting lists so letting us know you cannot attend allows us to add another person to the competition. By not telling us you are denying someone a chance to compete.

If you have any problems check out the FAQ, or feel free to contact us.

Highlights
Click here to display the highlights of the competition.

Tim O'Brien won with an average of 7.70 seconds in the 3x3x3 Cube event. Ciarán Beahan finished second (7.89) and Jake Brown finished third (8.19).

European records: Ciarán Beahan‎ 7x7x7 Cube 1:50.94 (average).

Event Name Best Average Representing Solves
3x3x3 Cube Tim O'Brien 6.46 7.70 United States 7.908.086.469.637.11
4x4x4 Cube Ciarán Beahan 23.46 25.22 Ireland 25.5925.2226.4123.4624.84
5x5x5 Cube Ciarán Beahan 39.37 44.72 Ireland 41.3439.3746.6648.0046.16
6x6x6 Cube Ciarán Beahan 1:13.13 1:19.58 Ireland 1:22.491:13.131:23.13
7x7x7 Cube Ciarán Beahan 1:43.49 NR 1:50.94 ER Ireland 1:43.491:58.581:50.74
3x3x3 Blindfolded Thomas Patterson 37.16 DNF United Kingdom DNF37.16DNF
3x3x3 One-Handed Ciarán Beahan 12.90 13.71 Ireland 13.4614.6415.7513.0312.90
Clock Jacob Chambers 2.96 3.96 United Kingdom 4.314.512.963.434.13
Megaminx Aidan Grainger 31.29 32.68 United Kingdom 31.8631.7034.4934.5931.29
Skewb Aidan Grainger 3.84 5.00 United Kingdom 4.664.615.993.845.72

UKCA

Hello! We are the UK Cube Association and we are a completely volunteer-ran organisation that hosts all cubing competitions in the UK. We are made up of a team of WCA delegates and staff, and we're passionate about giving people as many opportunities to compete in the UK as we can. We have organised over 100 competitions up and down the country with many more on the horizon and are always trying to find new locations to make cubing competitions as accessible as possible.

Make sure to follow our social media pages to keep up to date with the latest content and media!

Image description Image description Image description

UKCA is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people under the age of 18 who attend our activities. Please read our Safeguarding Policy for more information about this. If you have any concerns, please contact us at SafeguardingUKCA@gmail.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I register?
A: First you need to make sure you have created a WCA account. You can do this by going to the sign-up page and creating an account. Once you have created the account and confirmed your email address, follow the menu bar to the Register page and follow the instructions fully and carefully.

Q: Why am I not on the registration list yet?
A: Please make sure that you have followed the instructions listed on the Register page. You could also be on the waiting list. The competitor limit can be found on the General Info page, and you can see the number on accepted competitors on the Competitors page also on the menu. If you have done everything correctly and the competition is not full then just be patient. We have to manually approve registrations and the organisers aren't available all the time. If you believe you have followed the steps correctly but still are not on the registration list after 2-3 days, then feel free to email us at the contact link on the General Info page. You can contact us at any time to check your place on the waiting list as well.

Q: I am no longer able to attend, what do I do?
A: The first thing you need to do is tell us as soon as you know via the contact link on the General Info page. Competitions generally fill up quite quickly and letting us know that you can't attend means we can add someone from the waiting list.

Q: If I do not attend do I get a refund?
A: If you inform us you are no longer attending before the limit date for refunds on the General Info page then you will receive a 75% refund. If this time has passed then you will receive no refund.

Q: How fast do I have to be to compete?
A: We recommend that you check out the Events and Schedule tabs - if you can make the time limit for the events you want to compete in, then you're fast enough! Loads of people come to competitions just to beat their own personal bests, and meet likeminded people, with no intention of winning or even making it past the first round.

Q: Are there different age categories?
A: All competitors compete on the same level and all ages are welcome. In general most are aged 10-20 but we have plenty of regulars who are older or younger than this!

Q: Do I use my own cubes to compete?
A: Yes! Make sure to bring cubes for all events you are competing in and look after them, you don't want them to go missing.

Q: Am I allowed to bring a guest?
A: Yes, you are allowed to bring as many guests as you please. Space in the venue may be restricted during busy times so please be sensible.

Q: Can I come only to spectate?
A: Yes! However, the venue is usually quite busy during the morning, so if you are just coming to spectate please come in the afternoon.

Q: I'm a parent, what can I do to get involved?
A: If you're looking for something to do then you can certainly help out with the running and judging! We pretty much always need help with this and they are really easy procedures to follow. You can come to the introduction to competing where we go through all of it there, and there is a tutorial on the Important Information tab as well. Running is also great for step count and requires zero knowledge of cubing if you're worried about that!

Q: When do I arrive at the competition?
A: If you are a new competitor, we highly recommend that you show up for the introduction to competing which is held as the first thing on both days. Otherwise, we recommend you turn up at least 15 minutes before your first event, you can check when this is on the Schedule tab. This will give you enough time to register, find a seat, and warm-up.

Q: Do I have to be there on both days?
A: No, if you're only competing events on one of the days, you don't have to turn up for the other day. You can see what days your events are on on the Schedule tab. If you are assigned tasks (running/judging/scrambling) on a day you're not competing on, do not worry about missing them.

Q: What do I do when I arrive?
A: The first thing you do when you arrive is find the registration desk if registration is open. If you arrive before registration opens, we will make an announcement as to when it does open. If there is nobody present at the registration desk then find a staff member and we will make sure to register you.

Q: When can I leave the competition?
A: You are more than welcome to leave whenever you want. If you have no more events left then you are not required to stay.

Q: How do I find results?
A: All the results will be found on this page a couple of days after the competition, once they have all been checked and uploaded. If you are looking for live results, in the Menu Bar at the top go to Results ≫ WCA Live.

New Competitors

If you are a new competitor, it is important that you are familiar with the Regulations. The regulations are very long and are quite a lot to take in so don't worry if you don't remember it all! Because of this, we'd recommend watching this video from Cubehead that explains the competing procedure before you attend: Competing Tutorial. We will also be holding a tutorial for new competitors which we recommend you attend as well.

New competitors must bring some form of ID to show at the competition to confirm the name, the country they wish to compete for, and the date of birth registered with. The usual items of ID that people bring are Passports, Birth Certificates, Driver's Licenses, etc. As long as it has your name, date of birth, and country, then it will be fine.

If you have any questions, we recommend that you check the FAQ in case it has been asked before. But you are more than welcome to contact us at the link on the General Info page. We also recommend you check out the UKCA tab to sign up to our mailing list for announcements of future competitions, among other things.

Information for All Competitors

  • Schedule Changes: Please note that the schedule is subject to change up until the Wednesday before the competition, when we will know exactly how many people are competing in each event. These should be only minor changes and may involve increasing the number of rounds for some events!
  • Please help judge! As a competitor, your judging assignments are the absolute minimum you should be doing to help out. As second rounds, third rounds and finals have no assigned judges, we really need people to help out whenever available for these. If you are directly asked to judge, please go and judge for the remainder of the round in progress. If you do not comply then we are within our rights to disqualify you from the competition as per Regulation 1e2. If you're a parent you can also get involved with running and juging, it's really easy! We will have a judging tutorial in the mornings as well, which will run through the process and will be tailored towards parents who want to get involved.
  • Please note that Carbon-Fiber puzzles are not permitted, and please make sure your cube complies with logo regulations!
  • When you are competing and have handed in your puzzle, please make sure to be waiting in the designated area so that judges and runners do not have to come searching for you.
  • Please DO NOT talk about the scrambles or your solutions whilst the round is in progress as per Regulation 2g3.
  • During blindfolded events, please stay silent within the venue. These events require a high amount of concentration and any noise can be distracting. We will announce when the silence will begin and when you may talk within the venue again.
  • No flash photography under any circumstance within the venue. It is extremely distracting for competitors.
  • If you are a spectator, please stay 1.5m away from competitors at all times as per Regulation 7b. If you are filming someone competing, please keep out of the competitor area.
  • Please treat the venue with respect, put all of your rubbish in bins, black bin bags, or take it home with you and keep your area tidy.
  • There are thousands of puzzles at these events, make sure to keep yours together so you don't lose them! Keeping them in a bag and looking after it at all times is recommended. If you do lose a puzzle, please contact us at the link on the General Info page, it is likely that someone has handed it in to us.
  • We will be taking videos and photographs of the competition and the environment for our social media pages and website. By attending the competition as a competitor or a guest, you are accepting that you may be filmed or photographed for these purposes.

This competition is sponsored by KewbzUK!

Kewbz

Based in the UK, KewbzUK have grown to become the largest and most trusted speed cube shop in the UK & Europe. Not only do they stock some of the best twisty puzzles in the world, they are also lucky to be exclusive resellers of CubicleLabs premium lubricants.

Venue

The venue is the Anson Rooms within The Richmond Building of the University of Bristol. The Anson Rooms are on the 1st Floor of the building.

Travel

Train: Bristol Temple Meads is the nearest major station and is a 1.7 mile (2.7km) walk from there to the venue. Trains into Bristol will stop at either Bristol Temple Meads or Bristol Parkway station. Connections between Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway take only 8 minutes.

It is possible to take the train closer to the venue than Bristol Temple Meads. A transfer onto the Severn Beach line will allow you to stop at Clifton Down station, which is a 0.6 mile walk from the venue (1km.)

Tickets and times can be found on www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.thetrainline.com.

Bus routes and times from Bristol Temple Meads towards the Anson Rooms can be checked using the public transport options within Google Maps.

Plane: Bristol Airport (BRS) is the nearest airport. Car rental is available from there, or a taxi or bus can be taken from there to connect with train services. Numerous bus routes exist from the airport to Bristol City Centre, from which you can either walk to the venue or take additional buses. (Check Google Maps' public transport planner for the best route at the time of your journey.) Driving direct by taxi or car rental from the airport is approximately 7.6 miles/ 12.2km and will take about 15 minutes in uneventful traffic.

Car: Be aware that there is a Clean Air Zone in effect in the City of Bristol. The Anson Rooms venue is not within this Clean Air Zone, however travel through some routes may mean you pass through the Clean Air Zone. You can check if your vehicle needs to pay the daily charge or not, as well as a map of the affected area here. The current charge is £9.00 per day (information checked November 2023.)

There is no on-site parking facility. However there are numerous public car parks in the city that are within walking distance of the venue.

This Google Maps link shows car parks in the area of the venue. Look for the venue's name (Anson Rooms) on the map and plan accordingly.

On-street parking may exist nearby but is likely to be chargeable (particularly on the Saturday.) The further away from the venue that you park, the less likely it is you will have to pay.

Alternatively, you may wish to consider using a service such as Just Park which allows short-term agreements to be set up to park at people's driveways or garages.

Accommodation

There are numerous chain hotels operating within Bristol:
* Travelodge Bristol Central (0.9 miles walking distance)
* Ibis Bristol Centre (0.9 miles walking distance)
* Premier Inn Bristol City Centre (Lewins Mead) (1.1 miles walking distance)
* Premier Inn Bristol City Centre (King Street) (1.1 miles walking distance)
* Holiday Inn Bristol City Centre (1.2 miles walking distance)
* Premier Inn Bristol City Centre (Haymarket) (1.2 miles walking distance)
* Premier Inn Bristol City Centre (Finzels Reach) (1.4 miles walking distance)
* Travelodge Bristol Central Mitchell Lane (1.5 miles walking distance)
* Holiday Inn Express Bristol City Centre (1.6 miles walking distance)
* Ibis Bristol Temple Meads Quay (1.9 miles walking distance)

Other offers may exist via AirBNB and similar websites.

If you are on the waiting list and do not get a place at the competition before 16th January, we will issue a full refund. If you would like to be removed from the waiting list to recieve a full refund sooner, please contact us through the link on the competition home page.

(competition over; waiting list no longer applicable)

Please note this list is updated manually.

Each event is run in groups, depending on how many people are competing in the event depends on how many groups there are. We call each group up one at a time in order to complete their solves during the scheduled time for the round. We have software that automatically picks what groups you are in, the judges, and who scrambles for each group. This is the minimum amount you should be helping out as it only is for first rounds. We always appreciate extra help!

Please note down which groups you are competing and scrambling in before arriving at the competition!

Groups

Click here to see your groups!

Time limit

If you reach the time limit during your solve, the judge will stop you and your result will be DNF (see Regulation A1a4).
A cumulative time limit may be enforced (see Regulation A1a2).

Cutoff

The result to beat to proceed to the second phase of a cutoff round (see Regulation 9g).

Format

The format describes how to determine the ranking of competitors based on their results. The list of allowed formats per event is described in Regulation 9b. See Regulation 9f for a description of each format.

Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies.