Wuz just talking about this today, Berg.  Not sure if I'll make it this year.  The way I'm playing, if I hold off another year I'll probably be eligible for the U1450 prize anyway.

And the way Daniel Bell is playing he'd have to be a chance of picking up one of the minors.  (He's heading to Canberra for the Doeberl Cup at Easter.) 

Im playing in the U1200 at Doeberl cup, I want to play in the U1600 but I can't afford to take the 1 day off work at this stage. I wouldn't make the trip if I was still playing club chess but at the moment weekend tournaments are my only option. I want to try and bump my rating up, but I'm guessing I'm going to be up against some juniors such as Andrew Pan who was equal 1st in the U1500 Rooty Hill Rapid aswell.. Some of these Juniors are rated quite low so losses to them would do a fair bit of damage to my rating so, I guess we have to wait and see what happens!

Maybe by the time the NSW open comes up I'll have the financial backing to take a day off work and go..

Come off it Dozy you were the winner of the U1600 a few years ago. If you can't make it that's fair enough but not because your not playing well ATM.

Dan its over the Queens birthday long weekend so you shouldn't need to take time off work.  Good luck at Doeberl btw did you know there is a tournament at Cabravale diggers at Easter? Its caled the Sydney Easter Cup $25 entry

Do you hav to hav an official chess rating?