The Larry Berg Time Trial Puzzle Competition 2024 was successfully held at the High River Library on Thursday, January 2 and Saturday, January 4, 2025.
Larry Berg was the sponsor/judge and Paul Milligan was the timer/registrar for this competition.
Berg stated this competition is a tribute to his parents Knute and Alvilde, who survived the drought and economic depression of the Dirty Thirties.
The prize money was raised over a period of retirement years by Berg selling Brain Teaser Puzzles throughout the province.
Berg says he encourages people to step away from the television and other electronic devices to perform entertainment and logical thinking on manual-type puzzles instead.
Milligan states the competition is open to everyone of any age.
He was very happy with the turnout of 18 competitors over the two-day event.
The puzzle has a wooden block base with four screw-in eyelets and steel rings linked together with a long U-shaped rod, called a wand.
Berg explains that the competition involves solving the puzzle by removing and replacing the ward with 16 moves through the 4-ringer puzzle.
The competition is organized to promote physical hands-on skills and rewards determination, perseverance, and concentration with logical thinking.
Milligan, the timer, says the competitors are allowed five attempts, with their fastest time, if under 20.0 seconds, qualifying them into the competition.
If there are 10 qualified competitors, the total prize money will be distributed.
Competitors came from Calgary, Okotoks, High River and Foothills County.
Milligan was impressed with all 18 competitors qualifying their fastest times under the required 20.0 second-time condition.
Therefore, the $2,000 total prize money was distributed over the 5 prizes.
- Joshua Miron (8.64 seconds) (1st-$1,000)
- Samuel Fraser (8.84) (2nd-$500)
- Avra Miron (10.02) (3rd-$250)
- Theodor Radulescu (10.81) (4th-$150)
- Rebecca Fraser (10.93) (5th-$100)
The other talented competitors are Cecily Fraser (11.35); Kristian Berg (11.41); Grace Lawlor (12.20); Mataya Lawlor (12.66); Jacinta Fraser (12.79); Stefan Radulescu (12.85); Tricia Rakos (13.58); Drianna Lawlor (13.84); Rylee Navratil (15.14); Landen Brigham (15.28); Marie Fraser (16.49); Joseph Fraser (18.36); Karl-Erik Berg (19.32).
There is a lifetime prize money limit of $2,000 for an individual competitor.
Milligan was slightly surprised by the 18 competitors over the two dates but will constantly encourage and promote to everyone to give the puzzle a try.
He also noted how close this competition is getting, as the close margin of just over two seconds between the 1st place and 5th place competitors. “I was taken aback by the high level of energy, enthusiasm and speed provided by all the competitors”, said Milligan. “To win this competition, you’ll have to do one thing. Practice, practice and practice again”, states Milligan.
Larry Berg would like to let everyone know that the four-ringer puzzle used in this competition is available to borrow, similar to a book, at the High River, Okotoks, and Nanton libraries, for practice between competitions.
There are puzzle brochures available at all libraries for additional information.
Berg also states that all three libraries are very important to the success of these competitions by promoting these 4-ringer puzzles.
Milligan and Berg would like to take this opportunity to thank these three libraries for their continued support. “With an extra thank you to the High River library and its staff for the continued accommodations and equipment for hosting this competition”, they said.
The date for the next competition has yet to be determined, so start practicing.
If you would like more information about this competition, future competitions, or the 4-ringer puzzle, please contact: Larry Berg at 403-652-7710 or larrberg@hotmail.com or Paul Milligan at 403-652-4164 or themilligans@shaw.ca.