CLUB NEWS
Final grades
29/08/10
The final version of the grades to be used for the coming season are out and for Newcastle show just two small changes from the provisional ones with Geoff and Alex moving to 153 and 182 respectively.
AGM date
24/08/10
The date for this year's club AGM is Wed 15th September. As usual the meeting will be followed by a quickplay tournament.
Triple tie
04/08/10
4½/6 proved to be good enough for each of Alex, Malcolm and Stephane to be in the three way tie for first place in this year's summer half-hour.
Bunching together
28/07/10
Stephane will enter the final week of the summer half-hour with a narrow ½ point lead over 4 players following tonights games.
Provisional grades
25/07/10
Provisional grades for the coming season are now available. Newcastle's are
| Alex | 183
| | Martyn | 167
| | Diarmid | 162
| | Alan | 160
| | Barry | 159
| | Tim | 153
| | Geoff | 152
| | Francis | 144
| | John | 133
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| Watson | 126
| | Sam | 125
| | Pete | 122
| | Paul | 116
| | Nic | 115
| | Richard | 105
| | Steve | 104
| | Derrick | 90
| | Brian | 33
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No doubt there will be some (small) changes made before the definitive grades are published later.
Neither Chris nor William played enough games to be included in the published list. Former members listed include
| Paul Wallace (Lichfield, 207)
| | Andrej Furjel (Weymouth, 189)
| | Richard Lee (Cambridge Uni, 172)
| | Geoff Marchant (Wallington, 171)
| | Mark Handley (Meir, 156)
| | Dave Cork (Crawley, 156)
| | Nick Lowe (Altrincham, 148)
| | Derek Northage (Kidsgrove, 136)
| | Catherine Hiley nee Ashton (Rugeley, 132)
| | James Rothwell (Ormskirk, 130)
| | Robert West (Fenton, 101)
| Ian Jamieson from Exmouth who visited the club several times earlier in the summer is 171.
Those wondering whether they are playing too much might like to know that 11 of the 11000+ players listed played over 150 longplay games last year, headed by Brendan O'Gorman and Richard Desmedt whose respective 204 and 212 game totals were topped by Alan Fraser with 241. Needless to say all three are well known on the congress circuit.
Starter for thirteen
23/07/10
Thirteen players played in the first two rounds of the summer half-hour. Any others joining in next week will receive two half-point byes for the rounds they missed. Progress can be followed on the internal events page.
Alex wins Leek
10/06/10
Alex won the top section at the Leek Rapidplay Congress on Sunday with an impressive 5½/6 for which he also gets the Alan Wilshaw Memorial Rosebowl as the best placed NSDCA player. Pete, Paul and Steve all competed in the lower section, with Pete showing best with a score of four.
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OTHER NEWS
Fixtures out
21/08/10
Fixtures for the coming season are now available from the downloads page.
Fenton to Tuesday
18/08/10
In order to make best use of their venue Fenton have now alighted upon Tuesday as their club night, starting from 31st August.
Quick and strong
17/08/10
Alex Richardson is putting together a series of four competitions on a variation of quickplay for strong players to be held at Newcastle on Mondays through the season. Declarations of interest have already reached double figures. If you are, have been or soon will be graded 160+ ish, and think you would like to be involved, Alex would love to hear from you.
Probably Eight
10/08/10
Cheddleton are now in a position to increase their highly provisional original five team entry to the league to a probable eight. I have adjusted the table in my AGM report lower down the page accordingly.
Division four looks as if it will again have five teams in it, so I shall write fixtures for the teams to play each other three times - I heard no complaints about this arrangement last year.
Double change for Fenton
20/07/10
Fenton have decided to revert to their 2009/10 distribution of teams, with one in division two and only one in five. I have changed the table of entries lower down the page to reflect this.
Fenton will also be changing their club night from Monday to Wednesday as from 23rd August.
Giga-Success
17/07/10
The recent northern Giga-final in UK Chess Challenge featured success for North Staffordshire based Jacob Boswell (U8 boys section A winner), Skye Wiggins (joint first U9 girls), Alex Cartlidge (joint 2nd U13 boys) and Craig Whitfield (joint first U15 boys).
Several others scored at least 50% in their sections: Aum Choudhary, Amil Mohammed, Rhys Owens, Daniel Holland, Andrei Mihai, Harsh Ojha, Edina Hassell, Jack Healings, Jacob Cartlidge, Emma Crick, Rory Knipe, Ben Scattergood, Samuel Beardomre, Candice Griffiths, Liam Dimmick, Danny Graham, Joshua Hollins and Joe Jackson.
Results up
14/07/10
Results of last night's rapidplay jamboree can now be found on the usual rapidplay pages.
A Rapid Comment on the Rapidplay
13/07/10
I shall add fuller details about this evening's rapidplay jamboree on the rapidplay page later. For now:
The Open section was won by Cheddleton A with 7/8 ahead of Stafford on 5½. 8 teams entered.
The U130 section was won by Stafford on 6/8 ahead of Newcastle on 4½, six teams entering.
Particular thanks to Matthew Carr from Cannock who came up to help run the event, and to Traci who presented the trophies.
New Chief Terrier
10/07/10
Steve Emmerton has taken over the captaincy of the Staffordshire Terriers and would be pleased to hear from anyone interested in playing in the Inter-Counties U120 competition. He can be contacted by phone 01283 517569 or 07850 185536, or by email.
Sunday Closing
09/07/10, updated 10/07/10
Entries for the Jamboree on Tuesday close on Sunday. We are unable to accept later entries. Current entry list:
Open: Alsager, Cheddleton x 2, Fenton Kids, Holmes Chapel Jacks, Macclesfield, Newcastle, Stafford.
U130: Cheddleton x 3, Holmes Chapel, Newcastle, Stafford.
A couple of clubs reported that they were still actively seeking to create teams. The capacity of the venue is 16 teams.
AGM Report
09/07/10
The true record of last night's NSDCA AGM will of course appear in the minutes; what follows is my unofficial version. Sections in italics are additional comments not necessarily made at the meeting.
Just under 20 people attended the meeting hosted by Alsager Chess Club at their Radway Green Sports and Social Club venue, with county secretary Andrew Davies present alongside representatives of all North Staffs clubs bar Meir. Roger Edwards controlled proceedings with his usual good humour, not that much control was needed as no discussion ever threatened to become unpleasant.
The various officers had their two minutes of fame giving their reports. The General Secretary's plea wearing his grading officer hat that he be given full information about players to aid identification and the Treasurer's thanks for receiving all monies by Nov 1st were the more noteworthy statements. Fred Spicer (Results Secretary) was absent, as was Mark Whitby (Publicity/Website). The former had provided no report, the latter had provided a short statement which Robert read out explaining why Mark would be unavailable to fulfil any NSDCA duties over the coming year or so.
Andrew reported that the ECF are taking steps to pull back from the brink of financial disaster. The government via the DCMS acts as a significant source of income for the ECF through an annual grant of £60,000. Earlier in the season the DCMS put a stop on this grant as the ECF had no finance director nor credible plan as to how to make ends meet. The appointment of a competent finance director and presentation of a credible plan has resulted in an unfreezing of this grant. However it has already been announced that the grant is now to be cut to £45,000 and it seems distinctly possible that this will be cut further or even discontinued. Clearly there is pressure for the ECF to live within its means. Headcount at the ECF office is to be reduced, and communications will be electronic rather than snail mail based. This last might not sound much, but Council is a large body to keep in contact with. The latest accounts I have seen budgeted for £6000 for printing, photocopying and postage in 2009/10, which figure is already known to be an underestimate of these costs. I suspect that Andrew Farthing who has completed a review of the work of the ECF office may also have further recommendations for cost-cutting which are not yet generally known.
The ECF also seem to have some unrealistic expectations that their Chess for Schools scheme will bring in significant income. This admittedly cynical observer suspects that they will be lucky to cover any set-up and ongoing running costs.
On MCCU matters there seemed doubt that the MCCU does anything other than administer the Union stage of the inter-counties competition. Could this single task be performed without the existence of the Union?
Officers and Committee were re-elected unopposed except that the post of publicity/website was left unfilled. Steve Emmerton will approached to see whether he would be willing to take on Mark's League rep to county committee role. In effect Mark is a sleeping member of the committee as we hope he will be able to return in future. On the website I hope that Mark will display some message explaining what is going on rather than simply leaving the site to become more and more out-of-date.
The President declared a short break for attendees to replenish glasses and partake of the sandwiches that Alan Thomason had arranged. It is always a good idea to partake of liquid refreshment if provided on-site - not only does it ease the strain of talking but it increases the chance of the venue welcoming us at any future time.
Bill Armstrong's proposal to alter the minimum counting grade on bottom board in division two drew little enthusiasm and was duly defeated.
The discussion drew a variety of comments about the main problem being lack of teams in division one. Unfortunately with a limited number of strong players in the area it is not possible to have a division 1 that is both large and Open. The other divisions are spaced out at 15 point intervals with respect to the average grade limit. This would suggest a team limit of 800 for division one, yet all four teams competing last year exceeded this in at least some of their games, making it more of a division 0. Indeed Cheddleton and Holmes Chapel sometimes topped 875 making them on those occasions division -1 teams. It is perhaps not surprising that there is not a queue of other sides wanting to join the top division. Alsager's decision to do so is welcome, though as Alan Thomason pointed out may well not have been made had Bill's proposal been passed.
A full set of trophies was available for presentation though it had not been assembled in time to arrange for the engraving of this year's winners to be added. It is planned to do two years at once next year, at the same time replacing the title panels to properly reflect the current competitions.
Looking forward on the financial front the meeting was happy to endorse the treasurer's proposal that fees be frozen for a year which will probably result in a small reduction in reserves. This proposal did however come with a warning that fees will need to increase the following season.
The discounted rates (for payment before Nov 1st) are thus £7 for Open cup, £4 for other cups. In the league 5 board teams will cost £10 plus £2.50 per fixture and 4 board teams £8 plus £2 per fixture. Participants in the rapidplay jamboree will be charged £2 per team and this will be collected alongside the fees above.
Those paying after the end of the discount period will have to find an extra £4 for each main league entry, £1 for other competitions.
The Association likes to support chess beyond the competitions it organises. A proposal that financial support be given to an individual player was clearly unexpected in some quarters, but was passed in due course. In general the Association is willing to make small donations to those chosen to represent their countries yet expected to meet (some) costs out of their own pockets. Obviously it can only do this if the players participation is drawn to the attention of the committee or AGM. The Association also supports local congresses, though the existence of these is known. The Newcastle Mini that I run is one such event, and it was a pleasant surprise when it was first proposed that this be included in the list of donations.
Competition Entries.
I shall update these as changes occur. In particular with Meir's plans unknown we felt unable to do other than put them down for the same as last year. The number of Cheddleton league teams is also likely to increase, and changes in general made in the light of the grades when published. As I normally write fixtures early to mid-August any changes made before about a week into that month can be accommodated in the fixture lists without causing problems.
Provisional entries for league: (updated 20/07/10, 10/08/10)
| Div 1 | Div 2 | Div 3 | Div 4 | Div 5
| | Alsager | | Alsager | Alsager |
| | Cheddleton | Cheddleton x2 | Cheddleton | | Cheddleton x4
| | Fenton | Fenton | Fenton | Fenton
| | | | | Hassell
| | H Chapel | H Chapel x2 | H Chapel | |
| | | Kidsgrove | Kidsgrove |
| | Macclesfield | | |
| | Meir | | Meir | Meir
| | Newcastle | Newcastle x 2 | Newcastle | Newcastle |
| | Stafford | | Stafford | |
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Cup draws:
| Open | Major
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| Stafford | v | H Chapel
| | Alsager | v | Newcastle
| | bye | v | Cheddleton
| | Meir | v | Macclesfield
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| Cheddleton | v | bye
| | Meir | v | bye
| | Fenton | v | H Chapel
| | bye | v | Newcastle
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| | Intermediate | Perry
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| bye | v | Hassell
| | Meir | v | Kidsgrove
| | H Chapel | v | Fenton
| | Newcastle | v | Cheddleton
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| Meir | v | Fenton
| | bye | v | H Chapel
| | Hassell | v | Cheddleton
| | bye | v | Newcastle
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Under AOB Robert paid tribute to the late John Donaldson, record of which will find a permanent home in the minutes.
I reminded people to email match results to me, particularly important now that Mark will not be collecting scores in his now abandooned role as publicity/website.
John Amison brought up the desirability of continuing with the mobile phone automatic default rule. A few comments were made, but unless a proposal is put to the meeting to effect a change nothing will happen. Such proposals cannot be made under AOB but have to be made in advance so that they can be circulated with the AGM papers.
The date for the next AGM has provisionally been set as Tue 12th July at Fenton.
League AGM
01/07/10
Reminder that league AGM is Thu 8th July at Alsager, 7.30 start. Besides the usual business there is just one proposal for debate:
In division 2, the minimum counting grade for board five players and for a default on that board should be reduced from 120 to 100.
Open run ends
20/06/10
Staffordshire's run in the Open section of the inter-counties came to end at the hands of Sussex at the semi-final stage, the southerners running out 9 - 7 winners.
Jamboree plans
10/06/10
Latest plans for the rapidplay jamboree are for it to be held at Newcastle on Tues 13th July. Two thirty minute games, teams of four, with open and U130 sections. Badger some friends to make up a team.
Leek rapidplay
10/06/10
Sixty three players turned out for the 6 round Leek Rapidplay on Sunday. The 29 player Cheddleton Section (U200) was won by Newcastle's Alex Richardson with a score of 5½, a point clear of Craig Whitfield (Cheddleton), Oliver Jackson (Poynton) and Ryszard Maciol (West Bromwich). Dave Buxton secured the slow starter prize.
The St Edward's section for those graded U145 attracted 34 entrants and was won by Philip Zabrocki of Shrewsbury whose perfect 6 gave him a full point lead over Vlade Luzajic (Cheddleton) and Michael Lally (Sheffield). The slow starter prize was shared by Angelica Dean (3Cs, Oldham), and Ashwin Kalyana (Solihul Checkmate).
Staffs Mega Final
10/06/10
Over 140 pupils from roughly 40 schools competed in the Staffs Mega final held at Leek towards the end of May. Amongst the qualifiers for the Giga final were the following local players:
U17B: Joe Jackson (W)
U15B: Craig Whitfield (N)
U14B: Joshua Hollins (C)
U13B: Liam Dimmick (E), Alex Cartlidge (J), Danny Graham (E),
U12G: Candice Griffiths (E)
U12B: Rory Knipe (E), George Hamilton (E), David Kay (E), Samuel Beardmore (C), Daniel Washington (Y)
U11G: Emma Crick (H)
U11B: Jacob Cartlidge (V), Jack Healings (V)
U10B: Andrei Mihai (E), Kieran Smith (E), Daniel Holland (H)
U9G: Skye Wiggins (V)
U9B: Aum Choudhary (N), Rhys Owens (N), Amil Mohammed (A), Joshua Carroll (V)
U8B: Jacob Boswell (T), Jacob Preston (S)
U8G: Edina Hassell (V)
U7B: Ted Murray (V)
U6G: Victoria Holland (H)
Key: A: Ash Green, C: Clayton, E: St Edward's, H: Hassell, J: St Joseph's, N: Newcastle School/Orme House, S: Seabridge, T: St Thomas, V: St Wulstans, W: Westwood, Y: Hayward Coll
Seasons figures
04/06/10
Summary information about the strength of teams and boards fielded through the season can be found under misc - 09/10 in figures
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