Newcastle Mini Congress

Second Newcastle Mini Congress

1st & 2nd April 2006

I confess it has taken me rather long too produce this report, particularly as it seems to be more pictures than words. But I can no more correct my tardiness than retract any of my oh so numerous losing moves.

Arriving at the club at the published opening time, I was immediately surrounded by the keen early arrivals. Good. At least I've got some players! By the time the congress was underway everyone had turned up - a great relief as my big fear was an empty room.

My first duty here is to record that the congress was not a solo effort on my part. Thanks are due to

Fenton Chess club for their loan of sets.
Sandra and John Blackburn, and the NSDCA, for their donations.
Alan Paling for helping setting the room up.
John Day for liaising with the bridge club.
Simon Hood who enabled even the top section players to get a game evry round.
All those who stayed behind at the end to help restore the club to its natural state.
All those who found time to say kind words to me about the event. Your encouragement is much appreciated.
All the players who put up uncomplainly with any imperfections on my part.

Little to report in general terms - no mobile phones rang at inappropriate times, no time trouble arguments unless you count an attempt to claim a win on time one hour in advance of the relevant flag fall. One spectator is rumoured to have been surprised at the legality of queen side castling, but thats about it as far as tales of the unexpected are concerned!
Technical note: All the pictures here have been cropped and degraded so as to stop the file sizes getting out of hand. In the unlikely event of anyone wanting a copy of one of the photos, I can forward an original which should be of less poor quality.

Pete Tideswell displays the chess players legendary powers of concentration.
Simon Edwards gets up close in his search for weaknesses in the position.
For a few words and more pictures I have created pages for each section:

U165

U120

U90

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