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Graham Williams reports:-

We have survived our second year in the top Division of the County & District Correspondence Chess Championships – but this time by the smallest possible margin:

 

                                    YORKSHIRE                          20.5

                                    SUSSEX                                  18

                                    ESSEX                                    17.5

                                    LANCASHIRE                        13

                                    GREATER MANCHESTER    12.5

                                    KENT                                      12

                                    MIDDLESEX                          11.5

                                    HAMPSHIRE                          11

                                    WARWICKSHIRE                 10.5

                                            HERTFORDSHIRE              10

                                    WORCESTERSHIRE                9.5 )  Relegated

                                    NORTHUMBERLAND            9    )  Relegated

 

As you can see, it was quite close apart from the top three teams (and well done to them!), quite clearly every point and half point is vital. This year the number of email boards has gone up from 6 to 10. This trend is likely to continue and the very future of correspondence chess now probably depends on the use of email. If you have an email address and I don’t have it, please send it to me NOW: dr.gw@tiscali.co.uk .

Next season the controller may reduce the size of the teams, this would favour us as the top half of our team is very strong. If this happens we may well be able to muster a second team in a lower division.

 Please send in results promptly even if it’s a loss – I must admit that I was quite poor at doing this before I became captain of the team! Up to date results will be posted on the HCA and BCF websites. If your win looks a good one PLEASE send me the game score – there is a Best Game prize. Play should start immediately as the competition should have started on the 15th October. There are some changes to the rules, both by post and email. I will probably send these separately.

I wish to express my thanks to Bob Forst who is retiring from chess after playing CC for Herts for many years. We have 2 strong new members joining – Adrian Matthews and Chris Majer – welcome gentlemen! I wish everyone an enjoyable game.

 

The C & DCCC pairings for 2004 - 2005 are set out below. These will be updated when results are available.

Board Herts Opponent County Result
1 John Rhodes M Lyell Middlesex 1 - 0
2 Lorin D'Costa A P Lewis Essex  
3 Barry Morris Martyn Hamer Lancashire  
4 David Edney F N McLeod Hampshire  
5 David Cox C Linford Sussex  
6 Eric Ratcliffe R Heyman Northumberland 1 - 0
7 Ross Brennan B Turner Worcestershire 0.5 - 0.5
8 Keith Kitson M H Micklethwaite Kent  
9 Steve Law S G Dighton Warwickshire  
10 Chris O'Bee Chris Proffitt Greater Manchester  
11 Tim Thurstan J Caldwell Yorkshire  
12 Jonathan Tymms P Catt Yorkshire  
13 John West W Phillips Middlesex  
14 Ian Mutton G Kenworthy Essex  
15 Peter May Stan Foulkes Lancashire  
16 Bob Forst P Barber Hampshire 0 - 1
17 Mike Dyer R J Almond Sussex  
18 Arthur Gray L Whittle Northumberland  
19 Arthur Reed Dr F Raafat Worcestershire 1 - 0
20 Dave Parrott G H Turner Kent  
21 Graham Williams K Hern Warwickshire  
22 John Sharp R Bradney Greater Manchester  
23 John Lanaway A Wall Middlesex  
24 Steve Johnson A E Robertson Essex  
25 Ian Leighton Peter Logan Lancashire 0 - 1
26 David Crowden Sam Murphy Hampshire 0.5 - 0.5
Total       4- 3

 

Hertfordshire confounded the experts and avoided relegation, finishing equal 11th. I am told that Surrey and Gloucestershire were relegated.

Hertfordshire gained promotion to Division 1 (Ward-Higgs) of the C&DCCC for the first time having been permanent fixtures in Division 2 since 1924! The Ward-Higgs comprises the top fourteen counties in the country. For some reason Surrey and Herts were 1st and 2nd favourites for the drop!

Board Herts Opponent County Result
1 L D'Costa (B) P L Coleman Essex 1 0 - 1
2 B Morris (W) K J Thurlow Surrey 0.5 - 0.5
3 D Edney (W) M Krawczuk Hampshire 0.5 - 0.5
4 D Cox (B) Miss S Asquith Middlesex 0 - 1
5 D R Brennan (W) D Martindale Lancashire 0.5 - 0.5
6 S Law (B) R Heyman Northumberland 1 - 0
7 J D Rhodes (W) N L Edwards Worcestershire 1 - 0
8 K Kitson (B) D Shire Gloucestershire 0.5 - 0.5
9 E Radcliffe (W) D J R Barnes Kent 1 0 - 1
10 J West (B) A Gardner Gr Manchester 0 - 1
11 T Thurstan (W) P C Gibbs Warwickshire 1 0 - 1
12 A Gray (B) P Catt Yorkshire 0 - 1
13 P May (W) S D Cunliffe Sussex 0.5 - 0.5
14 R Forst (B) R V Elliston Sussex 0.5 - 0.5
15 A F Reed (W) K Bowden Essex 1 0 - 1
16 J D M Tymms (B) N J Blake Surrey 1 - 0
17 M Dyer (B) P Barber Hampshire 0 - 1
18 W J Gordon (W) R Pleasants Middlesex 1 - 0
19 I Mutton (B) S Horrocks Lancashire 1 - 0
20 D W Parrott (W) D Fowers Northumberland 0.5 - 0.5
21 G Williams (B) J W Cox Worcestershire 0 - 1
22 J Sharp (W) R N Francis Gloucestershire 1 - 0
23 J Lanaway (B) J G Lloyd Kent 1 0 - 1
24 S Johnson (W) C Hazlehurst Gr Manchester 0.5 - 0.5
25 E G D Crowden (B) S J Grayland Warwickshire 0 - 1
26 J Eyre D H Milton Yorkshire 0 - 1
Total       10/26

Reserves: H Aldred, P A Brown, R Claret, A Piears, A J Potter, C Robson, A Prince.

More details from Graham Williams