This year's half term report comes from Ray Hyde :
A more succinct report than
members have become accustomed to perhaps. This is the result of relying on a
fledgling editor who has also been absent for all but 2 of the fixtures of the
first half of this season. Here goes:
The 2014/2015 season culminated
with significant successes for our club, with the A and B Teams topping
Divisions 3 and 4 respectively. Less happy were our C and D Teams who struggled
in Division 5. As things stand at this point in the 2015/2016 season there are
fewer reasons to be cheerful.
The A Team said goodbye to
Division 3 and boldly entered Division 2. This was always going to be a tough
challenge but with our two highest graded players missing for most of the early
fixtures it has proved doubly difficult. Unless there is a dramatic turnaround
in the next 3 or 4 matches a return to Division 3 beckons next year. We currently prop up
the Division 2 table as does our C Team in Division 4. In contrast our B Team are
joint leaders in Division 4 whilst our D Team sits proudly, with Cheddleton G,
atop Division 5.
As regards Cup competitions, after
6 consecutive wins in the South Potteries Chess Challenge Cup we finally lost,
going down 5-3 in our annual tussle with Meir. Perhaps not unexpected with two
of our key players missing. Elsewhere, we reached the finals of, but did not
win, the Gothard Cup and the Perry Trophy and lost in the semi-final of the
Withnall Trophy.
Fenton players participated in a
number of events throughout the year. Rob Taylor and Steve Emmerton
participated in the British Championship sections and performed very
creditably. We entered 2 teams in the Newcastle Rapidplay Jamboree where Robert
West scored 100%. We also entered 3 teams in the NSDCA Doubles with
some success: Stuart Hull and Mike Smith winning the Minor section and Fenton
teams finishing second and third in the Major section.
It was a year for first-time
events. Firstly the South Potteries Rapidplay Championship, won by Jacob
Boswell (Cheddleton) and superbly run by arbiter Matthew Carr. The intention is
to make this an annual event.
Secondly, we organised a
simultaneous exhibition by GM Keith Arkell. He came, he saw, he conquered. GM
Arkell played 28 boards and conceded only 4 draws, including our own Glyn
Valentine, our newest member, whom we are delighted to welcome. Many thanks to
Steven Walley for his generous sponsorship.
We will attempt to provide a GM event next year though sponsorship may
be difficult to obtain next time.
Rob Taylor, not for the first
time, won the Club Championship and Ray Hyde the Rapidplay Championship.
No Christmas Dinner this year
although Steve Emmerton and Vanda laid on a superb buffet. Excellent food but
poorly attended by only 9 members. Disappointingly, several members had said
they would be attending but failed to turn up, without letting anybody know.
Finally it only remains to give thanks to Steve Emmerton for
his industry and imagination as the factotum of the Club, to Stuart Hull for
keeping us solvent, to the team captains for making the fixtures take place and
to everyone for participating.