Thursday 18 December 2008

Club News - Merry XMas

Well done, club,
Tonight was a night to remember:
First, the Wolves League A team beat Boldmere St. Michaels 5-1, with wins from John, Colin, Iain and Geoff and draws from Trevor and Gareth. Our opponents were not at full strength, but we kept the pressure on all night and played pretty much to form,
In the other match, our 'rookie' D team were away to the 'experienced' Coddon B, the division 3 leaders, and (WAIT FOR IT) won 3.5 - 1.5. Congratulations go to the team, to winners Jason (over George Viszokai), Andy and Neil and to Tim for drawing. Admittedly there was a certain amount of luck in at least 1 game (Neil's opponent responded to a pawn capture and check by offering his congratulations and resigning before Neil realised that his own Rook could apply mate in one). So the D team potentially move into clear 2nd place. I remember Jamie and others back in September talking about winning promotion in the very first year of existence; I know there is a long way to go, but maybe, just maybe.
Don't forget that we close down for Christmas and New Year; the next club night will be on 7th January when our B and C teams play their return match.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
Iain

Friday 12 December 2008

More Club News

Next week's Wolves A team away match against Boldmere St. Michaels turns out to be a HOME match, saving us the hassle of finding their venue (somewhere north of spaghetti junction),
So there will definitely be a presence at the club next Wednesday,
Also on Wed 17/12, the D team are away to Div 3 table-toppers Coddon B. As the D team have sneaked into 2nd spot, that could be quite a match. Good luck!
Last night the C team finally scored their first win in Div 2, beating Shrews C 3-2. Well done! They were helped by the addition of Richard Thompson on board 1. Richard had originally been due to play for the A team but with the C team having a last-minute absentee we moved Richard to the C team (as he has not been nominated for a higher team) and Stefan took board 5 for the A team,
The A team resumed winning ways, beating Coddon A 4-1, with Trevor, John and Stefan winning and Colin and Iain drawing. This match was played a week earlier than originally planned to avoid the Boldmere clash and puts us 2 points clear at the top of division 1.
Iain

Wednesday 10 December 2008

Club News

Hi folks,
It's been a while since I was in touch; don't want you to get bored!
As I'm playing away on 10/12 and 17/12 I won't see most of you for a few weeks, so have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,
As Wednesdays fall on 24/12 and 31/12, the club takes a break after 17/12 and re-starts on 7/1/09, with the return match between the B and C teams. If you are in the club on 10/12 or 17/12, can you please make sure that the management know,
Don't forget the Wrekin Congress on Sat 3/1 and Sun 4/1 at Madeley Court Sports Centre; entry forms can be printed off the Shropshire Chess website,
Our Shropshire A team had a hard-fought draw last week against champions Telepost A (and very nearly won),
The B team beat a useful Shrewsbury B team 3-2 to remain on target for promotion,
The C team continues to find life tough in division 2, losing to Newport B,
On the other hand, the D team is finding its feet in division 3, following up its win over Telepost C with a 4-1 victory over Newport Juniors. Wins came from Jason (again), Jamie (a first, well done), Andy and Darren (yet again his opponent was scared off and defaulted),
The B team's match against Wellington has been postponed from this Thursday,
Good luck to the A team away to Coddon and to the C team, at home to Shrewsbury C, both matches on Wed 10/12,
Can't think of a 10th item,
Iain

Friday 5 December 2008

Wolverhampton League

Team Consists of: Trevor Brotherton, John Footner, Dave Gostelow, Glyn Pugh, Colin Roberts, Iain Wilson and Richard Thompson.

Richard Thompson performed a Houdini-act last night. He played on in his adjourned game against Lichfield a pawn down. Soon his opponent had swapped off Knight, Bishop and Rook, but he mishandled an ending of opposite-coloured Bishops to end up with a Rook file pawn which could not be promoted. Draw agreed. Brilliant, Richard,as that gave us the match.
In the Pittaway Cup match, which finished earlier this evening we beat Warley Quinborne 5-3, with wins from Trevor, Iain, Gareth and Geoff and draws from Glyn Pugh and Colin. A fine result, though they were missing a couple of key players.
Unfortunately, Dave has resigned his game against Jana Bellin, meaning that we have lost to Walsall, even if I manage to win my outstanding game.

Results
http://users.powernet.co.uk/rees/wdcl/2008_09/Div_1.htm
Table
http://users.powernet.co.uk/rees/wdcl/2008_09/Tables_08_09.htm

Shropshire League A Team

Team Consists of:-
Trevor Brotherton, John Footner, Dave Gostelow, Colin Roberts and Iain Wilson
Currently second on points difference with a game in hand.

Our 100% record has now been dented although a draw against Telepost's strongest team is a creditable result. If Colin had pushed for a win or Dave taken a draw when ahead it could have been a different story but hindsight is a wonderful thing. On the bright side we're still two points clear if we can win our game in hand.
Results
http://www.shropshirechess.org/Chess%20League/SCL_Division1_Results_&_Table.htm

Shropshire League B Team

Team consists of :- Gareth Edwards, Windsor Peck, Glyn Randle, Stefan Tennant and Geoff Lee.
Currently top of division 2 won 4, drawn 1, lost 1.

Results
http://www.shropshirechess.org/Chess%20League/SCL_Division2_Results_&_Table.htm

Shropshire League C Team

Team consists of :-
Roger Brown, Richard Gillespie, Andy Jones, Paul Broderick and Tim Skidmore
Currently bottom of division two.
Results
http://www.shropshirechess.org/Chess%20League/SCL_Division2_Results_&_Table.htm

Shropshire League D Team

Team Consists of:-
J Kenderdine, J Beddoes, A Carr, N Donaldson, and D Terry.
Currently fourth in division three and with a game in hand over the two teams immediately above them should be fighting for the second promotion spot.
Results
http://www.shropshirechess.org/Chess%20League/SCL_Division3_Results_&_Table.htm