23 Jan
By David Anderton
Norman Young learned chess at Paisley Grammar School and also played at Glasgow University.  He met Ilse at the Glasgow Hospital where they both worked and they were married in 1951.  After his National Service they moved to Walsall in 1953 and Norman practised as a Doctor in Leamore until he retired in 1990.

He joined Walsall Kipping Chess Club in 1953 and was a leading and active member of the Club until a few weeks before his death on 16th January.  He was particularly proud of having been the Captain of most club teams (35) from 1961 onwards; and during his continuous time as President from 1977, the club became Birmingham League First Division Champions of 2003, 2004 & 2005.  He also served as President of Staffordshire Chess Association for the 25 years, 1973-98.

He was a strong player and represented the County on many occasions.  He had a notable collection of “scalps” of the leading Midland Players collected mainly in the 1960s and 1970s.

Norman and Ilse were always generous hosts to the chess community, opening their beautiful house and manicured gardens not only for matches and committee meetings but also putting up international players who competed in the major events staged by the Club and the County to mark their respective 50th (1992) and 100th (1997) anniversaries.  For the former he played host to GM Alexey Suetin of Russia and was fond of recounting anecdotes of the visit and his subsequent exchanges of correspondence with him.

His other passions were sailing, to which he brought his same competitive spirit as for chess, fly fishing and gardening.  He will be fondly remembered and sorely missed by all of his friends in the Chess World.

12 Dec
On Saturday, the U140 team under the captaincy of Tony Meakin travelled to Webheath village hall near Redditch to play Worcestershire.  We were outgraded on every board but lost by just one point - our defaulted board 16.  That makes it three games out of four that have finished with just one point difference (8½ - 7½)

In the spirit of the season, Worcester provided mince pies and sausage rolls, which were appreciated by the layers.
Match details

12 Dec
The last session of the current series of lectures Chess in the Pub with IM Robert Bellin will be next Tuesday 13^th December, at the usual venue of the Black Country Arms pub in central Walsall from 7:15 - 9:30 pm details.

The lecture will be a wide-ranging session featuring many extraordinary positions under the general title 'Enjoying Chess' and will hopefully live up to that.  Robert said that a good turnout this time would do a lot to secure the prospect of the idea surviving into next year so it would be much appreciated.

30 Oct
In what is probably the furthest fixture of Staffordshire's U140 season in the MCCU section, the players travelled to Leicester yesterday.
More details

30 Oct
Anyone interested in the U160 fixtures should note that the Leicestershire team has withdrawn from this season's U160 Inter-county tournament.

24 Oct
We were out ranked on every board, but everyone did their best.
More details

24 Oct
Just a quick message to let interested players know that the draw for the preliminary round of the county cups was made last week.  A copy should be on its way to those taking part in the next few days, and I'll include a copy here once available.

16 Oct
Well, the Terriers and Bulldogs started their seasons yesterday, and both finished with 7 - 5 victories.

Denis Nesbitt's very first game as Terriers captain saw the team meeting at the Bridge Club, to face Nottinghamshire.  I've been told the games went really well, with young Karthik Selvan doing his part to help secure the team's well earned 7 - 5 win.  Well done to Denis and the team.

Peter Evans ran into trouble sorting out the Bulldogs team for his first match of the season, against Lincolnshire.  That meant the match (played in Leicestershire) started with a 2 point defecit for the Bulldogs.  In the end the match finished as a 7 - 5 win for the Bulldogs, but Lincolnshire can be proud of the four young players who represented their county yesterday.

When Peter emailed me the results, he included the names of the clubs the players came from.  Because this site is here to represent the whole county, as something of an experiment, all of this season's inter-county results (Open, U160, U140, Terriers and Bulldogs) should include the clubs each player plays for.

23 Jan
Players should note that Walsall Kipping Chess Club has changed venue.  Since January 15th, they meet at

THE CHUCKERY (Mutual) CLUB,
44 Beacon St,
Walsall
WS1 2DL.

They will continue to meet on Thursdays, from 7.15 pm.
Walsall Kipping

9 Jan
While the Terriers were facing Warwickshire on Saturday afternoon, the Bulldogs were in Bushbury, playing host to a team from Worcestershire.  With just one game left, it was all square.  In that last game John Carr from Cannock had 2 isolated pawns and black had three isolated pawns.
Match details

8 Jan
Back in November, the Terriers enjoyed a barnstormer of a dog-fight against the terriers - finishing as victors.  Yesterday they travelled to play Warwickshire.  There are two match reports.  One from Denis Nesbitt and a second by Abby Sargeant from Meir.
Match details

8 Jan
You may be interested to know that Matthew Carr has now included a form on the Cannock League website so that captains can now submit their match results electronically from the website - so you won't even need an email address.
Cannock league match result page

17 Dec
My thanks to Paul Clapham who has sent me the results of the first round
Newcastle v Lichfield match for the the 2012 Withnall trophy.  Once Lichfield confirm the result, they will be playing a home fixture against Meir in the semi-finals - to be played some time before the end of April.  With Stafford available as a neutral venue if desired of course.
Draw and match results

12 Dec
Players should note that the Shropshire (Wrekin) chess congress will take place on Saturday and Sunday 7 and 8 Jan.  It will be held at

The Wrekin Housing Trust,
Colliers Way,
Old Park,
Telford
TF3 4AW.

This year the congress has new oranisers who have put together a tournament which they describe as having a much improved venue and new Open format for top section

Details are available on the entry form below and the Shropshire Chess website.  There are plans for online registration but you can enter now by returning the attached entry form.  Please feel free to copy the form and pass to your club colleagues.  If clubs would like a supply of printed forms please get in touch with Steve Rooney straight away
Tel: 01694 723724 or
Email: Steve Rooney

Entry forms
PDF

12 Dec
Players involved with the Wolverhampton League, Cannock league or the county cups should note that West Bromwich chess club has changed venue.  Their new venue is

DARTMOUTH CENTRAL CLUB,
DEVONSHIRE DRIVE,
WEST BROMWICH,
B71 4AA

The club will continue to meet on Monday evenings as before.

30 Oct
The draw for the county cups has been sent to the clubs taking part, and a copy of it is now available.  Club taking part are (in alphabetical order):

Hickman
Cheddleton & Leek
Newcastle
Stafford
Walsall Kipping
West Bromwich

Gothard
Cheddleton & Leek
Lichfield
Rushall
Stafford
Warley Quinborne

Jackson
Cannock
Fenton
Lichfield
Stafford

Withnall
Fenton
Lichfield
Meir
Newcastle
Rushall
Walsall Kipping
Warley Quinborne

16 Oct
The Inter-County teams can include players involved with any part of the county.  You may be familiar with players from the league you compete in, but the players from other parts of the county may be unknown to you.

When Peter emailed me the results of yesterday's inter county match, he included the names of the club each player plays for.

It didn't seem fair to include club names for some players but not others.  Picking up on that thought and, as something of an experiment, all of this season's inter-county results (Open, U160, U140, Terriers and Bulldogs) should include the names of the clubs each player plays for.  Let me know what you think.