Horfield have moved a step closer to the League Championship: even if they lose to Grendel A next week they have a comfortable lead in Game Points. They lost to Keynsham in the KO semi-finals, so the final is a showdown between last year's League champions and runners-up. This will be played at Clifton on April 22nd - spectators are welcome.
Nailsea A are guaranteed promotion to Division One next season, but in the bottom three divisions there promises to be a tough fight for the top places. Five teams still have a good chance of the Division Three title, while there are four neck-and-neck in Division Four and three contenders in Division Five. The relegation issues in most divisions are starting to crystallise, so mid-table teams can for the most part cruise to the end of the season. The main exception is Division One, where University A have been chucked out for too many defaults. Here the rules allow for the bottom two of the remaining teams to be demoted. Leniency has usually been shown to the penultimate team in such situations, unless there is a case for reducing the size of Division One (this will depend on the number of entries to the League next season).
The final of the Minor KO was nearly jeopardised by a late adjournment - in the event it was played last Wednesday, only five days before the scheduled date of the final. KO players please note for next season that there is normally six weeks between matches, so critical adjournments should be played within two or three weeks, and should take precedence over other adjournments. Players should not wait for the outcome of other adjournments or adjudications from the same match, as happened in this case. Nailsea A have home advantage in the final and have to beat Cossham to be on for the 'Minor double' - Division Two and the MKO.
Steve Dilleigh fell back a little last month, losing a game to Melanie Buckley. David Eggington (Nailsea A) briefly took the lead, with Nailsea's good run in the Minor KO providing valuable extra games. Then Alan Warne (Clifton C) broke through, and currently leads by two clear points, with 17/28. This competition will close on 30th April, as the trophy has to be engraved. Players in contention please make sure that match result sheets are in promptly and adjournments played by then.
I shall be sending out entry forms for this competition at the end of the month, so it is time to see whether your club can raise a team. There will be four matches, spaced about three to four weeks apart. Teams are of six players and each plays all six opponents at ten-minute chess, making thirty-six games in total. Your club does not have to be open over the summer to take part.
Only eight new players played in the League in February, bringing the total to 425 (498 last year). This is the time of year when club officers should be considering how many teams to enter into the League next season. I would like to hear as soon as possible if any club is considering reducing its teams, as this may have an effect on the number of divisions. Similarly, any club that is going to enter an extra team may help us to keep five divisions if others pull out.
The League AGM is on Wednesday 26th May. Any motions proposed by League members must be submitted (in writing and seconded) to the Management Committee in time for their meeting on 5th May. A notice will be sent out to clubs beforehand, which will also list any motions proposed by the LMC.
A set of tables and individual performances has been sent to clubs in the last few days. There was an error in the Division One DPPs, so a correction will be sent shortly. The next set of tables will be issued on 1st May.Updates will be posted on the Web site weekly.
Jerry Humphreys
29th March 1999