Monday 13 October 2014

HA3 (1-3) Ashby 4


First match of the new season for HA3. We opted to play the new shorter 80 minute time control. It was all over by 9PM.

07 OctHeathcote Arms 3vAshby 4
1 - 3
1B108Ross, Colin1 - 0Brown, Mick99
2W80Roberts, Bill0 - 1Roberts, Neil80
3B40Milner, Gordon0 - 1Lassetter, Neil75
4W40Williams, Oliver0 - 1Worrow-Goodin, George60

Mick Brown let me off the hook by trapping his bishop.



Colin

Friday 29 August 2014

Ross Vs Dawkins CCs (Major)


I have not posted anything in ages, but could not resist this. From last night, my best win in a long time:



Colin

Tuesday 24 June 2014

Colin's CC Second Round Games; Harrod Cup Second Round


A poor show from me in the second round of the major:



I scraped a draw in the second round of the minor:



Our Harrod and 2nd Chapman Cup team were both due to play last Thursday. Dave and Ray had both tried really hard to get two teams together, but there were simply not enough bodies available to play all the boards. We reluctantly decided to default the Chapman match against Latimer and try to field a full Harrod Cup team.

That didn't work, however, but we did pull off an amazing win thanks to Ray and Richard's performances.


19 JunKirby Muxloe 1W - BB - WHeathcote Arms 1
3½ - 4½
1140Walton, David1 - 01 - 0**DEFAULT**?
2139Walker, John1 - 00 - 1Ross, Colin103
3124Skelley, John0 - 10 - 1Beach, Ray92
497Hill, Eddie½ - ½0 - 1Maconnachie, Richard90

Apologies to the Latimer and to David Walton for not providing any resistance.

Colin

Monday 26 May 2014

HA1 Out of Chapman in Preliminary Round


A strong HA1 needed to win convincingly against a weaker Kirby + a 2.5 point head start.
This was not to be, however. John and Gordon's opponents perhaps being stronger that their provisional grades suggest:


22 MayKirby Muxloe 1vHeathcote Arms 1GD
2 - 2136
Handicap2½ - 0
4½ - 2
1W76Shaw, Peter0 - 1Cowley, Michael16150
2B74Bowles, Les0 - 1Harrison, Peter15150
3W60Brown, Thomas1 - 0Manger, John14150
4B60Woodhall, Henry1 - 0Milner, Gordon46-14

John's Analysis from his game against Thomas Brown:

1. d4 d5  2.c4 c6  3.e3 Nf6  4.Nc3 Bf5  5.Nf3 e6  6.Qb3 Qc7 (I probably should have played Qb6 but decided I wanted to keep the queens on) 7.a3 h6  8.h3 Nbd7  9.Bd2 Be7  10.Be2 O-O  11.O-O Ne4
12.Nxe4 Bxe4 (was going to play dxe4 here then touched my bishop!)  13.Rac1 dxc4  14.Qxc4 Nb6  15.Qb3 Bd6 16.Bb4 Bd5? 17.Bxd6 Qxd6  18.Qc2 (threatens 19.e4) Bxf3  19.Bxf3 Rfd8
20.Qc5 Nd5  21.Qxd6 Rxd6  22.Bxd5 Rxd5  23.Rfd1 Rad8  24.Rd2? e5  25.Rcd1 c5  26.Kf1 cxd4
27.Ke2 Kf8  28.f4 f6 (...exf4 looks better)  29.fxe5 fxe5  30.Kf3 Ke7  31.exd4 Ke6  32.Ke4 g5
33.g4 R8d7  34.Rd3 exd4  35.Rxd4 Re5 (I knew that after 35...Rxd4  36.Rxd4 Rxd4  37.Kxd4 Kd6 the position was a dead draw, but decided to try for the win. This was unwise as I had 5 mins left to my opponent's 25 mins!)  36.Kf3 (obviously not Kd3 losing a rook) ...Rf7  37.Kg2 Re2  38.Kg3 Rxb2  39.Rd6 Ke5  40.R1d5 Ke4  41.Rd4 Ke3  42.Rd3 Ke2  43.Rc3 Rf1 (threatens 44. ...Rg1  45.Kh2 Kf1 with a discovered mate) 44.Kg2
 
At this point I stopped recording moves. The position was maybe slightly in my favour, but lack of time told and my opponent played more accurately than me over the next 15 moves or so until I resigned in a lost position with my flag about to fall.
 
There was a round of applause for Tom from everyone present (including me). I guess he is around 14 years old, and may be in his first year in the league. He played at about 120 strength in my opinion and fully deserved his win at the end. I think he is one to watch!
  
John
 

Saturday 17 May 2014

Horrid Cup 1st Round / 1st Round CCs Minor and Challengers


A loss by a narrow margin at home on Tuesday.

13 MayHeathcote Arms 1W - BB - WWigston 1
3½ - 4½
1185Sharpe, Graham1 - 0½ - ½Harlow, Phil150
2139The Grinder0 - 11 - 0Eastlake, Charles133
392Raymondov0 - 10 - 1Hammond, Grant114
478AWOL Hacker½ - ½½ - ½Vaughan, Ben95

At Wigston on Thursday, we saw the start of the Challengers and Minor Sections of the County Championship. Although i did not see the end of it, I gather that John lost against Jim Bingham. Earlier, Ray lost to Paul Findley, and I was eventually able to finish off John McKiernan.



Next week, there will probably be a club night on Tuesday, and there will be a Chapman Cup Prelim Round Fixture away at Kirby Muxloe on Thursday.

Well done everyone,

Colin.

Sunday 11 May 2014

Broken Foot / End of Season / CCs


I fell over on Good Friday and fractured the base of my fifth metatarsal - an injury sometimes known as a Beckham fracture. It has not affected my chess playing ability, however - I am still as bad as ever. No driving for 6-8 weeks though.

Thank you to The Grinder for stepping in to oversee HA3's last match of the season:

29 AprHeathcote Arms 3vSyston 5
2 - 2
1B140Manger, John1 - 0Mundy, Rob86
2W92Beach, Ray1 - 0Agger, Reg88
3B75Loudon, Hector0 - 1Veitch, Robert88
4W49Milner, Gordon0 - 1Morelli, Nando58

The final league tables look like this:

Division 2
PosTeamPlWDLGPDPts
1Heathcote Arms 11413103227
2Ashby 114833919
3Syston 114815517
4Braunstone 214626714
5Ashby 214527-712
6Wigston 314527-712
7Melton Mowbray 214518-1011
8Loughborough 2140014-290

Division 3
PosTeamPlWDLGPDPts
1Heathcote Arms 21511131123
2Syston 215663618
3Thurnby 216655717
4Latimer 116736317
5Market Harborough 116655217
6Ashby 316736017
7Wigston 415636-115
8Hinckley 1153210-148
9Kirby Muxloe 1163211-148

Division 5
PosTeamPlWDLGPDPts
1Braunstone 61611231724
2Braunstone 516763920
3Syston 516754919
4Wigston 6159151619
5Syston 415645516
6Red Admiral 216628-614
7Ashby 416628-514
8Heathcote Arms 316277-1111
9Kirby Muxloe 3162113-345

Brilliant performances from all three teams, with HA1 and HA2 both winning their divisions, and HA3 not coming last in Division 5.

Now that the league has finished, it is officially summer.

On Thursday, there was the first Round of the Open and Major Sections of the County Championship at Wigston.

Here is my game. I missed the last few moves owing to time, but I was able to force a draw through perpetual check.



Summer Cups this coming week - and more County Champ games at Wigston on Thursday.

Well done everyone,

Colin.
 
 

Monday 21 April 2014

Kirby 3 Vs HA3


Hi All,

First blog for a while. HA3 recently travelled to Kirby Muxloe for what was essentially meant to be a six board friendly. Despite not counting, Gordon was still able to give Henry a game on board 5.

This was Hector's first outing - he fell foul of a back rank combination on board 6. Graham U was a piece down, but was able to pull a win out of the hat. Bill, Richard, and Malcolm all won on boards 1 to 3.

We had friendlies in the Skittle Alley last Tuesday, and will be doing the same again this week.

I have fractured a metatarsal, however, and may have difficulty getting down.

Colin.

10 AprKirby Muxloe 3vHeathcote Arms 3
2 - 4
1B90Lund, Malcolm0 - 1Beach, Ray92
2W85Shaw, Peter0 - 1Maconnachie, Richard90
3B70Smith, Steven0 - 1Roberts, Bill80
4W60Brown, Thomas0 - 1Urquhart, Graham70
5B60Woodhall, Henry1 - 0**DEFAULT**?
6W39Richardson, Gary1 - 0Loudon, Hector75

Wednesday 2 April 2014

HA2 Champions in Division 3


It was announced on the LRCA website recently that HA1 have succeeded in being promoted back to Division 1.

This Tuesday, HA2 needed to win their match against Ashby 3 in order to be sure of becoming champions.

I was first to finish. My game against Vic had looked pretty even, but things fell apart a bit for my opponent after the time control.
Pete then drew; The Grinder tried his best in a King +7P against King +7P end game, but they agreed a draw. Mike then took the whole point.


01 AprHeathcote Arms 2vAshby 3
3 - 1
1B156Harrison, Peter½ - ½Tipper, Christopher139
2W141Cowley, Michael1 - 0Reynolds, David136
3B140Manger, John½ - ½York, Russell134
4W107Ross, Colin1 - 0Armstrong, Victor118




Well done everyone,

Colin.

Tuesday 18 March 2014

March So Far...


At the time of writing HA1 is five points clear at the top of Division 2.
So confident are they of promotion that they let me play for them on board 4.
Ray played a blinder.

04 MarHeathcote Arms 1vBraunstone 2
3 - 2
1B178Sharpe, Graham1 - 0Salisbury, Michael159
2W141Cowley, Michael½ - ½Bingham, James146
3B140Manger, John½ - ½Wells, Jeremy139
4W107Ross, Colin0 - 1Reid, Conor128
5B92Beach, Ray1 - 0Reid, Patrick100

A strong HA2 wins away at Kirby.

06 MarKirby Muxloe 1vHeathcote Arms 2
1½ - 2½
1B140Walton, David0 - 1Bray, Dave176
2W135Gray, Paul½ - ½Cowley, Michael141
3B125Townsend, Ray0 - 1Manger, John140
4W124McEachran, Ewan1 - 0Beach, Ray92

Gordon was last to finish and achieved an impressive victory over Paul Martin.

11 MarHeathcote Arms 3vBraunstone 5
1½ - 2½
1B80Roberts, Bill0 - 1Closs, Guy101
2W70Urquhart, Graham0 - 1Barlow, Steve89
3B65Harbidge, Drew½ - ½Chen, Qiyuan95
4W49Milner, Gordon1 - 0Martin, Paul88

HA2 is three points clear in Div 3 ahead of Market Harborough 1 and looks good for the silverware.

13 MarMarket Harborough 1vHeathcote Arms 2
1 - 3
1B161Ilersic, Romilly½ - ½Ganger, Rajan183
2W139Oppenheim, Charles0 - 1Bray, Dave176
3B121Hatton, Paul0 - 1Booley, Graham153
4W102King, Robert½ - ½Manger, John140

Tonight (Tuesday 18/03/14), HA1 are at home to Syston 1, and HA3 play at home against Braunstone 6 over 5 boards.

Well done everyone,

Colin.

Tuesday 25 February 2014

Digital Clocks are Rubbish

I was playing board four for HA2 at home last Tuesday against Syston 2. The first result was a draw for Graham B on Board 2. The next result was a loss from me. I didn't quite believe it at first, but Rob still had 39 minutes left, and I had used up all my time despite being material up.
I went home early in disgust, but had a quick look at how Pete and the Grinder were doing - both appeared to have their work cut out. The results have not been posted on the site yet so I am not sure how they finished.




The only match this week is HA2 at home this evening (Tuesday 25th).

Well done everyone,

Colin.

Thursday 13 February 2014

Red Admiral 2 (3.5-3.5) Heathcote Arms 3


A pleasant evening in the Red Admiral Skittle Alley where we played 7 boards. Our bottom boards did rather well. Things were a bit tougher further up the order. Richard looked good for the win, but blundered towards the end. As usual, my game was the last to finish - game below.

12/02/14

Red Admiral 2 Vs Heathcote Arms 3

1 B 125 Adam Ant 0.5 - 0.5 Not so big boss 107
2 W 105 Andy Carter 1-0 Raymondov (92)
3 B 094 Stan the Man 1-0 Richard Maconnachie (80)
4 W091 Mick Slater 1-0 AWOL Hacker (78)
5 B 090 Ed Findley 0-1 Graham Urquhart (80)
6 W 060 Ben Cunnold 0-1 Drew Harbidge
7 B 050 Stephen Matts 0-1 Golf Man (50)



Well done everyone,

Colin.

Tuesday 11 February 2014

HA1 & HA3 Last Week and This


We arrived at Syston to find that they did not have a team. Ray and I were outplayed, however, and the match was drawn 2-2 (but we still got a point!):

04 FebSyston 4vHeathcote Arms 3
2 - 2
1B102Leonard, John1 - 0Ross, Colin107
2W96Martin, Maurice1 - 0Beach, Ray92
3B?**DEFAULT**0 - 1Urquhart, Graham80
4W?**DEFAULT**0 - 1Harbidge, Drew65


Another great result for HA1 on the Thursday.

06 FebAshby 2vHeathcote Arms 1
1½ - 3½
1B156Vann, Richard0 - 1Thethi, Pritpal S183
2W157Evans, Roy½ - ½Bray, Dave176
3B144Hayden, Lawrence½ - ½Harrison, Peter156
4W139Tipper, Christopher0 - 1Cowley, Michael141
5B136Reynolds, David½ - ½Manger, John140

Tonight (11.2.14), HA1 are at home to Wigston 3; and tomorrow night HA3 are away against Red Admiral 2, where we will be playing at least 6 and possibly 7 boards (and it always feels good to beat them).

Well done everyone,

Colin.

Friday 7 February 2014

January 2014 ECF grades

The January 2014 Grades have been issued by the ECF, and are available on their website.

http://www.englishchess.org.uk/grading/database/

and search on Blaby for the club.

Mike Cowley has made the early (and strong) running to win the David Ward Cup for the biggest grade improvement in the 12 month period through to the summer, as in this half year he has improved his grade by 20 points.  A great result & well done to him.

Tuesday 4 February 2014

Results to End of January.


Some recent results:


HA1 leads Division 2 by 4 points.

21 JanBraunstone 2vHeathcote Arms 1
1½ - 3½
1B159Salisbury, Michael0 - 1Sharpe, Graham178
2W154Hanscombe, Richard1 - 0Thethi, Pritpal S183
3B141Sandrovitch, David0 - 1Ganger, Rajan183
4W146Bingham, James0 - 1Bray, Dave176
5B127Hamby, Stephen½ - ½Mad Mike141


HA3 is only second from bottom of Division 5. Good performance here.

21 JanHeathcote Arms 3vAshby 4
3 - 1
1B92Raymondov1 - 0Brown, Mick87
2W80Urquhart, Graham0 - 1Williams, Richard86
3B80Roberts, Bill1 - 0Roberts, Neil80
4W78AWOL Hacker1 - 0Nicholson, Brian59


HA2 is at the top of Division 3 by a point.

22 JanThurnby 2vHeathcote Arms 2
1½ - 2½
1B155Pattinson, John1 - 0Peter the President156
2W148Hart, Gavin0 - 1Mad Mike141
3B137Busby, Michael0 - 1The Grinder140
4W130Tate, Michael½ - ½Big Boss107



30 JanHinckley 1vHeathcote Arms 2
1 - 3
1B128Phillips, Howard1 - 0Peter the President156
2W113Radesk, Brian0 - 1Mad Mike141
3B109Smith, Jason0 - 1The Grinder140
4W108Clay, Terry0 - 1Big Boss107

Here are my two recent games. Both involved a certain amount of jam:








Tonight, HA3 play away at Syston.
On Thursday, HA1 play away at Ashby.

Well done everyone,

Colin.

Tuesday 21 January 2014

Recent Results and Fixtures for this Week.


 By drawing with Ashby, HA1 maintain a three point lead at the top of Div 2.

16 JanAshby 1vHeathcote Arms 1
2½ - 2½
1B185Agnew, Alan½ - ½Sharpe, Graham178
2W177Dove, Tom½ - ½Hewitt, Sean166
3B156Vann, Richard½ - ½Booley, Graham153
4W157Evans, Roy½ - ½Peter the President156
5B144Hayden, Lawrence½ - ½Mad Mike141

HA3, however, got absolutely panned.

14 JanHeathcote Arms 3vWigston 6
½ - 5½
1B92Raymondov0 - 1French, Barry115
2W80Maconnachie, Richard½ - ½Winterton, Paul111
3B80Urquhart, Graham0 - 1Hammond, Grant109
4W78AWOL Hacker0 - 1McKiernan, John110
5B65Harbidge, Drew0 - 1Poulacheris, Darren102
6W49Golf Man0 - 1Ben Wotsisname104

Tonight, HA3 are at home to Ashby 4, whilst HA1 are away to Braunstone 2.

On Wednesday, HA2 are away at Thurnby 2.

Colin

Sunday 12 January 2014

All 3 Teams in Action this week


Let me start by apologising to those people who went to the Arms on Tuesday instead of to Braunstone. This was my fault.

Having torn across town to beat the 8PM default cut off, HA3 were able to draw the match. Richard won his second game for us, and Drew was able to draw against impressive opposition.

07 JanBraunstone 5vHeathcote Arms 3
2 - 2
1B101Closs, Guy½ - ½Beach, Ray92
2W89Barlow, Steve0 - 1Maconnachie, Richard80
3B95Chen, Qiyuan½ - ½Harbidge, Drew65
4W60Lo, Matthew1 - 0Milner, Gordon49

HA1 were on fine form at home. This was Pritpal's first game for us - which he followed up with a blindfold game against Stewart.

07 JanHeathcote Arms 1vLoughborough 2
4½ - ½
1B178Sharpe, Graham½ - ½Glover, John139
2W183Thethi, Pritpal S1 - 0Hickman, Peter126
3B176Bray, Dave1 - 0Adcock, Terry121
4W156Harrison, Peter1 - 0Gordon, Stewart52
5B141Cowley, Michael1 - 0**DEFAULT**?

I was the weakest link away at Ashby on Thursday when I gave away a free pawn in what had been a very drawish position.

09 JanAshby 3vHeathcote Arms 2
2½ - 1½
1B142Gibson, Paul1 - 0Harrison, Peter156
2W136Reynolds, David½ - ½Booley, Graham153
3B134York, Russell0 - 1Manger, John140
4W118Armstrong, Victor1 - 0Ross, Colin107



This coming week, HA2 has a rest; HA3 play at home on Tuesday against Wigston 6 (where there may even be a chance to see the Lesser Spotted Ricketts), and HA1 play away at Ashby on Thursday.

Well done everyone.

Colin