14th July 2024
Furness Junior Chess Championships
Saturday 28th September 2024 Coronation Hall, Ulverston
1:30pm - 5:00pm
Full details can be seen here.
6th June 2024
Junior Inter County Chess
Note from Neill Cooper -Six juniors represented Cumbria on Monday evening in the Inter-County Team Battle on lichess. Cumbria scored 29 points and came 12th out of 17 county teams. Congratulations to our top scorer, Joseph Rowlands, who scored 15 points in total. You can see the results at https://lichess.org/tournament/AzDr9LHN/teams . Thank you to Ana, Joseph, Hugo, Tommy, Callum and Heath for playing for Cumbria Juniors.
The next such event is on Monday 5th August. Please do encourage your friends at school and/or chess club to join in!
Also, this Friday, 5th July at 6pm, is our Cumbrian Juniors 5 round Swiss tournament at https://lichess.org/swiss/wl8F1Rgt It should finish around 7pm.
For more information, and to join the online club https://lichess.org/team/cumbria-junior-chess
Please email Neill Cooper nsc@cplusc.co.uk
6th June 2024
AGM - Saturday 3rd August
Dear Officers, Club Secretaries and Team CaptainsThis is advance notice, as required by the Constitution, that the 132nd Annual General Meeting of the Cumbria Chess Association will be held at 2pm on Saturday 3rd August 2024 at the Crown Hotel, Eamont Bridge.
I will send out an Agenda at least two weeks before the meeting and would be grateful if you could give me any items or proposals that you or your club would like to be included on the Agenda no later than 15th July.
The sad and unexpected death of the Association Treasurer and long time NCCU representative, George Horne, means that there are important vacancies to be filled and highlights the fact that the County Association has been run for a long time by a small number of stalwarts most of whom are getting quite old. New blood is badly needed. None of the roles are that onerous but we must have some new people involved to secure the ongoing future of chess in Cumbria. Can all clubs please look for volunteers within their numbers so that the gaps can be filled at the AGM.
Best wishes
Jonathan Rashleigh - CCA Secretary
26th May 2024
George Horne 1953-2024
George
Harris Horne
It is in total shock and with sorrow that I write this tribute to George and not something I thought I would be doing. George passed away suddenly in Furness General Hospital Barrow-in-Furness last week after a bout of pneumonia and came as a complete surprise to his friends and those who knew him in the chess community.
I first met George in 1983 when he joined Barrow Chess Club one week after I had joined the club and we quickly got to know each other. It is fair to say that George had a very unusual and endearing personality which was both inoffensive and gentle. He was a true gent whose mild nature belied a very a deep intelligence, quick wit and acerbic sense of humour which had many of his friends creased with laughter. There are so many stories within the chess world that this piece couldn’t do justice to the mental gymnastics that George came out with. He was eccentric in the best possible way and at the same time studiously conventional, as seen in his time as Chess Treasurer for the NCCU (Northern Counties Chess Union), Cumbria Chess Association and Barrow Chess Club for over twenty years. But George was more than just a numbers man, as seen when he became NCCU President 2014-16.
In his role as chess Treasurer he was honest, meticulous and a tremendous servant to chess and I never heard a bad word said about his accounting skills; although what the auditors made of his book keeping is unknown, except to say the amount of small pieces of paper relating to accounts George kept in his pockets was unbelievable; seemingly in chaos but all in order!
Over the years George became a strong chess player winning many honours such as the Cumbria Individual Open in 2017 and being Cumbria Minor Champion on four occasions. He was also Barrow Chess Champion three times. In Congresses, George won a number of prizes over the years at Scarborough, the South Lakes and many others. He was also part of Barrow teams that won the Cumbria League Open in 1985 and 1991, whilst being part of the winning Barrow NCCU Seniors team and playing many times for the Cumbria County side, not without controversy playing in an Under 150 match with a 150 grading!
Unbelievably George was a bit of a fitness fanatic and very competitive who played tennis and mini golf constantly with another good friend Barrow chess player Tony Kirby, until Tony sadly passed away during covid.
Over the years of playing chess we became close friends and socialised before and after the matches. Along with Frank Whalley, George and myself could always be found in the bar and more often than not followed by a meal in the local Indian restaurant where George would invariably have the hottest curry ‘not’ on the menu and then ask for added chillies! When queried if it was hot (as the sweat streamed down his face) George replied ‘It is like ice cream…’
George did like to socialise and on one memorable occasion the Barrow four man team playing in the Cumbria league and being 2-0 up, myself and Frank went to the pub, leaving George still playing with the white pieces a pawn up and seemingly cruising to victory. Within five minutes of being in the pub, George walked in after offering his opponent a draw so he could join us. We gave George some stick over his quick draw offer, but the logic of his response could not be faulted; ‘I took a draw to win the match for the team,’ knowing full well he took the draw as he couldn’t bear not having a pint when the rest of the team were!
George loved chess, a fantastic servant to the game and who will be difficult to replace. He was a great character and a loyal and trusting friend. I will miss him.
Dave Cole
This report, and also a game of George, has been added to the Library Page.
15th May 2024
Monthly on line tournament for Cumbria Juniors.
We had 12 players last Friday for the inaugural event, with a mixture of primary and secondary pupils. Congratulations to Johnny Robson who won the event winning all his 6 games.Details at https://lichess.org/tournament/jpyHO0lU
The next event will be on Friday 7th June again at
6pm
See https://lichess.org/tournament/e8PiWDta This time the rate of play
will be a faster one of 6 mins + 3 secs. Hopefully, this will result in shorter
pauses between games. Also, now that players have a lichess rating they should
find that their opponents are more matched to their ability.
John Lydon
4th May 2024
Monthly on line tournament for Cumbria Juniors.
A new monthly on line Cumbria Junior Chess Tournament is about to be launched.
Cumbria is geographically large but sparsely populated, which is challenging for chess activity so the decision has been made to have some on line activity to compliment the current over the board stuff.
The first tournament is to take place from 6PM to 7PM on the 10th of May.
Neill Cooper is running the tournament and he asks that you email him if you wish to take part.
His email address is: nsc@cplusc.co.uk
The link for the tournament is: Cumbrian Junior Arena: Standard 10+3 rated #jpyHO0lU
Neill will help you with all details such as creating a Lichess Profile and entering the tournament.
28th April 2024
Penrith win the Double 2023-24.
Penrith have won the double. As they did in 2019-20.
Congratulations !
26th April 2024
South Lakes Congress 2024
CONGRESS CANCELLED
Due
to circumstances beyond our control, we have to announce the
cancellation of the 26th South Lakes Chess Congress (7-9th of
June 2024).
The newly announced Dave Myers Day event on
Saturday 8th June, which is expecting thousands of bikers, has
meant that accommodation in Barrow-in-Furness and the surrounding
area has become impossible to obtain.
Chess players
who have already entered will be reimbursed and we would urge those
who have previously booked accommodation to cancel ASAP to avoid
cancellation charges.
The South Lakes Congress organisers
apologise for the cancellation, but given the costs of running the
congress and likely depleted entries we feel we have no other option.
We hope chess players will understand and hope to see you in
2025.
SLC Organisers
26th April 2024
11th April 2024
Web Counter
Just noticed that the web counter, bottom of this page, has just past 300.000.That's a lot of views !
9th April 2024
Cumbria Individual Championship 2023-24
Eggert congratulating the winners.
The
Cumbria Individual Championships results -Higgins
Castle Trophy Holden Davies
Keswick
Knight Trophy Ian Stone
Bob
Greenhalgh Trophy James Ovens
You see the full results here
30th March 2024
Cumbria Individual Championship 2023-24
Andy -This morning I received an e-mail, from Jean Jackson from Shap Memorial Hall, informing me that she had just discovered that the Hall had been double booked for next weekend.
Fortunately, Peter Hanks has managed to find a great alternative venue about 10 minutes away from Shap at Crosby Ravensworth.
The new venue is Crosby Ravensworth Village Hall, Penrith CA10 3HY. There is a very nice pub nearby; The Butchers Arms, which opens at 12 pm and has an extensive menu and serves very good beer.
For those of you who may have already booked accommodation at Shap, take the road next to Shap chippy and at the road end, you'll see the venue opposite.
We do apologise for for any inconvenience but the circumstances were out of our control and I'm sure that Crosby Ravensworth will be a great venue.
You cab see the Entry Form here, and on the Tournaments Page.
28th March 2024
EJCOA Tournament
On Sunday 24/03/2024 Peter Hanks, took 4 Junior Players, Olliver Yeadon, Felix Alloway, Darsev Sing and Charlie English to the regional heat of the EJCOA (English Junior Coaches and Organiser's Association) National Tournament in Manchester.
Darsev Sing won the Under 10 Section
Olliver Yeadon won the Under 18 SectionBoth are now through to the Nation Final to be held in Nottingham later in the year.
Well done and congratulations to Olliver and Darsev.
Good luck in the National Final.
22nd March 2024
Cumbria Individual Championship 2023-24
The Cumbria Championships is to be held at Shap Memorial Hall on the weekend of the 5th, 6th and 7th April.Please do your best to attend as we need the numbers to cover the increased venue hire and keep the prize money from dropping. Of course,if we get enough entries, the prize money may even increase.
ECF membership at Bronze level, or above, is required.
You see the Entry Form here, and on the Tournaments Page.
11th March 2024
Long Marton School Tournament
On Friday 1st March John Lydon representing Cumbria Chess Association attended and supported the annual school's tournament.14 schools participated.
Morland School came 1st winning the Ullswater Shield.
Appleby Grammar School came 2nd and received the Appleby Shield.
Children from Kirkby Stephen Primary School took 1st and 2nd places in the individual placings.
6th February 2024
Cumbria Individual Championship 2023-24
Andy -I've attached an entry form for the Cumbria Championships which is to be
held at Shap Memorial Hall on the weekend of the 5th, 6th and 7th April.
Please do your best to attend as we need the numbers to cover the
increased venue hire and keep the prize money from dropping. Of course,
if we get enough entries, the prize money may even increase.
ECF membership at Bronze level, or above, is required.
You see the Entry Form here, and on the Tournaments Page.
30th January 2024
NCCU Under 1850 - Yorkshire v Cumbria
Cumbria under 1850 were beaten by Yorkshire at Barnard Castle yesterday. Details, and a nice description of the day from Andy can be seen here, and on the CountyChess Page.
21st January 2024
NCCU Under 1850 - Cumbria v Greater Manchester
Cumbria under 1850 were beaten by Greater Manchester at Lancaster yesterday. Details, and a nice description of the day from Andy can be seen here, and on the CountyChess Page.
12th January 2024
Pennine Cup
Peter Hanks and John Lydon took some young players to Manchester on Sunday 14th to take part in the Pennine Cup.
It was a tough tournament, but Johnny Robson on board 1 did very well to come away with 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses. Amogh Kashyap on board 4 also had a fine tournament with 5 wins and 1 loss.
12th January 2024
Lancaster One day Rapid Play Feb 2024
Details can be seen here.
9th January 2024
Club Bank Accounts
Dear all
Many of you will have read recent press articles about banks allegedly freezing
or closing charities’ and community groups’ bank accounts with little or no
notice, apparently on the basis of not receiving the information they claim
they need as part of their responsibility to help prevent financial crime and
to meet their regulatory obligations. If you have examples of chess
organisations (whether they be chess clubs, leagues, county associations,
unions, or other chess-related bodies) having been affected by this we would
like to hear from you. Please email us with details on office@englishchess.org.uk
English Chess Federation
Dear Sir or Madam
I have recently had an email forwarded to me, asking for details of instances of Banks or in this case Building Societies closing accounts.
I am the Junior Organizer for the Cumbria Chess Association.
A Building Society account was part of the handover from the gentleman who was the previous Junior Organizer.
Roughly a year ago the Cumberland Building Society informed me of their intention to close the account, from memory they gave about a months notice.
I contacted them and was informed
that if we wished to continue using the Cumberland, we would have to open a new
account and go through a huge amount of bureaucracy for a fairly nominal amount
of money.
From memory they wanted personal
details of all committee members of Cumbria Chess Association, regardless of
whether or not they were involved in Junior Chess, a copy of the Chess
Association Constitution and minutes of the most recent AGM.
I told the Cumberland that I wasn't
happy, and would be looking elsewhere for an alternative, and they advised me
that all other financial institutions would be the same.
The enquiries that I made supported
their statement.
I emailed the other committee members to make them aware of the situation and consult with them.
It was reluctantly agreed that I would open a bank account in my name, but that it would be separate from my personal account and only used for Cumbria Chess purposes.
I well and truly do not like having money that doesn't belong to me in an account of my name, and I don't think that is good governance, but unfortunately it was seen as the least bad available option.
I hope that this is of interest to you, and if anyone has found a better option than the one that I've reluctantly used, then I would very much like to know what it is.
Thank you
John Lydon
4th January 2024
Ian Hewitson
Extract from The Westmorland Gazette -published on 04/01/2024
HEWITSON Ian Peacefully on 10th December 2023, aged 81 years. Loving husband. dad. grandad and gold panner. Funeral service at Beetham Hall Crematorium on Tuesday 16th January at 12.30pm. No flowers please, donations to Manna House. Enquiries c/o Fishwicks tel:015395 63108
17th December 2023
Ian Hewitson
It is with great sadness that I report the recent passing away of Ian Hewitson.He was a long term member of Windermere Chess Club, and a good, very well liked friend of many people.
I will post more details when I have them.
11th December 2023
Barrow Chess Club
Barrow Chess Club has moved to Navy Club,
Ramsden Dock Road,
Barrow Island,
Barrow-in- Furness,
LA14 2NT
See the Clubs page for a Google map
Also please note that Dave Cole has changed email
24th November 2023
South Lakes Congress 2024
The Entry Form can be seen here, and on the Tournaments Page.
19th October 2023
Long Marton School Chess Tournament September 2023
A report by John. See it here.
7th October 2023
Cumbria Chess Rapid Play Team Championship 2023
The competition has been postponed until later in the season.
8th October 2023
Whitaker Round 1
The draw for the 1st round of the Whitaker took place at Kendal Chess Club.
The details are on the Whitaker Page.
7th October 2023
Cumbria Chess Rapid Play Team Championship 2023
A One Day 5 Round Chess Rapid Play Team Handicap Championship will be held on Saturday October 21st 2023 at
The Crown Hotel
Eamont Bridge
Penrith CA10 2BX
Tel no: 01768 892 092
Teams of 3 players are eligible to enter from all Chess clubs
Full details can be seen here.
1st October 2023
Long Marton School Chess Tournament September 2023
It was reported on in the News and Star. See it here.
A report from .John Lydon -
The Cumbria Junior Chess Tournament took place at Long Marton Community School on Saturday 30/09/2023. There were Under 18 and Under 13 sections. Johnny Robson became the Under 18 Cumbria Champion with a very impressive performance including a nail biting win over last year’s champion. Fifteen players contested this group. Johnny is pictured here holding his winner’s trophy and being presented with his certificate by tournament controller Peter Hanks. |
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|
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This was the second post lockdown Cumbria Junior Chess Tournament put on by John Lydon, the Cumbria Chess Association Junior Organizer, and the entries were over double that of the first. The Under 13 Section was contested by 21 players. Amoghajay Kashyap won this section to become the Cumbria Under 13 Champion. Amoghajay is pictured here holding his winner’s trophy and certificate. Amoghajay’s younger sister Nydilay also competed in this group. |
Children at play in the tournament. Neil Foxcroft watching one of the games. Parents are watching the action from seats around the edge of the hall. The Cumbria Chess Association thanks Long Marton Community School for hosting this year’s event, and thanks teacher John Davis in particular who gave up his Saturday to allow access. John Davis teaches chess in his school and holds a tournament for local schools every year. Cumbria Chess Junior Organizer, John Lydon presented the school with a donation of chess books as thanks and appreciation. |
24 September 2023
Cumbria Junior Chess Tournament 2023
A one day Junior Chess Tournament will be held on Saturday 30th September at Long Marton School, Appleby.Full details can be seen here.
24 September 2023
President Eggert
Eggert is our new President !
Also, an NCCU delgate.
25 August 2023
Constitution 2023
An amended Constitution is now available.
It can seen here, on the Library Page, and the Archives Page.
Some main headlines are -
- Dave Cole has resigned. We need a new Chairman ! Volunteers please !
- Time to play a match has been increased from 4 weeks and 2 days to 5 weeks and 2 days.
- Cumbria Chess Association registration fees increased from £6 to £8.
14th August 2023
KT Tuition's Chess Summer School
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Our Summer School dates are: Monday the 21st
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5th August 2023
Gary Sharkey
 | Gary on the way to stardom. Radio Cumbria Interview. |
17th July 2023
Keith Arkell Simultaneous Exhibition Maryport.
Your chance to beat a Grandmaster !
Saturday 5th August.
Contact Gary Sharkey.
14th July 2023
Cumbria Junior Chess Tournament 2023
A one day Junior Chess Tournament will be held on Saturday 30th September at Long Marton School, Appleby.
Full details can be seen here.
28th June 2023
Ulverston 30 minute rapidplay Sat 17th June 2023
Results can be seen here.
14th June 2023
Cumbria Chess AGM
Dear Club Secretaries, Team Captains & Officers
Best
wishes
Jonathan Rashleigh
8th June 2023
South Lakes Congress 2023
The winners can be seen here.
Full results can be seen here.