South Hams Chess Club
South Hams Chess Club

A Decent Performance by South Hams Players at the Exeter Congress

Five South Hams players entered the Exter Devon Congress (aka the "Exeter Congress") this weekend.

David Archer entered the Major Torunament:
  • Round 1: beat Patrick Dillon, Sidmouth (128)
  • Round 2: beat David Turner, Bourne End (152)
  • Round 3: lost to Charles Keen, Exeter (145)
  • Round 4: lost to Leif Hafstad, Exeter School (133)
  • Round 5: lost to Edward Palmer, Exeter (126) - fuelled by 2 pints a well-known black-coloured brain nutrient brewed in Dublin.

David thus finished on 2 points.

Cliff Peach also entered the Major Tournament, and also finished on 2 points:
  • Round 1: took a half point bye on the Friday evening
  • Round 2: drew with Michael Hill (142), Liskeard
  • Round 3: drew with David Rogers (137), Exmouth
  • Round 4: lost to Rob Wilby (140), Plymouth
  • Round 5: drew with Lynne Fursman, Tewkesbury (131).

It's very nice to see our Draw Meister back to his normal form.

Phil McConnell entered the Minor Tournament:
  • Round 1: took a half point bye on the Friday evening
  • Round 2: beat Einar Hofstad (81), Devon
  • Round 3: beat Martyn Maber, (104), Taunton
  • Round 4: lost to the winner of the Minor Tournament, Alex Poyser (116), Exeter University
  • Round 5: beat Bob Jones (118), Exmouth.

Phil thus finished on 3.5 points.

Roy Greenhalgh also entered the Minor:
  • Round 1: took a half point bye on the Friday evening
  • Round 2: drew with Robert Kelso (87), Barnstaple
  • Round 3: drew with Paul Broderick (99), Shifnal & Telford
  • Round 4: drew with Christine Constable (98), Bude
  • Round 5: beat Nicholas Cunliffe (97), Somerset Juniors.

Roy thus finished on 3 points.

Ken Ashby also entered the Minor:
  • Round 1: lost to Michael Pope (121), Salisbury
  • Round 2: beat Robin Cubbon (53), Sidmouth
  • Round 3: drew with Maurice Richards (117), Liskeard
  • Round 4: drew with Kevin Huntley (105), Salisbury
  • Round 5: drew with Colin Gardiner (108), Newmarket.

Ken finished on 2.5 points - and seems to have turned the corner after his recent dip in form. points.

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The South Hams team, consisting of David, Phil, Roy and Ken (we ruthlessly kicked Cliff out and made him play for Plymouth) scored 11/20 - a creditable effort, but the run-away winners were Exeter University, who generally seemed much stronger than their grades suggested.

It was a very well-organised and enjoyable Congress - many thanks to the organisers and arbiters.