Tom Fuller Cup .

We had a promising first half in the tournament putting us at the top of the table.

Unfortunately some poor results in the second half , placed at the bottom of the table on 5 points,

1 point behind 3 other teams.

Umberto

Team captain

Kent Summer Quickplay 2017
A team was entered in the Kent Summer Quickplay for the first time in several years. Teams of four play against each of the opposing team on a time handicap system with 30 minutes for the whole game; time divided between the relative strength of players as follows:

The four matches in our group stage were all won as follows:
Tunbridge Wells 6.5 Hastings 9.5
Hastings 10 Folkestone 6
Eynsford 4 Hastings 12
Hastings 11 Maidstone 5

However, we lost narrowly in the semi-final away to Rainham:
Rainham 8.5 Hastings 7.5

Players who took part were:
Daniel Lowe (1 match) 4/4 (100.00%)
Paul Kelly (5 matches) 14/20 (70.00%)
Jim Wheeler (5 matches) 13.5/20 (67.50%)
Steve Blewitt (4 matches) 9/16 (56.25%)
Marc Bryant (4 matches) 8/16 (50.00%)
Howard Tebbs (1 match) 1.5/4 (37.50%)

Many thanks to all those who played in this enjoyable competition.
Jim Wheeler

Friendly matches
During the course of the season we play 3 friendly matches against Wanstead Woodford insurance and the Greater London chess club of these matches we have played 2 at the time of writing in these matches we do not go necessarily pick our strongest team but try to make the matches competitive off the two matches we have played we lost the insurance 2.5 5.5 and against the Greater London chess club we lost 4.5
Marc A Bryant

Hastings Congress Report

017/8 Congress had 365 competitors which is 53 more than 2016/7

And it made a small loss.

The new pairing system [Swiss Manager] worked well and made life easier for the controllers.

For 2018/9 HICC will have its own clocks [60]

It has borrowed clocks in the past

Tradewise and Hastings Council funding continues but more sponsors are needed

Robert Elliston HCC representative

Shadforth-Boger Trophy (merit in matches)

This trophy is generally very hard to award as it is very subjective, players play at different strength against players of different strengths and in different tournaments therefore is not always awarded to the player that does best in matches but to players that it is considered have done best relative to his grade and strength

This year in matches the club played total of 364 games at the time of writing with 139 wins 122 draws and losing 101 38 of the draws came from only three players

32 players represented, the club this year

Of them players only 5 players who played more than 3 games remained undefeated

The shortlist, for the trophy year has been narrowed down to 6 players who are for the second year running John Sugden Howard Tebbs Brendan Ruane also James Wheeler Francis Rayner and New Member Nicolas Varley

John Sugden record was played 18 Won 4 Drew 12 and loss 2 this gave him a percentage rating of 55.5% and -3 performances against his grade four

Howard Tebbs played 15 games for the club winning 9 drawing 5 and only losing 1 this gave him a percentage rating 76.6 and +8 against his grade Howard also came second as the best performing player in the mid Sussex league division one with 51/2 out of 7 with 79% performance

Brendan Ruane played 11 games for the club winning 7 drawing 2 and losing 2 his percentage performance was 72.2 with a +16-rating performance

James Wheeler played 33 times for the club winning 14 drawing16 and only losing 3 his percentage performance was 66.6% with a +20-grading performance

Nicolas Varley played 16 games for the club winning 10 drawing 6 and no lost 1 his percentage performances was 81.2% and grading performance was +4

Francis Rayner played 9 games for the club winning 5 drawing 2 and losing 2 his percentage performances was 66.6% and grading performance was +11
Francis also won the mid Sussex league division 1 tankard for best performances scoring five points from six games the percentage performance of 83%

It is worth noting also that Steve Blewitt and Henry Cove shared the tankard for best performance in division two of the mid Sussex league

The Winner of this trophy will be decided by a vote at the AGM by the members attending

Marc A Bryant

Many thanks to you all for your feedback. Below is an update on the meeting itself (scroll to the bottom for the outcome)

Shortly after sending you my original note, I received the actual agenda, which showed 4 separate proposals for time changes, which I paraphrase here:

(a) From Francis Rayner (Hastings): default is 50 moves in 100 minutes for Div 1, same for other divs if time available, if not, then similar to the current time control
(b) From Lewes: default is all moves in 80 minutes + 10 secs for all divs
(c) From Brighton: Default for Div 1 as present, other divs 80/10
(d) From Eastbourne: Default for all divs, all moves in 65 minutes with 30 secs from move 1.

The meeting was fairly well attended. From Hastings we had myself, PK, MW as 3 team captains, along with Howard Tebbs (late replacement from Marc who was unwell), and Francis who attended to speak for his own motion.

The item opened with the chair (surprisingly in my view) having an opening vote to essentially do away with adjudication, and move towards an incremental time control as the default time. This was passed overwhelmingly with very little debate, meaning option (a) and (c) fell immediately.

There followed a lengthy discussion, at which I concluded whilst the majority of people present wanted to move away from adjudication and go to 80/10, little thought had been given to the bigger picture. In particular, what happens if (as happens at some venues) play needs to stop at a given time because the venue closes. The only solution (other than the preposterous suggestions “captains getting together and decide” and “the players will work it out”) was to ensure the rules included a provision for adjudication.

Moreover, the feedback I received and read elsewhere from stronger, experienced div 1 players indicated a severe dislike of 80/10 because it would affect the quality of the game. It was quite possible that many strong players would refuse to play under such a time control, risking the credibility and unity of the league.

At the meeting itself, it was clear to me that 80/10 was being pushed by “weaker” players at the disregard of stronger players, so we ensured the proposal from Eastbourne (formally lodged by Adrian Pickersgill, but presented by Oliver Froom, both what I consider to be strong div 1 players) was given a proper airing. When it came to the vote, 80/10 achieved 12 votes, whilst 65/30 achieved 14 votes (including all Hastings votes).

. There was no competition for places at the actual election, A number of matters arising from last year’s AGM (eg lack of a child safeguarding policy) had not been addressed in the intervening 12 months.

OUTCOME: next season, the MSL will trial a default time control for all divisions of all the moves in 65 minutes with an increment of 30 seconds from the beginning. Players will therefore need to write down all the moves for the entire game. Players can agree at the start to a stop at 60 moves (the equivalent to a maximum 3 hours 10 minutes). Other optional time controls will be available by agreement of the 2 players (80/10, 42 in 90, quick play finish).

Gary
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AGM Sunday 09 September 2018
starting 2.30 pm
Nominations in by 12 August
Written Reports in by 8 August

NOTICE OF THE DATE OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE HASTINGS & ST. LEONARDS CHESS CLUB
In accordance with Clause 4.2.3 of the Club Constitution please take notice that the Club’s Annual General Meeting will be held at the Club (at Pelton House, 2 Cornwallis Terrace, Hastings) on Sunday 09 September 2018 starting at 2:30 p.m.
The A.G.M. will be followed by the customary President’s versus Chairman’s match for the Reg Cload Trophy.
Proposals to be considered by the Annual General Meeting are hereby invited. By convention such proposals should also be seconded. Proposals should reach the Chairman (at the Club) no later than 12 August 2018. Note that proposals to be made by the Committee may be made after that deadline. (Club Constitution 4.2.4) Proposals may be delivered to the Chairman by other means but at the sender’s risk. e-mail for AGM proposals (and nominations): info@hastingschessclub.co.uk; it is suggested that senders seek to confirm receipt.
A sheet inviting nominations hasl bein posted at the Club . By convention such nominations should be proposed and also be seconded. If you intend to nominate someone please check that they are willing to accept nomination. Nominations may also be made direct to the Chairman, and when time allows he will transfer them to the sheet at the Club.
All reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out Club duties are reimbursed.
Members wishing to talk informally about the above matters, or about any post at all, should feel free to speak with Chairman or Treasurer as appropriate.
Finally, I suggest that, if you feel that an incumbent is doing an acceptable job, and you do not want the job yourself, and you have no one better to propose, then you consider nominating them – it can be disheartening to incumbents if members feel unable to show even that level of tacit approval.
Nominations made no later than 12 August 2018, or by the Committee at its expected meeting before the AGM, will appear on the Agenda when it is circulated. Nominations made later, including those made at the Meeting itself, will be perfectly valid but will not be listed on the Agenda.
The Agenda and all other papers for the Annual General Meeting will be circulated by Sunday 26 August 2018.

Marc Bryant,
Chairman

Hi
. They are starting proceedings at a church hall close to Pisarro’s pub close to Mark& Spencers called The Friends Meeting House (Quakers) At 12 midday on the 11th . An hour for having some chatting a sandwich and a cup of tea. Then at 2 they’ll have some talks about Elizabeth’s life and hobbies. Some of her art and memoirs will be on display. At 3:15 funeral directors will take Elizabeth to the crematorium and the service will take place at 3:30.
So the date is def 11th next Wednesday.
Regards
Lona

EliSabeth Lewis
I Have recently been informed of the death of EliSabeth Lewis
EliSabeth was a member of the club some years
in recent years she was unable to visit the club very often as her health was failing
I did not know EliSabeth personally but would like to extend the clubs and my own condolences to EliSabeths family