Press Report 9th September 2022

The South Hams Chess Club got off to an encouraging start to their return of over the board games at the Regal Club after a break of two years due to Covid. Although they continued with online chess nothing beats the real thing of being at the club.

With three new members Lance Howarth, Cathy and Tim Black and several members not attending due to holidays, it’s looking like the club will start with a steady membership for the season, with Cathy being the first lady member of the club for several seasons.

There were no surprise results, but several good performances and the most notable of these was the game between Trevor Hurt v Cathy Black. In a long three hour game Cathy had Tricky Trevor on the ropes, and with Cathy not knowing Trevor’s Cavalier style of play this was not a bad start for her first club game, but in the end both players had to settle for a draw, giving each player a half point in the M.Wray Shield.

In the Homan League, Clifford Peach played a solid game against Club Champion Steve Levy. It was certainly a good workout for both players. With nearly seventy moves being played by both players, Steve got the better of Clifford in the end game to get his defence of the Club Championship off to a flying start; while Alan Davies also got off to a winning start beating Roy Greenhalgh in the Homan.

In the Dunleavy League Tony Tatam, fresh from being an arbiter at the British Chess Championship played in Torquay a week earlier, beat new member Lance Howarth, while steady Arthur Doble beat the club’s youngest member Tim Black, also in the Dunleavy.

Being a fresh new season just getting under way it would be a great time for anyone wanting to join the club. They could get further information by ringing Clifford Peach 01752 407757 or Phil McConnell 01803 834135 or checking out the website www.southhamschessclub.com The club meets every Thursday 7pm at the Regal Club, Church Street, Kingsbridge.