FOR A SUCCESSFUL YEAR OF CHESS
There was an impressive display of silverware and trophies at the presentation of awards, the prelude to the year in review at the AGM on Friday 26 September.
On display was the recent anonymous donation of a Team Honours Board and set recording (so far!):
Division 3 Winners 2023
Division 2 winners 2025
Mid-Sussex Knockout Winners 2025
Bill Tracey, club chairman, remarked on the achievement of a club that is 129 years old but has only fielded teams in the Sussex league for the last 5 years. There were 27 players in 3 Divisions. Two juniors competed ( Luke Chapman, Andy Nguyen.)
In the season 2022-23, the Division 3 team won 8 matches and drew 1, from 9 matches. Bill Luxton scoring 7/9 all on top board. Other notable individual performances of the winning team were Alan Ticehurst with 4.5/5 , Steve Merchant and Bill Tracey each with 5/7. The other team members were Luke Chapman, Andy Nguyen and Phil Swain. Those who could make it to the Awards are pictured below.
In the season 2024- 25, the 2nd team were awarded the Gregory Cup ( pictured below for winning the 2nd divisiion, and promotion to Division 1 in the forthcoming season).
Some of the team members below( L-R) Luke Chapman, James Lumsden, Michael Hayward, Lawry Rhodes, John Kimber.
The outstanding Division 2 player was James Lumsden, holding the Gregory Cup above.
The club reached the Final but lost against Lewes in the Watson Trophy. We lost in the semifinal of the MacArthur Cup largely due to an error in clock setting!. Then, facing Lewes again in the final of the Knockout, we gained the victory ( see the shield below).
Players in the Knockout were Andrew Fleming, Janis Petursons, Phil Swain, Mark Rich, Andy Nguyen, Luke Chapman , James Lumsden and Howard Tebbs,- some of them who could be at the AGM pictured below.
Outstanding Player of the Year is James Lumsden ( Pictured below)
Club Members of the Year ( jointly awarded by the committee for general contributions ) are Lawry Rhodes and Michael Hayward ( pictured below).
Finally , The Winners of the Club Championship :
Luke Chapman – Winner of the top section, now holds the Championship Trophy ( pictured below) :
Phil Swain, winner of the new Challengers trophy could not be present to collect it on the occasion .
The winner of the 3rd section , the Gordon Cup, is Harry Morter, pictured below celebrating his achievement.
And my favourite cup of the evening :
.