Editor– Bexhill club members recently enjoyed a great tournament at our neighbour club and performed well, as is clear from Bill Tracey’s report below. Relations between the clubs, always friendly, are cemented by such welcome initiatives ( pic below from last year’s friendly match v Hastings featuring this tournament’s controller, Marc Bryant , looking at camera, at their historic club venue) :
” Three Bexhill members entered the u1900 weekend tournament at the Hastings club on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th October, these being Andrew Fleming, Michael Hayward and myself.
Michael ended the 5-round tournament with 2 points ( one win, 2 losses, a draw and a half point bye) but this hides the fact that he was involved in some really hard fought matches , 2 of which lasted just short of 4 hours.
Andrew and I finished on 3 points . We played each other in the first round in a game that lasted 4 hours. I offered a draw after 75 moves in what I thought was a certain draw. Andrew had other ideas and 10 moves later I resigned!
Overall, Andrew won 2 ,lost 1, drew 2. He also had perhaps the game of the tournament winning with a double piece sacrifice.
I lost one, drew one , won two and got a half point bye. I was pleased and surprised to be awarded a rating prize by Marc Bryant the organiser.
We would recommend this event as it is local, well run and held in a friendly atmosphere.”
Editor :We should look out for more such opportunities for tournament play at Hastings , at middle-range ratings.