Castell Nedd Chess Club Newsletter
No. 33 July 2008

COMPETITIONS

Daniel Cook scored 3/5 at the Welsh U8 Championships.

He is also to be congratulated on winning jointly the West Wales Under 8 Championship where he beat his co-victor and also the two winners of the U9 title!

Carl Davies did battle in a very tough Welsh Championships (senior).

SIMULS

There have been three displays at schools in our area. Martyn Griffiths beat 30 at Sandfields, Steve Smith won 26 drew 2 and lost 1 at Waunceirch and John Davies won 25 and lost 2 at Tonna. Well done all!

At the club’s annual display, the Club Champion Matthew Davies took on 15 opponents, losing to Hywel Griffiths and Steve Smith and drawing with John Dawes and Wayne Prescott.

EQUIPMENT

Thanks to a generous donation we have been able to renew our supply of clocks. Please look after them as they are the most expensive item that we use. 

We will be obtaining fresh score books for next September.

MEMBERSHIP

The club committee has decided to restrict junior membership to a total of 30. This may mean recommencing a waiting list in future.

A.G.M.

Prize-winners at the AGM were:
Clubman of the Year – Steve Smith; Young Player of the Year, Junior Champion and Joint Junior Quickplay Champion – Angharad Jenkins; Junior Player of the Year – Daniel Cook; Rookie of the Year – Alex Dowling; Club Champion and Club Quickplay Champion – Matthew Davies; Major Champion – James Silk; Joint Junior Quickplay Champion – Yean Ha; Ladder winner – Sam Martin.

All children who completed the training course were presented with certificates.

The following were elected:
Chairman – Martyn Griffiths; Secretary and Club Grading Officer – Hywel Griffiths; Treasurer – John Davies; Club Captain – Matthew Davies; Website Manager – Wayne Prescott.

Committee members – Daniel Dowling, James Ridgeway, Wayne Prescott, John Dawes and Steve Smith.

The meeting was unanimous in electing Mr. Courtney John Honorary Vice-President of the club in view of his valued support over many years.

Every club member received a pen to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the West Wales Chess League.

SELECTIONS

Yean Ha (3/4), Reuben Morgan-Williams, Dafydd James and Dylan Matthews played for the Neath-Swansea Under 11 Intertown Team at Merthyr.

Daniel Cook (1.5/4), Sam Martin (2/4), Jack Salter and Swetha Prathap played for the Under 9 team. A good experience for all.

Two of Eric’s Tonna protegies also travelled including a cousin of Matthew.

INTERSCHOOLS

The 16th Frank Evans Trophy event was won by Sandfields ahead of Waunceirch and Blaenhonddan. Yean top-scored with 2.5/3 on Board
1 for Waunceirch.

The Sandfields team were Rhys Harding, Scott and Helena Trayner and Rudy Sheppard.

This is the last time for this event in this format. Next year it will be incorporated into the Under 11 championships when the aggregate scores of any 3 players from one school will count towards the team event. The highest total three win the Frank Evans Trophy for their school.

GRADES

Congratulations to Steve Smith who with a grade of 1545 breaks into our Club All-time Top 50 List at Number 35.

Matthew Davies climbs to No. 4 with a new grade of 1998.

Wayne Prescott has also broken through the 1400 barrier but is just outside the Top 50 (See our website for full list).

UNDER 11s

The Netsima Neath U11 Championship was boosted by six children from Waunceirch and their school champion, Yean Ha, beat all his closest rivals to score 5/5 and win the title. Reuben Morgan-Williams was once again runner-up with 4 points and all those in third place also win free club membership next season. =3rd. Daniel Cook, Charlotte Hickman, Dafydd James, Sam Martin, Dylan Matthew and Connor Windos 3; =9th Swetha Prathap, Rebekka Sims, Ainsley Martin 2; =12th Elise Nicholas, Joseph Howe 1; 14th Joel Grainger 0.

UNDER 15s

This was played over two Mondays and won by Yean Ha 5/5 from Daniel Cook 4; Sam Martin, Connor Windos 3 and others. Next year it will be over consecutive weeks.

CUP MATCHES

The Castell Nedd U1400 side, Wayne Prescott, Steve Smith, John Dawes and Dennis Thomas, was well beaten in the final of the West Wales Cup by Swansea Valley. Time pressure affected three of the results and only Dennis managed a win; Steve drew his game.

In the U1500 Welsh Cup our team of Steve, Wayne, James Silk and John Davies, had one of the club’s best ever results in beating a talented young Cardiff team 3.5-0.5 to reach the final.

TEAMS 2008-9

Emperors: Matthew (c) (N), Carl (N), Martyn (N), Hywel, Steve.

Senators: Wayne , James Silk, Dennis (c), John Dawes, John Davies, Eric.

Barbarians: James Ridgeway (c) (N), Daniel Dowling (N), Angharad, Alex, Daniel Davies.

Centurions: Yean , Reuben (N), Dafydd (N), Dylan, Joseph.
Manager -
Legionnaires: Daniel Cook, Sam, Jack, Jordan, Connor.
Manager -

Juniors – keep in touch with your manager or captain. They need to know if you are not available or have problems with transport.

QUICKPLAY

Eric’s 7 second buzzer held fears for everyone. Matthew Davies again reigned supreme winning with 4.5/5 from Martyn Griffiths 4,Hywel Griffiths 3.5, Steve Smith 3, John Davies and John Dawes 2.5, Dennis Thomas and Eric Blackwell 2 and Daniel Dowling 1.

In the junior section Angharad beat Yean but then lost in the last round to Connor resulting in the same two winners as last year: Angharad Jenkins and Yean Ha 4/5, Connor Windos, Swetha Prathap, Dafydd James , Alex Dowling all 3, Dylan Matthews and Reuben Morgan-Williams 2, Jack Salter 1.

WWCL CHANGES

WWCL website is now at White Knights site. Link »

Registration fees now £20 adult, £15 junior (£10 and £7 for first timers).

Time Limit changed re Quickplay finish – a total of 60 moves have to be made before claiming a draw.

Two nominated players can play down at internal club matches e.g. ‘A’ team v. ‘B’ team.