20 April 2002
Teams from Barry Chess Club played in East Glamorgan league matches on three consecutive evenings last week.
The club's second team, the Camelots, turned out on Monday evening to entertain Cardiff A in a home fixture at the Witchill Hotel. Cardiff A have for several seasons played bridesmaids to their colleagues in the Cardiff Castles but nevertheless finish consistently near to the top of division 1 and it was consequently no disgrace for the Camelots to lose this match 2:3. Wins from Steve Cunliffe and Dave Parsons gave Barry enough to stay well on course for a second season in the league's top division.
The Barry Saracens had hoped to continue their late season run of success when they travelled to play Cardiff Knights in a division 4 contest on Tuesday but, after having been able to field a full team for their most recent matches, were reduced to their more regular turn out of four players due to the absence of a squad member. In the event Barry's fifth team still did not fare too badly with wins from Bill Lambert and Dave Adamson and a draw from Phil Jones ensuring a 2½ all drawn match.
A fairly important division 1 encounter took place on Wednesday evening when Barry's first team, the Bosons, visited the Cardiff Bishops. This match was of no great relevance to the Bosons who are safely ensconced high in the table but it was vital to ensure that the Bishops, who are in danger of relegation, gained no ground on the Camelots. The speed at which Barry's Craig Woolcock played his game may have indicated that, having come to the match directly from work, he was in dire need of sustenance and a very quick win allowed him to depart early for a well deserved evening meal. Andrew Gandy added a second point for the visitors while Dave Parsons and Lee 'Houdini' Davis both drew their games for the Bosons to lead by 3:1 at the conclusion of play. Cardiff seem favoured by the one remaining game which is being considered for adjudication but a 3:2 result will suffice to keep the Bishops at a reasonable distance behind the Barry Camelots.
Mr. Davis, who has earned his nickname by producing results from seemingly hopeless positions, has recently feigned deep consternation at suggestions from certain mischievous quarters within Barry Chess Club that he is perhaps one of the luckiest players in East Glamorgan and has opined that his successes should be attributed to nothing other than a profound understanding of chess. This controversy will no doubt provoke some lively debate!