28 Apr 2002
Last Wednesday evening Barry Chess Club’s third team, the Stauntons, proudly claimed a place in division 1 for the East Glamorgan Chess Association’s 2002/2003 league season where they will join the club’s first team, the Bosons, and, hopefully, the club’s second team, the Camelots.
The Stauntons’ 3:2 win over visiting Cardiff Pawns moved them to the top of a fiercely contested division 2 and ensured them promotion along with Bridgend A and Caerphilly Castles but some outstanding games which Bridgend players have yet to resolve may deny Barry the divisional title.
The winners’ trophy would of course be very welcome but, regardless of this, the Stauntons can still be very proud of what they have achieved over the past three seasons. The team won division 4 in 1999/2000 and division 3 in 2000/2001. Three teams are promoted and demoted from each division at the end of a season. Of the three teams which won promotion from division 3 last season, one will be dropping again and one will remain in division 2. Two of the three teams demoted from division 1 will be returning to the top flight of East Glamorgan chess but will now be joined by the Stauntons.
Another Barry v Cardiff contest took place on the same evening when the Camelots travelled to play the Dragons in a division 1 contest. A team of only four turned out for Barry and although this quartet conceded just one draw to win the match by a healthy 3½ : 1½ it is slightly worrying that a point may have been wasted through the defaulted board and that a further penalty point will be deducted for the non-appearance of a nominated player. With most fixtures now completed the Camelots appear in no great danger and still have a postponed match in hand but any further penalties may necessitate them having to score some points from their last encounter to ensure a second season in division 1.
Wednesday’s third event was a division 4 match in which the Barry Saracens entertained North Cardiff C. The Saracens have been blighted by defaults all season and have themselves often only been able to fill four boards. Seemingly aggrieved that another Barry team may have been out to break their dubious record the club’s fifth team went one ‘better’ this time and turned out with only three players! The three stalwarts were not disgraced however and performed admirably in scoring a win and two draws to give North Cardiff a 3:2 victory.
Barry Chess Club meets every Wednesday evening at 7:45 p.m. on the first floor of the Witchill Hotel, Barry Road while a variety of chess information including the latest club, league and cup match details can be obtained by visiting the club's web site at www.barrychessclub.org.uk.
28th. April, 2002, Kevin J. Gandy.