CHESS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 149, 18 March 1924, Page 3

CHESS

WELLINGTON CLUB. The annual general meeting of the Wellington Chess Club was held on Saturday evening. Twenty-eight members were present. Mr. W. Mackay, president, occupied tho chair. Mr. W. Toomath (bon. secretary) presented the forty-eighth annual report. This stated that the club now had 48 active and thifee 'honorary members. Tho enthusiasm shown by members throughput the .year was favourably commented on. Four tourneys had been held, tho results being as follow:— (a) Club championship—W. E. Mason. 1; R. J. Barnes, a.(b) Intermediate tourney—A. E. Jessup, 1; 11. Jessup, 2. (c) Junior tourney —J. Hardy, 1; J. A. C. Barnes, 2. (d) "Petherick” tourney (handicap)— A. E. Jessup, 1; A. L. Lawson, 2; and J. A. C. Barnes, 3. No fewer than 114 "ladder” games had been contested, tho most notable promotions being:—A. W. Gyles, rung 3 to rung 1; G. P. Anderson, 5 to 3; FK. Felling, 7 to G; T. Fouhy, 8 to 7; A. T. Craven, 1G to 11; W. J. Fairburn, 18 to 15; J. A. C. Barnes, 28 to 18 (a record advance); and A. E. Jessup, 21 to II). Several of the prominent players, on tho other hand, went ttown a rung or two, this adding zest to the competitions. The club entered two senior teams and one junior team for the series of inter-club matches promoted by the Wellington Chess League. Tho club’s A team (Messrs. W. Mackay, W. E. Mason, E. A. Hicks. T. Fouhy, IT. G. Lee, and W. White) won tho senior contest with an unbeaten record. The club’s B team also did well. The club’s C team occupied a good position in tho junior contest, play in which was not yet completed. The annual “champion of champions’ event was also marked incomplete. 'The club was very successful in its telegraphic matches, winning from Auckland (12—8), from Canterbury (13—7), and from Otago (10J—91). The club won the club championship of New Zealand, the Auckland ’.'.nd Otago Clubs sharing second place. Something drastic must bo done to speed up play in telegraphic matches, or they would be abandoned. New Zealand’s thirty-third Championship Congress had been held in Wellington during the Christinas holidays, tho club being represented by Messrs. G. P. Anderson and E. A. Hicks. Tho latter was congratulated on winning the Gambit Tournev, which was promoted as a consolation event for those who did not qualify for the championship finals. Thanks were accoroed to the president for donating a handsome bookcase, atd for valued assistance m other directions. Iho club was also indebted to Messrs. 11. G. Lee, A. Gy l ® 3 ’ E S Taylor, and F. R. KeLing fo acceptable donations to the P’’ l . z ’ e The club’s thanks were theso gentlemen, and also to the retir in Th<> ffi balance-sheet presented bv the hon treasurer, Mr. Gyles, sen. allowed that there was a small credit balance, but tho need for increased was stressed, as the club would require to raise more revenue under the new conditions in order to pay its way in report and the I ’® lnnce ' B were adopted unanimously, Messrs, loomath and Gyles, sen., being complimentcd by various spetdwrs on their splendid work for the club during the past twelve monthts. . Mr C W. 1 anner premised a donation of £1 Is. in addition to his subSC The l election of officers resulted as fol-10ws'-President, Mr W. vicepresidents, Messrs. I'. K. b ' Taylor. A. T. Craven, and IT. G Lee; committee. Messrs T Fouhy. IT. Jessup, TV. E. Mason, W. White, and J. C- McCrea; hon. auditor, Mr. A. M. Gyles, delegates to ,JLZ. Chess Association Messrs. A. TV. Gvles and W. Toomath: delegates to Wellington league, Messis. TV White and TV. Tonmath; match committee W White, U. Jessup, and K. J Barnes; hon. treasurer, Mr A. Gyles, sen; hon. secretary, Mr. TV. Toomath; hon. librarian. Mr. A. E. Jessup. Hie re-elections of the president, hon secretary. and hon. treasurer evoked loud aT lt a wns mentioned that the Rev. TV. T Thane who was the clubs first hon. secretary in 187 G. was on the sick ist. and it was decided to, convey to him the club’s best wishes for an early recovery. ___________