WORKING MEN'S CLUB

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 90, 16 April 1917, Page 5

WORKING MEN'S CLUB

The- report to be. presented at the twenty-eighth annual chesa and draughts meeting of this club is as follows: — Annual Tourneys.—The annual handicap chess and draughts tourneys were very successful, the high standard of former years being well maintained. Mr Hugh Douglas won the chess tourney and consequently holds the Staples Cup for the ensuing year. The remaining prizes were won as follow: —Second, Mr. Peake; third, Mr. Larking (a Crimean veteran whose success is very popular), fourth, Mr. Featonby; fifth, sixth, and seventh, divided .by Messrs. Wild, E. E. Hicks, and C. Reid. Mr Key's special prize was won by Mr. Mayne, and Mr. George Gray's special prize went to Mr. Hennessey The Staples Cup, referred to above, is the ten-guinea trophy that was donated in 1897, ' won outright in 1903, and recently given back by the winner for further 'competition. It becomes the property of any member winning it twice in succession or three times at intervals, the conditions thus being the same sis formerly. „ The draughts tourney (scaled handicap) was won by Mr Hedderwick (handicap 12 points), the runner-up being Mr. Coulter (handicap 16 points). The remaining prizes were won as follow:— Third, Mr. Burgess (handicap 4 points); fourth Mr W. H. Smith (scratch); and fifth, Mr. C. Reid (handicap 4 points). Mr W. H. Smith, who was our first champion 28 years ago, also takes the hon. secretary's special prize for making the best score in the actual play. Interclub Matches.—The eleventh annual match with the Wellington . South Chess Club was held in .our social hall on 4th September, when we were defeated by 8 games to 5. Honours are now easy in this fixture, each club having scored 5 wins, while the 1907 match ended in * Our old-time fixture with the Watersiders" Draughts Club was revived on 13th July. The play was followe-l with o-reat interest, this being the'first match for the challenge shield 1 kindly given by the Waterside Workers' Union in order to pncourage the playing of draughts in this city. The Watersiders proved too strong for us, scoring 18 games to our 12. They have won all the-four matches that have been played during the past ton years, aggregating 115 won games to our 91. From this it -will readily be seen that, although our players have been regularly defeated, they have the satisfaction ,of / having consistently extended the victors. Negotiations for a telegi aphio maU-n against the Otago Draughts Club came to nothing owing to the many difficulties encountered.

Prizes and Acknowledgements, etc.— • The tourney prizes enumerates, above were presented by our: president (Mr. Mace) on 23rd, February, this annual function as usual attracting a large attendance. The opportunity was taken: to pass a heaxty vote of thanks to tho General Committee for kindly continuing the., support accorded in former, years, and a ■similar tribute was accorded to Messrs. G, H. Gray, J. P:. Eeyy arid F. X.-Selling for/donating trophies. Appreciative reforance was made to the labours of the executive officers, and also to the successful work of, ■the handicappers. Pleasure was expressed at the good recovery made by Sergeant J. M. Wilson, one of our highly-esteemed_ members, who was temporarily laid' Mid* by a shell wound received vi France. Obituary.—The death of our referee for chess, ; Mr. A..-G. Fell, which took place on 6th February, is chronicled with much sorrow 1 The late Mr., Fell was president, of the New Zealand Ohesß ■Association,' and also of the Wellington Chess Club. Tributes are, it is gratifying to note, pouring in from all parts of the Dominion, expressing appreciation of the invaluable work done by him in the cause of New Zealand chess during the eight years that he was the association's hon.. secretary and treasurer. The Coming Season. —It is proposed in future to make our annual draughts tourney^.a combined championship and sealed :!fcsndica.p event, with a view to (making the omtest. more attractive to our strbngnr. players. This new feature and the. institution of shield -matches with the Watersiders should surely move our draughts players to give their favourite game further study. It is gratifying to be able to record that our members have studied chess aod draught* well during the past twelve months, but in visw of the very good progress that is being made in the other clubs of this city, it will clearly be necssary to study these games moru closely than over in the coming year if we wish to be "in the hunt" when meeting our rivals; in friendly combat. F<;dor K. KeUing, Hon. Sec. for Chess and Draughts.