LOCAL NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 48, 20 August 1917, Page 5

LOCAL NOTES.

As a result of the first month's play in the Wellington Chess Club's annual Petherick tourney (handicap), Messrs. E. S. Taylor, Purchas, Clutten, and Barnes are unbeaten, while Messrs. W. H. S. Hughes, S. Mackay, and A. Gj'les are in close pursuit. No. less than fourteen ladder challenges have been issued since Easter, the greatly-increased popularity of this form of competition being very gratifying. The challenger has been successful in gaining promotion in six instances, and the defender has su-cceed-ed in retaining his rung on - three occasions. The remaining five contests are incomplete. Ql these the greatest interest attaches to the big struggle that is in progress for rung 2 between W. Mackay (challenger) and .W. E. Mason (defender). Each has scored a win and two games have been drawn. The fifth. game stands adjourned with the forces equal.

The match-play of the past six weeks has provided excellent practice, and the club's "reps." should be in good form for the telegraphic match against the powerful Otago Club. This contest, which is being looked forward to in both centres, will probably be commenced at 6 p.m. next Saturday.

The best scores to date in the Wellington South Club's annual handicap tourney —in which ten rounds have now been disposed of—are 'as follows : —H. J. Thompson 8 wins 2 losses, G. P. Anderson 74-4, Welton 7-2, Purchas 6-4, Clark SJ-44, Eno 54-4^, Douglas 4-4, Harper 3-2, and Berry 3-3. The best tallies to date in the annual handicap tourney of the Working Men's Club are as follows:—Barnes 6-0, Faulknor 6-2, Douglas 5-1, Eton 4-1, Arden 4-3, Larking 4-3, Hennessey 3-2, and Greig 3-3.

The best performance to date in the club's annual draughts tourney (sealed handicap) has been put up by Mr. C. Erkkson (the club champion), whose score is 33 wins 2 draws and only 1 loss (to Connor). Other eood scores are Connor 31-5, Costello 25-3, M'Pherson 19-5, Manson 22-6, Larking 20-12, and Colville 22-14.