CHESS

Evening Post, Volume c, Issue 54, 5 March 1934, Page 5

CHESS

WELLINGTON LEAGUE

A meeting of the Wellington Chess League was Held at the Wellington Working Men's Club and Literary Institute last month. Fourteen delegates were present, and Mr. F. J. Brooker (vice-president) occupied the chair. The following two notices of motion, submitted by Mr. R. A. Godtschalk (Wadestown), were formally moved by him:—(a) That the committee of the Wellington Chess League consist of the chairman, the hon. secretary, the lion, treasurer, and five others, to be elected annually at the general meeting of club delegates; and (b) that in view of an extra large entry of B grade teams in this year's competition, the competition be split up into two sections, and the winners of each section play off for final. Remit (b) was approved, and it was decided to further ease the position by making provision for a C grade teams' tourney, entries for which should be made at an early date. A good deal of discussion took place regarding remit (a). It was admitted by the various speakers that the gratifying increase in the league's mem- ( bership has made the present committee' unwieldy, but the meeting was not inclined to reduce the committee to the number suggested, which would mean putting some of the clubs out of touch with the league's management. An amendment was accordingly carried providing that.the committee should consist of one delegate from each club, in addition to the chairman, hon. secretary, and hon. treasurer. The Shell Chess Club, which proposes to enter three teams for this year's competitions, was admitted to membership. There are now twelve clubs affiliated to the league. ■ Messrs. Brooker, Kelling, K. A. Godtschalk, W. White, J. L. Hardy, and H. N. Robie were appointed a sub-committee to make arrangements for the annual open-ing-of-season match, North v. South, which it is proposed to hold-on April 14. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to all who assisted in making the annual Labour Day fixture against Wairarapa so successful BROOKLYN FIRE BRIGADE CLUB. Twenty members of the Brooklyn- Fire Brigade Chess Club attended the club's third annual general meeting on Saturday evening, when the president, Mr. J. I. Goldsmith, occupied the chair. The report presented by the hon. secretary, Mr. F. McCrone, expressed pleasure at the gratifying attendances of members throughout the season, and also at the greatly improved showing made by the club in its second year of the Wellington Chess League's competitions. In its first season with the league (1922-23) the club did riot win any matches, and was at the bottom of the list. In the year just concluded it won 5% matches, being only two points behind the winning team (Miramar), agafnst which the club's representatives played a draw (3-3). This gratifying advance, augurs well for the ensuing season. In the league's annual ehampion-of-cliynpions tourney the club's nominee, Mr. W. White, made a splendid showing. He tied with the redoubtable Mr. A. W. Gyles, but lost in the play-off. Mr. White is congratulated on filling the roll of runner-up in such'good company. The club's annual handicap tourney ended in favour of Mr. R. W. Kitchingman (class II), who thus wins the gold medal presented by Mr. J. I. Goldsmith (who has been the club's president ever since it was founded three years ago). Mr. W. White, the scratch . player, took second place.: Thanks are accorded to Mr. Goldsmith for donating this trophy, and also to Mr. Fouhy for supplying the club regularly with "The Australasian Chess Review." During the j'ear members joined with other Brooklyn residents in tendering a farewell social to Mr. L. Hall, an esteemed vice-president, and in making a presentation to him on the occasion of his transfer to Miramar. The balance-sheet presented by the hon. treasurer, Mr. J.. Suckling, shows that, by very careful management, the club has just managed to pay its way during the past season. As the club proposes to enter an additional team in the league's 1934 competitions, and more chess material is needed, the desirableness of securing an' increased membership is stressed. The report and balance-sheet were adopted unanimously on the motion of the president, who paid an eloquent tribute to the fine work done by the club's executive officers during, the past year. The election of officers.resulted as follows:—Patron, the superintendent of the Wellington Fire Brigade; president, Mr. J. I. Goldsmith; vice-presidents, Mr. E. Bruce (officer in charge of the local fire brigade station) and Mr. T. Fouhy; hon. secretary, F. McCrone; hon. treasurer, J. Suckling; hon. auditor, G. Webster; committee, Messrs. W. Bosher, R. W. Kitchingman, E. Ramsden, A. S. Goldsmith, W. White, E. Thawley, and P. Tasker, with the officers ex officio; librarian, E. Bruce; delegates to the Wellington Chess League, Messrs. F. McCrone and W. White. It was decided to add two championship tourneys ■to last year's programme, one for members on the upper half of the club's ladder and the other for those who. occupy the lower rungs. Two teams are to be entered for the league's 1934 contests. The No. 2 team is to play1 in-the proposed C grade teams' tourney, or in the B grade if nothing should come of the proposal to promote a C grade competition. To enable members to get through the coming season's heavy programme with dispatch the use of their club-room' has been secured for Wednesdays as weir as for Saturdays. The new midweek sessions are: to begin on Wednesday next; when Mr. White is to give the first of his lectures on the openings. On Saturday next -the local season is to be opened with the customary sides match President v. Secretary. Five new members" were elected.