NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 17 April 1901, Page 56

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP.

JAS. GAEDINEE, CHAMPION". The sixth annual championship tourney was opened at Palmeraton North on Saturday, April 6, with an entry of 12. The players were: — Messrs Gardiner and Mulvey, of Gore; Brodie, Dunedin; Boreham, Oamaru; Bruce and Booker, New Plymouth ; Henderson, Hawera, (better known as of Auckland), Gibson, Manaia; Clousen, Rolf, and Bell, Palrnerston North ; Murray, Waipawa. Play was concluded ou the following Thursday, the whole proceedings passing off without a hitch. Towards the close of the play it was hard to say who would gain the coveted title, as there were foiir players close together in the running. Brodie was first out, with a score of 18 out of tiie possible 22 — very good scoring, considering he lost a game by one of those simple oversights which sometimes happen to the most careful playeis— even E. Jordan. But though Brodie' s gco^c was g^ ikm w«ie otfeejg along

who i.ionused to ttand eien bet f er Gardiner and Boieham v.ere very close, -with Mulvey just behind. Aftei Biodie had played out, tha ether leading players stood thus — Boreham 18 games played, with 15J points, Gardiner 16 game 3, with 13 points, and Mulvey 18 played ioi 14^ points. Boieham, it w^il lie seen, had clear lead, and with four games to play stood well in foi first place. But just in the run home, as it wore, Boreham 'ost one to Mub r^, and diew another, and finally played out half a point behind Brodie. Such is the fortune of wai ' Gardiner, on the other hand, played like a machine, scoring his next four games (20 — 17), then a. wm and a diaw Uncled! him home with the admirable score of 22 game 9 played for 18i points. Mulvey, by scoung 1£ against Boieham, made hi 3 figures 20— 16i , then a win and a draw in his last round landed him level with Brodie— 22— lß. Messrs Biuca and Henderson, the next placed men, were se\eral points away. The following is the list ot prize-takers — Pts. 1. J. Gardiner (championship and X'2o) lbi 2. J Mulvey & D. A. Brodie (£lO e?ch) 18 4. J. A Boreham (£5) 17£ 5. J. Bruce (£3 lC"-) 13* 6. J. Henderson (£1 10s) 12 J The second prize is £12 and the third jSS, but Messrs Brcdie and Mulvey saved their tune instead of playing off, and divided the prizes. The first three tourneys were won by Boreham, at Wancami], Wellington, and Oan.aru ; the npxt two By Brodie, at Dunedin f first time he played) and Imercugill. At the latter tourney, it will be remembered, Gardiner tied with Biodie for first place, but was defeated m the play ol> We congratulate him on his victoiy 111 the pre=,ent instance. wock, if possible, or seen aftei, we shall e,i\o cur jei'dp/a an introduction to the el.amp.en vi\ "iriis c !}'=■ xihoto and a biief b^oy 1 .v uk v "O.elrii. )k.--> -. (.n'nli. cr and iSioihe ic.\< lul T3un-di-t liy Situnlny's north exprcs-. A ii-.im'irt or playeis and otbp.s were on th^ platfoim when {h> ir^iii amved. Gardiner was escortrc l tn his hc'el and therra to the Otrgo Cu'irooa 1 , where he r"cei%ed a he^ity wekonr: and co 'giaiulaticn«. Mr Boieham alto leaclicd home fii batuiclay. '.ir J. Mulvey, secie'-ar} of the X.Z Liaught3 A«socia'io"., -topped in Cliiiftchuich, v.h"ro a i^cn.i'g of 1I1? leading diaughts players vas to bs held k=' evening (Moi'day) to co isidei the piospects of holding the tournament theic next jear. As this column goes to picSb ju-*t befoie he arrr-es to-night, his report will m t be :n time for this issue. We urderstand pence of motion lias been given that the next tournament be played on the "tvo-'ife" system. Ihe motion, however, op'y comes on for consideration next year. Ihis year the sealing of the mo%e was compulsory at an adjournni'-i.t. By uiu'ual agreement any pair could simply note the position at the hour for stopping, and, agieemg not to analyse the game in the interval, no move w?,-. mile until the lesumptiOi of play AH icports agipe in prnismg the lrfnree, Mr W. Dunn, for 1111 conduct of the tourney, amply justifying the con'idc'ce :u"o-eJ in him. Of the new players, Mr Murray, of Waipawa, is spoken well of as giving gieat piomis". He is a youns; man, and is familiar with the books. Judging by the dogged way he fought =ome of his game 3, he only requnes practice to rank a, good deal higher All the airangements for the tournament seem to have been most excellent. The 100 m was a good ono for the puipose, small table* weie used, and everything was comfortable. Handy printed score sheets v.ere used, worded thus — NEW ZEALAND DRAUGHTS ASSOCIATION. TOURUEY GAME BETWEEN Mr and Mr • No. 1 won by Mr No. 2 won by Mr Signed. The sheet was, of course, a pioper <=ize, and saved the leferee some work In case of a draw the pencil was drawn through the line. The southern players are very warm ,p their praise of the treatment they received in Palmerston North. A gieat tieat was a delightful drive out to Manawatu Gorge, which the visitors are not likely to forget foi a while. Some foolish people imagine that draughts players entirely lack the poetic soul, biit they ha%e not heard the champion and ex champion on Manawatu Gorge l We have received promises of tourney games for this column, which will no doubt be looked for with interest. Also, in the picture line, we hope to piesent a photo of the tcurney group, etc.