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To contact a member of the committee, please see the Braille Chess Association’s website where there is a facility for emailing each officer.
Note: The views expressed by members in the gazette do not necessarily reflect the policies or views of the BCA, nor those of the editor.
CONTENTS
Editorial
Stop Press
Forthcoming BCA Events
Silver Jubilee Irish Open
Castle and Spectrum Chess
Other Mainstream Events Under One Roof
Attending the AGM
Grass Roots Programme
New Policy Proposed by Tournament Sub-committee and Approved by BCA Committee
Membership Secretary’s Report
Publicity, Recruitment and Development
Tournament Director’s Report
Peter Price Memorial Tournament
BCCA Competition 2009
Puzzle from Chris
Editorial
Hello everyone, I trust you all had an enjoyable Christmas and new year. I certainly did, once my travel horrors visiting an old Worcester friend now resident in Lanark were out of the way. The lesson seems to be don’t travel the weekend before Christmas day!
Anyway this is another quite substantial gazette with a particularly interesting article from Stan on recruitment and publicity. Once again thanks are due to the Primary Club for agreeing to sponsor this issue of the gazette. Also Sean O’Brien has sent the BCA a cheque for £1200 to sponsor the issues of the gazette for May, August and November 2010. I’m sure all of you will join with me in expressing sincere thanks to Sean for such a generous gift.
Finally please could you let me have contributions for the May gazette by 5th April. Even if someone else is elected to the post of gazette editor at the next AGM, I would still do the May edition.
Guy Whitehouse.
Stop Press
The IBCA World Cup, postponed from last year, will now take place in Calimanesti, Romania from 19th to 29th April 2010. I’m sure you’ll join with me in wishing any BCA participants the very best of luck.
Guy Whitehouse.
Forthcoming BCA Events
Note: Please study the booking conditions and procedures which follow these announcements; they have been updated to take account of the latest developments.
5th – 7thMarch 2010. Annual General Meeting and Chess Congress. Midland Hotel, Derby.
The Annual General Meeting will take place at 2pm on Saturday 6thMarch. The five-round chess tournament will be open to all blind and partially sighted players and to associate members of the BCA. There will be a major open event, and a minor event limited to players whose grade (or estimated grade) is 100 or below.
Once again we return to the Midland Hotel with its excellent facilities and convenient location, close to Derby railway station. The cost of accommodation, including dinner, bed & breakfast, for members and associate members is £45 per night in a shared room and £48 single. For non-members and for those wishing to stay Sunday night the rates are £52 in a shared room and £55 single. The entry fee, if paid before 11th January 2010, is £10. Entries and bookings accepted after that date carry a £10 late booking fee.
Please send your cheques and your booking requirements to the BCA treasurer, Mrs Gill Smith.
5th – 12thJune 2010. Stephen Eastwick-Field Memorial Tournament. Whitehall Hotel, Bournemouth.
Cost of accommodation to members and to associate members will be £220 for the seven days. The cost to non-members or to those booking for less than the seven days will be £39 per day. This cost includes dinner, bed and breakfast. There is no single room supplement.
The closing date for bookings is 31st March 2010. Bookings accepted after that date will be subject to a £10 late booking fee for each person. The entry fee to the tournament will be £10.
The tournament is restricted to blind and partially sighted players and to associate members. The grading limit will be 140. In addition to the chess games there will be coaching for those who wish to receive it. Please indicate if you wish to receive coaching when you send in your booking.
All bookings, including full payment, should be sent to the treasurer, Gill Smith. Include your booking requirements along with your booking. Gill will pass these on to the organisers, Stan and Jan Lovell.
Following the decision taken at the 2009 AGM, there will be seven rounds. Round 1 will start at 7:45pm on the day of arrival, and round 5 will also start at 7:45pm on 9th June. The other rounds will start at 10am. An outing will be arranged for 9th June.
Following our event at this hotel in 2008 we received many positive responses particularly mentioning the excellent food, the friendly staff and the proximity to the gardens, the seafront and the shops. Please note there are some slopes to be negotiated to reach these places.
This event should be looked on as a chess holiday for those who compete and for their friends and family. We particularly welcome our associate members who are eligible to play in the tournament and who enjoy the social events arranged throughout the week.
Stan and Jan Lovell.
International Autumn Tournament 2010.
This will take place at The Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate from Friday 12thNovember to Sunday 14thNovember 2010. It will consist of two five-round Swiss tournaments - an Open and a Minor. Both Tournaments will be open to all blind and partially sighted players and Associate Members of the BCA.
The Old Swan is a lovely hotel in extensive grounds in the beautiful spa town of Harrogate. We believe it will prove an excellent venue for our tournament. For those wishing to extend the weekend, Sunday night accommodation will be available. Full details of costs will appear in the next edition of the Gazette.
The organiser is Steve Burnell.
Steve Burnell.
Booking Conditions and Procedures.
Blind and partially sighted UK residents under the age of 25 receive free entry and free accommodation when playing in BCA events. In certain circumstances free accommodation is available to a parent or guardian of a visually impaired junior.
Cheques should be made payable to the Braille chess association. Building society cheques should have the name of the sender clearly marked. Post dated cheques are not accepted. Bookings accepted after the closing date are subject to a £10 late booking penalty for each person. Late bookings and entries are accepted at the discretion of the organiser. Bookings are confirmed when full payment has been received by the Treasurer or when the money has been received by the BCA bank.
Payments can only be refunded within the time limit set in the terms and conditions set by the various hotels. Members are advised to take out holiday insurance to cover themselves.
When sending your cheque to the treasurer, please include details of your booking requirements including:
1. Single room, double room or twin room
2. If you prefer a bath or a shower
3. If you prefer a room in which you may smoke. Please note many hotels now adopt a no smoking policy.
4. If you will be bringing your guide dog.
5. If you are on a special diet.
6. If you have mobility problems and would benefit from being located in a room near to a lift.
7. If you are a wheelchair user.
8. Any other special requirements.
There is no need to send your requests to the organiser as Gill will do this, but you may, of course, contact the organiser on any point. Please do not make special requests to the hotel as this causes confusion.
Those who make payment into the BCA’s account on-line or by direct bank transfer should make sure their payment is cleared by the closing date. When this has happened inform the treasurer your payment has been made and include your booking requirements as above.
Silver Jubilee Irish Open
To celebrate 25 years of the Braille Chess Association of Ireland, this event will take place at the Marine Hotel, Sutton Cross,Dublin, from Friday October 1stto Monday October 4th2010. The Tournament will be a 6-round Swiss, open to all visually impaired players and their guides. The rate of play will be all moves in 1 hour and 45 minutes for each player. There will be two sections if numbers allow, a Major section open to players of all strengths and a Minor section confined to players rated below 1400 ELO.
The cost of accommodation for players and guides/partners for 3 nights, including dinner, bed and breakfast, is €180 per person in a shared room and €260 single. The cost for others is € 262.50 and €360 respectively. Those wishing to extend their stay may do so at a cost of €85 per night bed and breakfast for both single & shared rooms, but only if bookings are made through the BCAI.
All fees should be paid to the Treasurer, Ernie McElroy. Bank account details will be provided on request to those wishing to pay by credit transfer. The closing date for bookings and payment of fees is 15thAugust 2010.
Further enquiries may be made to Eamon Casey.
Philip Doyle.
Castle and Spectrum Chess
All the following events are weekend Swiss tournaments, held in very pleasant hotels with idyllic surroundings. All the prices listed are for single rooms, prices for double/twin rooms can be found on the booking forms or obtained from the organisers/hotel. For events where evening meals are not included in the price, you will normally find these will average at about £10, again please check with organiser/hotel.
Castle Chess
Castle Chess is mainly run by Tony Corfe and his wife, Barbara, who you will find both friendly and helpful. The rate of play for all the Castle Chess events listed is 36 moves in 90 minutes plus 15 minutes to complete the game. Apart from the Portsmouth Congress, the tournaments are played over five rounds, three games on Saturday and two on Sunday. Castle Chess now have three categories; the Open, the Major (grade 160 and below), and the Minor (grade 120 and below). The entry fee of £30 is included in the price of the rooms and will be deducted for any companions not playing chess. To ensure best prices, please make all bookings with the organiser Tony Corfe.
19th – 21stFebruary the Portsmouth Congress
The Queen’s Hotel, Clarence Parade, Osbourne Road, Southsea PO5 3LJ.
The Portsmouth Congress is traditionally played over six rounds; one on Friday evening, three on Saturday and two on Sunday. Although I haven’t been to this hotel, I hear it’s very good and popular with the chess players.
1 night half board £112, 2 nights half board £192, 3 nights half board £272.
24th – 25thApril the Hereford Congress
The Green Dragon Hotel, Broad Street, Hereford HR4 9BG.
You will find this Victorian hotel full of character. The hotel is also no stranger to chess masters, as the English chess legend, Blackburn, once played and won a congress here back in 1885.
1 night bed and breakfast £70, 2 nights bed and breakfast £110, 3 nights bed and breakfast £150.
17th-18thJuly the Bideford Congress
The Tantons Hotel, New Road, Bideford, Devon EX39 2HR. As yet no prices for this are available.
Spectrum Chess
Spectrum Chess is mainly run by Norman Went and his wife, Yelena, both of whom you will find friendly and helpful. The rate of play for Spectrum Chess congresses is 36 moves in 90 minutes plus 15 minutes to complete the game. All the Spectrum Chess congresses listed are played over five rounds, three games on Saturday and two on Sunday. There are two categories; the Major (grade 155 and below), and the Minor (grade 115 and below). The £30 entry fee is included in the price of the accommodation and will be deducted for non-chessplaying companions. To ensure best prices, please make all bookings through the organiser Norman Went.
20th-21stFebruary the Clackton Congress
The Laxfield Hotel, 3 Beach Road, Clackton-On-Sea, Essex CO15 1UG.
Unfortunately, this has clashed with the Portsmouth Congress. However, if you’ve over-budgeted at Christmas, the prices for this congress look very attractive, but I think this is a new venue so I can’t comment on the quality.
1 night bed and breakfast £53, 2 nights bed and breakfast £78, 3 nights bed and breakfast £103.
20th-21stMarch The Purfleet Congress
The Royal Hotel, High Street, London Road, Purfleet, Essex RM19 1QA.
This again is another congress I have not yet had the pleasure of attending. The only thing I can say is that I’ve attended quite a few Spectrum Chess events and have never found reason to complain.
1 night bed and breakfast £68, 2 nights bed and breakfast £110, 3 nights bed and breakfast £152; (evening meal just £7 or £10 for two).
As Congress Coordinator for the BCA, if anybody would like to register their bookings for mainstream congresses, including overseas congresses (both mainstream and VI events), or if you would like to enquire about BCA attendance of any such event, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Gary Wickett.
Other Mainstream Events Under One Roof
In this feature I will give details of chess events where the accommodation and the chess hall are in the same building or where the distance between playing area and accommodation is minimal. I'm sure many of us have experienced the difficulties which may occur when attempting to find the chess hall in a school or some other complex far removed from our accommodation. If anyone has information of chess events which take place under one roof, let me know and I will publish them in this feature. Please note: Information about Spectrum and Castle events are dealt with by Gary Wickett elsewhere in this Gazette.
26th – 28thFebruary 2010. Fishguard Bay Hotel.
A fairly long taxi journey from the nearest rail station at Haverford West. Cost of accommodation, including all meals, for two nights: £120 per person sharing, £125 single. Extra nights £35 bed and breakfast.
Hotel tel: 01348 873571.
26th – 28th February 2010. Open Cumbria Individual Championships.
Graythwaite Manor Hotel, Fernhill Road, Grange-over-sands. Tel: 015395 32001.
Organiser Hillary Austin.
I was pleased to learn of this new 'all under one roof' event. The Graythwaite Manor is situated about a mile out of Grange-over-sands. Around £3.50 by taxi from Grange rail station.
Accommodation is £30 sharing and £40 single for bed & breakfast. Dinner is £16.50 for two courses and £19.50 for three courses. I understand the total number of participants is expected to be between 30 and 40. I am told the hotel is very friendly and comfortable, and the event is likely to be small & friendly. There will be three sections: An open, a major up to 149 and a minor up to 124.
5th – 7thMarch 2010. Blackpool Congress. The Imperial Hotel, Blackpool.
It is interesting to note that this event is to be held in the Imperial Hotel this year. Unfortunately, it clashes with our own AGM congress, but anyone wishing to obtain further details should contact the Imperial Hotel on tel: 01253 623971. The cost of accommodation is: sharing £42, single £72 for bed and breakfast. Dinner, if pre-booked, costs £17.
19th – 21stMarch 2010. Uxbridge De Veres Hotel, Tilehouse Lane, Denham. Tel: 0844 980 2305.
Organiser Sean Hewitt.
Cost of accommodation for bed & breakfast: sharing £30, single £44. Dinner £25.
Steve Thacker has attended this event. I am sure he would be happy to give an impression of the venue to anyone who is interested.
2nd – 5thApril. West of England Championships. Royal Beacon Hotel, Exmouth. Tel: 01395 264 886. Accommodation: per person sharing £47.25, single £58.50. bed and breakfast. Dinner £20.
Please note: This venue is not suitable for wheelchair users as the playing hall is upstairs and there is no lift. For many years several of our members have enjoyed participating in this friendly west country event. Please also note: The West of England Seniors Event also takes place in this hotel from Monday 8thto Friday 12thNovember. The prices are the same as for the Easter event.
11th – 13thJune 2010. SouthLakesCongress.
Cumbria Grand Hotel, Grange-over-Sands. Tel: 015395 34622.
This hotel is situated in extensive grounds a mile or so out of Grange-over-Sands. The grounds are particularly enjoyed by guide dogs. The dinner, bed & breakfast rates per person per night are £59 sharing and £69 single.
If you attend any of these events, let me have your feedback on how you were welcomed and if you think it is a suitable venue for other VI players.
I am indebted to Steve Thacker for his assistance in locating these events.
Stan Lovell.
Attending the AGM
Members attending the AGM weekend from 5thto 7thMarch in Derby will automatically receive the AGM agenda and tape reports, whether or not they are playing in the tournament. However, anyone planning to attend only the AGM itself on the Saturday afternoon will need to make special arrangements to obtain the agenda and reports. Please get in touch with me if you intend to come to Derby only for the AGM.