CHESS AND DRAUGHTS

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 128, 3 June 1919, Page 11

CHESS AND DRAUGHTS

WELLINGTON WORKING MEN'S ,;:^, CLUB

■At the annual general meeting of tho Wellington Working Men's Club chess and draughts section, Mr. B. Finuoane (president) occupied the chair. There was a large attendance. Tho thirtieth annual report was as follows: — Annual Tourneys. —In the annual handicap chess tourney (eighteen entries) our champion, Mr. Barnes, added to'his formidable list of triumphs by once more taking first prize. This is the fourth timo that he has won the Staples Cup, which I was presented in 1899, and now becomes his propor'y, having been won outright. The second prize wn-s won by Mr. W. White, tho third by Mr. H. E. Long, the fourth by Mr. S. Faulknor, and the fifth by our Crimean veteran, Mr. A. J. Larking. In the draughts tournament (ton entries), Messrs. Manson, J. Reid, and Burgess showed tho best form. Whon tho sealed handicap was opened, it was found that Messrs, Manson and J. Wright had tied for fir3t place. They accordingly divide the first and second prizes. Mr. Boock wins.tho third prize, and Mr. J. Reid the fourth. Intor-Club Matches.—Our chess team had an exceptionally successful season, winning seven matches and drawing one, which is easily a record in our thirty years of organised chess. They won both matches against tho Ngaio Chess Club, and the annual fixture with the Wellington South Chess Club. At the Easter rally recently held in. Masterton, they competed in tho inter-club tournament, scoring wins from tho Wanganui, Masterton, Wairarapa, and South Wellington Clubs, and playing a drawn match with the Wellington Chess Club. Our team thus carried off the honours of the Masterton tourney after a hard fight, tho games scored being as follow:—Wellington Working Men's Clab 124, Wellington 114, Masterton 7i; South Wellington 7, Wairarapa 5, and rWanganui 2>,-. Wo were not so successful in. draughts, the watorsiders defeating us rather easily in our annual fixture. They thus i-egained the Challenge Shield, which we captured from them in the previous year. Obituary.—Tho death of our former chairman; Mr. H. A. W. M'lCenzie, who was ono of the viotims of the influenza opidemio hi November last, is recorded with much regret. The club is greatly indebted to him for his valued labours in advancing the cause of chess and draughts in our midst. Members of the- Watorsiders' Club and of our own club have joined hands in the matter of erecting a stone at tho grave of the late Mr. Charles Ericson, who was tho draughts champion of ■ both clubs at the time of his lamented death. Advices from Christchurch state that this work has been well carried out by the monumental mason to whom it was entrusted. Acknowledgments.—Our members desire to thank tho Masterton Chess Club for kind hospitalities extended to ovir team, and also to congratulate the club on the success of its Easter rally. We also desire to thank our own General Committee for kindly subsidising our tourney fees so as to keep us in line with other club 3 in the matter of prizes. Tho encouragement thus afforded is greatly appreciated. Championships.—Sundry ohampionships that have been, locked up during the war are to be resumed during the incoming year. In this connection members are reminded that the New Zealand Draughts Association is' to hold a tournament at Timaru in September next to decido tho championship of Australasia, and that a tournament to decide the chess championship of New Zealand is scheduled to coramenco in Wellington during the coming Christmas holidays. The Year 1919-20.—From the foregoing report it will be seen that our last "war year" has been a very successful link.betwoen tho past, in which so much has been achieved, and tho future, from which so much is hoped. Now that we are no longer under tho shadow of the great war, members are urged to rally round their officers with ' increased enthusiasm, thereby strengthening their hands for the important operations of tho incoming year. It is, o£ course, only enthusiasm that "does tilings." . Tho report was adopted unanimously. The, election of officoi-s resulted as follows: President, Mr. B. Finucano; vicepresident, Mr. T. E. Nixon; hon. secretary,. Mr. S. Faulknor; hon. treasurer, Mr. J. Wilson; hon. reporter, Mr. F. K. Kolling; match, committees, Messrs. Wring, Faulknor, Coulter, and Long for chess, and Messrs. Boock, Bosher, Coulter, and Mansou for draughts; referee for chess, Mr. W. Ma-okay (president of the Wellington Chess Club); referee for draughts, Mr. J. Butler (of the Watersides' Club); consulting members, Messrs. Barnes and gelling for chess, and Messrs. J. Wright and Coulter for draughts; delegates to New Zealand Chess Association, Messrs. S. Faulknor and H.-E. Long. It was decided to hold tho usual handicap tourneys if sufficient entries are received by the* 9th instant. The president then presented the various chess and draughts prizes won. during the past twelve months. The meeting closed with a hearty votoot thanks to last year's office-bearers, and a similar compliment to tho General Committee in appreciation of valued assistance given from tirao to timo during tho past thirty years.