CHESS AND DRAUGHTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10295, 2 June 1919, Page 3

CHESS AND DRAUGHTS

WELLINGTON WORKING MEN’S

CLUB

At the annua] general meeting of the above club’s chess and draughts players there was a large attendance. Mr B. i inucano (president - ) occupied the chair.

iue thirtieth annual report was as follows: —

Annual Tourneys.—ln the annual handicap chess tourney (eighteen entries) our champion, Mr Barnes, added to his formidable list of triumphs oy once more taking hist prize. This is the fourth time that he has won the Staples Cup, which was presented m XtiS9, and now becomes his property, having been won outright. The second pr.ze was won by Air W. White, the third by Mr it. K. Long, the fourth by Mr 8. Falknor, and the fifth by our Crimean veteran, Mr A, J. Larkpig. In the draughts tournament ften entries) Messrs Manson, J. lloid and surgess showed the best form. When the sealed handicap was opened it was lound that Messrs Manson and J. Aright had tied for first place. They •iccoraiugly divide the first and second prizes, Mr Book wins the third prize •uid Mr J. Reid the fourth. Inter-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 the ■N'gaio C.C., and the annual fixture with the Wellington South O.C. At the Faster rally recently held in Mnsterton, they competed in the interclub tournament, scoring wins from the vvanganui, Mastcrton, Wairarapa and South Wellington- clubs, and pishing a drawn match with the Wellington O.C. Our team thus carried oil the honours of the Mastcrton tourney after a hard fight, the games scored being as follow:—Wellington Working -Men's Club 121. Wellington 11}, Mas. terton 7}, South Wellington 7, Wairarapa 5, and Wanganui 2}. Wo wero not so successful in draughts, the Watorsiders defeating life rather easily in bur annual fixture. They thus retained the Challenge Shield which we captured from thcTj in the previous year.

Obituary.—l'iio oeath of our former chairman, Mr H. A. W. McKenzie, who was one of the victims of the influenza epidemic in November last, is recorded with much regret. The club is greatly indebted to him for lus valued labours in advancing the cause of chess and draughts in our midst. Members of the Watersiders' Club and of our own club have joined hands in the matter of erecting a stone at the grave of the late Mr diaries Ericson, who was tho draughts champion of both clubs at the time of his lamentable death. Advice* from Christchurch state that this work has boon well carried out by the monumental mason to whom it was entrusted.

Acknowledgments.—Cur members desire to thank the Masterton Chess Club for kind hospitalities extended to our team, and also to congratulate the club on tho success of its Easter rally. Wo also desire to thank our own general committee for kindly subsidising our journey fees so ns to keep us in lino with other, clubs in the matter of prizes. The encouragement thus afforded is greatly appreciated. Championships.—Sundry championships that have been locked up during the war are to be resumed during the coming year. In this connection members are reminded that the New Zealand Draughts Association is to hold a tournament at Timaru in September next to decide tho championship of Australasia, and that a tournament to decide tho chess championship of Wew Zealand is scheduled to commence in Wellington during the coming Christmas holidays. The Year 1919-20.—From the foregoing report it will he seen that our last “war year” has been a very successful link'between the past in which so much has been achieved and the future from which so much is hoped. Now that wc are no longer under the 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 the incoming year. It is, of course, only enthusiasm that “does tilings.’’ The report was adopted unanimously. Tho election of officers resulted ns follow; —President. Mr B. Finucnno; vice-president, Mr T. B. Nixon; hon. secretary, Mr S.' Fniilknor; hon. treasurer, Mr J. Wilson; hon. reporter, Mr F. K. Rolling; match committees, Messrs Wring, Long, Faulkner, and Coulter (for chess), and Messrs Boshor, Boock, Manson, and Coulter (for draughts); referee for chess, Mr W. Mnckay (president cf tho Wellington Chess Club); referee for draughts. Mr J. Butler (of the Waiter-aiders’ dab); consulting members. Messrs Barnes and Rolling (for chess), and Messrs Coulter and .T. Wright (for draughts); delegates to Now Zealand Chess Association, Mews Faulknov and H. E. Long. It was decided that entries for (he 1919 handicap tourneys should he invited up to the 9th instant, Hie meet in |; closed with the presentation of the prizes won Inst year, and a hearty vote of thank* to all who had assisted or worked for. the club’s chess and draughts section during the past twelve months-