PICTURES


OCTOBER 9, 2008: The draw has been made for the first round of the Swiss tournament:

Jaimie Wilson vs Romauld Kotkiewicz
Laszlo Sagi vs Rolandas Lukosius
Keith Davies vs Martyn Eaves
Philip Wake vs Bill Partridge
Ray Hunt vs Mike Spence
Celia Buckley vs Mick Plumb
Keith Mansfield vs Andrew Keil

John Kalber -bye

OCTOBER 9, 2008: It has been decided to suspend the South West Sussex Chess League this season. The absence of Chichester and Worthing means the only teams left would be Bognor and Emsworth - who already meet several times within the Portsmouth League. Hopefully, the league might be resurrected some time in the future. Bognor have a McArthur Cup game to fit in before February, Chichester have the choice of venue.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2008: The club's summer tournament has been won by .... Jaimie Wilson. Jaimie finished on 15.5 points. He was just ahead of Rolandas Lukoshus, on 14.5 points. Keith Davies was third, with 12.5. Laszlo Sagi was top of Section B with 10.5 points and Celia Buckley was top of Section C with 7.5 points, both of whom qualified. Thirteen players took part, seven qualified by playing six different opponents, and 42 games were played. Thanks to Keith Davies, who organised the tournament.

AUGUST 29,2008: IT was Jaimie Wilson's night at Bognor and Arun Chess Club with him scooping the club's main Swiss tournament trophy and the lightning cup and then giving a superb simul demonstration, winning six, drawing two and losing only one - to Bill Partridge, pictured above left, presenting Jaimie with his awards. Jaimie is pictured, centre, playing in the simul. Pictured right, Keith Davies is presented with the club's Knockout trophy by Bill.

AUGUST 25, 2008: Jaimie Wilson notched up another success by winning the club's lightning tournament. He beat Bill Partridge in a play-off, after both players finished with 7/8. Nine players contested the competition. Keith Davies was third, with 6 points. The club holds its annual meeting this Friday, August 29.

JULY 26, 2008: Keith Davies defeated Jaimie Wilson in the Knockout tournament, after the first match was drawn. Keith's win prevented Jamie from achieving a clean sweep of the club's trophies.

JULY 23, 2008: Official grades for the new season have now been confirmed. Jaimie Wilson 140; Bill Partridge 136;
Keith Davies 136; Ray Hunt 111; Mick Plumb 105; Romauld Kotkiewicz 99; Nick Mansfield 97; John Kalber 97; Laszlo Sagi 89; Martyn Eaves 84; Philip Wake 83; Donald Close 63; Richard Lilly 46; Celia Buckley 24; Keith Mansfield 22.

JULY 17, 2008: Provisional grades for the new season have been released. Jaimie Wilson 140; Bill Partridge 136;
Keith Davies 136; Rolandas 112; Ray Hunt 111; Mick Plumb 105; Romauld Kotkiewicz 99; Laszlo Sagi 89; Martyn Eaves 84; Philip Wake 83; Donald Close 63; Richard Lilly 46; Celia Buckley 24; Keith Mansfield 22. Confirmation of the official grades will appear as soon as they are received.

JULY 13, 2008: Keith Davies and Jaimie Wilson have drawn their Knockout final and will have to replay. Laszlo Sagi is currently leading the summer tournament - which he won the previous year.

JULY 11, 2008: Club champion Jaimie Wilson will contest the club's Knockout tournament against Keith Davies. Jaimie, who could make it a clean sweep of the club's trophies if he defeats Keith, overcame Bill Partridge to reach the final. In the other semi-final, Keith beat Mick Plumb after the first game was drawn.

JUNE 28, 2008: The Sussex Under 125 team plays its national final on Saturday, July 5. The match takes place in Leicester and is against Norfolk. Ray Hunt and Mick Plumb from Bognor are in the team, as is Dave Wallis, who has played at Bognor.

JUNE 28, 2008: The club's summer tournament is well underway. Players can choose any opponent but gain more points if they defeat an opponent of a higher grade. You have to play a minimum amount of games and opponents. This is the club's main tournament until the new season begins, in August.

JUNE 28, 2008: Jaimie Wilson has clinched the 2008 Rapidplay tournament, with five points. This is his second tournament success - he won the club's main Swiss tournament, too.

   
 
 
 

JUNE 20, 2008: Members of Bognor and Arun Chess Club - Donald Close, Keith Davies and Celia Buckley - took on allcomers at East Preston Festival. Taking part in a chess challenge on Saturday morning, visitors enjoyed a two-hour session at The Penang Village restaurant. Pictures by KEITH DAVIES

JUNE 2, 2008: Jaimie Wilson is the club's Swiss champion - he beat Romauld Kotkiewicz to win the tournament outright, with 6.5/7. Keith Davies is runner-up.

JUNE 1, 2008: This year's East Preston chess challenge takes place on Saturday, June 14. The event has a new venue this year - the Penang Village restaurant. Last year's challenge was held at the village hall but this time it as reverted back to near its original venue, next door to the Sea Horse Cafe. The event, part of the village festival, takes place between 10am and 12noon. All visitors are welcome.

MAY 24, 2008: Jaimie Wilson is one round away from winning the club's Swiss tournament. He is just half a point away from being declared outright champion, with a game to play against Romauld Kotkiewicz.

championMAY 18, 2008: The Under 125 Sussex team has made it to the national semi-finals. They beat Warwickshire on board count to progress to another round, to be played probably on June 14. Ray Hunt and Mick Plumb played.

MAY 12, 2008: The draw for the fnal round of the club's Swiss tournament has been made. The tournament is being led by Jaimie Wilson on 5.5.

MARCH 22, 2008: Bognor ran Brighton surprisingly close in their McCarthur Cup match. Massively outgraded, Bognor lost 4-2 but that didn't tell the full story. Ray Hunt won, Mick Plumb and Bill Partridge drew and Romauld Kotkiewicz lost early. But Keith Davies - queen for two rooks - and Jaimie Wilson - a pawn up - fought on and were edged out only by a whisker. It was a marvellous performance, and the scoreline did not do Bognor full justice.

MARCH 16, 2008: Jaimie Wilson has made the draw for the club's fifth round of the Swiss tournament. Details.

MARCH 15, 2008: Bognor play Brighton in the McCarthur Cup on Good Friday, at The Bognor Club. It's bound to be a tough match though - Brighton have several top-ranked players.

MARCH 1, 2008: Bognor beat Chichester 4-2 in their McCarthur Cup clash. Romauld Kotkiewicz, Mick Plumb and John Kalber won their games - and there was a default on board six.

FEBRUARY 3, 2008: A number of Bognor players have taken part in county games this season - with varying fortunes. The Under 125 team - which features Ray Hunt and Mick Plumb - has won one, drawn one and lost one so far. The Under 150s - participants Keith Davies, Bill Partridge and Jaimie Wilson - have lost two and won one.

FEBRUARY 3, 2008: The fourth round of the club's Swiss tournament is underway. Keith Davies currently heads the field, the only player to have maximum points.

JANUARY 24, 2008: Bognor wrapped up the South West Sussex League title in style at Emsworth - thumping the A team, and defending champions, 4-1. There were wins for Jaimie Wilson, Mick Plumb and John Kalber, with Bill Partridge and Keith Davies both securing draws. Bognor have one fixture left - against Emsworth B - but can't be caught at the top.

JANUARY 19, 2008: Worthing have had to withdraw from this year's South West Sussex League because they don't currently have a venue. They were forced to leave the Post Office in Worthing when the PO stopped night-time coverage. This means the title will between Emsworth - fielding two teams - and Bognor. Worthing's match with Bognor has now been ruled void.

DECEMBER 14, 2007: The draw for the third round of the Swiss has been made.

DECEMBER 1, 2007: Bognor's Swiss tournament has only reached the second round, but already has witnessed a huge shock - current champion Bill Partridge losing to Romauld Kotkiewicz.

NOVEMBER 29, 2007: Bognor gained an emphatic 3.5-1.5 win against Emsworth B. There were wins for Bill Partridge, Jaimie Wilson and Mick Plumb - his opponent's mobile phone going off - and a draw for Keith Davies. The Emsworth team was Emsworth in name only - the team being made up of Portsmouth players.

NOVEMBER, 2007: TWO Bognor players - Philip Wake and Andrew Keil - have uncovered some fascinating history about Bognor Chess Club and the South West Sussex League.

Philip Wake found the following details on the league while sorting out some old papers:

South West Sussex Chess League - History of the League

The South West Sussex League was founded following a meeting between representatives of local clubs which took place at the Crown Public House at Littlehampton in October 1974. Seven teams of 5 players competed in the first league competition, held over the season 1974/75. A 150 maximum individual grading limit was imposed. The initial 7 teams were, it is thought, Arun, Barclays Bank, Beechams, Bognor, Boundstone, Chichester and Worthing, with Worthing being first winners of the Competition.

The Competition was a success and, in the early years, went from strength to strength. A Jamboree event was inntroduced in the second season and the individual grading limit was increased to 160, and subsequently abandoned altogether as the inter-club competition format was becoming more popular with more and more players wishing to participate. A total team grading limit, now 650, was retained. 8 teams entered in the second season, and by the third season in all different 90 players were appearing in League events. From the 1981/82 season onwards, the adjudication system was scrapped in favour of the present time limit and allegro finish.

In 1976 the SWSCL challenged the Mid-Sussex League to a match and won 6-4. This event became an annual fixture for some years. During the early 1980s similar inter-league matchers were played against the Portsmouth League, and the Hampshire Junior team. This year approaches have been made to try to revive these inter-league matches and we are hopeful that our challenge will be accepted ! Other highlights were simultaneous displays by David Arrnstrong (1979), Sheila Jackson (1984) and Tony Kosten (now a Grand Master), in 1989.

Over the years the following teams have played in the league: All Stars, Arun, Arun Juniors, Barclays Bank, Beechams Sports & Social Club, Boundstone, Bognor, Bognor & Arun, Chichester, Emsworth, Ford Prison, The Gambiteers, Lloyds Bank, Rustington, Westergate, Worthing and Worthing Juniors. The early years were domiinated by the Worthing area clubs, but the tide started to turn in the late 1980s when Bognor & Arun, Chichester and Rustington each gained first successes in the league, and in recent years although there have been some very tight finishes with Emsworth and Rustington in contention, Bognor & Arun have dominated.

Andrew found the following article in an old copy of Chess Magazine:

EARLY DAYS AT BOGNOR

Notwithstanding that its chess tradition is maintained in a small but lively chess club, Bognor Regis is best known today for a reputed profanity uttered by the dying George V. Few of us remember that in the fifties and sixties it was a regular stoppping-off point on the British tournament circuit.

Bognor's debut congress was held in May, 1953, and attracted a modest total of 64 entries. (A few years later the entry would top 400, an estimated £80,000 worth of business having accrued to the town from its first twelve congresses.) Even so, the Premier section attracted some well-known names: 1952 British champion Bob Wade, Harry Golombek, William Winter, the South African Wolfgang Heidenfeld (author among other things of the idiosyncratically named Busts I), and Chess Ltd's own Barry Wood, all of whom competed fiercely for the £30(!) first prize.

At the start of the last round Wood and Winter were leading with 4.5 points out of 6, but in a decisive shoot-out with Golombek the Chess editor played incautiously, turnning a probable win into a loss. Maybe his thoughts were in Sutton Coldfield, where the next issue of his beloved magazine was about ready to be put to bed.

Bognor's inaugural congress was agreed by all to have been a success, the various sectional tournaments being diversified with lightning and kriegspiel tourneys and with simuls by Bob Wade and Barry Wood. Not that everything ran quite as smoothly as the organiser, Norman Fishlock-Lomax, might have wished. One local newspaaper reported that Fred Hill, a chemist from nearby Middleton-on-Sea, had to come up with 'a bell metal pestle and mortar' at short notice, when an electric buzzer for a lightning tournament failed to deliver.

NOVEMBER 5, 2007: Bognor's Bonfire Night clash at Worthing proved to be a damp squib for the away side, which lost 3.5-1.5. Draws by Keith Davies, Ray Hunt and Mick Plumb, coupled with defeats for Bill Partridge and Jaimie Wilson, saw Bognor crash to their first South West Sussex League defeat of the new season.

OCTOBER 19, 2007: Bognor got their South West Sussex league campaign off to a winning start with a 3.5-1.5 victory over Emsworth A. Jaimie Wilson kept a cool head to exploit his one pawn advantage against Vince Agius. Ray Hunt and Keith Davies, with a default, claimed full points. Mick Plumb drew and Bill Partridge lost against highly graded Dominic Tunks on top board.

OCTOBER 14, 2007: THE club's tournaments for 2007-08 are now underway. The first matches have been played in both the Swiss and Knockout tournaments. Players are reminded that subscriptions are now due.

OCTOBER 10: Tournament controller Keith Davies has made the draw for the club's Knockout and Quickplay tournaments.

SEPTEMBER 9: In one of the tightest summer competitions for years, Laszlo Sagi won this year's trophy with 28.5 points - a mere half-point ahead of his closest challenger, John Kalber.

AUGUST 24: Jaimie Wilson took the honours at the club's annual meeting. He was presented with three trophies - winning the Knockout, lightning and rapidplay tournaments. Bill Partridge won the club's Swiss competition. The summer tournament winner is between John Kalber and Laszlo Sagi. Celia Buckley won an award for being the most improved player. Following the meeting, Bill took on allcomers in a simul -winning 5-4. Players to defeat him were Keith Davies, Romauld Kotkiewicz, Mick Plumb and Jaimie Wilson.

 

Clockwise, from top, Jaimie Wilson with chairman Bill Partridge, Bill receiving the Swiss trophy from secretary Donald Close, most improved player Celia Buckley with Bill, Celia giving Bill advice during the simul, Richard Lilly and Keith Mansfield ponder their next moves, and Bill goes round the tables.

AUGUST 18, 2007: Jaimie Wilson has won the club's half-hour tournament - he secured the title by winning his last two games in the contest.

AUGUST 12, 2007: AUGUST 10, 2007: Laszlo Sagi beat his closest contender in the summer tournament, John Kalber, to give himself a six point lead at the top. The club's annual meeting is on Friday, August 24.

AUGUST 10, 2007: There were 10 entries for the Lightning tournament, which Jaimie Wilson won, with 9 out of 9. Bill Partridge and David Wallis each got six points. In the Summer, Laszlo Sagi still has 23 points but his lead over John Kalber has been cut to two points.

AUGUST 5, 2007: The winner of the club's summer tournament looks likely to be either Laszlo Sagi or John Kalber. Laszlo has 23 points but John is just four points behind.

JULY 21, 2007: The new season's grades have been released. This list includes all players who have had connections with the club throughout the season, although they may not be current members. They are as follows: Celia Buckley, 24; Donald Close 88; Keith Davies 139; Ashley Eaves 48; Martyn Eaves 90; Paul Herby-Rainer 85; Ray Hunt 103; Matt Kelly 132; Romauld Kotkiewicz 105; Richard Lilly 41; Keith Mansfield 24; Nick Mansfield 94; Paul O'Brien 114; Bill Partridge 139; Mick Plumb 113; Laszlo Sagi 78; Paul Taylor 132; Philip Wake 95; David Wallis 107; Jaimie Wilson 137.

JULY 21, 2007: The club's annual meeting and awards presentation night will be held at The Bognor Club on Friday, August 24.

JULY 9, 2007: Laszlo Sagi is the early leader in the club's summer tournament, with 16 points. John Kalber lies second, with 12 points, with David Wallis third, on eight. In the half-hour tournament, Bill Partridge leads on 6/8. Keith Davies is second with 5.5/7 and Jaimie Wilson third on 3/4.

JUNE 29,2007: The club's half-hour tournament is heading towards the latter stages. These are the current standings: Bill Partridge 6 / 8; Keith Davies 4.5 / 6; Jaimie Wilson 1.5 / 2; Ray Hunt 0 / 1; Mick Plumb 0 / 3; Nick Mansfield 0 / 4.

JUNE 16, 2007: Bognor players offered to challenge visitors at East Preston Festival to a few games of chess - and there were a few surprises during an entertaining morning. There were three victories for visitors to the village hall against club members ... and a few red faces!

Bill Partridge and Jaimie Wilson played out some hard-fought friendlies. Keith Davies, below right, smiles before a rare defeat. Donald Close, below centre and left, about to lose. John Kalber and Celia Buckley, below right, who supplied refreshments, consider their moves. Bottom right, Mick Plumb.

 

JUNE 11, 2007: Every year, the results officer, Philip Wake, compiles an extensive set of match stats detailing our players' involvement in the South West Sussex and Portsmouth leagues. He has very kindly allowed us to reproduce the details on our web site.

MAY 28, 2007: The club's summer tournament has started - and there have already been a couple of shocks. Laszlo Sagi defeated Paul O'Brien and David Wallis drew with Bill Partridge.

MAY 28, 2007: Jaimie Wilson has won the club's knockout tournament - for the third year running! He beat Keith Davies in the final.

MAY 20, 2007: Tournament organiser Keith Davies will be running a summer competition again this year. The contest will get underway in June. Gradings for the season just gone will be submitted soon.

APRIL 27, 2007: Emsworth have retained their South West Sussex League title, pipping Bognor, which finished second. Unbeaten Emsworth secured the number one spot with a 4-1 win over Chichester, which meant they finished a point above Bognor. There were some impressive individual performances from Bognor players - Paul O'Brien and Ray Hunt finishing with a 100 per cent record from two games, and Mick Plumb and Donald Close also unbeaten throughout the season.

APRIL 21, 2007: Jaimie Wilson scored an amazing 5.5/6 at the Sussex University quickplay tournament. He left fellow club members Keith Davies, Ray Hunt, Mick Plumb and Laszlo Sagi in his wake to claim a £50 prize.

APRIL 15, 2007: Bill Partridge has won the club's main tournament, the Swiss - for the third year running. He edged out Jaimie Wilson and Keith Davies, his closest challengers, to become the club champion. Bill defeated last year's joint champion, Keith, to take the title. Keith, with fewer than two minutes to make 10 moves before the time control, set up an attack on Bill's king, enabling Bill to go four pawns up. However, having survived dthe time scramble, Keith relaxed and missed a neat combination which would have led to mate or the win of Bill's queen for a rook. Runner-up is Jaimie, with 5.5/7,

APRIL 14 , 2007: Bognor found Brighton a tough nut to crack in their McCarthur Cup clash. The Brighton players all had grades over 160 but Keith Davies, playing board two, gained an excellent draw.

MARCH 25, 2007: Bognor's Swiss tournament is building up to an exciting climax. Bill Partridge, Keith Davies and Jaimie Wilson are all in with a chance of finishing first/joint first as a result of Jaimie's draw with Paul O'Brien on Friday.

MARCH 25, 2007: A weakened Bognor side ran Emsworth close in the SWS League but the home side eventually shaded it 3-2. Missing Bill Partridge, Ray Hunt or Paul O'Brien, Bognor put up a brave fight but only Donald Close and Mick Plumb emerged as winners. The championship is now down to Emsworth's remaining fixture, against Chichester, on April 24.

MARCH 16, 2007: Bognor travel to Emsworth on Thursday - with the title likely to be claimed by the winners. The current holders are Emsworth, with Bognor winning the league the season before.

MARCH 16, 2007: The club's Swiss tournament could be won by any one of three players - Keith Davies, Bill Partridge or Jaimie Wilson - going into the last round. The draw for Round 7 has just been made.

MARCH 9, 2007: The South West Sussex league looks like going down to a title decider between Emsworth and Bognor. Emsworth crushed Chichester 4.5-.5 in their latest encounter, which makes the Bognor-Emsworth clash on March 22 now assume enormous significance. The two clubs are level on points, although an ongoing dispute between a match between Worthing, fielding an ungraded player, and Emsworth, may yet have a part to play.

MARCH 9, 2007: The combined Bognor and Chichester teams continue to do well in the Portsmouth League. The third team's home draw with Fareham means they head division three, and the second team and first team are above mid-table in their divisions.

FEBRUARY 23, 2007: Bognor made hard work of it against Worthing but kept their SWS League title hopes very much alive with a 3-2 victory. Bognor outgraded their opponents by 647 to 532 points but secured a win only thanks to Keith Davies' win on the final board to finish. Paul O'Brien also won and Bill Partridge and Jaimie Wilson drew. Emsworth's recent result against Worthing is the subject of an appeal because of an ungraded player fielded by Worthing.

FEBRUARY 18, 2007: FOUR Bognor players competed in the Portsmouth Chess Congress - and Keith Davies could be in the prize money. He finished on 4/6, followed by Jaimie Wilson on 3.5 and Bill Partridge on 3. Mick Plumb, in the section below, finished on 3/6.

FEBRUARY 2, 2007: Bognor crushed Chichester 4-1 to maintain their unbeaten South West Sussex League campaign. Bill Partridge and Keith Davies drew, with Jaimie Wilson, Mick Plumb and Ray Hunt winning.

JANUARY 27, 2007: Bognor look to have pulled off an amazing McCarthur Cup victory against Chichester. Bill Partridge and Jaimie Wilson both had good wins, and Keith Davies and Laszlo Sagi are hopeful that draws will be confirmed, which would give Bognor an overall win on board count.

JANUARY 7, 2007: Pairings for the fifth round of the club's Swiss Tournament have now been made - see The Season.

JANUARY 6, 2007: IT was a tough match against holders Emsworth, But Bognor drew 2.5-2.5 to maintain their unbeaten start to the SWS campaign. Ray Hunt won and Mick Plumb, Jaimie Wilson and Keith Davies drew.

JANUARY 2, 2007: Bognor players continue to enjoy full participation in the Portsmouth League with combined teams made up of Bognor and Chichester players. Tonight, the C team pulled off an excellent draw away to Fareham. Phillip Wake (an exchange down) and Jaimie Wilson (looking drawish) pulled off fine wins in the last two matches to finish to earn a 3-3 result.

DECEMBER 30, 2006: Bognor face Emsworth in a crucial SWS match on Friday, January 5. In recent years, the title has alternated between the clubs, with Emsworth the current holders.

DECEMBER 30, 2006: The chess site has now been moved to a new server. It can still be accessed under the original web site address but updates should be easier in the future. The switchover meant the site was down temporarily this week, for a few days.

DECEMBER 23, 2006: The winner of the 2005-06 rapidplay tournament has finally been settled ... after a six-games final marathon between Keith Davies and Bill Partridge. Bill eventually emerged as the winner.

DECEMBER 19, 2006: Bognor gained their second successive win in the South West League - again by a 3-2 margin. Bill Partridge and Jaimie Wilson both won and Mick Plumb and Donald Close achieved draws. Mick Plumb's game finished in controversial fashion, with MP making two illegal moves under time pressure. PW's flag went first but a draw was agreed.

DECEMBER 2, 2006: The draws for the half-hour tournament - and the next round of the Swiss tournament - have been made. Full details.

NOVEMBER 20, 2006: Bognor have got their South West Sussex league campaign off to a winning start, gaining a hard-earned 3-2 victory at Worthing. Jaimie Wilson secured a draw under extreme time pressure to add to Keith Davies' half-point and wins by Paul O'Brien and Mick Plumb.

NOVEMBER 5, 2006: Keith Davies and Bill Partridge can't be separated in their 2005-06 rapidplay knockout final clash - they have drawn their first two games.

NOVEMBER 5, 2006: Bognor's South West Sussex chess match against Worthing, scheduled for Monday, November 6, has been postponed until November 20.

OCTOBER 27, 2006: The club's Swiss tournament is well underway, and initial pairings for the third round have been made.

OCTOBER 1, 2006: The first round of the club's Swiss tournament has now been completed. The draw for round two has been made.

SEPTEMBER 29, 2006: Fixtures for the South West Sussex League and Portsmouth League have been released.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2006: The draw for the new season's knockout tournament and first round of the Swiss has been made. Details on The Season.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2006: Members are reminded that fees for the new season are now due. It's only £47 for adults and £24 for juniors.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2006: Mick Plumb has won the club's summer tournament. Second was Paul O'Brien, third Martyn Eaves and fourth Keith Mansfield.

AUGUST 4, 2006: Ashley Eaves was presented with the club's most improved award at the club's annual meeting. Other awards were as follows: Championship - Bill Partridge and Keith Davies; Knockout - Jaimie Wilson; Lightning - Jaimie Wilson and Bill Partridge; Summer, 2005 - Keith Davies. The half-hour tournament is still running. Chairman Bill Partridge reported on a good season, with high attendance and enthusiasm among members. Subs will be increased slightly for 2006-07 - to £47 for adults and £24 for under 18s - and there had been a substantial investment in new equipment. Next season would be run along similar lines but the club will not enter the Portsmouth rapid-play. A simul was won by Keith Davies 6.5-2.5, losing to Richard Lilly and Bill Partridge and drawing with Donald Close.

- JULY 23, 2006 New gradings have now been issued. These are provisional and are due to be updated by the end of August: Bill Partridge 142, Keith Davies 140, Robin Bavin 132, Jaimie Wilson 131, Romauld Kotkiewicz 120, Mick Plumb 117, Paul O'Brien 114, Philip Wake 106, Terry Peffer 103, Ray Hunt 102, Donald Close 83, Martyn Eaves 86, Nick Mansfield 85, Laszlo Sagi 72, Ashley Eaves 61, Richard Lilly 43, Keith Mansfield 35. Gradings

JUNE 15, 2006: Three Bognor players competed in the Uckfield half-hour tournament, with varying success. Keith Davies and Mick Plumb ended on 3.5/6 and 2.5/6 but Bill took the honous with a highly impressive 4.5/6.

JUNE 23, 2006: Bognor held a lightning 10-second tournament tonight, which was won jointly by Bill Partridge and Jaimie Wilson. Results as follows: Bill and Jaimie 8.5 / 9; Keith Davies 7; Laszlo Sagi 5; Martyn Eaves 4; Paul O'Brien 4 (defaulting to Jaimie & Richard); Richard Lilly 4; Ashley Eaves 2; Donald Close 1; Keith Mansfield 1.

JUNE 18,2006: Bognor players out their skills to good use at East Preston Festival with a chess challenge against all-comers. Bill Partridge, Donald Close, Jaimie Wilson, Ray Hunt and Mick Plumb all participated. Bognor welcomed back an "old friend", Nigel Pestelle, pictured below left, and well-known chess player, Arthur Hall.

Nigel Pestelle, above left, tackles Jaimie Wilson
 
A visitor to the festival takes part in the challenge. Right, Donald Close considers his next move. Below, another shot of Jaimie Wilson.
 

JUNE 16, 2006: JOIN members of Bognor Chess Club for their chess challenge as part of East Preston Festival. Club members are handing out the challenge in a two-hour session at the Sea Horse Cafe in Sea Lane, East Preston, this Saturday, between 10am and 12 noon. Anyone can join us - it's free!

JUNE 14, 2006: Unlike most chess clubs, Bognor is open all-year-round - and the summer tournament has now got underway.

JUNE 2, 2006: Bognor's season doesn't finish for the summer - the club operates all-year-round. Quickplay tournaments are being planned and Keith Davies is organising a summer tournament. New members are always welcome.

MAY 19,2006: Bognor failed to hold on to their South West Sussex League crown, thanks to Worthing's defeat against Emsworth. The match, played at Bognor, saw Emsworth emerge 3.5-1.5 winners, to finish as league champions.

APRIL 28: Congratulations to Jaimie Wilson, who overcame Bill Partridge in the final, to win this year's Bognor knockout tournament. Bill's consolation is shared first in the club championship, with Keith Davies.

APRIL 15: The Bognor club championship has been won by Keith Davies and Bill Partridge, who share first place.

APRIL 7: Brighton beat Bognor 4-2 in the McCarthur Cup - but not without stern resistance. Romauld Kotkiewicz had a fine win, with Keith Davies and Paul O'Brien earning fine draws against stronger opponents. Jaimie Wilson and Mick Plumb had chances to have made the result even closer.

APRIL 5: THE club's knockout tournament final will be between Bill Partridge - also leading the club championship - and Jaimie Wilson, following Jaimie's victory over Keith Davies.

APRIL 2 : The draw for Round 7 of the club's Swiss tournament has now been made.

APRIL 1: The club championship is approaching the finishing line, with Bill Partridge and Keith Davies both in contention. Paul O'Brien held Bill to a draw in the final round and is assured of at least joint first. Keith has to beat Mick Plumb to share the championship.

MARCH 29: Bognor players were prominent in an amazing 6-0 win away to Portsmouth in division three. Jaimie Wilson, Mick Plumb, Nick Mansfield, Laszlo Sagi and Martyn Eaves were all victorious, alongside Aloisha Likhoded, in Chichester and Bognor's amazing success.

MARCH 11: The draw for Round 6 of the club's Swiss tournament has now been made.

MARCH 8: The club enjoyed a fascinating quickplay match with Fareham - eventually going down 3-5. Bill Partridge's opponent did not know to win from a winning position and so both his games were drawn –
the second after Bill's opponent missed mate in one!
Keith Davies beat Joe Coburn twice – being a bishop and pawn up and about to win the exchange and/or a rook after only about nine moves in his second match.
Both Jaimie Wilson and Laszlo Sagi lost but put up a respectable fight.

MARCH 7: Bognor signed off their SWS league season with a 3-2 victory away to Worthing. Paul O'Brien and Mick Plumb won, Keith Davies and Jaimie Wilson drew. Bill Partridge lost.

FEBRUARY 18: Bognor players were out in force at the Portsmouth Chess Congress - and they put in some really good performances. In the Major, Keith Davies and Bill Partridge (including a half-point bye) got 3/6 and in the Minor, Mick Plumb got 4/6 and Jaimie Wilson 3.5/6 (unluckily losing his last game on time). Here's Keith Davies' "report" on last-day proceedings, when Bill suffered the huge distraction of leaving home without the lunch lovingly prepared by his wife, Ruth, at 6am that morning ..... In Round 5 of the Portsmouth Major on Sunday, 19th February, Bill Partridge dispensed with his usual Curry 'n Chips opening and played the " Forgotten Sandwich variation of the Tuna - Kann ". This proved to be a complete disaster and he waved goodbye to a king-size prawn. As the game progressed up the proverbial pear tree, sinking into the murky depths of despair, Bill was heard mumbling to himself "codswallop" and other well known naughtical phrases. This of course did not stop his position from leaping out the deep-fat frier down the pan. Feeling battered he placed his hand on the clock to resign and went off to console himself with a mug of turtle soup and a kip...For no porpoise at all please rate this fishy tale on the scale of one to ten.

Fin.

 

FEBRUARY 10, 2006: Chichester held Bognor in a 2.5-2.5 encounter at The Bognor Club. Keith Davies and Mick Plumb won their games, Bill Partridge drew, but Jaimie Wilson and Paul O'Brien lost. The result leaves Emsworth firmly in the SWS League driving seat.

FEBRUARY 3, 2006: A magnificent performance by Bognor led to McCarthur Cup success against Chichester. Drawing "the first leg" 3-3, Bognor beat Chi 3.5-2.5 in a tight encounter at The Bognor Club. There were wins for Jaimie Wilson - a fine finish - Romauld Kotkiewicz and Mick Plumb and a draw for Bill Partridge, playing top board.

JANUARY 24, 2006: A strong Emsworth team overpowered Bognor in their crucial SWS clash. Bill Partridge and Martyn Eaves drew but Keith Davies, Jaimie Wilson and Mick Plumb all lost, to give the home side a thumping 4-1 victory.

JANUARY 3,2006: AN under-strength Bognor side pulled off an amazing 3-3 draw at Chichester in the first leg of their McCarthur Cup encounter. Although Bill Partridge lost to Ian Judd on top board, Terry Peffer and Donald Close achieved fine wins against Peter Rayment and John Sexton and Jaimie Wilson and Keith Davies gained highly commendable draws with Steve Smith and Ray Williams. There's everything to play for in the second-leg, at Bognor, on Friday, February 3.

DECEMBER 9, 2005: Dates have been announced for Bognor's McCarthur Cup matches against Chichester - they play at the Regnum Club on January 3 and at Bognor on February 3.

DECEMBER 6, 2005: BOGNOR stay undefeated in the South West Sussex League - they beat Chichester convincingly 4-1. Bill Partridge beat Ray Williams, Keith Davies overcame Peter Rayment, Jaimie Wilson lost to Graham Thomas and there were wins for Paul Taylor against M. Hatter and Martyn Eaves against Richard Lilly.

NOVEMBER 18,2005: BOGNOR outgunned Worthing in their second SWS match - beating their opponents in a tight finish, 3-2. Jaimie Wilson and Mick Plumb won and Keith Davies and Bill Partridge held firm to secure draws. Paul O'Brien lost.

OCTOBER 28, 2005: DEFENDING champions Bognor kicked off their South West Sussex League campaign with a home draw against Emsworth. Keith Davies and Jaimie Wilson were victorious, Paul O'Brien drew, and Bill Partridge and Laszlo Sagi lost. In the quickplay tournament, Bognor were edged out 3½-4½.

OCTOBER 15, 2005: The second round pairings in the club's Swiss tournament have been made.

OCTOBER 15, 2005: Several Bognor players had an impact in Sussex's opening victory over Surrey in the county Under 125 tournament. Laszlo Sagi won, Terry Peffer, Paul Taylor and Jaimie Wilson secured draws. Mick Plumb, captaining the side lost, though.

OCTOBER 4, 2005: The club's involvement in the Portsmouth League got underway when a combined Chi/Bognor team visited Fareham in division two. Unfortunately, the match looks lost - Mick Plumb and Jaimie Wilson losing, Philip Wake and Keith Davies drawing, and evenly-matched games between Ray Williams and Graham Thomas going to adjudication. Keith Davies' game

SEPTEMBER 16, 2005: Bognor's new season is underway, with the draw for the club's new-style championship - a Swiss - being made. Results

SEPTEMBER 2, 2005: BOGNOR'S highly successful summer tournament has been won by Keith Davies. Jaimie Wilson was second, Paul O'Brien, third.

JULY 28, 2005: THE new season's gradings have been issued. They are as follows: Robin Bavin 147; Luigi Caste 104; Donald Close 72; Keith Davies 135; Roland Downs 78; Ashley Eaves 51; Martyn Eaves 85; Ray Hunt 112; Richard Lilly 50; Keith Mansfield 31; Nick Mansfield 77; Paul O'Brien 126; Bill Partridge 144; Mick Plumb 113; Philip Wake 106; Jaimie Wilson 121.

JULY 22, 2005: HONOURS were shared at Bognor's annual meeting and trophies night. Bill Partridge was presented with the club championship, Keith Davies the lightning tournament trophy and Jaimie Wilson the knockout trophy and the club's most improved player award. Next season, Bognor will continue to compete in the South West Sussex League, which it won in 2004/05, and jointly with Chichester in the Portsmouth League. The two clubs will combine teams in three divisions and the team may be renamed with both club names in the title and play division three home games at Bognor.

JULY 9, 2005: Four wins out of six gave Bognor runners-up spot in the Brighton jamboree at the Dorothy Stringer School. This was the club's best performance for years. The team: Ray Williams, Keith Davies, Graham Thomas, Bill Partridge, Romauld Kotkiewicz and Mick Plumb.

JULY 9, 2005: Bognor's annual meeting takes place at The Bognor Club, on Friday, July 22 at 7.30pm. All members are encouraged to attend and participate in the meeting, which will be followed by the presentation of trophies.

JULY 1, 2005: Keith Davies won the 10-seconds-a-move lightning tournament, with Jaimie Wilson second and Bill Partridge, third.

JULY 1, 2005: Bognor looks set to field a strong team at the Brighton chess jamboree on Saturday, July 9. Bognor haven't fared particularly well in this tournament during recent years, however.

JUNE 17, 2005: Bognor members challenged visitors to East Preston Festival to a game a chess. Brilliant sunshine was enjoyed by players taking part at the Sea Horse cafe.

JUNE 17, 2005: Jaimie Wilson won the club's knockout tournament. He did it the hard way, defeating Keith Davies and Paul O'Brien en route to the final, where he defeated club champion Bill Partridge.

JUNE 12, 2005: Bognor is throwing down the gauntlet at East Preston Festival in its annual challenge the champions. Between 10am and 12 noon, on Saturday, June 18, anyone can take on a Bognor player at the Sea Horse Cafe in Sea Lane, as part of the village festival.

MAY 21, 2005: Bognor won the South West Sussex League by a convincing margin - the final league table has revealed. Emsworth and Worthing failed to complete their final game - leaving Bognor winners by a massive six points.

MAY 20, 2005: Bognor is running a summer tournament until the start of the new season in September. Players will gain more points for defeating stronger opponents.

MARCH 24, 2005: THE club's knockout tournament is heading towards the semi-final stage. Jaimie Wilson and Robin Bavin have qualified so far.

MARCH 14, 2005: BOGNOR are South West Sussex League champions. They completed their campaign with a 3-2 victory at Emsworth. Despite being under-strength - missing Bill Partridge and Paul O'Brien - they clinched the win that means they recapture a title they last won in 1998.

FEBRUARY 22, 2005: Bognor kept firmly on course for the South West Sussex League title with a resounding 4.5-.5 victory at Chichester. There were wins for Keith Davies, Bill Partridge, Mick Plumb and Jaimie Wilson, and a draw for Paul O'Brien.

FEBRUARY 11,2005: A DEPLETED Emsworth were missing two players for their quick-play match versus Bognor. Keith Davies and Robin Bavin beat their opponents 3.5/4 to win the match easily.

FEBRUARY 4, 2005: Bognor achieved a superb 3-2 win against Emsworth to keep them on course for the championship. The visitors defaulted the bottom board and Bill Partridge and Ray Hunt both won to set up the home side's victory. Keith Davies and Paul O'Brien lost against higher graded opponents.

FEBRUARY 1, 2005: Bognor nearly pulled off the impossible in their return match with Chichester in the McCarthur Cup. Trailing 5-1 from the "first leg", they beat an under-strength Chi side 4.5-1.5. Mick Plumb lost to Alousha Likhoded but the rest of the team - Keith Davies, Bill Partridge, Luigi Caste-Lung and Jaimie Wilson, with wins, and Paul O'Brien, a draw - put in an impressive performance.

JANUARY 28, 2005: Bognor's winning run in the South West Sussex League came to an end with a 2.5-2.5 draw at home to Worthing. Bognor looked like they were heading for victory, 2-1 up after Jaimie Wilson and Bill Partridge had cancelled out Mick Plumb's loss. But Keith Davies drew and David Chilvers fought back from a piece down to beat Paul O'Brien.

JANUARY 7, 2005: An under-strength Bognor side was overwhelmed by Chichester in the McCarthur Cup. They lost 1-5 but there were some fine performances, notably Donald Close's draw with Peter Rayment and a fine rearguard action by Jaimie Wilson, despite losing. Bill Partridge was the other Bognor player to retrieve a half-point, but Keith Davies, Mick Plumb