28/03/2024

Hi All,

Juniors on Saturday as usual  Those guys who played Monday night please bring your score books. 

Adults Monday. We will all be upstairs. Things will be slightly less formal than usual. The club runs karaoke on Bank Holiday Mondays so we wonder down later and join in - well, what would you expect 

Monday night our  Centurions team lost their promotion play-off to Forest Hall Foxes 1½-2½. A shame, but great season nonetheless. Our jedis lost by the same score to Tynemouth D to conclude their very pleasing season. Kai scored a notable win against a higher rated opponent. Finally our Ivy team beat Morpeth B 2½-1½  to maintain a quite remarkable record - in two years running with 8 (last) and 9 (this) teams we've not suffered one relegation. Brilliant considering all the newcomers and due credit to all.

More soon, I will post regarding the Summer activity for juniors soon. In the meanwhile have a lovely easter weekend and I hope somewhere along the line it includes chess club!

Very best - Mick

21/03/2024

We'll start with congratulations to our Hawthornes team and Captain Bob, who clinched promotion to D3 this week. Well done guys and looking forward to next season's challenge we're sure!

Business as usual with Juniors on Saturday and Adults Monday. Both great turn outs this week despite the season drawing to a close - though for most there's Summer competitions round the corner!

Some reminders for juniors - 

Week long Summer Chess Camp. Mon - Fri, 1 till 5. Likely date w.c. July 21, actually the first week of school holidays I think. Please let me know if this is good/not and

Sunday July 7 likely date for our big junior blitz evet at St. Marys. Save the date!

Finally we're moving  'OAP' Wednesday afternoon club to the Brandling on Gosforth High St. 1 o'clock start. And scope will be board games not just chess. Here's hoping.

Nice weekend - Mick

15/03/2024

I have just been appointed T&W Regional Co-ordinator for Chess in Schools and Communities. If you are interested in teaching children how to play please contact me. Remuneration is good but regardless, I promise actually doing this is fantastically rewarding.  Oh, and in future a simple bow or curtsey will suffice 

Congratulations Jonathan Rooney for coaching his Ashington Academy team to the ECF Junior (Year 7/8) Schools Chess Challenge. They won all 4 matches, played some excellent chess and are now Birmingham bound on April 20. Good luck guys 

On Tuesday 26th Gateshead Council are unveiling their new chess tables in Felling and Saltwell Parks. I am trying to get BBC TV and radio interested plus the Chronicle. If you are free and willing to come along please let me know.  

On Wednesday 27th Morpeth Chess Club are hosting a memorial for recently bereaved David Watson. 6 rounds of chess at 10+3. It might be a hike but David was a fabulous man with no bad bones, if you can make it please do. If transport is an issue post me.

This week our Empire team beat Jesmond 3-1, the mighty Jedis beat Leam Lane Comets 4-0, our Centurions team went down 2½ - 1½ at Tynemouth B, Woodbines won 3-1 at Forest Hall (Squirrels), Regents lost 4-0 to Newcastle University A and Hawthorns drew 2-2 at Gateshead (A). So, six teams out there, busy enough week and thank you captains.

Saturday juniors from 10 as usual and Monday adults. 

06/03/2024

Our Charity Day for Alzheimer's raised £425 in total. 31 competed on the day and many stayed behind later. It was just a great effort and thank you everybody for your contribution. Personally stunned and super proud to belong to a great community :-)

Monday night our Salters team went down ½ - 3½  to Forest Hall Foxes. Didn't see it coming but we'll still make the play-offs. Woodbines and Hawthorns both won 2½ - 1½ against Leam Lane Bullets and Forest Hall Squirrels respectively so "Don't be sad" as the song goes. Junior turn out of 30 and 67 at Adults suggests we're doing something right too 

The draw for Round 5 of our Club Championship has been posted, please look out for this and organise your game.

This Saturday, for Juniors it's Competition Day - and the last of the current cycle.