ECF Online Competition - National 100

With the suspension of OTB chess the ECF has suspended the National Stage of the Counties Championship. This is somewhat disappointing for Middlesex as they have 4 teams waiting to participate as they had successfully negotiated the SCCU competition - Open (SCCU Champions), u180 (Runner-up), u160 (SCCU Champions) and u120 (3rd). Each were expecting to go on to achieve great things in the National Stage.

In light of the suspension the ECF devised a new venture the Online Counties Competition in which Middlesex have entered and are doing well. However, despite the competition's success it was noticed that a group of players were poorly catered for the u100. In order to redress the balance a new section has been devised that will run in conjunction with the knock-out stage from 8th August to 22nd August, The National 100.

In short there are 4 Regional u100 teams who will participate in an All-Play-All format to determine the winner. 

For further information read the National 100 on the ECF Online page

For those interested in competition they should register here

Alternatively contact one of the following:

The South Team Captain - Anthony Fulton

The South Team Vice Captain - Angela Eyton

Middlesex League Suspended

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Middlesex League was suspended with immediate effect in March. The League Secretary circulated a message via ECF LMS to advise of the suspension. The requirements of social distancing and the concerns about viral transmission means that it is unknown when OTB play will resume. An announcement will be made shortly about whether the league season will resume or be terminated and the implications of either decision.

The past few weeks has seen a relaxation of social lockdown and clubs may be thinking of resuming OTB play. If so in accordance with the steer from the ECF the MCCA would ask clubs to ensure they consider the implications of doing so and at least use the following in order to conduct a risk assessment in to determine whether it is right to do so.

ECF Risk Assessment Checklist

Finally although OTB play has been suspended this has not prevented Middlesex from playing competitively. They are currently participating in the ECF's new venture the Online Counties Championships. See how the respective teams are doing:

MxA

MxB

Mxu1825

Match reports

Middlesex County Chess Association AGM 9th July 2018 Minutes

1.      Present: Peter Grant-Ross (PGR)/Kings Head Chess Club; Anthony Fulton (AF) General Secretary/Open & u180 Match Captain/Willesden & Brent Chess Club; Adam Raoof (AR) Treasurer; Colin Mackenzie League Secretary/League Grader; Manohran Dilukshan (MD) u120 Match Captain; Evan Beachley u140 Match Captain; Angela Eyton (AE) Junior/MCCA SCCU&ECF Representative; John Walton (JW) Athenaeum Chess Club/Auditor; Nevil Chan (NC) Harrow Chess Club; Michael Bennett (MB) Hendon Chess Club; Andrew Costelloe (AC) Muswell Hill Chess Club; Surjit Dhemrait (SD) Harrow Chess Club

2.       Apologies for absence – Keith Jones u160 Captain; Hackney Chess Club

3.       President Address – N/A

4.       Award of trophies

a.       Middlesex League D1 – Hendon 1

b.       Middlesex League D2 – Hendon 3

c.       Middlesex League D3 – Hammersmith 2 (No trophy)

d.       SCCU Stevenson Trophy – AF

e.       SCCU Montague Jones Trophy – AF

f.        SCCU Amboyna – issued to AF on behalf of Keith Jones

g.       SCCU Harry Wolverton Trophy – DM

h.       Martin Blaine Best Performance Cup – Steven Coles

i.         Martin Blaine 1^st Team Captain Trophy - AF

5.       Minutes of 2017 approved subject to matters arising

6.       Matter arising - None

7.       Officer’s Report

a.       General Secretary – AF reported that he had been kept busy due to reviewing Constitution and League Rules and identifying a number of issues that had to be addressed to ensure MCCA more organised. AF added that 2018 was a phenomenally successful year for county teams which eclipsed the 1967 success – see match captains reports and that it was heartening to see a large turnout for the AGM.

b.       Treasurer – AR reports accounts delayed

Action Point – AF to circulate once accounts received

c.       Auditor – n/a

d.       League Secretary – report circulated

e.       County Grader – report n/a

f.        Match Captains

                                                               i.      Open – AF report distributed prior to meeting no questions raised

                                                             ii.      U180 – AF report distributed prior to meeting no questions raised

                                                           iii.      U160 – KJ report distributed prior to meeting no questions raised

                                                           iv.      U140 – EB informed team finished 4^th and are still a work in progress; an opportunity arose to play in National Stage but declined as team comprised of u120 and did not wish to affect their prospects

                                                             v.      U120 – DM reported that u120 retained SCCU title and progressed to National Stage final where lost to Warwickshire

                                                           vi.      U100 DM reports u100 withdrawn drew to difficulty raising squad therefore team

g.       Individual – n/a

h.       Team – n/a

i.         Correspondence – n/a

j.         Junior – AE1 reported that despite their being money available to promote junior activity it was poor for 2017-18. Her concern was the help available to her to run events especially for older juniors as although there are strong juniors in the county this does not translate to either a junior team or the county teams. More proactivity required by Association

k.       Winter’s trophy – n/a

l.         Ralph Barnett – n/a

m.     SCCU Representative – AE1 reported 2 main issues for Club’s to be aware of:

                                                               i.      There is action to try and increase participation from counties within SCCU catchment area, e.g. Berkshire, Buckinghamshire etc.

                                                             ii.      GDPR – see Constitution

n.       ECF Representative – AE1 nothing significant to report

8.       Constitution – AF reminded Council there are some areas of the Constitution that have been neglected e.g. collecting details of club members, fining clubs who fail to furnish such details. AF also reminded that if clubs wanted to change Constitution then 2/3^rds majority required. AF added that since introduction of GDPR (May 2018) Association and Clubs will need to ensure GDPR compliant, he encouraged clubs to review GDPR regulations

9.       League Rule Changes

a.       Time Control – After discussion it was agreed to include an incremental time control option due to the increase in the use of digital clocks.

b.       Electronic Devices – It was agreed that League rules to be amended to include clause about electronic devices

Action Point – AF to ensure League rules updated

10.   League Management Software – ECF had introduced new software to manage competitions namely County Championship. Software free to use for Clubs so MCCA should consider introducing for 2018-19. This is an issue MCCA had been considering so opportune that ECF have provided solution rather than the bespoke options that had been explored to date.

Action Point – CM to follow up

11.   Election of Officers

a.       President – PGR

b.       Deputy President - vacant

c.       General Secretary – AF

d.       Treasurer - AR

e.       Auditor – JW

f.        League Secretary – Colin Mackenzie (CM)

g.       County Grader – CM

h.       Match Captains

                                                               i.      Open – AF

                                                             ii.      U180 – AF

                                                           iii.      U160 – KJ

                                                           iv.      U140 – Evan Beachley

                                                             v.      U120 – DM

                                                           vi.      U100 - DM

i.         Individual – vacant

j.         Team – n/a

k.       Correspondence – vacant

l.         Junior – AE

m.     Winter’s trophy – vacant

n.       Ralph Barnett – vacant

o.       SCCU Representative – AE

p.       ECF Representative – AE

q.       Non-Executive (max. 4) Surjit Dhemrait

Action Point – AF to contact clubs who have no presence on MCCA Executive

12.   A.O.B.

a.       The question of whether League rules should be amended to explicitly reference disability was raised. No further action taken

b.       County venue – AF informed that current venue Willesden Working Mens Club is being refurbished consequently the next cycle will determine whether will be necessary to find a new venue. Update to be given in 2019 AGM.

13.   Date of 2018 AGM provisionally fixed for 8^th July 2018 – 1^st Monday after Finals Day probably 6^th July 2019 – 1^st Saturday in July)

14.   Date of Fixture Meeting provisionally fixed for 17^th September 2018 venue tbc

Action Point – AF to contact clubs to confirm current details of executive

Meeting held at Carpenters Arms Marble Arch

Meeting start 7:03pm

Meeting ended 8:45pm

Matters Arising from 2018 AGM

a.       MCCA Accounts – circulated to clubs on 30^th July 2018.

b.       League rules updated

c.       LMS Software implemented – see League Secretary report

d.       Outstanding actions – some clubs still do not reply to email, namely Hammersmith and West London, alternative steps to be taken to ensure response from all member clubs

e.       County venue – it has become evident that Willesden Working Mens Club will no longer be suitable for matches, Essex u180 complained about the noise levels. Consequently, alternative venue being sourced. The  impact will be that MCCA finances will be affected.