Venue:
Mere Lecture Hall
Salisbury Street,
Mere,
Wiltshire,
BA12 6HA

Roger Knight's Match Report

This marked the start of the season in both divisions of the West of England Chess Union Counties Championship.

The Division 1 match was drawn 8-8. Jack Rudd, Patryk Krzyzanowski, Peter Chaplin and Gerry Jepps won their games for Somerset. David Littlejohns, David Painter-Kooiman, Chris Purry, Jim Fewkes, Chris McKinley and Adrian Champion all recorded draws. Hampshire defaulted on one board.

Hampshire resoundingly won the Division 2 match 8.5-3.5, with Chris Strong the only victor for Somerset. Les Cutting, Stan Wojcik, Tim Wallis, Mark Baker and Geoff Berryman drew their games.

I would like to thank everybody who played for Somerset. Hampshire had the higher graded player on all but two boards, and will be very competitive in both divisions this season. Although the Division 2 team were overwhelmed by Hampshire’s strength, the Division 1 team performed superbly against tough opponents.

The next Division 2 fixture is against Dorset in December, and the next Division 1 fixture is against Gloucestershire in January.

As usual more details can be found on the exemplary Chess Devon website

Venue
Bradford Abbas Village Hall
Dorset


Roger Knight's Match Report

Somerset played Dorset in the West of England Chess Union Counties Championship Division 2 at Bradford Abbas Village Hall on Sunday 2nd December. The match finished in a 10.5 - 5.5 victory for Somerset.

Paul Humphreys, Andy Bellingham, Tristan West, Chris Strong, Mark Baker, Roger Fenton and Nigel Mills won their matches. Darren Freeman, Adrian Champion, Les Cutting, Stan Wojcik, Tim Wallis, Roger Knight and Ivan Stringer drew their games.

Many thanks to everyone who represented Somerset and helped record what was an excellent result for Somerset.

Venue
Norton Fitzwarren Village Hall,
Station Road,
Norton Fitzwarren,
Taunton
TA2 6BF


Roger Knight's Match Report

Somerset emerged triumphant from a fiercely contested Division 1 encounter against Devon 9-7 this afternoon, with the result dependent on the very last game to finish. Jack Rudd, David Buckley, Ben Edgell, Patryk Krzyzanowski, Andrew Footner, Jim Fewkes and Neville Senior produced victories, with Peter Chaplin, Megan Owens, Graham Steer and Darren Freeman drawing their games.

In the Division 2 match Somerset were beaten 7.5-4.5 by a Devon team who held a grading advantage on all twelve boards. As against Hampshire earlier in the season Chris Strong was the only Somerset player to win, with draws recorded by David Peters, Andy Bellingham, Adrian Champion, Stan Wojcik, Greg Daniel, John Wilkinson and Mark Baker.

I am extremely grateful to all who represented Somerset. The Division 1 play Cornwall next month with their unbeaten record still in tact. The county have now completed their Division 2 fixtures for this season, having won and lost two.

Venue
Victory Hall,
Main Road,
Exminster,
Exeter
EX6 8BU

Roger Knight's Match Report

Somerset defeated Cornwall 9-3 yesterday at Exminster. This was another good performance from the Somerset team, and I would like to extend my thanks to all who represented the county.

The victors for Somerset were Jack Rudd, Peter Chaplin, Andrew Footner, David Painter-Kooiman, Chris Purry, Jim Fewkes and Gerry Jepps. Draws were recorded by David Littlejohns, Arturo Wong, Neville Senior and David Peters. The only player to win for Cornwall also has Somerset links- Taunton chess club member Mark Hassall.

Somerset remain well positioned in Division 1 of the WECU County Championship, with two wins and a draw from three Division 1 matches to date. The final match against Gloucestershire has been rescheduled for April, having been cancelled in January due to inclement weather.

Venue
St. Edward's School,
Cirencester Road,
Charlton Kings,
Cheltenham,
Gloucestershire
GL538EY

Roger Knight's Match Report

Somerset defeated Gloucestershire 11-5 in the final match of the WECU County Championship Division 1 season. The result sees Somerset retain the Harold Meek Trophy.

Jack Rudd, Peter Chaplin, Andrew Footner, Chris Purry, Gerry Jepps, Chris McKinley, Adrian Champion and Roger Knight recorded victories. Ben Edgell, David Littlejohns, Megan Owens, Jim Fewkes, Chris Strong and Mark Baker drew their games.

This was a tremendous performance from Somerset, as on paper the two teams ought to have been much more closely matched. I would like to thank to everybody who represented the county yesterday, and everybody who has been part of this enjoyable and successful season.

The next county match is against Lancashire in the national stage Quarter Final. The match will take place on Saturday 18th May in the West Midlands, at a venue that is yet to be confirmed.

Venue
St James' Church,
Old Lane,
Bloxwich,
Walsall,
WS3 2DD


Roger Knight's Match Report

The final score on the day was 11.5 - 4.5 to Lancashire, who held a grading advantage of more than 20 points on some boards. The result is recorded as 9.5 - 5.5 on the ECF website due to penalties Lancashire incurred through selecting an ineligible player.

The only player to record a victory for Somerset was Peter Chaplin, who finished an excellent county season with five wins and a draw from six games. There were also creditable draws for David Buckley, David Littlejohns, Andrew Footner, Chris Purry, Gerry Jepps, David Peters and Mark Baker.

Many thanks to all who took part. It takes a considerable amount of commitment to give up a Saturday in the sunny south-west to travel such a long distance, and face such tough opponents! Thanks again to all who contributed throughout a successful season for Somerset, even though it didn't end on the best note.

As a further comment, I think it was a mistake on my part to enter the Open competition this season. Although Somerset came agonisingly close to reaching the National Final last season under my predecessor Roger Morgan's captaincy, realistically we had not been able to name such a strong team at any stage this season. Our team would have been eligible in the Minor section for example, in which we may have been more competitive.

Here is a PGN file for most of the games.