THE Torbay Chess League's annual meeting heard President Trefor Thynne express his delight at another successful season and he noted that each of the league's divisions, and the knock-out cup, had been contested right to the end of the campaign.

Three clubs had been forced to move to new headquarters during the year — Plymouth, Totnes and Torquay.

Whilst this would appear to have an upward effect on some of the clubs, Mr Thynne expressed his concern about the health of one or two clubs and wondered if they would have sufficient players to enter competitions in the next year.

The President also expressed his concern that not enough youngsters were being encouraged to join clubs.

He said that the Newton Abbot Club was instrumental in encouraging younger players and during the season some 16 had attended on a regular basis.

He also said that the Torquay Boys' Grammar School was actively encouraging chess and their progress during the year had been most gratifying.

League Secretary, John Doidge, said in his report that 101 matches had been played and paid tribute to Tony Tatam, the competitions secretary, for the part he had played in ensuring all matches had been completed.

He went on to say that Newton Abbot and Plymouth had dominated the year in the main, although Torquay had managed to secure the knock-out cup.

An experiment by the Newton Abbot club to have an all-junior team had paid off and Plymouth, Teignmouth and Totnes had all been left licking their wounds after an evening's chess against the boys.

It was also encouraging that a young lady, Jessica Mann, had also joined the club and it was felt it would not be too long before she was fighting for a place in the young team.

Mr Doidge questioned why other clubs were unable to encourage younger players.

He said that a most successful day had been held, following a contribution from the Youth Council under the auspices of Teignbridge District Council.

This had been well attended and many of the youngsters had asked if it could be repeated next year.

He was concerned, however, that he had written to every senior school in the Teignbridge area inviting support and not one head teacher had replied. He wondered if this is where the problem lay.

The secretary went on to congratulate Dominic Mackle who had won the Devon Championship and with it entry to the British Championships.

Mackle had also come equal first in a prestigious congress held at Cheltenham.

Oliver Demeger had travelled to the Czech Republic with an England Junior team and secured a 50 per cent score.

Elliott Worsey was also on the brink of an under 11 England place, and other youngsters Robert Thompson, Alex Billings, Charlie Rochford, George Darling and Freddie Sugden had all excelled at various junior events around the country, including the West of England championships held at Exmouth.

Thanks were given to the Herald Express for the coverage they were able to give the league and this was much appreciated.

The chessdevon website was also singled out for praise and the webmaster, Bill Frost, was thanked for his efforts in giving the league and the various clubs much needed publicity.

For the first time two members of the Torbay League had successfully passed various exams to enable them to be chess arbiters.

John Arris (Teignmouth) and Tony Tatam (Plymouth) were now eligible to help at all tournaments and had joined another local arbiter, Victor Cross, in attending chess congresses throughout the West Country.

Mr Doidge went on to pay tribute to Ray Chubb (Teignmouth) for the congress he had put on at the Riviera Centre.

This had been an excellent tournament and drew players from many parts of the country.

On the financial side there had been a deficit of £4 and the league secretary doubted that many congresses could run in this way.

The 43rd congress was planned to run from November 20 to 22 and entries were already coming in.

The league secretary concluded by thanking the match captain, Robert Wilby (Totnes) for organising teams for the two jamborees held during the season that had both been won by Torbay.

The Devon County Chess Association are also preparing for the season ahead.

One of the competitions, the Winter-Wood Tournament, held for champions of each club in Devon, has given Newton Abbot's Dominic Mackle a bye to the second round when he will play John Stephens of Exmouth.

Alan Brusey (Teignmouth) will play Philip Trussler of Exeter, whilst Ivor Annetts (Tiverton) will meet Richard Pollock of Plymouth.

This competition is over 100 years old.

Arrangements are now well advanced for the British Championships to be held at the Riviera Centre, Torquay, from July 26 to August 8.

The Torbay Chess League will have a table set up within the centre to advertise the local clubs.

For those interested, it is possible to see the matches in progress by going into the Riviera Centre — beware, however, if you do go in, silence is the order of the day!

The 59th Paignton Congress is also well ahead in its planning and this will be held at the Oldway Mansion, Paignton, from September 6 to 12, whilst the 10th Royal Beacon Seniors Tournament will be held at Exmouth from November 9 to 13.

Finally, the Devon County Chess Association has arranged two jamborees.

One will be held at Taunton on September 19 with another one in the New Year, and there will be a Rapidplay event held on October 10 at a venue to be decided.

It is worth looking at the chessdevon website where all future tournaments will be listed.