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Essex v Devon, ECF U175 Semi-Final 14th June 2008 |
PAGE DATE: 21-Jun-2008 |
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Photos by: Ian Hunnable and John Philpott |
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By Ian Hunnable
This unprepossessing building out in the sticks was the venue for a County Championships Semi-Final, when Essex met Devon in the U175 section. The building is known as the “Reading Room”, situated in the village of Stratford-sub-Castle, near Salisbury and dates from 1881. Despite its modest appearance, it afforded comfortable accommodation for a 16 board match; an excellent venue for playing chess.
By Ian Hunnable
The analysis room.
This had an apparent marked tendency to let the rain in, but we had a fine day for the event, so it was idyllic. (This picture was taken early in the match, so no customers yet.)
By Ian Hunnable
Boards 1-8 in play. Syd Kalinsky, nearest the camera, on board 8 was last to finish.
By Ian Hunnable
Justin Baptie on board 1, against Brian Hewson, has just played 13 O-O-O+.
While to castle giving check is a not an unknown occurrence, it is relatively rare. That the moment here captured by the lens was one such example, is a fact of which this photographer was unaware until putting together this caption!
John Philpott
Boards 9-12, with Essex on the far side of the table. Foreground, playing Black on board 12 is Dave Millward against Brian Gosling, while the Essex players hiding their faces from the camera are John White and Peter Doye. Almost completely hidden, top right beyond Peter Doye, is Colin Ramage.
By John Philpott
Syd Kalinsky playing Black against Ewan Walton. A missed win and subsequent error limited Syd to a half in the last game to finish.
By John Philpott
The closing stages: just these two games left, half a point needed. The Webmaster (foreground, right) playing Black against Alan Brusey, had the privilege of scoring the half that secured the match. From the pictured position (enlargement below), the game finished: 45...Kg7 46 Kh4 Ne4 47 Kg4 b5 48 Kf4 ˝-˝.
