PRESIDENT TRUSCOTT
Following the demise of Longbridge Chess Club President Dave Pugh; our new President Ian Truscott was elected without objection at our Annual General Meeting on May 9th 2024, in recognition that Ian is the longest serving member of the Club he has represented for over 50 years. Mr. Truscott is a worthy successor to Mr. Pugh.
Having joined the original St. James Chess Club at the same time during the early 1970s, both gentlemen have been regarded as founding members, their service to the Club spanning more than 100 years between them.
Having established the Chess Club initially while meeting and playing matches in the Crypt of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Catholic Church, Leach Green Lane, Rednal; and taking the Club’s name from the school next door; St. James went on to win the Birmingham and District Chess League Championship three times in seasons 1985/6, 1988/9 and 1993/4.
Under President Truscott’s stewardship, a rapidly expanding Longbridge Chess Club & Academy will hope to emulate those early successes in the future.
A CURRY NIGHT TO REMEMBER
Pre-season Curry Night August 2023 was exceptionally entertaining with our best turnout in recent times.
Roy’s bus hadn’t turned up but he arrived on the next. Tony Boyle didn’t make an appearance. Leigh had sent his apologies as did Brij. Stephen also missed a fabulous night – but we will keep inviting everyone to our various Curry Nights.
After a pleasant gathering at the Black Horse, we moved to Rumana’s, where 13 would eventually sit to dinner. It was a bit Agatha Christie, but with only a victimless crime; Kevin murdering a veg curry; wolfing it down as hunger struck.
Having reached retirement age, I prepared for my birthday meal, another Rumana’s Takeaway, by wishing Tom a happy birthday too, and subsequently produced my own plastic doggie bag container, into which I proceeded to scoop several helpings of Chicken Biryani adding to half my mixed tandoori starter. Together with loving spoonfuls from our platter of poppadom accoutrement; three dipsticks had made their way onto my table. With dips heaped into my doggie bag; it caused much amusement for myself, Ken, Kevin and Roy seated at our separate table.
I’d earlier undertaken a Secretarial preamble to Rumana’s to discuss our needs. Shimon the head waiter had kindly intervened on our behalf, to ask a couple of guys to move tables so that Chess Club could be accommodated – they hadn’t started their meal yet. I later overheard one of those chaps talk about how he played chess but I didn’t feel like pursuing a conversation. I’d already thanked them for agreeing to move.
If my Longbridge T Shirt was not advertisement enough, so be it.
Following Thursday’s Academy the previous night, a 47th chess player investigated the President’s Suite. This is an astonishing uptake in membership, proving we are an extraordinary Club on the rise. It will not end membership growth at Academy and Club for this year. I am constantly contacted by new people on a weekly basis as the resurgence in chess takes hold. We might need a bigger restaurant the way things are going!
Despite the slightly disconnected feeling one end of the dining table normally has from the conversations occurring at the other end; we all enjoyed the ambience and jovial atmosphere.
Gavin arrived only after my timely call to remind him it was a Curry Night experience not to be missed, and Rob made it 13 at around 8pm.
I passed out a few BDCL Handbooks for league players, that Peter had brought along earlier.
The late arrivals seemed to forego starters, but nobody moaned. As you can see from the photo, all three sporting beaming smiles when Rumana took a snapshot of the moment.
I hugged chef as usual and expressed our appreciation of the quality fayre chef had once more produced having slaved over a hot stove. Later, I made an awkward gesture to hug Rumana as I left the restaurant, the main body of Chess Club having already departed. A culturally inept idea but accepted with graciousness by our host Rumana, daughter of chef, and mother to the smallest of the toddlers that had enjoyed an evening of drawing materials in the background.
Donations to Club Proceeds were unexpectedly low as we tried to separate the Card-carrying public from normal chess players. Rumana unravelled the £238 bill for us. It was well worth it, thus our “Cash is King” contingent facing a bill of £150, offered our usual 10% tip for the hard-working waiters. Not to worry, £10 in proceeds will suffice. Our generosity knows no bounds.
Donations are always welcome. I merely mention it so as to highlight that Chess Club is now in a strong position for the current financial year following summer’s overwhelming influx of newcomers. Club could easily have afforded a bottle of Champagne if truth be told, in celebration of a thankful Club Secretary, that the event had been a spectacular success, to rival any.
I want to thank everyone for attending and for making the evening such fun.
This is what Club life is all about… 🙂
SUMMER CUP WINNERS:
Thursday August 24th 2023.
Venue: Longbridge.
Towers Summer Cup “Open” finalists Redditch beat Worcester 3-1; while Longbridge drew 2-2 with Worcester in the Under-1650 final, Longbridge narrowly losing on board count.
TOWER’S SUMMER CUP Thu 24th Aug 2023
| Board | Home | Worcester | Redditch | Away | |
| 1 (White) | 2045 | Mellor, Stephen D | 0 – 1 | Hosken, Nigel K | 2086 |
| 2 (Black) | 1846 | Rastall, Joe | 0 – 1 | Lambourne, Daniel M | 2083 |
| 3 (White) | 1660 | Oxtoby, Scott | 1 – 0 | Evans, Harry G | 1964 |
| 4 (Black) | 1612 | Lee, Chris | 0 – 1 | Zbircea, Mihai Horia | 1823 |
| Total | 7163 | 1 – 3 | Total | 7956 |
UNDER-1650 SUMMER CUP Thu 24th Aug 2023
| Board | Home | Worcester | Longbridge | Away | |
| 1 (Black) | 1608 | Flynn, Seamus | 1 – 0 | Truscott, Ian M | 1624 |
| 2 (White) | 1585 | Kirkland, Arnold G | 0 – 1 | Bignall, Paul | 1494 |
| 3 (Black) | 1510 | Cleak, David | ½ – ½ | Angel, Elias | 1477 |
| 4 (White) | 1337 | Griffiths, Aiden | ½ – ½ | Woodhouse, Monty | 1743 |
| Total | 6040 | 2 – 2 | Total | 6338 |
NEW INITIATIVES
Thanks to Jonathan Swindells who gave Longbridge Chess Club a stimulating Simultaneous Display, more than Jonathan’s 15 opponents benefited from an excellent evening of entertainment.
Everyone enjoyed the event which goes down as another fabulous evening of fun. A pity a few people weren’t able to make it that would have taken part if they could. Unavoidably detained were Stephen Woodhouse following an ECF meeting and Nam Nguyen who played three games in the National Schools Chess Championships over the course of Thursday June 29th 2023 and the following day. Three other players were unable to attend Jonathan’s Simul’ although they would have liked to have been there.
Most notable amongst the faithful were the two winners Gavin Cartwright and Roy Peters, plus a special mention goes to Elias Angel as he fought out an exceptional draw with his father watching on.
This event along with other Summer activities marks a new beginning for the Chess Club and followed one of the best Academy sessions we’ve seen. It occurred during a week that saw our Junior ranks reach a dozen eager youngsters for the first time.
In a week in which three more adults showed signs of joining the Club; everything looks rosy on the horizon from a Longbridge perspective, with plenty more exciting events yet to come…
Hosting Redditch Home matches has been a successful aside to our normal Club schedule.
Our new Longbridge Club webpage at the LMS website; allowed for the start of four Internal Club “Standard Play 45/30” and “Rapid Play 20/10” Rated tournaments.
Later in the Summer, Longbridge will also host the Towers Summer Cup final together with the Under-1650 Summer Cup final – which involves Redditch vs Longbridge in each case. Worcester entertained the possibility of their participation.
Longbridge will continue to build a bright new future with awesome initiatives, and will continue to set new benchmarks as a Club that has a lot more to offer than the average. The local Chess community may not be aware of our Club entirely as yet, but “Watch this space”, Longbridge Chess Club is definitely on the ECF map.
LONGBRIDGE CHAMPIONS
A successful second season culminated in Longbridge winning the Worcestershire Challengers’ League 2022/23...
THIRD PLACE FOR GAVIN
I’m pleased to announce that Gavin Cartwright came 3rd in the 32nd Birmingham Rapid tournament Under 2000 Major section, held at Quinborne Community Centre on October 30th 2022.
According to Gavin, his performance shows what can be achieved even after a dodgy start. His first game was a good win where his opponent was attacking but Gavin created some threats which his opponent got too worried about.
Gavin then blundered a piece in the opening of his 2nd game and found himself the exchange down in the opening of his 3rd round encounter. Instead of getting disheartened, Gavin reports that he carried on trying to have fun and won his last 4 rounds on the bounce. Including beating the highest rated player in the tournament in the final round of seven. A couple of opponents had quite nice attacks but Gavin prevailed.
With the top two players listed as having no club, accumulating 6½ and 5½ in 1st and 2nd place; Gavin representing Longbridge proudly scored a total of 5 points, finishing a respectable 3rd in a field of 32 players from all over the country.
http://chess-results.com/tnr690457.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=7&flag=30
LONGBRIDGE CHESS ACADEMY & PRESIDENT’S CLUB
The return of Chess Academy is an achievement of patience and time – albeit under a new name! Strength and passion as Academy Coordinator seen over the past 5 years, Steve Crees helped create a vibrant atmosphere at the former club which still receives many complimentary acknowledgements from visiting club players.
The new home of Academy will be the President’s Suite at the Austin Sports and Social Club between 5:30pm and 7pm every Thursday evening – which will often be followed by Match Night until 10:30pm which many students remain in attendance.
Longbridge Chess Club can not only recreate the experience for a new generation of youngsters but can surpass all expectation in such a great venue. Tiomi; having escaped the war in Ukraine with his mother, grandmother and baby sister, is just one of our new Academy Juniors.
At £20 per Student for Longbridge membership for a whole year, May 1st until April 30th, continues Steve’s commitment to providing quality at an affordable price. Unfortunately, Chess Club can no longer sustain this facility free of charge as once it did. The safe space within the President’s Suite more than compensates.
Steve and other highly rated players will coach Students, using a variety of techniques that includes computer technology and other teaching materials.
Achievement Certificates, Prizes and Trophies will once again punctuate the progress Students can attain. Usually, with a smile, enthusiasm is palpable to see.
https://longbridgechess.wordpress.com/academy/
CURRY NIGHT IS BACK!
Rumana’s, set amongst the front row houses of the Bristol Road, a stone’s throw from the Black Horse pub; once again provided a meal of exceptional quality. Chef excelled, as he has done so many times before.
My first order of duty was to hand out our new, slightly snazzy Lifetime Membership Cards to club members assembled, and prompted by Kevin; an interested chap was also engaged in our recruitment drive.
We took to sitting outside amongst a vibrant garden patio crowd, before Richard clobbered Kevin with an accidental punch, which I completely missed. We headed for Rumana’s at 7pm. It was a lovely warm evening ahead of the main event, with place settings for 16; but with only ten of us sitting to dine.
Unfortunately, Katie had texted that she was suffering from a headache, and jealous of the fact I was just tucking into a poppadom. Lovely.
Sam and Ozzy were likely just as disappointed to have missed the meal.
I sat opposite Kevin and Phil, with John at one end of the table, while John Lennon, Leigh, Richard, Roy, Tita and Ian stretched toward the far end, the night peering-in from the street window.
Sorry, that’s Matt, not an ex-Beatle back from a bad trip visiting the maharishi.
With Kevin back at his seat having taken photos, the very pleasant waitress took this photo.
I hid from another image rights infringement while Phil took to transcendental meditation; indulging in a late starter, devouring two Onion Bhaji.
I busily shuffled away most of three starters into a Rumana’s plastic tub from a previous takeaway: and with mixed tandoori kebab, vegetable samosa and onion bhaji doggy bag; I later spiced-up the evening for my son. Kev wondered why I hadn’t invited Pete: good question!
Richard had picked up his wife’s phone by mistake but had forgotten a beer. John had bought a round in the pub earlier; for which I am entirely thankful.
John’s tipple was a cider to complement an undecided deliberation over which meal to settle upon. My foresight had been to provide my friend Richard with a bottle of Wainwright, a golden beer of which Richard is entirely familiar. I preferred myself to discover a slightly higher volume of proof: there be Hobgoblins at Longbridge Chess Club. Laurence was conspicuous by his absence from Curry Night but had been spotted at the Black Horse, miserable in the guise of some other old git.
Forgive my natural irreverence, what fun it all was.
Leigh had offered me a couple of cans of Stella. Roy hadn’t chosen his usual vindaloo but had gone for a flaming hot Bengal tiger, I shouldn’t wonder. I couldn’t really say. Roy, Tita and Ian seemed almost as far away as the subcontinent. Through blurred vision, I occasionally spotted them sitting at the other end of the dining table. The ambience of Rumana’s, as perfect as it is, begins to lose focus, until the bill arrives following the After Eight mints.
The bill provided opportunity for Chess Club to subtract £25 from our combined generosity, depriving the pleasant staff of a more sizeable tip than deserved – it still left them more than 10%, so who’s complaining? Ian, of course!
My £25 passed along one side of the table, only for it to return once our treasurer Richard had fulfilled his role as grand totter-upper! Thus; £25 by way of “Curry Night proceeds,” provides a small flow of Petty Cash with which I can purchase much needed curiosities for the post-Covid match night era.
How the world has changed! It’s good to be back amongst the living, doing what we do best. Let’s hope Christmas isn’t cancelled. December 16th… I can’t wait: I’m tucking into my doggy bag first chance I get!
LONGBRIDGE OFFICIAL
Longbridge Chess Club came into being officially, at the Special Meeting of August 24th 2021. Amongst the items discussed were naming the club, ratifying the Chess Club Constitution, allowing the Committee to continue until AGM May 2022, and our collective standpoint on Covid 19.
Following the meeting; Roy, Kevin, Andrew and myself formed the emergence of the Longbridge Chess Club Snooker team. We’ll soon add a Darts team, and possibly other pastimes will distract us from chess. I wonder if they’ll let us kick a ball about of a summer evening?
Our side of the snooker room positively revelled in camaraderie and proved Chess Club is not all about chess. There’s something brewing at the Austin, and it’s not just a pint of Bombardier! Everyone is welcome to join the fun.
This may not be what life is all about; but it’s close!
The Games Room is excellent: we just need a Garden Set and some carpet bowls…
LONGBRIDGE LIVES
Reborn after the Covid-19 pandemic and an unceremonious eviction that left our former club Greenlands reeling; the new theoretical Longbridge Chess Club danced in limbo for month after month during lockdown.
In theory; the Club was still growing online, despite uncertainty.
Interspersed with the occasional meeting at our former Greenlands venue and subjected to a distasteful variety of unsavoury characters; finally the month of June 2021 saw Wednesdays in my living room. This was a reminder for a gathering of players that we still existed albeit in our imagination.
Success had come in the online West Midlands Area League as Longbridge took the coveted title of Spring 2021 Champions.
With the advent of lockdown easing and new government guidelines; we began our eagerly awaited return to life over-the-board at the Austin Sports and Social Club on July 27th 2021.
At least the first of our double vaccinated membership had arrived to a warm and celebrated welcome.
LONGBRIDGE CHESS CLUB 