Cumbrian Championships 15-17 March 2013

[Dan O'Dowd]

The Cumbrian Open Championships were held at the Crown Hotel, Eamont Bridge, Penrith, this weekend gone. A total of 36 players descended to fight for the titles in Open, U150 and U125 sections.

In the U125, Steven Larkin (Tynedale) dominated, with 4.5/5, while fellow Northumbrian Kurt Moreby (Jesmond) came second with 3.5/5, but the Cumbrian title went to 12 year old Holden Davis (86), who scored 3/5 and had the superior tiebreak to Chris Underhill (124), Bruce Wallace (115), and Bill Hardwick (108), who all scored 3/5 as well. We believe Holden to be the youngest ever winner of any senior county title, taking the record from previous incumbent Jacob McAtear, who won the then Under 100 competition in 2002 when he was nearly 14.

In the U150 competition, home advantage seemed to spur Dave McMath (136) to great things, scoring an unbeaten 4/5 to win his second Major in three years. Ironically, his first also came in Penrith two years ago. The whole county was equally represented on the podium, as Richard McCann (125) of Workington, and Jonathan Rashleigh (149) of Kendal shared second-third places with 3.5/5.

In the Open, the results were unknown until the final pawn push of the whole competition! Robert Patla was looking to win his sixth consecutive title, just as Ben Morgan of Windermere had done from 2002-7. Standing in his way was the 1981 champion, David A Phillips, also from Windermere, who also shared first with Ben in 2005. Clearly there's something in the water down there as Windermere can also boast of being home to fellow 6-time champion John Toothill!

After drawing their individual encounter both proceeded to grind out tense victories in round 5, leaving them to sweat on the final game played by your author and arbiter. After losing the exchange, I managed to resist for a good 25 moves played in a time scramble, but eventually lost. Since I had played Robert but not David, David's tiebreak proved higher, making him the newest double champion of Cumbria in the footsteps of Stephen Barnes 15 years earlier. Robert could console himself with only the second-ever sixth consecutive first place finish, and I'm sure he'll be looking to avenge his defeat next year and try for a magnificent seven.

Neil Jones placed sole third thanks to his win over yours truly in the finale, on 3/5, followed by nine players on 2.5/5, in a very closely contested section.

Full results tables can be found at http://www.cumbriachess.org.uk/tournaments/

Open

Cumbrian Champion: David A Phillips (179, Windermere) 4.5/5 Neustadtl_score 11.25
1st= Robert Patla (202, Penrith) 4.5/5 Neustadtl_score 10.75
Grading Prize: Neil Jones (154, Cockermouth) 3/5

Major

Cumbrian Champion: David McMath (136, Penrith) 4/5
2nd: Jonathan Rashleigh (149, Kendal) and Richard McCann (125, Workington) 3.5/5
Grading Prize: David Jackson (119, Carlisle) 3/5

Minor

1st: Steven Larkin (109, Tynedale) 4.5/5
2nd: Kurt Moreby (123, Jesmond) 3.5/5
Cumbrian Champion: Holden Davis (86, Penrith) 3/5
Grading Prize: Chris Underhill (124, Barrow), Bruce Wallace (115, Carlisle), Bill Hardwick (108, Carlisle) 3/5