WITNEY WEEKEND CONGRESS

[Mike Truran]

Open

Marcus Harvey 1st 160.00
Simon Finn 2nd 80.00
Tim Kett 3rd = 20.00
Neil Bridge 3th = 20.00
Paul Girdlestone U190 40.00
Chantelle Foster R1 loser 40.00

U180

Nick Burrows 1st = 120.00
George Crockart 1st = 120.00
Scott Crockart 3rd = 16.67
Mike Waddington 3rd = 16.67
Mark Whitehead 3rd = 16.67
Robin Nandi U160 = 20.00
Pavel Asenov U160 = 20.00
Martin Cutmore R1 loser = 16.67
Adrian Champion R1 loser = 16.67
Peter Finn R1 loser = 16.67

U145

Oscar Idle 1st = 93.34
Alan Papier 1st = 93.34
Duncan Macarthur 1st = 93.34
Peter Lim R1 loser 40.00

U120

Timothey Allen 1st = 93.34
Ian Brooke 1st = 93.34
Alan Fraser 1st = 93.34
Peter Hughes Veteran 40.00

Team

Daniel O'Byrne 1st = 3.34
Alan Papier 1st = 3.34
Sean Walsh 1st = 3.34
Duncan Macarthur 1st = 3.34
Daniel Varney 1st = 3.34
Asen Asenov 1st = 3.34
Marcus Harvey 1st = 3.34
Benjamin Headlong 1st = 3.34
Nick Burrows 1st = 3.34
Robin Nandi 1st = 3.34
Maria Mate 1st = 3.34
Leif Dixon 1st = 3.34

[Mike Truran]

Reasons to play next year:

I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and have never played in better conditions.

I found the event very well conducted indeed.
The setting and surroundings in my view were lovely and the facilities first class indeed.

Thanks for organising the congress - a great venue I thought.

Just wanted to say what a well run congress it was. Good venue, catering etc.

I wanted to give you some feedback re the weekend, which I thoroughly enjoyed. What a charming school with a beautiful setting. Loved it!

Just a quick email to thank you and everyone involved for organising an excellent and enjoyable congress. It was a really fantastic and well organised weekend, with a beautiful venue, so thank you very much.

May I thank you and the team for organising a really enjoyable chess congress. Well done all.

I thought it was an excellent venue and I will be back next year if possible. Thanks for running it, you must have put a lot of effort into it.

Thanks for the great congress at the weekend.

[Phil Neatherway]

I played at Witney and agree with all the comments above. Well done to Mike and the team.

[Nick Burrows]

I played at Witney and agree with all the comments above. Well done to Mike and the team.

Ditto. Lovely venue, friendly atmosphere, best analysis room I ever saw - Couches and pool table! Great fun all round.

[Mike Truran]

The detailed crosstables are now available here:
http://www.oxfordfusion.com/oca/GetTour ... esults.cfm

Many thanks to all for their kind comments about the event. Many players also took the trouble to email the school directly, which has apparently gone down very well, and as a result of which which we have had confirmation that we are welcome back next year.

So player power has helped to secure the congress's future!

[Mike Truran]

Lots of photos here: https://picasaweb.google.com/1044055646 ... directlink

Highlights (lowlights):

1. The venue.
2. My new beard.

[Roger de Coverly]

Lots of photos here:

I'm a little surprised no one objected to a twelve hour day sitting on a bench with no back. GMCCA don't like it for a four hour county match when they have to play away to Lancashire.

[Mike Truran]

A few people with bad backs asked for chairs (of which we had a modest supply), and a few others brought in cushions. We did specifically ask the players what they thought; the general consensus was that the benches were perfectly acceptable.

We also have the option of moving into the school library and/or sports hall and/or theatre as and when we expand beyond the current venue.

I guess the proof of the pudding will be if people re-enter next year. Tell you what - if you decide to play, we'll make sure you get your own chair as well as a special award for services to ecforum.

[Mike Truran]

...... and a nice report in The Oxford Times here: http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/10755 ... _a_winner/

Not entirely accurate in all respects, but what the hell. As Mr Wilde said, "There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about."

[Mike Truran]

...... and now we're in the Daily Telegraph: http://www.witneychess.co.uk/press_coverage_1314.htm .
Many thanks Malcolm!

Games from the Open and Major sections are also available on the Witney CC website: http://www.witneychess.co.uk/ .
Many thanks Alex!

[Nick Burrows]

...... and now we're in the Daily Telegraph: http://www.witneychess.co.uk/press_coverage_1314.htm .
Many thanks Malcolm!

Games from the Open and Major sections are also available on the Witney CC website: http://www.witneychess.co.uk/ .
Many thanks Alex!

Yes! My clubmate Robin Nandi made it into the national press - how wonderful!

[Mike Truran]

There's a nice article about the Witney Weekend Congress in January 2014's CHESS magazine: http://www.witneychess.co.uk/firstwitney_report.htm