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Players' longevity record?

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 7:15 am
by raycollett
In the Worcestershire League in the match Headless Cross - Greenlands on 27 Feb this year, the combined ages of the protagonists was 175 years :cool:. One of Worcestershire's players asks whther this is a record. Do you know better?

Re: Players' longevity record?

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 7:29 am
by David Sedgwick
This Forum knows better about everything.

http://www.ecforum.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2721

Re: Players' longevity record?

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 8:03 am
by Paul Bielby
On 13th May, 1979, a match was held in Alnwick Town Hall between Northumberland and Durham to celebrate the 100th birthday of former Northumberland President and three times Champion, George Sell. In this match he played on top board against another former Northumberland and Durham Champion, Harry Hunnam, then aged 82. We had hoped to play the match over 100 boards, but fell sadly short. Durham won by 41-36.

Re: Players' longevity record?

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:04 am
by raycollett
Hold on! Can't I claim the Durham-Northumberland match was a 'staged' event rather than one occurring as a result of captains' decisions on player selection in the course of normal competitive league play?

Re: Players' longevity record?

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:30 am
by Paul Bielby
Agreed, Ray. You win.

Re: Players' longevity record?

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 11:32 am
by Christopher Kreuzer
Paul Bielby wrote:On 13th May, 1979, a match was held in Alnwick Town Hall between Northumberland and Durham to celebrate the 100th birthday of former Northumberland President and three times Champion, George Sell. In this match he played on top board against another former Northumberland and Durham Champion, Harry Hunnam, then aged 82. We had hoped to play the match over 100 boards, but fell sadly short. Durham won by 41-36.
Was that top board clash (combined age of 182) a good game, short draw, something else?

Re: Players' longevity record?

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:50 pm
by Paul Bielby
We had hoped that the top board game would be drawn, but no, the two veterans went at it, hammer and tongs. In the end youth (82) triumphed over age and experience.

Something that happens to me all too often these days.