Revised Papers

[Mike Truran]

PS Many thanks to all Council members who attended and contributed so constructively to the various debates.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"Sorry they’re not out yet. "

As you know, I meant "not six months later"! I do appreciate minutes of large meetings do need work.

I once got moaned at for reducing a two-hour discussion to a quarter page of A4. "Well, X, you asked the same question 14 times, got the same answer 14 times, and I didn't see the point of writing it down 14 times."

[IM Jack Rudd]

I once got moaned at for reducing a two-hour discussion to a quarter page of A4. "Well, X, you asked the same question 14 times, got the same answer 14 times, and I didn't see the point of writing it down 14 times."

Obligatory question-asked-14-times reference:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uwlsd8RAoqI

[Chris Goodall]

I'll throw another thing into the mix. Malcolm's position on ECF governance has always been slightly unclear but the general impression is that he wants a strong international body; supported by private investment as much as possible. It would certainly be unfair to paint him as seeking to rake in ECF members money for his own purposes. Given that nobody in English chess has a better record in attracting sponsorship a better question would be what the current blockers are to that? Grassroots players leaving their part of the shop window an absolute mess might be one factor.

There you go again. English chess can't get sponsors because my local club meets at the British Legion and not at an expensive wine bar? Really? I've never seen any potential sponsors come and inspect us. The county has a neat-looking website, as do several clubs. League membership has been growing for several years. Are you sure you're not doing a David Robertson - setting yourself up as a hero of local chess by dismissing all the work going on elsewhere that you can't see?

[Alex Holowczak]

League membership has been growing for several years.

Whereabouts?

[Chris Goodall]

League membership has been growing for several years.

Whereabouts?

Newcastle.

[Alex Holowczak]

League membership has been growing for several years.

Whereabouts?

Newcastle.

Is that true elsewhere in the country? It isn't true in Birmingham; the Birmingham League seems to be stable.

[NickFaulks]

Is that true elsewhere in the country?

The London League is growing.

[David Robertson]

The London League is growing

Really? How many boards per team last year; and how many this year? And why?

[NickFaulks]

The London League is growing

Really? How many boards per team last year; and how many this year? And why?

The number of players in Div 1 teams has been reduced from twelve to ten, to be consistent with the divisions below. As it happens I was involved in this decision, as the match captain of one of the teams which tends to oscillate between Divs 1 and 2, causing regular disruption to both our first and second teams.

I apologise for this detailed reply, in which I doubt you have much interest.