English Chess Forum

Does anyone on the forum have a copy of the following book/bulletin?

1973-1980 Channel Islands Chess by Andrew D Martin & Richard W O'Brien

It's a 70-page bulletin of the 1980 Guernsey and Jersey tournaments, with some additional material about earlier Channel Islands competitions.

What I'm looking for specifically is a full crosstable of the 1980 Jersey tournament showing the names of Dr JM Aitken's opponents. Geoff Chandler and I are struggling to read Aitken's handwriting which had become rather shaky in his old age (though he was still careful to make the actual moves legible). Also, unusually for Aitken, he had omitted forename initials in some cases.

I can't help with the cross table, but I was his round 8 opponent in Jersey.

Brian Valentine wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 11, 2021 12:57 pm

I can't help with the cross table, but was his round 8 opponent in Jersey.

You tell me, Brian! Yours was one of the names that we thought we could read but maybe not...

John Saunders wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 11, 2021 12:46 pm

Does anyone on the forum have a copy of the following book/bulletin?

1973-1980 Channel Islands Chess by Andrew D Martin & Richard W O'Brien

It's a 70-page bulletin of the 1980 Guernsey and Jersey tournaments, with some additional material about earlier Channel Islands competitions.

Guernsey have a meticulous archive containing all their tournaments from the start.

You've probably already found
http://www.guernseychessclub.org.gg/fes ... yer_uid=12

Here are the names that we know about, from the November 1980 CHESS...

November 1980 CHESS wrote:1 I. Wells (England) 7½/9; 2 J. Boudre (France) 7; 3-4 R. Bellin, S. Conquest (both England) 6½; 5-10 Dr. P. Hempson, A. Martin (both England), P. Van Haastert (Holland), A. Reid (Scotland), R. Blow, M. Newman (both Jersey) 6; 11-13 J. Levitt, N. Bradbury (both England), S. Von Seelen (Denmark) 5½; 14-24 K. Bloodworth, A. Crombleholme, J. Gallagher, B. Valentine (all England), J. Bakker, H. Berrevoets, J. Havenaar, C. Van Der Gaag, (all Holland), J. Hawes (Jersey), M. Boixader (France), A. Shaw (Scotland) 5, etc.

Unfortunately most of Jim Aitken's opponents scored fewer than 5/9 and it's those that are giving us trouble. (The latest Aitken file at BritBase.)

BTW I came across a stash of photos of Jersey 1980 online whilst seeking info about players yesterday, including two showing the late Ian Wells in play against Jon Levitt.

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 11, 2021 1:06 pm

John Saunders wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 11, 2021 12:46 pm

Does anyone on the forum have a copy of the following book/bulletin?

1973-1980 Channel Islands Chess by Andrew D Martin & Richard W O'Brien

It's a 70-page bulletin of the 1980 Guernsey and Jersey tournaments, with some additional material about earlier Channel Islands competitions.

Guernsey have a meticulous archive containing all their tournaments from the start.

You've probably already found
http://www.guernseychessclub.org.gg/fes ... yer_uid=12

Yep, seen it, copied the relevant detail and made it ready for Geoff to input the moves, ages ago. Thanks anyway, Roger.

I think I have as much info as I'm likely to find for Dr Aitken's opponents, thanks to Bob Kane who sent me the crosstable elsewhere (Facebook).

Aitken's 1980 Jersey opponents were, with refs to colours and results from his point of view...

1. Jonathan R Hawes (Jersey; Black, draw)
2. Ton Slagboom (Netherlands; White, draw)
3. M A C La Fuente (Spain; Black, draw)
4. G Bakker (Netherlands; White, draw)
5. Cornelis Van der Gaag (Netherlands; Black, draw)
6. G Keizer (Netherlands; Black, win)
7. Jon Levitt (England; White, loss)
8. Brian Valentine (England; White, draw)
9. Y Fentelais (France; Black, draw)

If anyone can add forenames or correct anything I might have got wrong, please let me know. The same applies to anything else you may find in the Aitken file.

Brian Valentine wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 11, 2021 12:57 pm

I can't help with the cross table, but I was his round 8 opponent in Jersey.

Hi Brian,

We have you, Aitken has written B. J. Valentine. (draw 24 moves.)

We also have an R. Valentine playing for Devon v Gloucester in 1976 and 1982
Is that also you, Have I caught an 'R' where it should 'B'. (two Valentines?)

Although John has quite rightly said Aitken's moves are clear, you have to get used to his style.
especially with 'K's', 'R's' and 'B's'.

Below is just a sample.


White's 32nd move is Kt-K5. It looks like R5 - it came from QB4 so it could have gone to
either square and move 36. is 36.B-K6 looks like R6. But that one was easy as it could not have gone to R6.

Often he does not close his 'B's' so they look like 'R's' but it is usually OK and easy to spot.

Pity he never took more time over the names. It's actually a good job I am using his books,
sometimes his interpretation of his own name, which he writes in full, looks nothing like 'J.M. Aitken.'

Whilst here, Thanks Again everyone for their help. Two books to go.

When finished I reckon I will have done about 1,400 games and at approx 40 moves a game (x 2 one for white
and one for black) that is 112,000 moves. at 1p a move (which me and John agreed on) that is £1,120.

Some photos of the event here:

https://catalogue.jerseyheritage.org/co ... 879?page=2

1. Jonathan R Hawes (Jersey; Black, draw)
2. Ton Slagboom (Netherlands; White, draw)
3. M A C La Fuente (Spain; Black, draw)
4. G Bakker (Netherlands; White, draw)
5. Cornelis Van der Gaag (Netherlands; Black, draw)
6. G Keizer (Netherlands; Black, win)
7. Jon Levitt (England; White, loss)
8. Brian Valentine (England; White, draw)
9. Y Fentelais (France; Black, draw)

Based on my Sarnian activities, I did play a PG Bakker in 1978 (loss in 133 moves...) who was graded 200+, so maybe he tried Jersey later?

There was a JH Keizer who played at Guernsey 1978 and 1980, known as "Henny" from memory.

Sorry if that confuses the issue.

Geoff Chandler wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 11, 2021 4:26 pm

Hi Brian,
...We also have an R. Valentine playing for Devon v Gloucester in 1976 and 1982
Is that also you, Have I caught an 'R' where it should 'B'. (two Valentines?)

Hi Geoff, It's two Valentines

Thanks Kevin,

133 moves! I'm glad Aitken had only a few 100 movers.

Thanks Brian, I figured as much, just confirming.