National Stages 2022

Discussion about all aspects of the ECF County Championships.
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Stephen Westmoreland
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Re: National Stages 2022

Post by Stephen Westmoreland » Mon May 16, 2022 1:23 pm

Yorkshire u1450s had only four players over the age of 18 on Saturday and pretty much in the NCCU stages too. It was very good to see.

I have written to parents and coaches, encouraging them to get the kids into standard play matches. I am loving the enthusiasm to play from the lower graded teams. Everyone is keen.
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Nick Grey
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Re: National Stages 2022

Post by Nick Grey » Wed Jun 08, 2022 10:53 pm

I am looking forward to the semis.

Mick Norris
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Re: National Stages 2022

Post by Mick Norris » Sat Jun 11, 2022 7:20 pm

Yorkshire beat G Man in the Open semi as expected, I am told, so good luck to them in the final
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Stephen Westmoreland
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Re: National Stages 2022

Post by Stephen Westmoreland » Sun Jun 12, 2022 12:02 am

Amazing day at Syston today and saw a lot of friends/opponents from around Yorkshire with the u1650s and 1850s. The Essex team were brilliant, they are a great bunch and I look forwards to meeting again. A massive thanks to the Captains for organising and Mark M as controller. I have really enjoyed the county experience this year.
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MartinCarpenter
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Re: National Stages 2022

Post by MartinCarpenter » Sun Jun 12, 2022 9:25 am

Mick Norris wrote:
Sat Jun 11, 2022 7:20 pm
Yorkshire beat G Man in the Open semi as expected, I am told, so good luck to them in the final
Impressively up online in full already:
https://ecflms.org.uk/lms/node/97270

Yorkshire a good bit below full pre Covid strength but obviously still much stronger than the GM team.

Northumberland and Kent were both quite a bit stronger in their semi, looks like Yorkshire vs Northumberland for the final?

Northumberland won that quite comfortably in the NCCU stages with a very strong team. A hypothetical full strength Yorkshire team would probably start mild favourites.

David Flewellen
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Re: National Stages 2022

Post by David Flewellen » Sun Jun 12, 2022 12:06 pm

Surrey U1450's season started with a brand new team and three players short for a trip to Essex, where their U1450 team easily dispatched us 9-3. Our season will also end against Essex U1450 in the national final, thanks to a rather astonishing comeback in our semifinal against Kent U1450.

Kent had raced into an early 3-0 lead, with two Surrey juniors on debut putting up brave performances but ultimately falling short. At this point, some of the Surrey regulars started chipping in, with two wins and a draw closing the deficit to 2.5-3.5. Victory on board 1 for Surrey levelled the scores, and an unfortunate blunder from Kent's captain on board 9 allowed his young opponent to give Surrey the lead for the first time.

With four games still in play, any result was still possible. Surrey's pathway to victory was made clearer when three hours of relentless pressure from Surrey's board 12 saw his opponent finally crack, and with the score at 5.5-3.5, two draws or a win would give Surrey victory. The decisive result came on board 8, where the young Surrey player found an excellent queen-and-bishop checkmate on a busy board, and was followed by another Surrey win on board 4 - a blundered-away piece passed the advantage from Kent to Surrey, and Surrey's advanced pawns proved decisive. With nothing more to play for, the final blow was struck on board 6, where a previously-even game turned in Surrey's favour when the Kent player shed material.

The final score: Surrey U1450 8.5-3.5 Kent U1450. A magnificent achievement for a Surrey team facing more highly-rated opponents on all 12 boards, and a remarkable display of composure and determination from a young, talented squad. My commiserations to our Kent U1450 friends - they've been formidable opponents all season, and playing chess against them has been an absolute pleasure. We can now look ahead to meeting our friends from Essex in the final with the knowledge that, regardless what happens from here onwards, we've had a successful and enjoyable season.

John Reyes
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Re: National Stages 2022

Post by John Reyes » Sun Jun 12, 2022 5:31 pm

Mick Norris wrote:
Sat Jun 11, 2022 7:20 pm
Yorkshire beat G Man in the Open semi as expected, I am told, so good luck to them in the final
Well done to Yorkshire and coming to play us

Had a good chat to the Yorkshire captain and we lost players to Lancashire because yet again Lancashire don't want us in the NCCU.
someone mention from their team, that there is a Lot of discrimination and we should do something about it

Also we played a 9 year old in the open match on board 16 as well, but good luck to yorkshire and it should be a good final
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NickFaulks
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Re: National Stages 2022

Post by NickFaulks » Sun Jun 12, 2022 10:20 pm

https://ecflms.org.uk/lms/node/97256

Brilliant result, well done everyone.

also https://ecflms.org.uk/lms/node/97248

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Jon Underwood
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Re: National Stages 2022

Post by Jon Underwood » Sun Jun 12, 2022 11:30 pm

I am curious as to whether Northumberland are going to make the journey down from Tyneside to Market Bosworth in order to face Yorkshire!

Nick Grey
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Re: National Stages 2022

Post by Nick Grey » Sun Jun 12, 2022 11:35 pm

Nick we hope you are available for the final.

Jon Underwood
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Re: National Stages 2022

Post by Jon Underwood » Mon Jun 13, 2022 7:48 am

Jon Underwood wrote:
Sun Jun 12, 2022 11:30 pm
I am curious as to whether Northumberland are going to make the journey down from Tyneside to Market Bosworth in order to face Yorkshire!
Appears the answer is no.

Mick Norris
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Re: National Stages 2022

Post by Mick Norris » Mon Jun 13, 2022 10:15 am

Covid-19 conditions permitting, the finals will be held on Saturday 2nd July at the Bosworth Hotel and Spa, The Park, Market Bosworth, Nuneaton CV13 0LP.
Northumberland and Devon have given notice to play at an intermediate venue by reason of travel time in excess of 3.5 hours.
Open - Northumberland v Yorks (they can presumably sort out a convenient venue)
Minor - Norfolk v Devon (where are you playing this Jon?)
u2050 - Essex v Surrey
u1850 - Middlesex v Yorks
u1650 - Warks v Surrey
u1450 - Essex v Surrey

Impressive from Surrey

SCCU 6, NCCU 3, EACU 1, WECU 1, MCCU 1

Good luck to all the teams
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NickFaulks
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Re: National Stages 2022

Post by NickFaulks » Mon Jun 13, 2022 11:45 am

Nick Grey wrote:
Sun Jun 12, 2022 11:35 pm
Nick we hope you are available for the final.
Thanks, but I shall not play.

I imagine I could handle G/135 plus increment as well as the next player, but it is an absurd time control which I have never seen in any competition elsewhere and I don't see why I should have to. Can you imagine a commercial operation such as 4NCL inflicting this on their customers?
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Stephen Westmoreland
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Re: National Stages 2022

Post by Stephen Westmoreland » Mon Jun 13, 2022 4:52 pm

Are we confirmed for the 2nd?
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David Gilbert
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Re: National Stages 2022

Post by David Gilbert » Mon Jun 13, 2022 5:18 pm

It was a fascinating Saturday for any County-watchers. It was Teletext back at it’s best! Live scores were coming in from all over the country. In Newark there was almost as much interest in the Yorkshire-Manchester match as there was in Kent-Northumberland. Congratulations to all the score-inputters - you did a great job. Hopefully something similar will happen on Finals-Day.

By the way, any captains looking for a future neutral venue, the Newark Railway Club, Hatchets Lane, NG24 2AD is a good choice. Well done Tim Wall for finding that. Plenty of space. A dedicated car park. Close to the railway. And the staff put on wide range of buffet refreshments and well as a hot water urn which they kept topped-up. Some rare noises from the bar (we were shuttered-off), but England weren't taking many wickets!