Northumberland Chess Congress

Details of upcoming UK events, please provide working links if possible.
Simon Rogers
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Re: Northumberland Chess Congress

Post by Simon Rogers » Wed Sep 16, 2020 9:06 am

Paul Buswell wrote:
Tue Sep 15, 2020 6:34 am
Can I suggest that those who wish the organisers well with this venture send a modest donation, if they can afford it. Whether the event goes ahead or not...

Contact details from their entry form: https://northumberlandchesscongress.webs.com/entry-form

PB
I think that's an excellent idea.
Mick Riding, Alex McFarlane, Lara Barnes and the team, have done a great job in arranging the congress during difficult times.
I'm sure there will be also a round of applause from the entrants at the event, socially distanced of course.

Chris Rice
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Re: Northumberland Chess Congress

Post by Chris Rice » Wed Sep 16, 2020 12:29 pm

Mick Riding sent a message via FB:

"Northumberland Congress Sep 25/27. Ten days to go and we are still very much 'Go'.

63 entries and more are in transit. Some of you will be waiting to the last possible minute - we fully understand that in the circumstance. But if you can make that leap of faith 'soon as' please it will really help us with paperwork and checking!

Updates have been made to the Protocols and Layout document. They're highlighted in yellow. Nothing scary, mainly an attempt to clarify Local Lockdown constraints and Track and Trace. Link is https://northumberlandchesscongress.webs.com/entry-form and you'll see the tab.

Finally - the ECF have posted 'guidance' on their website with respect to over the board chess. We've been nothing but open with you throughout this campaign so it would be remiss not to point this out. But for your reassurance we will cite our latest reaffirmation from North Tyneside Council - "No need to contact the police again or the director of public health, everyone who needs to know is in the know and the rest know we work well under the guidelines given on a daily basis". So the guidance we're taking is from those who are responsible for our safety on a day to day basis - and they are very happy with our stated protocols.

To finish, a big big thank you for your support, it means everything. There's room for more still - so get on board! Northumberland Chess Association will spare no effort in making your weekend safe and enjoyable. And if you've any queries just shout"

Roger de Coverly
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Re: Northumberland Chess Congress

Post by Roger de Coverly » Wed Sep 16, 2020 12:52 pm

Chris Rice wrote:
Wed Sep 16, 2020 12:29 pm

Updates have been made to the Protocols and Layout document. They're highlighted in yellow. Nothing scary, mainly an attempt to clarify Local Lockdown constraints and Track and Trace. Link is https://northumberlandchesscongress.webs.com/entry-form and you'll see the tab.
This seem to be the key legal point, which hasn't been recently modified.
The proposed layout of the arena shows 26.7 sq. metres being required for each ‘batch’ of 6 players
The notion is that a Congress with multiple entries can be "batched" with a new batch for each individual round.

Hopefully if it all goes ahead without problems, the ECF will modify its guidance to support the "batch of six" premise, rather than as currently drafted to ban any event of more than six.

David Gilbert
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Re: Northumberland Chess Congress

Post by David Gilbert » Wed Sep 16, 2020 3:18 pm

Chris Rice wrote:
Wed Sep 16, 2020 12:29 pm
Mick Riding sent a message via FB:

"Northumberland Congress Sep 25/27. Ten days to go and we are still very much 'Go'"
But you've edited out probably the most important couple of sentences of Mick's email "Remember masks are mandated unless you have a waiver to wear a visor. We've had none yet. We are going to have a Best Mask competition with a small prize, so let's see what you've got 🙂"

Bring it on!

Simon Rogers
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Re: Northumberland Chess Congress

Post by Simon Rogers » Wed Sep 16, 2020 3:30 pm

David Gilbert wrote:
Wed Sep 16, 2020 3:18 pm
Chris Rice wrote:
Wed Sep 16, 2020 12:29 pm
Mick Riding sent a message via FB:

"Northumberland Congress Sep 25/27. Ten days to go and we are still very much 'Go'"
But you've edited out probably the most important couple of sentences of Mick's email "Remember masks are mandated unless you have a waiver to wear a visor. We've had none yet. We are going to have a Best Mask competition with a small prize, so let's see what you've got 🙂"

Bring it on!
Best of luck David for the tournament. I'll be cheering you and Brendan on, along with Ben Graff.
It's a shame I can't be there physically. It would have been nice for us to play again.
We haven't played for a number of years, probably it was Blackpool.
You'll have to keep us all informed on the forum as to how it is going there.

Matt Bridgeman
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Re: Northumberland Chess Congress

Post by Matt Bridgeman » Wed Sep 16, 2020 6:03 pm

...and the North East is in local lockdown from Friday!
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/no ... s-18945698

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Chris Goodall
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Re: Northumberland Chess Congress

Post by Chris Goodall » Wed Sep 16, 2020 8:30 pm

Matt Bridgeman wrote:
Wed Sep 16, 2020 6:03 pm
...and the North East is in local lockdown from Friday!
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/no ... s-18945698
No it's not. That's unsourced speculation from a local content farm. It's as reliable as a Sky Sports deadline day exclusive.
Donate to Sabrina's fundraiser at https://gofund.me/aeae42c7 to support victims of sexual abuse in the chess world.

Northumberland webmaster, Jesmond CC something-or-other. Views mine. Definitely below the Goodall Line.

Matt Bridgeman
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Re: Northumberland Chess Congress

Post by Matt Bridgeman » Wed Sep 16, 2020 8:33 pm

...so you are saying the North East won't be on Local Lockdown on Friday? If it's not true Chronicle Live's name will be mud, as national news outlets are picking up on the report ...I see now it's 'temporary restrictions' being the term mooted by a local councillor.

Sky News is running with the story now; https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus- ... y-12073640

Housing minister confirmed but didn’t go into the details; https://uk.news.yahoo.com/north-east-en ... 35102.html

BBC too, appearing to confirm there will a condition for households not to mix;
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-54166256

Chronicle Live probably have the restrictions right, but slipped up labelling it as a local lockdown. Matt Hancock announces the plan at 11am tomorrow. What a potential tragedy after all that hard work. There would however seem to be an outside chance that North Tyneside won't be put on the immediate list.

Roger de Coverly
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Re: Northumberland Chess Congress

Post by Roger de Coverly » Thu Sep 17, 2020 1:22 am

Matt Bridgeman wrote:
Wed Sep 16, 2020 8:33 pm
There would however seem to be an outside chance that North Tyneside won't be put on the immediate list.
Daily Mail headline

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... RIDAY.html

in which
The restrictions will reportedly apply to Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Gateshead, County Durham and Sunderland - which have all seen rises in cases, according to the latest weekly rates.
The lockdown measure will include a 10pm curfew on pubs, restaurants and other licensed premises and people will be banned from socialising with anyone outside their household, as reported by ChronicleLive.
I suppose the interpretation would be that hosting a chess tournament with entries from all round the country is considered "socialising"

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Chris Goodall
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Re: Northumberland Chess Congress

Post by Chris Goodall » Thu Sep 17, 2020 2:14 am

Matt Bridgeman wrote:
Wed Sep 16, 2020 8:33 pm
Matt Hancock announces the plan at 11am tomorrow. What a potential tragedy after all that hard work.
Roger de Coverly wrote:
Thu Sep 17, 2020 1:22 am
I suppose the interpretation would be that hosting a chess tournament with entries from all round the country is considered "socialising"
We are at the point now where nothing at all rides on what the restrictions say; it is 100% down to whether the council and the police make a decision to stop the event happening. They have been watching the CoViD statistics like hawks, and indeed took the initiative to write to Matt Hancock and request tighter restrictions, at the same time that they were strongly encouraging us to carry on with the event.
Last edited by Chris Goodall on Thu Sep 17, 2020 10:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Mick Norris
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Re: Northumberland Chess Congress

Post by Mick Norris » Thu Sep 17, 2020 8:26 am

That's interesting Chris; have they said anything about players using public transport to get to the venue? If you get the same restrictions as here, which would seem likely, then it is essential travel only
Any postings on here represent my personal views

Alex McFarlane
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Re: Northumberland Chess Congress

Post by Alex McFarlane » Thu Sep 17, 2020 9:38 am

Just to state the current situation.

The organisers are monitoring the situation and are awaiting guidance from the Council. The Council has been very supportive but are in no way compelling the organisers to do anything that they do not want to do.

Chris has not been directly involved in the organisation of the congress so anything he says is his opinion and does not represent that of the organisers.

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Chris Goodall
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Re: Northumberland Chess Congress

Post by Chris Goodall » Thu Sep 17, 2020 10:25 am

Alex McFarlane wrote:
Thu Sep 17, 2020 9:38 am
Just to state the current situation.

The organisers are monitoring the situation and are awaiting guidance from the Council. The Council has been very supportive but are in no way compelling the organisers to do anything that they do not want to do.

Chris has not been directly involved in the organisation of the congress so anything he says is his opinion and does not represent that of the organisers.
Okay, but I don't think there's any controversy about the fact that the organisers do, in fact, want to do it. The current entrants can have total confidence in that fact.
Donate to Sabrina's fundraiser at https://gofund.me/aeae42c7 to support victims of sexual abuse in the chess world.

Northumberland webmaster, Jesmond CC something-or-other. Views mine. Definitely below the Goodall Line.

Tim Spanton
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Re: Northumberland Chess Congress

Post by Tim Spanton » Thu Sep 17, 2020 11:58 am

BBC on Matt Hancock's statement in parliament today:

New Covid-19 restrictions for seven council areas
New restrictions to limit the spread of the coronavirus in seven council areas in the North East have been announced by the government.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has outlined the following measures after a "concerning rise" in cases:
Households have been banned from mixing
Pubs must close between 22:00 and 05:00
They must only offer table service
The new measures will come into force at midnight in areas covered by Durham County Council, Gateshead Council, Newcastle City Council, North Tyneside Council, Northumberland County Council, South Tyneside Council and Sunderland City Council.
The measures will affect about two million people.
It comes after a spike in Covid-19. In total there were 1,106 new cases in a seven-day period.

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Chris Goodall
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Re: Northumberland Chess Congress

Post by Chris Goodall » Thu Sep 17, 2020 1:38 pm

Tim Spanton wrote:
Thu Sep 17, 2020 11:58 am
BBC on Matt Hancock's statement in parliament today:

New Covid-19 restrictions for seven council areas
New restrictions to limit the spread of the coronavirus in seven council areas in the North East have been announced by the government.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has outlined the following measures after a "concerning rise" in cases:
Households have been banned from mixing
Pubs must close between 22:00 and 05:00
They must only offer table service
The new measures will come into force at midnight in areas covered by Durham County Council, Gateshead Council, Newcastle City Council, North Tyneside Council, Northumberland County Council, South Tyneside Council and Sunderland City Council.
The measures will affect about two million people.
It comes after a spike in Covid-19. In total there were 1,106 new cases in a seven-day period.
No surprises in any of that.
Donate to Sabrina's fundraiser at https://gofund.me/aeae42c7 to support victims of sexual abuse in the chess world.

Northumberland webmaster, Jesmond CC something-or-other. Views mine. Definitely below the Goodall Line.

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