English Chess Forum

I have recently read the Annual Report from the Director of Junior Chess & Education and I notice that there is no mention of the ECF U18 County Championship. Presumably we should assume that the Junior Director gives this a very low priority. I have recently emailed him to find out whether it will be taking place this season but not yet received a reply. It would be good for junior organisers to know whether or not the ECF will be running this flagship junior team event. If the ECF are not going to run an U18 county event then it would be sensible to award the championship at the NYCA tournament.

I offered about three months ago, but my proposed tournament format was deemed too radical...

Alex Holowczak wrote:I offered about three months ago, but my proposed tournament format was deemed too radical...

What format was deemed so appalling that someone thought it better not to run the event?

Wait. That sounds vaguely familiar...

Sean Hewitt wrote:

Alex Holowczak wrote:I offered about three months ago, but my proposed tournament format was deemed too radical...

What format was deemed so appalling that someone thought it better not to run the event?

A team Swiss, with (say) 5 rapidplay rounds, rather than 2 longplay rounds Jamboree as it is now. I also proposed smaller team sizes in the U18 to allow smaller counties to enter a team. Blitz playoffs if tied at the end of the tournament too. I thought it'd be quite exciting to watch/play in. There can't be too many tournaments which have a blitz playoff on a team basis...

Admittedly, it might put people off - one complained about the Under 13 event in June being too quick for their players (30 minutes each). I heard rumours of captains who decided that their teams wouldn't want to play in it if it was rapidplay. (This doesn't seem to afflict the NYCA.)

I cited the advantage of my organising it - specifically, I'm based somewhere near the middle, so there's comparatively easy access for all corners of the country.

Given no one else seemed to want to organise it, I found it strange that the offer was declined because it wasn't in the format that the people who weren't prepared to run it wanted it to be run.

It's an event worth keeping. I hope someone comes forward to run it.

Does this event need the permission of the Junior director to go ahead? That does not seem right!

PaulSanders wrote:Does this event need the permission of the Junior director to go ahead? That does not seem right!

I assume the event comes under his jurisdiction. I know Neill kindly volunteered to run it last season at the last minute, because it wasn't going to get organised. He did a very good job despite everything that could have been thrown against him, including football! He said he wasn't going to do it again this year. So, I volunteered, but my offer was rejected.

But was Peter Purland's position really "better no tournament than one I don't approve of"?

PaulSanders wrote:But was Peter Purland's position really "better no tournament than one I don't approve of"?

As I said earlier

Sean Hewitt wrote: Wait. That sounds vaguely familiar...

PaulSanders wrote:But was Peter Purland's position really "better no tournament than one I don't approve of"?

I think it was one of "holding out for a better offer".

PaulSanders wrote:Does this event need the permission of the Junior director to go ahead? That does not seem right!

Actually, I think it is up to the Junior Director to organise it - which could involve delegation of the responsibility, but not abdication.

Still no news - so should U18 county organisers assume there is no event next year?

Neill Cooper wrote:Still no news - so should U18 county organisers assume there is no event next year?

If the Director in question cannot even be bothered to answer emails I presume we won't see him on this forum to respond to some of these questions?

But perhaps another director will.
It also informs lots of U18 organisers that there is still no sign of a date/place for this event.

I don't believe he's in the country at the moment... At least wait until he's back and has had a chance to read e-mails!

Alex Holowczak wrote:I don't believe he's in the country at the moment... At least wait until he's back and has had a chance to read e-mails!

Alex is correct. Peter Purland is overseas and is not, I understand, seeing any e-mails.

Neill has contacted me personally about this issue and I have given him my assurance that I will contact the Junior Director upon his return, find out what the situation is and make sure that Neill receives a reply.