BCF Centenary 2004/5

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Last update: Friday June 3, 2005 9:44

BCF CENTENARY YEAR 2004-5

Thank you to everyone who has congratulated the BCF on its 100th anniversary, here are just a few of them: -

Her Majesty The Queen
The Prime Minister
FIDE Letter
ECU Letter.
Hon J J Holliday, Gibraltar Minister for Tourism: I would like to congratulate the British Chess Federation on celebrating its centenary.I wish the British Chess Federation, its officers and members, a successful start to its second century of activities.
Viron Tsorbatzoglou, Vice President of G.C.F.: "Please accept and my warmest congratulations on celebrating the British Chess Federation its centenary. At the dawn of your second century, I wish to your great chess family, to realize all the next plans and dreams you have for the British Chess. I know you have the power will and all the endearing qualities to continue with even more success..."
On behalf of everyone at BCM, here's wishing BCF a happy 100th birthday!
Congratulations from all at Westcliff Chess Club
Congratulations from the British Go Association on your centenary! Best wishes for the next 100. Simon Goss
President, BGA

Apart from the 100 Year History in the BCF Centenary Yearbook the following events took place to celebrate the BCF Centenary, appropriately they started at Hastings and, more or less concluded there as well.

1 January	Jersey issued commemorative postage stamps
5 January	BCF Centenary Rapidplay, Hastings
1-5 February	BCF Centenary Amateur, Gibraltar
21 February	Andrew Martin broke the World Simultaneous Display Record. He won 294, drew 26 and lost only 1.
15 April 04 - 26 March 2005	The next results are highlights of the Match of the Generations which took place throughout the year.
15 April	I started the Match of the Generations against 8 year old Peter Williams and we drew the match 1½-1½.
5 May	BCF President Gerry Walsh beat 13 year old Paul Simpson 1-0, this took the 20s and over into a lead which they never relinquished.
7 May	The BCF was founded 7 May 1904. 102 year old Philip Gelman beat 5 year old Jonathan Pein 1-0. Jonathan hopes to celebrate the Bi-Centenary.
11-13 June	Hinckley. Midland Open under 20, 19 –29, 20 and over
29 June	Nottingham. The Under 20s trounced the older generation 30½-13½.
2 July	Torquay Grammar School. A close run battle at 13½-12½ won by the youngsters.
6 July	Norfolk and Norwich Chess Club. Juniors 32½-20s an over 52½.
7 July	Whyteleafe School. 24½-27½ victory for the wrinklies.
31 July – 14 August	Scarborough. Smith & Williamson British Championship and World Major Open under 20 160-20 and over 236.
1 August	Scarborough. David Howell gave a simul against players at the Smith & Williamson British Championships. He scored 11-2 in the match.
11 September	Gibraltar. Stuart Conquest gave a simultaneous display against local youngsters, scoring 48 wins and two draws. This was during their Ter-Centenary celebrations.
11 September	Battles of Hastings. Under 20 54-21 and over 21. Local MP Michael Foster lost 3 and drew one in this blitz match.
22 September	Alwoodley Chess Club. The Lancashire Chess Association team Lightning. Under 20s 17½-20s and over 27½.
23 September - 3 October	Isle of Man. Monarch Assurance. Under 20 57½-20 and over 28½.
25 September	Darwin Shopping Centre Shrewsbury. Under 20 6 20 and over 41.
30 October	Walsall Wood. Under 20 6 – 35, 20 and Over
1 November	Lougborough Endowed Schools. Under 20 18-73 20 and over.
16 December	Singapore. I gave a simul against Korean children and won 6-0.
26 March 05	Perhaps fittingly the last games recorded in the match were played by me against youngsters from the Richmond Junior Chess Club. I won 5-0.
	Overall score: Under 498½ - 20 and over 747½
21 April	Centenary Match between Birmingham, Coventry and Leamington Leagues.
31 July - 14 August	Scarborough. Smith & Williamson British Championships. Special events included:
1 August	British Open-air Bus Championship won by Jovanka Houska
2-13 August	Inaugural World Major Championship won by Joe Redpath
4 August	British Teams of 4 Blitz
7 August	Centenary dinner
11 August	1st British Pairs Championship Blitz
5-12 October	Isle of Man. Inaugural World Senior Team Championship won jointly by Germany and Israel.
28 December – 6 January	Hastings System, a new-style knockout won by Vladimir Belov.

Centenary Competitions
BCF Centenary Christmas Card Competition Congratulations to Gerry Walsh for the winning entry, who won £10 and a Game Over DVD. The runner up was James Bowler from Leeds, who won a Game Over DVD.	Game Over: Kasparov and the Machine Congratulations to our 5 lucky winners who each received a free copy of this excellent DVD, they were: John Collins, Nottingham; Michael Egan, London; Joe Franks, Middlesex; Sujit Kapadia, Oxford; Nathanael Lee, Colchester	BCF Centenary Photo Competition Congratulations to Neil Pennock for taking this photo of Miles v Kramnik. He received one years free BCF Full Membership. The runners-up were Keyman John McAllister by Gary Kenworthy and Williams v Gibbs by Robert Jurjevic.

A number of innovative events took place to celebrate the Centenary.
Jersey is the first part of the British Isles ever to issue a series of chess-related postage stamps.
As I write, I learn that Susan Polgar will make an attempt in Florida in the summer on Andrew Martin’s record.
The Match of the Generation was in imitation of a series of Teenagers v Oldstagers matches in the 1950s.
The first World Senior Team Championship was a success in the Isle of Man, but this will remain a one-off unless another country comes forward to organise it.
Personally I found it disappointing that relatively few organisers made a real effort to celebrate what was, after all, a one-off opportunity (at least for most of us).

Stewart Reuben