9 April 2018
The Blackpool Congress, one of the biggest and best in the country, occupied the 2nd weekend of March. But this year only 3 Limewood members were there to enjoy the delights of this paradise-by-the-sea. Last year there were five (see ‘Five go mad in Blackpool’).
Tom Leah was our sole representative in the Open – his first appearance there. Three of his five opponents were graded over 190 – a none-too-gentle introduction. He beat both the other two. It may have been his first Blackpool congress but Tom was on familiar ground – the Fylde is his home territory.
John Light and Barry Fulthorpe carried the Limewood flag in the Standard tournament, both finishing with a very respectable 2½ points.
John’s score came from 3 draws and a win, all against opponents graded over 100. Barry scored 2 straight wins (opponents graded 107 and 99) and took one ½-point bye. For both of them it was a very welcome improvement on their results last year.
There were surprisingly few other players from the Leeds Leagues but in the Standard tournament our members would have noticed Dave Summerland (2½ points) Sylvan Clarke and Ken Marsden (2 points each). In the Minor were Dale Cullum (joint 1st with 4½), Paul Gelder (3) and Ian Strickland (2½). In the Intermediate there was Dave Shapland (also joint 1st with 4½) and in the Major were Tony Slinger (4), Firas Almazedi (3½) and John Cawston (1).
Next year’s ‘Blackpool’ is on the weekend of 8-10 March 2019. Time to get training for it now.