SEPTEMBER

29th - Railways 5 - BP 3

OCTOBER

14th - BP 2½ - BBC 5½
28th - BP 3½- BTHQ 3½

NOVEMBER

3rd - NALGO 2½- BP 3½- John Lewis Cup - QF

DECEMBER

4th - Home Office 7½ - BP ½

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

2nd - DHSS 3½- BP 4½
10th - BP 1½ - Eastern Knights 4½ - John Lewis Cup - SF

MARCH

2nd - BP 1½ - Eastern Knights 6½
23rd - BP 2½ - HMC 5½

APRIL

6th - Metropolitan Police 2 - BP 6

JOHN LEWIS PARTNERSHIP CUP 2003/2004

Preliminary Round

DHSS 1 - NALGO 5
Eastern Knights 6 - BBC 0

Quarter Finals

Railways 1 - Metropolitan Police 5
Home Office 3½ - HMC 2½
NALGO 2½- BP 3½
BTHQ 0 - Eastern Knights 6

Semi Finals

Metroplitan Police 3½ - Home Office 2½
BP 1½ - Eastern Knights 4½

Final

Metroplitan Police 2½ - Eastern Knights 3½

29th September 2003 : Railways 5 - BP 3

Graham Elkes reports:

A difficult start for the season against last year's champions with some hard fought games. We are claiming draws in the two games for adjudication and hopefully will get something out of this. It was a shame that our new South African recruit did not get a game on Board 8 as they defaulted. I have next game down on the 14 October, but doubtless Jason will be in touch on this.

Play through the game G Elkes vs P Eldridge.

1 J Sharp         ½       ½     S Crowdy
2 G Elkes         1       0     P Eldridge
3 P Martin        0       1     M Broad
4 T Dillon        ½       ½     W C Allum
5 R England       0       1     J G Andrews
6 C Pengelly      0       1     S Nicholls
7 R Eagar         0       1     L Heard
8 A Sadian        1D      0     Default

                  3       5	

14th October 2003 : BP 2½ - BBC 5½

Jason Pidcock reports:

Well, last night's result was clear cut. We were out-gunned and unable to take advantage of the BBC defaulting board 8. The two John's were the only players to score points - John Morton's stylish win was the highlight of BP's efforts (see below). So, let's quickly focus on the next match ... We play BTHQ in two weeks. I am already aware that a few players won't be able to make it - please could the rest of you confirm availability.

Play through the game J Morton vs J Brooks.

1 J Sharp         ½       ½     R Dickens
2 G Elkes         0       1     J Davies
3 S Weston        0       1     W Phillips
4 J Morton        1       0     J Brooks
5 P Martin        0       1     D Mendes
6 R England       0       1     S Chirgwin
7 J Pidcock       0       1     G Pais
8 R Eagar         1D      0     G Snow

                  2½      5½

28th October 2003 : BP 3½ - BTHQ 3½

Jason Pidcock reports:

We secured a hard fought draw last night against BTHQ which saw Adam make his playing debut for the club. We started off the match 1 point ahead on defaults, but the team line ups suggested a closely fought match. On boards 1 & 2, we were heavily outranked and paid the consequences, and a draw from boards 5 & 6 meant we were 1.5 vs 3.5 down with two matches outstanding.

Robin secured his point, and the pressure came down to rest on Simon's shoulders. In a rook & minor piece ending, he held a rook for knight and pawn. His opponent had a supported passed pawn on the 5th, with his knight secured on the 6th. Although a draw offer crossed Simon's mind, he boldly played to break up the position. Over the space of about another 10 moves, he calmly transformed a tightly balanced position into a neat backrow mate with rooks on the 7th and 8th.

Very well played to Simon and Robin for their wins.

1 J Morton        0       1     D Smith
2 P Martin        0       1     K Day
3 S Whitworth     1       0     D Karmarkar
4 R England       1       0     P Robbins
5 J Pidcock       ½       ½     G Mahajan
6 A Sadian        0       1     V Reddy
7 T Dillon        1D      0     Default
8 Default         0D      0D    Default

                  3½      3½

3rd November 2003 : NALGO 2½ - BP 3½ : John Lewis Cup QF

John Morton reports:

A very satisfying win by 3.5 to 2.5 which means that we progress to the semi-finals where I assume either Eastern Knights or the BBC await us. On paper, the Nalgo team looked strong throughout with 120+ on board 6 - but in the event, their inability to field a full team gave us a 2 point advantage which we were able to take full advantage of.

With a prompt 6.30 start, we went 2-0 up at 7pm. Simon played positively but succumbed to a Martin Cath "special"; 2-1. The rest of the evening was very tense, and we needed 3.5 points to win as we would lose by board count if it ended 3-3.

I struggled to hold a very tight, closed position against MacDonald-Ross; the first time control loomed for us both and the position changed into a very tight open position of Q, R & B plus pawns .... with back rank mate threats available to both of us. I was very pleased that my draw offer was accepted - arguably at that point I had the edge, but with about 10 moves to time control and both of us with a couple of minutes max to time control, a draw was most welcome. I also had the feeling that Richard and Robin would come up with the one win that we needed .... and so it proved! Richard shortly afterwards secured a win on Board 1 which got us to the winning post. By 9.30 and adjudication time, Robin's game had progressed to 49 moves - but unfortunately, his opponent had too many threats and we had to concede. Final score 3½ / 2½ .

A very satisfying outcome!!! Well done everyone - especially to Graham and Ryan who secured their points without playing a move!

1 R Holmes        1       0     M Brown
2 G Elkes         1D      0       McDonnell
3 J Morton        ½       ½     S MacDonald-Ross
4 S Whitworth     0       1     M Cath
5 R England       0       1     R Dunn
6 R Eager         1D      0     P Martin

                  3½      2½

4th December 2003 : Home Office 7½ - BP ½

Jason Pidcock reports:

This was one of our heaviest defeats! A huge surprise too, given the strength of the team we fielded. This means we have secured only ½ point out of 4 league matches - let's hope the second half of the season is better for us. The Home Office were certainly playing to win - if they manage to get the same 8 players out for every match I expect they'll win the league.

Thanks to Richard for ensuring it wasn't a complete whitewash...

1 A Ashby         ½       ½       R Holmes
2 T Pelling       1       0       J Sharp
3 H Carter        1       0       G Elkes
4 J Toon          1       0       S Weston
5 R Fries         1       0       S Whitworth
6 M Keane         1       0       R England
7 M Fullerton     1       0       C Pengelly
8 P Biggs         1       0       J Pidcock

                  ½       7½

2nd February 2004 : DHSS 3½ - BP 4½

John Morton reports:

Good news - a victory!!

We had a strong team out last night - well done to everyone for turning strength into success.

We got off to a flying start after half an hour when Steve's opponent failed to show; this was followed by a solid draw from Russell, and then a rapid win from John Sharp. 2.5 / 0.5 after less than an hour's play. I secured a win, but Mitra was unable to force through her attack. 3.5 / 1.5. Two draws followed in quick succession from Graham and Terry that left us with an unassailable 4.5 points. It was still only 8.30 by now, and the pub beckoned. Simon fought valiantly in a horrible position - and nearly persuaded his opponent to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Nearly, but not quite! Hence 4.5 / 3.5 to BP.

It was particularly nice to see Mitra returning to the team after a gap of some years, and it was great to have Russell on board 2 for his first league match of the season.

Well done again.

1 I Salisbury     0       1       J Sharp
2 M Whitworth     ½       ½       R Sparkes
3 P Gilberg       ½       ½       G Elkes
4 C Lethbridge    0       1D      S Weston
5 M Smith         0       1       J Morton
6 B Skinner       ½       ½       T Dillon
7 E Hazel         1       0       S Whitworth
8 J Hughes        1       0       M Milton-Tayler

                  3½      4½

10th February : BP 1½ - Eastern Knights 4½ : John Lewis Cup SF

Simon Whitworth reports:

Well we lost the match 4½ to 1½ and defaulted on the last board due to a mixup in communications between Jason and me (which I should have spotted I think with hindsight ). I had the longest and perhaps dullest game - halfway through my opponent said " I don't think we'll win any brilliancy prizes for this game" - so I am unable to report how everyone else did. Hugh Norton, next to me, said to his opponent towards the end of the game something like " Oh for god's sake get on with it " as he awaited the coup de grace from his opponent.

1 J Sharp         ½       ½     B Hirsch
2 G Elkes         ½       ½     G McNally
3 J Morton        0       1     G Harvey
4 H Norton        0       1     D Jarmain
4 S Whitworth     ½       ½     S Gallagher
6 Default         0       1D

                  1½      4½

2nd March 2004 : BP 1½ - Eastern Knights 6½

Jason Pidcock reports:

Well, it's becoming a typical story when we play Eastern Knights - we lost again by a wide margin. Despite having one default in our favour and time advantage in a couple of matches due to late arrivals, we were outgunned. It was a great pity Mitra didn't get a match, due to a no-show from her opponent.

The only 'success' was John Sharp's repeat draw vs. the same player as faced in the Cup - but as John was feeling a little rough it was, perhaps, more satisfying. I wasn't able to watch many of the games, as I was locked in my own futile struggle, but I think one or two were closer than the results would indicate - eg. Robin's fate was sealed by the clock rather than any bad play.

1 J Sharp         ½       ½       B Hirsch
2 G Elkes         0       1       G McNally
3 P Martin        0       1       G Harvey
4 S Whitworth     0       1       D Jarmain
5 R England       0       1       S Barr
6 C Pengelly      0       1       B Blackburn
7 J Pidcock       0       1       B Onanuga
8 M Milton-Taylor 1D      0       C Moore

                  1½     6½

23rd March 2004 : BP - HMC

Jason Pidcock reports:

Our penultimate match of the season was a disapointment. A few of us had chances to prevent losses, or even win, but we were unable to see things through in the style of the top 2 boards - well done to John S. & Graham anyway (John only needed about 17 moves!).

HMC did turm out a strong side & will be expecting to come second in the league this year. Let's try to steal a victory from the Met Police.

1 J Sharp         1       0       C Kennedy
2 G Elkes         1       0       P Jaszkiwskyj
3 S Weston        0       1       S Berkley
4 J Morton        0       1       G Batchelor
5 P Martin        0       1       M Wickham
6 S Whitworth     ½       ½       M Baker
7 R Eager         0       1       G Monk
8 J Pidcock       0       1       F Moreland

                  2½      5½

6th April 2004 : Metropolitan Police - BP

Jason Pidcock reports:

What a result! We didn't so much as steal a win from the Met Police as rob them blind.

The initial 1 up position from a default was swiftly added to by a terrific demolition job from Mitra - an aggressive charge led to several checks and then a King/Queen fork which left her opponent no option but to resign. Graham then narrowed their opportunity for a comeback by agreeing a draw; Peter was frustrated by their player of the season; Simon also agreed a draw after a two-way match; Steve flourished after a game in which he was in a hurry to lose his queen - an offered sacrifice was not accepted, but later a swap was and then Robin triumphed after meticulously grinding down his opponent. Finally, as the clocks neared time, John's positon was accepted as 'a winner' and the board 1 win took us to our best result of the season by far.

Well done everyone! I know how those Chelsea fans were feeling last night...

1 A Waters        0       1       J Sharp
2 A Barron        ½       ½       G Elkes
3 C Derbyshire    0       1       S Weston
4 B Figg          1       0       P Martin
5 R Player        ½       ½       S Whitworth
6 P Haddock       0       1       R England
7 J Dawe          0       1       M Milton-Tayler
8 Default         0       1       J Pidcock

                  2       6