1952 Report

The Belfast Club having decided to enter again for the Inter-Club competition on the condition that clocks were used in the Div.1 matches and a speed of 24 moves maintained, we were able to run a full programme of matches.

The result of Div. I was: Belfast 4. C.P.A. and C.I.Y.M.S 2½ each and Q.U.B. 2.

Div II: Belfast, C.I.Y.M.S and Q.U.B. 4½ each. Falls and Fisherwick 4 each.

The Williamson Shield Competition started on Oct. 30th 1951 with eight players: Result: J.N. Hay (6 pts) with G.A. Kearney (5 pts) runner-up.

The Junior Championship started 31st Jan. 1952 with 12 entries on the knock-out system, and resulted in D. Tice winning from D. Robinson after two adjournments.

The Intermediate Championship started 31st Jan. 1952 with 10 entries also on the knock-out system and resulted in R. Jones winning from G. Aughey.

The Ulster Championship started on 19th Feb. 1952 with 10 entries and maintained interest right to the last round, when R. Jones finally won with 7½ pts in an interesting game with R.A. Heaney who had 7 pts.

The Schoolboys’ Championship was again run in two sections during the Easter holidays. The first round stated 22nd Apr. 1952.

There were 15 entries for the Senior Section which was won by W.H. Lees with J.J. Johnston runner-up.

The Junior Section had 13 entries and was won by A. Lees with G. Crawford runner-up.

W.H. Lees and J.J. Johnston were subsequently sent to Dublin to take part in the Irish Secondary Schools Championship on 4th July 1952, where Lees scored 2 pts and Johnston 1½ pts. (The winner was A. Montwill with 3 pts)

The Inter-City Match was held in the Presbyterian Hostel where 25 of our players opposed 25 from Dublin. The result was Dublin 6 Belfast 4 - Ulster 13 Leinster 12. [As appears elsewhere in the Long Collection, where the full results for the Match are listed, this should read: Leinster 6 Ulster 4; Belfast 9 Dublin 6; Total 13 -12 to Ulster/Belfast - DMcA]

Ulster sent four players to take part in the Irish Championship in Dublin, who scored as follows: G.A. Kearney 4½ (8th), G.J. Boyd (11th) and A.W. Turner (9th) 4 pts each and J.B. Steen (18th) 1½. Miss Chater entered for the Premier Reserves and secured 5th place.

The season again finished with a Lightning Tournament which was held in the Ard Sgoil, kindly lent without charge by the committee.

The rate of play was 7 seconds per move and 8 minutes per game and was ably conducted by Mr. F. E. Wallace and Mr. T. Chase.

There were 38 entries (an increase of 10 over last year) and after 9 rounds J. W. A. Mills emerged as winner, with W. Minnis as runner-up.

The prizes for the season were presented by Mr. Kelly, chairman of the Feis Committee.