Bristol and Hereford

Ten days away from home this time and the first time that we have done congresses back to back without returning to base. We started with the Bristol Congress, a four day affair with a rapidplay on the Saturday followed by a three day long play. John and I both played in the rapidplay, but I have to say that I made blunder after blunder and only finished on 1 out of 6. I found moving down to 25 minutes after playing 4 hour games a real problem and in future will probably play some 30 minute games against John in preparation. John scored .

Neither of us played in the long play event as the round times were afternoon and evening. We just couldn’t fit a main meal together around running the bookstall and when we would be playing. Instead, we went off for a meal at the start of the evening round and a friend kept an eye on the books whilst we were gone. We varied our destinations – if we aren’t careful we live off Wetherspoon’s 2 meal deal. Fortunately there was also the Hog’s Head doing a two meal deal, and a pizza ‘eat as much as you can’ for £3.99.

Our campsite in Bristol is a wonderfully old fashioned farm site. It’s on the edge of Western-super-mare and is definitely better when the sun is shining! The shower block is good, with four large showers in each of the gents and ladies. The field is flat and there is electric hook-up. Other than that there are fresh free-range eggs for sale. No TV, no bar, no clubroom, no children’s play area. Just a quiet site. It’s also very reasonably priced, so it worked out cheaper to stay on for a couple of extra nights than to drive back home and then almost straight back out to Hereford.

So, what did we do with our two days off? We went to an auction viewing on the Wednesday and to the auction on the Thursday. Unfortunately the lots that we were interested in went above our limit so we came away empty handed. The day wasn’t wasted though as we then headed off to Clivedon Court – a National Trust property. It is an interesting medieval house that is still part lived in today.
On the Friday we packed up the tent in the morning, headed off to Ross on Wye, and put the tent back up again. In contrast to the last site, this one was a much bigger commercial site with children’s play area. However, still no clubroom, TV or bar and to be fair was almost silent from 10.30pm onwards. When we have to be up early in the mornings to play chess you don’t want noise late into the night.

This time John played whilst I looked after the books. Hereford is an under 115 minor section and as John’s grade is now 101, he is playing any minor that isn’t an under 100. He did very well on the Saturday, winning both of his games. He was then down floated on Sunday morning and drew his game. In the afternoon he was down floated again, and again drew. (Shortly before his draw by repetition his opponent had a winning position, but one poor move and a draw could be forced). Fortunately there had been some other draws on the top boards and the tournament leader was only half a point ahead of John.

On Monday John faced a player that he had always lost to before, and this time was no exception. With opposite side castling it was always going to be a knife-edge game and I gather that in places it was quite exciting, until John decided to blunder his queen, he resigned soon afterwards. In the afternoon John needed a win to put him into the prize money. He got a winning position, which he then managed to turn into a losing position, before finally scraping a draw.

Kite Flying

On Saturday as neither of us had won anything at the British we decided to make the most of the day and spend time in the local area. Our first stop was Herringwood Hills and a walk around the nature reserve there. Then it was on to another reserve, Carlton marshes, just past Outen Broad. We cycled down to the River Waveney, almost opposite the river centre that we had hired canoes from last Saturday. Before we left we unearthed our £1 kite and had some fun trying to keep it airborne! As I hadn't flown a kite since I was a child and John has never flown a kite you could say that we are novices. Afterwards it was on to Beccles to pick up our cooker. I should explain that this one was half price and with our lifestyle we have to pick up bargains of things that we need when we see them. We'd done an internet search for the particular model and the cheapest there was £70 dearer. So, it seems like a good deal to us.

Sunday, another sunny day saw us taking the tent down and then meandering our way home. First stop was Southwold and a more successful kite flying experience. We had some hints from a teenage boy flying a stunt kite nearby - a great help. Then down to Aldeburgh and a wander around the town. Finally home.

British Chess Championships U-100 Section

After my loss on Monday, and swindled draw on Tuesday, I then drew again on Wednesday. It was a pawn and opposite coloured bishop ending. Thursday saw my first win of the week, with a very enjoyable game. My opponent came out of the opening with a serious attack and put me on the defensive. However, I was able to counteract this by swapping off his most aggressive pieces and, in order to avoid a mate in one by me, had to sack a knight for a pawn. At the end of it all we had one of those strange material imbalances where I was a knight for two pawns up. My kingside was blown apart, but, by forcing the queens off I was able to pick up a second pawn and win the ending. Today was not so good - I lost. So I did better in the under-125 tournament than the under-100!

During the week we have been using the afternoons to see the local area. We've done quite a few walks around nature reserves and have been rewarded with ancient monuments that we didn't know existed. On Monday whilst walking along the river at Burgh Castle we came across an enourmous Roman fort. Then on Tuesday we found a 13th century priory with a well preserved undercroft.

On Wednesday, our wedding anniversary, we wandered around Beccles and found just the cooker that we needed, our old cooker being 16 years old and not doing too well. Two days of measuring up the kitchen etc (it's 5cm wider than the present cooker) and we finally bought it today. Both of us are really pleased. Yesterday we had a wonderful meal out in the evening - our anniversary celebration a day late. So, overall, although the chess hasn't always gone our way, we have at least spent a really pleasant time up here.

A Weekend Without Chess

Although there was a weekend tournament that we could have entered, John and I took Saturday and Sunday off. On Saturday we hired a canoe and paddled our way along the River Waveney, 12 miles in all. Unfortunately mis-timing meant that we were paddling against the tide both on the way there and on the way back. To say that we ached at the end was putting it mildly. We also managed to get sunburnt.

On Sunday we drove up to Cromer. We arrived just in time to see a display by the lifeboat and had a good wander around the town, buying some Cromer crab for lunch on the way. Then we headed out to Sheringham Woods to eat our picnic. From there we drove over to Thursford where there is a museum of fairground organs, steam engines and 2 fairground rides (both of which we went on). At 3pm we were treated to a recital on the Wurlitzer organ - it was excellent.

Monday morning saw us playing in the U-100 section of the British Championships. I played a grade 20 and lost (I won't say what this has done to my grade, but it's not good). Last week he beat a 104 and a 110, so I shouldn't be too worried.

Today I had a very interesting game against a lady I had swindled a win from at Hastings. Today I didn't manage that, but, with seconds on her clock to the final time control she queened a pawn against my lone king. An exciting chase up the board followed. Finally, she went to pick up her king, but hesitated as she realised that to move it to the obvious square was stalemate. Too late, her flag fell and the game was drawn. A real get out of jail free.

Walking the Broads

Yesterday’s chess went well for both John and me. John drew, and, after spending the first two thirds of the game a knight for a pawn down, I won. It was also the most enjoyable game that I have had so far.

In the afternoon we went down to Chedgrave and walked along the River Chet. The water was much higher than usual and halfway along Hardley Flood it was flooded and we could go no further. However a treat was in store as shortly after we saw a family of water voles on the river bank. A little later we saw two herons flying past. It was good to get out into the countryside and get some exercise.

Today did not go so well for me. Having looked at the game since I made so many horrendous mistakes that it is a wonder I didn’t lose sooner than I did. I know that I wasn’t thinking for as long as in previous games and it showed. Lesson to be learnt – think hard and move slowly. Mind you, I am tired at the end of the week. Probably the reason why I do well at the start of tournaments and then peter out. John, however, drew and finished on 3 out of 5.

As both our games finished relatively quickly we had longer for sightseeing this afternoon. We went first to Surlingham Church Marsh, a small reserve beside the River Yare. There was a lovely circular walk around the reserve, with a hide overlooking the broad. Unfortunately the only birds that we saw were ducks and a moorhen. Then we drove on to Brundall Church Fen, an even smaller reserve. We again had a circular walk around the reserve.

Now we have the weekend free.

Success and Failure

Yesterday was successful for both John and I. I drew my game whilst John won. So rejoicing all round. Today was not so good - I lost, but John won. I am finding that this week I am playing more slowly and thinking deeper, so I am having very long games, but by the end I am exhausted. I don't know how some of our friends are managing, playing morning and afternoon.