An army of Macclesfield players invaded Stockport on Sunday to participate in the annual quickplay tournament. In addition to the various section prizes, of particular interest were the Stockport League trophies (for best placed Stockport League registered players) and also the veterans prize for which Macclesfield had its own dad's army contingent!
Robert Shaw produced a fighting defence of his Open section title with an excellent score of 4 out of 6. In the Major, Colin Davison was not able to hold on to his Stockport League prize from 2016, but that honour remained in the club thanks to Dave Risley whose 4.5 points included a win over the secretary. Dave won a grading prize too and also took the veteran's prize to complete a profitable campaign. Denzil may have been lowest graded in this section, but managed a couple of good wins.
In the Intermediate Section, the Macclesfield Challenge came from the two Phils, and also Mick and Marc. All recorded good scores, but Phil Colville, in his first congress of recent years, scored 4 points to win both a grading prize and the Stockport League trophy. Phil was last seen walking out into the Manchester evening to spend his winnings on on a family meal.
It was another dark, dank, dismal, dreary January night and Macclesfield C entertained Denton in what was already being billed as a crucial game for both teams to preserve their Division 2 status. Denton had hitherto recorded a win against a strong Chorlton side, defaulted 0-6 to Macclesfield B and then got trounced by East Cheshire. What team, if any, would Denton be putting out?
Denton’s top 3 aka the three Davids were all in attendance and their Board 6 had beaten me 24 hours earlier in the Stockport Rapidplay so the omens were not good. Marc was dropped down a couple of boards to give him some respite and boy did he take advantage dispatching Ivan before the rest of us had finished developing. Team captain David H for Denton must have been rubbing his hands when confronted by his favourite opening and he certainly Pirc’d up enough to end Philcos resistance (that’s enough of that – Ed). Next to finish was the top board where Man with Hat was staring down the barrel. David C pulled the trigger and missed from close range letting the Hat keep his Rook pair. He then reloaded and shot himself in the foot allowing me to plonk both of the said Rooks on the 7th rank to claim an unlikely draw. Onwards and downwards (to the bar that is) where Tom found me to give news of his fabulous victory over Eric on Board 6. I walked back upstairs with a sense of trepidation. Yes, we were ahead 2 ½ : 1 ½ but I knew that David S was struggling and he eventually succumbed to Stan. Whilst the crowd were circling this board the Match of the Day theme tune was being played over on Board 2 where Tony was bringing home the full point and the match after closing out against the experienced Dave B.
A great night at the Queens hotel, Macclesfield C recording their first victory of the season, leapfrogging Denton to climb off the bottom of the table. Some fantastic performances but a supreme team effort to win when conceding an average of over 18 grading points per board. Well played to both teams and we shall look forward to the return fixture.
Stoke league skipper, Phil, aka “Top Cat”, surveyed the division 2 league table on New Year's eve and saw that Macclesfield were joint bottom with just 3 points from 4 matches and thus he had his New Year resolution (so need for a dry January after all!)
On the 6th Macc travelled to Leek to play Cheddleton B. The club champion held Simon, the home skipper; indeed the latter was compelled to take a perpetual check. The secretary likewise held the rising star, Jacob, and then The Cat, Ant and Phil Colville (Philco hereafter) delivered the wins to secure a 4-1 win. Macclesfield went from bottom to top in a division that now saw all clubs on either 4 or 5 points.
On the 16th Newcastle B were the visitors. Dave playing top board played a combination which had a serious flaw but with the Secretary, Top Cat and Dave Mallinson all securing wins, together with Ant's draw, a 3.5-1.5 result was achieved.
Two days later the team travelled to Crewe. Despite a whole day making desperate calls etc, Top Cat couldn't find a board 5 and thus we started one down from a forfeit. Ant's opponent over-stepped the time control and we came back to 1-1. The secretary finally got the better of the League Chairman at the 3rd attempt and Dave secured a draw against Karl. Top Cat's opponent, Neville, always saves his best for our skipper and yet again managed to pull off a win to draw the match 2.5-2.5.
So as we reach the end of January, Macclesfield sit proudly at the top of the table – but other teams have games in hand……..