NCCU HISTORY
History
of the counties who
constitute the NCCU
Northumberland
Chess Association (John
Wheeler)
The
Northumberland Chess Association was founded in 1930, and is thus one of the
youngest members of the NCCU. Chess in the county has of course a much longer
history. Newcastle Chess Club was founded in the early 1840’s – dates are a
little hazy – and was for many decades the focus of chess activity, albeit
with many changes of name and premises. The formation of the County Association
was triggered by the success of our neighbours, Durham, in fielding a county
team in NCCU matches containing many Northumberland players. A group of players
felt that Northumberland should stand on its own feet within the NCCU, although
for some years afterwards, a combined Durham & Northumberland team was
maintained.
To inaugurate the Association, its first President, Louis Zollner, the
Danish Consul, presented a magnificent trophy – a solid silver Viking – for
the County Individual Championship. The photo below, which has recently surfaced
from a book of newspaper cuttings, shows the presentation of the Trophy. The
Trophy still exists and is currently valued at around Ł10,000.
Over the last few years, I have been compiling – rather slowly – a
record of Northumberland Chess. Just when I think the task is approaching
completion a new source of material emerges to shed new light on events and
records erased by fire, flood, theft and inertia. I have found it fascinating
reading over old records. A century ago the chessplaying public was based on the
professional classes, intercounty matches were followed or even interrupted by
formal dinners, at the conclusion of which there were speeches and a singsong (a
musical soiree!). In the first 30 years of this century the “Newcastle Weekly
Chronicle” sponsored a monthly problem solving competition, which received
entries from all over the UK and abroad. The paper also sponsored a Handicap
Knock-out competition which at its peak attracted upwards of 150 entries from
Northumberland, Durham, Westmoreland, Cumberland and Yorkshire. How many games
at odds are played today?
In terms of the NCCU County Championships,
Northumberland’s team successes have been few. A win in 1948-49, followed by a
double win 40 years on in 1989-90 for both the First and Second Team. On the
latter occasion, the NCCU Championship Trophy was almost mistaken for an IRA
bomb and appropriately disposed of, after our team captain left it beside a
bus-stop, after assisting a blind player!
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