English Chess Forum

Why does the 4NCL no longer have specialist inputters?

Ken Norman wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 25, 2021 4:45 pm

Why does the 4NCL no longer have specialist inputters?

Cutting costs possibly.

I hesitate to call myself specialist at anything but I have helped out with game inputting in recent 4NCL seasons albeit that was having the scoresheets delivered to me to do at home. It is one of the things I decided to cut back on though at the end of the 2019-20 season.

I forgot to mention that during play in round 2 there seemed to be another episode of the curse of Sedgwick. A member of staff was changing the large bottle in the water dispenser when she must have brushed against or made eye contact with David, because she then stood there helplessly holding the bottle as the entire 20 litres gushed onto the floor with David stood closeby

This is surely nothing more than idle speculation.

Nick Burrows wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 14, 2021 6:19 pm

I forgot to mention that during play in round 2 there seemed to be another episode of the curse of Sedgwick. A member of staff was changing the large bottle in the water dispenser when she must have brushed against or made eye contact with David, because she then stood there helplessly holding the bottle as the entire 20 litres gushed onto the floor with David stood closeby

With remarkable sang-froid, even the players on the board closest to the incident declined my invitation to suspend play briefly and carried on as though nothing had happened.

Ken Norman wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 25, 2021 8:59 am

What has happened to the game scores of Division 3 South?
The scores of Division 3 Central and Division 3 North were published some days ago
The games of Division 3 South seem to have disappeared into the dustbin of history.

They are on the website now. They may have been there a while but I only noticed them today.

Round 3 fixtures are published:

http://www.4nclresults.co.uk/2021-22/4ncl/3/3s/export/

The Division 3 South teams assembled at Milton Keynes this weekend were told that, while no decision had yet been taken as to whether rounds 10 and 11 would take place, this was looking less rather than more likely. Two reasons given were the difficulty booking venues in the summer - competition with weddings etc - and the fact that Divisions 1/2 had separately expressed lack of enthusiasm for two more weeks. Arising from a "Division 3 Central" discussion here, while it may be that the first reason is compelling in itself, in as much as the second reason given may also play a part in decision-making, do Division 3 South teams share the lack of enthusiasm mentioned?

Roger Lancaster wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 28, 2022 4:22 pm

do Division 3 South teams share the lack of enthusiasm mentioned?

I can't speak for a team, not having discussed it with my captain or teammates, but it does not bother me. Only top place affects next season, so 9 rounds enough for sporting integrity. I would probably have played the extra weekend, but there are other opportunities to play in the summer.

Paul Cooksey wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 28, 2022 10:33 pm

Only top place affects next season, so 9 rounds enough for sporting integrity.

There's only 1 promotion place available, but finishing in the top 6 is necessary to guarantee a place in Division 3 next season.

Ian neatly demonstrating why I should have asked me teammates...

My feeling was that there may have been a bit of a Mexican wave, with people raising their hands in favour because those next to them did. Based on no particular knowledge, I did wonder how enthusiastic they would really be if offered a weekend in June.

If you're talking purely from a sporting point of view isn't playing in June likely to be a bit of a mess? Plenty of people liable to be on holiday/otherwise engaged so the teams won't be very representative.

Paul Cooksey wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 28, 2022 10:33 pm

Roger Lancaster wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 28, 2022 4:22 pm

do Division 3 South teams share the lack of enthusiasm mentioned?

I can't speak for a team, not having discussed it with my captain or teammates, but it does not bother me. Only top place affects next season, so 9 rounds enough for sporting integrity. I would probably have played the extra weekend, but there are other opportunities to play in the summer.

Captains have now received the following communication from the 4NCL:

"There’s been a cock-up with the Div 3 South May bank holiday weekend venue arrangements. We had been told that Div 3 South would be at Kents Hill Milton Keynes; we’ve now learned that the booking was actually made at Holiday Inn Maidenhead/Windsor - and Holiday Inn Maidenhead/Windsor are apparently closing until January 2023, as I understand it because they’ve agreed a government contract to accommodate asylum-seekers. Anyway, Guaranteed Events are now urgently looking for a new venue, which may or may not be on the same weekend. I doubt many people will miss Kents Hill, but that’s hardly the point. More to follow as soon as I have it."

LawrenceCooper wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 02, 2022 4:12 pm

Holiday Inn Maidenhead/Windsor are apparently closing until January 2023, as I understand it because they’ve agreed a government contract to accommodate asylum-seekers.

I'm sure that is far more remunerative nowadays.