Women's In-Tournament Training

[Justin Hadi]

Given you called his policy "antagonising your main clients bad businness" I agree completely that Sean has been very generous in not taking you to task himself. As he is very busy organising the e2e4 Uxbridge International and then travelling to be an arbiter at the European Individual I thought it only fair to defend him as you will notice I continue to do with anyone who I consider to be unfairly attacked on here, be it Sabrina or Sean or anyone else. If you or Alan consider me to be committing a crime by continuing to do so then that is your problem but I'm fed up with those who do good for English chess being constantly criticised by those who have nothing helpful or positive to contribute.

I think people are entitled to discuss their ideological viewpoints without being daemonised. There has to be room for more than 1 way of thinking.

More tea is clearly needed in this thread.

Totally agree. It seems like a strident view (which I don't agree with, personally I think the initiative is a great idea) rather than an attack, the exchange of strident views is quite common on this forum. Often, as in the removal of Gerry Walsh it can lead to progress.

[andrew martin]

Looking at the idea of in-tournament training, rather than focus on women as such, I'd like to give this venture my full backing and hope it is a success. I'm guessing it will more or less be what we do at the World and European. Here we have three experienced coaches and I'm sure whoever signs up will find the experience worthwhile.

[Louise Sinclair]

Sean and I have different ideas about tournaments and businness. I'm sure he would agree with this. Loz suggests that because I'm expressing concern about antagonising main clients that I am attacking Sean.
This is completely fictitious and I venture to suggest that it is designed to flame those who hold different points of view about positive discrimination.
Sean has his own plan for his tournaments and I have mine.
We are both involved with chess organisation. We do things differently. I'm not being aggressive to Sean and he has been fine with me.
I get the distinct impression that if you don't toe the "party line" that you are fair game for all types of accusation.
Well I have been there seen it and got the t shirt. I'm not easy to bully and if anyone wishes to accuse me of attacking a person who I have offered good wishes to for a tournament then clearly they have a hidden agenda.
Louise

[LozCooper]

I would also urge potential organisers and sponsors not to be put off by some of the comments made in this thread. I receive a lot of positive feedback and people involved (juniors, parents and players) do appreciate the hard work that is carried out by the many volunteers involved in chess.

Finally, I would like to wish Sean, Jovanka and Sabrina well with everything they organise and am looking forward to visiting the event this weekend.

[Maria Yurenok]

Louise, so how about offering good wishes to Sabrina as well? She started this thread and on voluntary basis organising much-needed training for girls at the tournament?

[David Shepherd]

I totally agree I think all concerned are doing an excellent job and as someone who has taken part in a previous e2-e4 event and is taking part in this one I have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone. One other point worth mentioning is that Jovanka is taking time out to coach in the event the day before flying out to the European Individual Chess Championship and that says much about the dedication and commitment of all the coaches involved.

[Louise Sinclair]

Maria
If Sabrina would like to withdraw her very personal comments about me I might have something to say. However due to her hostility because I hold different views I don't really see that my good wishes could be of any value to her considering her low opinion of me.
Louise

[Maria Yurenok]

Louise, it's good to hear you'd have something to say if situation didn't get so personal. I hope that "something" you are referring to is positive. Do you think the conversation would have developed a bit differently if at the very start you offered good wishes to Sabrina, followed by constructive criticism and alternative ideas? I know Sabrina is open to debate and suggestions. However, if I was unpaid volunteer, I also wouldn't like to hear this as the initial comment from you in my thread as it appears very militant and dismissive of the work that Sabrina is doing (I think this was your first post):

I am a woman and I hate positive discrimination in chess . As for being intimidated by men most women end up marrying them at some point in life.I am instrumental in helping to organise the Sam Black Blitz event and as NCCL tournament director I oppose any form of singling out a particular group for special discriminatory treatment.
You pay your entry fee and play the opponent in front of you regardless of age, gender, sexual tendency or ethnicity.
If you can't stand the heat stay out of the kitchen.

Something to think about for the future, perhaps? I'd hate to miss your well-hidden positive intentions in similar threads in the future.

[IanDavis]

Lets all repeat the same point again and again

Louise, it's good to hear you'd have something to say if situation didn't get so personal. I hope that "something" you are referring to is positive. Do you think the conversation would have developed a bit differently if at the very start you offered good wishes to Sabrina, followed by constructive criticism and alternative ideas? I know Sabrina is open to debate and suggestions. However, if I was unpaid volunteer, I also wouldn't like to hear this as the initial comment from you in my thread as it appears very militant and dismissive of the work that Sabrina is doing (I think this was your first post):

I am a woman and I hate positive discrimination in chess . As for being intimidated by men most women end up marrying them at some point in life.I am instrumental in helping to organise the Sam Black Blitz event and as NCCL tournament director I oppose any form of singling out a particular group for special discriminatory treatment.
You pay your entry fee and play the opponent in front of you regardless of age, gender, sexual tendency or ethnicity.
If you can't stand the heat stay out of the kitchen.

Something to think about for the future, perhaps? I'd hate to miss your well-hidden positive intentions in similar threads in the future.

[Louise Sinclair]

Maria
I refer you to the reply I just gave a couple of posts ago.

[Maria Yurenok]

Louise, not sure why you are referring me to the post about Sean while we've been discussing Sabrina since. But I understand that you've got nothing else to add - which is fine with me, and it's a good time to move on to other discussions in this thread.

I'm looking forward to Sabrina's and Sean's reports from the tournament.

[Louise Sinclair]

Maria
Here you are
If Sabrina would like to withdraw her very personal comments about me I might have something to say. However due to her hostility because I hold different views I don't really see that my good wishes could be of any value to her considering her low opinion of me.
Louise

[Alan Burke]

Maria, would you consider that my original post (way back on page 1) contained constructive criticism and alternative ideas ?

[John Hickman]

Well I'm off to Uxbridge now, and very much looking forward to it. I can already see myself collecting that first prize

I can only express grattiude to the people who put the effort in to arrange great tournaments, and also to the people who are also arranging activities to encourge people to come and play in them.

This thread could have been a good brianstorming session if it had a little more braining and somewhat less storming. So come on you lot, get your brains out

how about a Facebook group for In-Tournament Training

[Maria Yurenok]

Alan, I agree that your discussion started off quite civilized and constructive, but unfortunately it deteriorated when you and Sabrina misunderstood each other's language as helpfully pointed out by Simon Spivack earlier. It's been all downhill since then and I think the best option for this thread would be for you to stop pursuing that conversation with Sabrina as it doesn't seem to be leading anywhere good.