Is this the oldest ongoing cup competition in Britain?

[Mick Norris]

From the MCF website
"The 1892-1893 season saw the adoption of a formal division structure and competition for the association’s trophies began.
Liverpool North End were the first winners of A division, while the first Reyner Shield knock out, was won by Piccadilly, who defeated ROSSENDALE, 4.5-2.5."

The Reyner shield is still the premier cup competition in the Manchester League

"The new league was not the only organisation active in Manchester in 1890. The reformed British Chess Association held its sixth congress at the Manchester Athenaeum, from 25th August to 8th September. Twenty players met each other in an all play all tournament for seven prizes."

"The Lancashire Chess League Association changed its name to the Manchester and District Association when the Liverpool league was formed in 1897.Meanwhile the British Chess Association had ceased to exist. A new body was formed in 1904, the British Chess Federation. The Manchester League was among the founder members." this is for Alex's benefit

[Mick Norris]

"Originally comprising four divisions the league expanded. E division was added in 1907 and a second knock out competition – the WAHLTUCH Trophy - was introduced in the 1908-1909 season."

Again, the Manchester League still has this as a secondary annual cup competition

[Richard Cowan]

In the season 1884-85 the first of a series of competitions between teams representing member clubs of the West Yorkshire Chess Association (WYCA) was held. Alderman Edwin Woodhouse JP had offered to put forward a silver cup to be held for one year by the winners. Five clubs entered: Bradford, Dewsbury, Huddersfield, Leeds and Wakefield. In the event both Dewsbury and Huddersfield withdrew, perhaps because they felt too weak compared with the others. Bradford beat both Leeds and Wakefield and so became first holders of the Edwin Woodhouse Challenge Cup, the competition for which is still held today.

Yorkshire always wins :p

[Alex McFarlane]

Scottish Championship 1884!! (Although it is now on its third cup.)

See the ChessScotland.com for details of the 118th in July.

[Paul Dupré]

In the season 1884-85 the first of a series of competitions between teams representing member clubs of the West Yorkshire Chess Association (WYCA) was held.

Surrey Trophy 1883-84 http://www.scca.co.uk/hist/hist_index.html, and click on Team Competitions Part 1. Won by Croydon.

[Gordon Cadden]

The varsity match between Oxford and Cambridge Universities, has taken place annually since 1873. The Margaret Pugh Trophy is presented to the winning team.

[Eoin Devane]

The varsity match between Oxford and Cambridge Universities, has taken place annually since 1877. The Margaret Pugh Trophy is presented to the winning team.

1873 in fact! Though the Margaret Pugh Trophy was first presented to the winner in 1953. Details here.

[AustinElliott]

Though I speak as an "adoptive" Mancunian, and hence am contractually required to be snarky about anything to do with Yorkshire / Liverpool / the South....

What's really impressive is the sheer number of these club competitions that, started in the 1880s (or even earlier for the Oxbridge match, though they are something of a special case), are still going and have (presumably) been in more-or-less continuous operation for well over a century.

You'd have to say that was a testament to the hold chess has on its enthusiasts, and its enduring appeal as a human activity.

PS Talking of Yorkshiremen...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe1a1wHxTyo

[Mick Norris]

"The 1880’s were a boom time for chess. The advent of the British chess magazine in 1881 meant that British chess players had a choice of three different chess magazines (The Chess Players Chronicle and The Chess Monthly were the others).

The first match for the world chess championships between STEINITZ and ZUKERTORT in 1886 further raised the profile of the game. Local players were kept informed and educated by the excellent column conducted by Charles DUST in the Manchester weekly post.There were six chess clubs in Manchester by 1886. "

Again, from Alan Smith's history pages on the MCF website

Those were the days - there are no clubs in Manchester city centre now and just over the water, Salford folded this year

[AustinElliott]

"The 1880’s were a boom time for chess."

Again, from Alan Smith's history pages on the MCF website

Those were the days - there are no clubs in Manchester city centre now

Wouldn't that have mostly reflected lack of residents in M'cr city centre (modern era until roughly mid-90s) and perhaps high costs of premises (noughties)? When I moved to M'cr in the late 80s there was zero residential population in the City Centre. It has rocketed the last 10-15 yrs, but I guess the cost of space there must have gone up similarly. Plus I'd predict the city centre residential population is overwhelmingly young single adults (aged 18-35), which might not be the main demographic for chess. Or at least for the kind of folk that RUN clubs.

[Mick Norris]

When travel was difficult, a match between, say, Bury and Stockport would be played in the middle of Manchester

It isn't unreasonable to suggest that we might go back to this, as travel around Manchester is now difficult (despite, or perhaps because of, the M60 now being orbital)

There are a number of players living in Manchester city centre, or at Salford Quays, and I did ask one of them a couple of years ago about the idea of setting up a city centre club for those that live there, or simply those who work there and want to play evening chess before going home (which I think is the London model)

If the MCF had more money, we might look at city centre premises (either rented or purchased) along the St Louis model, but we don't

We hold MCF Council meetings in town and get the venue (in a pub) for free, after previously having paid for venues - however, it isn't suitable for a chess club, and we have to hire bigger premises for the AGM

Yes, the age demographic is as you say, and yes, that's not a typical age range of organisers, but there is always potential and we are always open to ideas

[David Sedgwick]

I recall Leonard Barden mentioning in a column some years ago that chess organisations founded from about 1880 onwards seems to be much more durable than those founded earlier, which typically collapsed after about 10-20 years.

I can't remember why, but perhaps Leonard will be able to remind me.

[Mick Norris]

"The organisation of chess in Manchester dates back to the foundation of the Manchester Chess Club on the 3rd September 1817. A second club was formed at the newly built Artheraeum in 1839. The next major advance occured while James Stanley KIPPING was the secretary of the Manchester Chess Club, between 1854 and 1863. The club commenced a series of matches with the Liverpool Chess Club in 1855."

"The Manchester Chess Club ran out of steam in 1876 and amalgamated with the union chess club, which supplied the officials who reinvigorated the club."

"On the 14th June 1890 representatives of 24 Lancashire and Cheshire clubs met at the Manchester Chess Club to form a chess league.It was a rather loose knit organisation, but evolved rapidly. The 1891 meeting saw the adoption of a title – The Lancashire Chess League Association, and the election of officers. The reverend John Owen was the first president, W.B. Shaw the secretary and A.B. Rink the treasurer. The 1892-1893 season saw the adoption of a formal division structure and competition for the association’s trophies began."

"The Lancashire Chess League Association changed its name to the Manchester and District Association when the Liverpool league was formed in 1897.Meanwhile the British Chess Association had ceased to exist."

Chess organisation has its ups and downs

[Leonard Barden]

I recall Leonard Barden mentioning in a column some years ago that chess organisations founded from about 1880 onwards seems to be much more durable than those founded earlier, which typically collapsed after about 10-20 years.

I can't remember why, but perhaps Leonard will be able to remind me.

I can't remember where or when I wrote that, but several of the contributions to this thread seem to support the argument.

[David Sedgwick]

I recall Leonard Barden mentioning in a column some years ago that chess organisations founded from about 1880 onwards seems to be much more durable than those founded earlier, which typically collapsed after about 10-20 years.

I can't remember why, but perhaps Leonard will be able to remind me.

I can't remember where or when I wrote that, but several of the contributions to this thread seem to support the argument.

In the Guardian in the mid to late 1980s, I think. You mentioned that several organisations were celebrating their centenaries, or about to do so.

The other possibility is that I have imagined it.