The 24th Dorset Rapidplay will take place on Sunday, 24 March '19 and again at Greyfriars, Ringwood. Entry will be possible through the Dorset website just before Christmas '18. Pictured the 2018 joint winners (from the left): Peter Anderson, John Weatherlake, Gregorz Sawicki and Mike Waddington

Weds 12 Sept '18 On a most enjoyable night as the season commenced with the traditional curtain raiser, Poole beat Bournemouth 17-12 to win the trophy for the first time in 4 years. Quote from the losing captain Martin Simons "it was a great night, great venue, great spirit and some great chess and very well done to Poole". Martin complimented his team on arriving by 7.15pm for the match and he had no withdrawals. His actual words...."proud and impressed".

Winning captain Eric Sachs commented ' I am so proud of our team where 18 Poole club members took part and were supported ably by Wimborne and Ringwood players. It was a night when all the players came together, but it is lot of work arranging. Martin did much to bring all his players to the match and was very gracious in stepping down to even up the pairings on the top board. It's nice to win at the time, and disappointing to lose on the night, but the overall success of the event and the spirit of 58 local players giving their best, playing chess, is the real winner. Special thanks to the helpers Steve Bailey, John Weatherlake, Adam Jaggard and Graham Morris for managing the bookstall etc and anyone else I have forgotten who supported the evening".

See the Poole Chess website for the fascinating story behind Steve Bailey's visually impaired Barbados cricket tour during July '18. The Poole club ran fund raising activities to enable Steve to take part as Head Coach. The tour was a huge success!