6 players entered from the IOW did very well. Here is their team who won the Team Prize in style
It was possibly the most challenging ever of 23 Dorset Rapidplays, with falling snow overnight and also on the Sunday morning. 19 of 67 entrants were unable to travel due to the dangerous conditions in their locations. Although the overnight snow continued into the morning, it was decided to go ahead and everyone who came seemed glad about this. The Congress was very pleased to welcome 4 lady entrants, the highest yet. In true Rapidplay tradition, there were many prize winners – in fact, everyone on the day went home with a prize! This included 15 grading prize winners. The Rapidplay Cup was shared on 5 points between Mike Waddington (Dorchester), Peter Anderson (Ashley Heath), John Weatherlake (Poole) and Gregorz Sawicki (Southbourne). Best Veteran was won by Gillian Moore (Southampton), Best Lady winner Amanda Jones (Salisbury), Best Junior James Forster (Southbourne), Best First Round Loser Oscar Garcia (Poole), Best Last 3 Rounds Mike Waddington (Dorchester) and most improved player Andre Hopkins (Salisbury). 29 Main Prize Winners. Special thanks to Martin Simons Congress Controller and also Graham Morris who was Assistant Controller. Many thanks to Ian Clark who provided & managed the clocks. Southbourne, Wimborne & Ringwood kindly lent equipment; so did Mike Davidson & Colin Wilson. Greg Willett generously donated many chess books for prizes, as did Southbourne Chess Club & Martin Simons personally. Dee & Jon Catchpole provided very popular sandwiches & drizzle cake. Very well done to Pam who put in a huge kitchen shift.
Feedback from many people was overwhelmingly….. “Great environment at Greyfriars, highly sociable and friendly, great entertainment, a day’s enjoyment playing chess, super prizes, everyone wins something, free refreshments and especially, Martin’s now famous hot lunch”.
Joint Rapidplay winners 2018 (l to r) Peter Anderson, John Weatherlake, Grzegorz Sawicki & Mike Waddington
In the end, an excellent 48 took part, which was actually the best Rapidplay total in all 23 years. Had the weather been Spring like we were on schedule for 67 entrants. Rural areas seem to suffer the most and some photos were sent by stranded entrants, like Mark Littleton in north Dorset, of snow drifts in drives and lanes many feet deep. Larkhill, just north of Salisbury had 9 inches of snow (23cms). And almost the first day of Spring!
And finally the picture (left) was taken of Martin Simons in the snow at Greyfriars, complete with shorts, sun glasses, Hawaiian top, flip-flops and a scarf a couple of hours before the Rapidplay started. We are trying to find out who told him it would be warm and sunny.
Score details as below. Well done to everyone! Reminder the 24th Dorset Rapidplay is scheduled for Sun 24 Mar ’19. And we have checked the very long range weather forecast – and you won’t believe it….!
| Name | Club/Location | Grade | Grade Group | Score | Place | Comments |
| Waddington, Mike | Dorchester | 196 | 5 | 1 | Joint Rapidplay Champion | |
| Anderson, Peter | Ashley Heath | 194 | 5 | 1 | Joint Rapidplay Champion | |
| Weatherlake, John | Poole | 191 | 5 | 1 | Joint Rapidplay Champion | |
| Sawicki, Grzegorz | Southbourne | 170 | 1 | 5 | 1 | Joint Rapidplay Champion |
| Goater, Kevin | Dorchester | 197 | 4.5 | |||
| García, Óscar | Poole | 194 | 4.5 | |||
| Duggan, Michael | Poole | 184 | 4.5 | |||
| Pleasants, Allan | Weymouth | 187 | 4 | |||
| Du Toit, Reenen | New Milton | 167 | 2 | 4 | Group 2 winner | |
| Popovic, Dragi | Poole | 156 | 3 | 4 | Group 3 winner = | |
| Catchpole, Jon | Southbourne | 154 | 3 | 4 | Group 3 winner = | |
| Clark, Ian | Wimborne | 186 | 3.5 | |||
| Peirson, Steve | Purbeck | 178 | 1 | 3.5 | Group 1 winner | |
| Forster, James (j) | Southbourne | 167 | 2 | 3.5 | ||
| Deswarte, Ian | Guildord | 166 | 2 | 3.5 | ||
| Jackson, Paul | Bournemouth | 146 | 4 | 3.5 | Group 4 winner = | |
| Ursell, Richard | Highcliffe | 144 | 4 | 3.5 | Group 4 winner = | |
| Jones, Amanda (l) | Salisbury | 119 | 7 | 3.5 | Group 7 winner & Ladies Prize | |
| Harihar, Girish | Bournemouth | 126 | 6 | 3 | Group 6 winner = | |
| Halse, Rob | Highcliffe | 130 | 5 | 3 | Group 5 winner | |
| Clancy, Martin | Ringwood | 161 | 2 | 3 | ||
| Wilcock, Peter | Wimborne | 154 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Moore, Gillian (l) (v) | Southampton | 145 | 4 | 3 | Veterans Champion | |
| Wilson, Colin | Wimborne | 140 | 4 | 3 | ||
| Manning, Peter | New Milton | 134 | 5 | 3 | ||
| Smith, Richard | Poole | 125 | 6 | 3 | Group 6 winner = | |
| Ursell, Adam (j) | Highcliffe | 123 | 6 | 3 | Group 6 winner = | |
| Williams, Dave (v) | Isle of Wight | 91 | 9 | 3 | Group 9 winner | |
| Brusati, Greta (j) (l) | Weymouth | 111 | 8 | 2.5 | Group 8 winner = | |
| Donaldson, Pete | Ringwood | 146 | 4 | 2.5 | ||
| Agostinelli, Dave | Southampton | 131 | 5 | 2.5 | ||
| Tyler, Alan (v) | Wimborne | 130 | 5 | 2.5 | ||
| Errington, Paul (v) | Bournemouth | 124 | 6 | 2.5 | ||
| McCook, Natashane | Salisbury | 120 | 7 | 2.5 | ||
| Pope, Michael (v) | Salisbury | 118 | 7 | 2.5 | ||
| Charalambous, Charles | Isle of Wight | 101 | 8 | 2.5 | Group 8 winner = | |
| Stevens, Phil | Isle of Wight | 86 | 10 | 2.5 | Group 10 winner | |
| Spooner, Keith (v) | Purbeck | 121 | 6 | 2 | ||
| Davis, John (v) | Southampton | 113 | 7 | 2 | ||
| Sheeran, Carl | Isle of Wight | 113 | 8 | 2 | ||
| Huntley, Kevin | Salisbury | 93 | 9 | 2 | ||
| Davidson, Mike (v) | Wimborne | 103 | 8 | 1.5 | ||
| Roberts, Christine (l) | Poole | 95 | 9 | 1.5 | ||
| Hopkins, Andre | Salisbury | 66 | 10 | 1.5 | ||
| Grattage, Paul | Southampton | 90L | 9 | 1 | ||
| Grattage, Mike (v) | Isle of Wight | 82 | 10 | 1 | ||
| Reid, Alan (v) | Southbourne | 101 | 8 | 0.5 | ||
| Sturmey, Darrell | Ringwood | 99 | 9 | 0.5 | ||
| 48 took part | ||||||
| Gregory, Keith | 4NCL Wessex | 180 | 0 | Did not take part – weather | ||
| Littleton, Mark | Wimborne | 176 | 1 | 0 | Did not take part – weather | |
| Harman, Kenny (v) | Ringwood | 175 | 1 | 0 | Did not take part – weather | |
| Jenks, Bruce | Southbourne | 172 | 1 | 0 | Did not take part – weather | |
| May, Julian | Bridport | 170L | 1 | 0 | Did not take part – weather | |
| Matko, Thomas | Bath | 167 | 2 | 0 | Did not take part – weather | |
| Kemp, Paul | Southbourne | 163 | 2 | 0 | Did not take part – weather | |
| Matko, Andy | Wimborne | 159L | 3 | 0 | Did not take part – weather | |
| Heard, Andy | Beckenham | 155 | 3 | 0 | Did not take part – weather | |
| Willett, Greg | Guildord | 141 | 4 | 0 | Did not take part – weather | |
| Jolly, Barry (v) | New Milton | 134 | 5 | 0 | Did not take part – weather | |
| Alderton, Andrew | Bournemouth | 132 | 5 | 0 | Did not take part – weather | |
| Barnett, Jim (v) | Salisbury | 124 | 6 | 0 | Did not take part – weather | |
| Maber, Martyn | Taunton | 117 | 7 | 0 | Did not take part – weather | |
| Day, Malcolm (v) | Ringwood | 113 | 7 | 0 | Did not take part – weather | |
| Kenward, Chris (v) | Salisbury | 101 | 8 | 0 | Did not take part – weather | |
| McCullagh, Tim | Poole | 91 | 9 | 0 | Did not take part – weather | |
| Tew, Mike (v) | Highcliffe | 82 | 10 | 0 | Did not take part – weather | |
| Barrett, Mark | Salisbury | 71 | 10 | 0 | Did not take part – weather | |
| 19 unable to take part due to the snow | ||||||
| L against grade means “Local”, that is estimated grade. j = junior, v = Veterans Cup, l = Best Lady | ||||||
| A grades reflect ECF changes 1.1.18 | ||||||
| Total 67 | ||||||
| Sincere thanks for donations from the following entrants towards Congress Expenses | ||||||
| Mike Tew | ||||||
| Peter Anderson | ||||||
| Mark Littleton | ||||||
| Michael Pope | ||||||
| Keith Gregory | ||||||
| Reenen du Toit | ||||||
| Martin Clancy | ||||||
| Ian Deswarte | ||||||
| Colin Wilson | ||||||
| Peter Wilcock | ||||||
| Andy Heard | ||||||
| Steve Peirson | ||||||
| Kevin Huntley | ||||||
| Barry Jolly | ||||||
| Greg Willett | ||||||
| Keith Spooner | ||||||
| Mike Davidson | ||||||
| Mark Barrett | ||||||
| Peter Manning | ||||||
| Richard Smith | ||||||
| Christine Roberts | ||||||
| Julian May | ||||||
| Jim Barnett | ||||||
| Martyn Maber | ||||||
| Jim Davis | ||||||
| Gillian Moore | ||||||
| Dave Agostinelli | ||||||
| Tony Roberts | ||||||
| Amanda Jones | ||||||
| Greg Willett | Greg generously donated books | |||||