The 2018/19 Hamilton Russell race has been run. The finish line crossed. The exertion over till next year.
It is at this point each season that the team stiffen their nerves and each player submits to a full forensic examination of their chess playing health. Who has played with the all the rude health of a man twenty years their junior? And who has wheezed, coughed and spluttered through the season? Let the Doctor report.
(And don’t worry gents – this will only hurt a bit…)
The Doctor writes:
This season can best be described as ‘developmental’. We finished bottom, but at least we managed to secure the draw against the Hurlingham to give us a point.
This is the final Hamilton-Russell table for 2018-2019:
The match against the Reform came very early in the season and the Reform put out a very strong side – probably their strongest all year. Perhaps we need to wait until after Christmas next year when the shine might have been knocked off our targets.
We secured 11.5 Hamilton-Russell points this year (if you include Mister Saldanha’s point). That’s down on the 17 points from last year when we won a couple of matches, but better than our first year of Hamilton Russell competition.
Player of the season in the Hamilton Russell Cup was Mister Giffin, who came through with 3.5/8. Honourable mentions to Mister Widdicombe with 2/4 and Captain Hamme on 2/6. I’m afraid pickings were thinner on the top boards. But well done Mister Whiteley – the stronger the batting order, the more likely we are to pick up points on the lower boards.
We did well in Friendlies, taking the scalps of the MCC, RAC, Oriental/EIC, Chelsea Arts and Reform. Our Captain was in his element, sharking 4.5/7 on lower boards. Mister Jacobs knocked in 2/2, showing he’s a strong player.
And this is Club Chess. Even when results haven’t been that good, we’ve made sure we enjoyed ourselves! Equally, our opponents at home matches have enjoyed the NLC and what it has to offer. We’re good ambassadors for our Club.
The summer awaits. I hope we get a good entry in the Gladstone trophy and the Kennedy Cup blitz.
Hopefully we’ll come back stronger next year.