On Thursday night, Bedford hosted the Cordon Trophy, the annual season curtain raiser. The tournament is for teams of 4 representing Bedfordshire clubs and is run as a jamboree meaning all teams play some of all teams over 4 rounds. Ten teams took part with Bedford entering four and a half (!) teams.
Leighton Buzzard, the defending champions, fielded a very strong team and scored an impressive 14/16 to retain their crown. Bedford finished 3rd, 5th, 6th, 8th and 10th. Partisan special mentions (from me!) go to Steve Ledger for 3.5/4 on top board, Nigel Walker for valiantly playing top board (no need to mention his score!) and Qais Karimi for holding Mr Tukpetov to a draw in a game he might have even won!
Full details may be found here.
The event was very enjoyable and thanks go to a number of Bedford members who arranged and set it up and Adrian Elwin, who controlled with his usual aplomb.
Thanks also go to Tony Lawrence, the club photographer, who took some excellent pictures including these:-
The master at work and the silverware, all of which is currently in Buzzard hands!
Looks like the game is up for Mr Harbour (!) but appearances aren’t everything – the game was eventually drawn.
Bedford talent, new and old.
Methinks Adrian has advanced his king rather early?
Just curious, but why does it look like my game is up?
Yeah sorry, just a random puerile caption – it looked like an action shot of Mr A about to do something terrible to your king but as you drew and this is an endgame, my judgement is clearly off (as it was most of the evening! ) – I have amended but feel free to recorrect