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History - The Beginnings - Colne Chess ClubHistory of Nelson Chess Club's origins as Colne Originally playing in, and called, Colne the club was founded in 1921 and in 1928 became a founder member of the East Lancashire Chess Association. Many of the early papers of the Colne Club are in the possession of Ken Aldersley and were used by Stephen Appleby (a member of Colne Chess Club from 1964-8 and later of Nelson Chess Club) to produce a booklet on the club. These early pages are reproduced with their kind permission. Index 1. 1909 - 1922 Colne Chess Club - the Early YearsThe main subject matter for this history was featured in the “Colne Times" newspaper in 1931 and written I believe by Fred Thompson.
It may be that there have been many people who played chess in Colne for generations and in this connection we recall the names of Alderman R.Foulds, Sam Catlow, Hewitt Dean and H.Holgate. But although individual play may have reached a high standard, there are no records to show any attempt to organise games in match play. The first step in this direction was made, unwittingly, at a meeting held in the Y.M.C.A. rooms (Colne Lane), in March 1909.
The game was eventually completed in the shop premises of Mr.Parker, which was adjacent to the Fire Station originally in Dockray Street." Here I should mention that Mr.John Parker was a lively member of several societies and also the founder of Parkers Printers. Among the first-comers to these premises was Richard Teising (known as “German") who declared that he whenever he had the opportunity he would announce "Sheck" as he might not have another chance. Also there was Harry Hudson, now in New Zealand; Joe Ambler, now a hotel proprietor in the Lake District, and last, and least (in stature), Teddy Hudson, who lived at Twiston, and frequently stayed late, considering he had so far to go. He claimed that he could do it in under an hour: An eye-witness said that he struck a beeline, and being light in weight and fleet of foot, ran most of the way.
These were: Begg, Rev.John (C), Benson, William (T), Davidson, Clement (C), Farron, Wilfred, Foulds, Earnest (C), Johnston, Daniel (S), Lambert, Fred (C), Laycock, Joseph, Laycock, Mrs.J, Parker, John G (P), Petty R.H. (C), Routledge, J, Thompson, Fred (C), Titherington, Harold, Whitaker, FredElected officials: (P)resident, (S)ecretary, (T)reasurer, (C)ommittee. The meeting concluded with a consultation game captained by Mr. Whitaker (White) and Mr. Parker (Black). Apparently a “Muzio Gambit" was played which Black accepted and won. Blackburn (1.E.E.Stockens, 2.T.Marsden) (A) Lost 2½-7½ Blackburn (1.E.E.Stockens, 2.J.H.Sinkinson) (H) Lost 3½-5½ Nelson Co-op (1.Mr.Edmundson, 2.Mr.Tattersall) (A) Lost 3½-6½ Nelson Co-op (1.Mr.Edmundson, 2.Mr.Howarth) (H) Lost 4-6 Darwen (at Accrington) (1.F.Raine, 2.W.West) (A) Lost 6-7 Nelson Co-op (1.Mr.Edmundson, 2.C.Wilmore) (H) Won 6½-3½ Blackburn (at Burnley) (1.E.E.Stockens, 2.J.Holden) (A) Lost 3½-6½ Blackburn (1.J.Holden, 2.G.H.Flint) (A) Won 5½-4½ Skipton (1.L.C.Hudson, 2.J.E.Hartley) (H) Lost 3-7 Burnley (1.J.Finn, 2.J.Harrison) (A) Lost 3-8 Darwen (at Accrington) (1.W.West, 2.F.Raine) (A) Won 6½-4½
During December 1922 the British Champion, Frederick Dewhurst Yates was involved in simultaneous displays around Lancashire. At the Blackburn club (scoring 19 wins and 1 loss) and at the Manchester club scoring 14 wins. In Burnley he played against a mixture of local players on 30 boards. The Colne club supplied six players. One of whom, Mrs.Laycock had the honour of drawing with the champion. Experience shows that when ladies can be induced to believe that chess is within their capacities, they very well hold their own at the game. In this match against the champion, the Colne players were very successful, for in addition to this draw, Messrs. J.G.Parker and E.A.Foulds also returned draws, whilst Mr.J.L.Routledge scored an early win by a "snap" mate. The “Burnley Express" newspaper at the time devoted quite a spread on the event and Mr.Yates gave some favourable comments. An extract of this article reads as follows: “In the present tour Mr.Yates has visited eighteen clubs and though he has played in Glasgow, Edinburgh and other large centres, he can unhesitatingly admit that Burnley is the best “fighting set" he has met. There are stronger clubs, of course, but no club has beaten Burnley, in my opinion in what I call contesting spirit" He was speaking of the 30 simultaneous games played on Monday, 4th December 1922. “Your Burnley and District players", said Mr.Yates, “are very enthusiastic and very good in fact, I have played at Glasgow and Edinburgh and other places, but have obtained better results there. The opposition here is certainly very keen and your players are ready to make the most of any resource that presents itself in the position on the board at any time and not easily non-plussed. What I like about them is that they play as hard a losing game as a winning one". What he regards as a good sign is the interest taken in the game by ladies and boys. Mr.Yates career shows that it is not an old man's game. “I noticed one player on Monday was a lady", he said. “It is a good sign. It used to be said by one great player that he could give any lady player a knight, but I don't think that could be said today", remarked Mr.Yates. “In some of the large centres there are now ladies chess clubs, and although the play of the ladies is not yet up to the standard of the men, they are certainly coming forward well". Continuing, he thought it is an encouraging and splendid to see so many ex public and grammar school boys taking up the game. “Chess is a game" he said “which the man who is interested must play. It requires concentration one of the most valuable qualities to possess in life, memory and imagination and I am glad to see that so many young men are taking chess up, because it will bring out all the best in time". In conclusion he said he was thoroughly enjoying his visit and was pleased to find such keenness for the game in this districtIn addition to the Win and Draws already recorded D. Johnston, M. Edmundson, F.Thompson, R.H. Petty, T. Laycock, F.H. Whitaker and Mrs T. Layock played but lost. Mr.Yates had the white pieces on all boards:- Final score Mr.Yates 23½, Burnley & District 6½. Around this time the Burnley player H.B.Creeke was President of the Lancashire Chess Association and this fact may have prompted Colne Chess Club to affiliate as was decided in their December 1922 meeting. There is also a mention of affiliation with the local Esperanto Society in order to share some of the expenses of room hiring. A match was arranged with Skipton on the 13th February 1923 which Colne won convincingly by 7 - 3. Unfortunately a change of Club Secretary at this point resulted in a lack of details for a few years of matches. There is mention of an East Lancashire versus Manchester fixture where the club representative was Mr.J.E.Parker but no result given. We can be sure however that inter-club matches still continued on a regular basis. It proved convenient to hold meetings in 1924 in Mr. Parkers premises at 72 Market Street as this greatly reduced the costs of running the club. Club nights consisted of friendly games with evenings of opening analysis and consultation games. Of course games were conducted without the use of a clock though they did manage to stage a lightning event by the use of a flashlight and time keeper. Weekly endgames and problems were set like this one posed by F.Thompson. White to play and mate in three moves:
In 1925 Burnley was fortunate to be able to stage a simultaneous match with Akiba Rubinstein and a press cutting dated 14th February gave these details:- On Thursday evening at the Mechanics Institution chess room before an excellent attendance, Mr. Akiba Rubinstein, the great Polish chess master, played 22 of the members simultaneously. He was successful in winning 20 games, losing one to Mr.A.Armistead and drawing with Mr.E.J.Sumner. Number 13 proved to be Mr.Rubinstein's unlucky number this time, for it was on this board that he lost. All four Colne players lost. Rubinstein's tour of the north covered Liverpool, Manchester, Rochdale and Sheffield. In the same year he also played exhibition tournaments in Belgium and Czechoslovakia. Solution to Problem: 1. Qe6 Nxe6 2. Rxh3+ gh 3. g3 mate. or 1. Qe6 Kh5 2.Bxg4+ Kh5 3. g3 mate. Colne Chess Club 1925-30 - The formation of the E.L.C.A.We start this period with Colne Chess Club experiencing some difficult times. Although an exhibition night was arranged during 1925 with Mr.Clough of the Steeton Chess Club, tournaments were unfinished and attendances fell. In a meeting of the following year there was a discussion regarding the future of the club. It was decided that Colne Chess Club should continue as long as the finance warranted such continuations. As the financial situation was healthy due to the low costs of facilities the club carried on. It was certainly possible to grant a donation of 10/6d (half a guinea) to the British Chess Federation's annual congress. On the 27th January 1927 there is the first mention of an Association of East Lancashire clubs being formed and it was decided that Mr.Parker should attend a meeting in Accrington on 1 February. Following this meeting an association of six clubs was formed:- Accrington, Blackburn, Burnley, Colne, Darwen and Haslingden. However its effect would only take place at the start of the new season at the end of the year. The 1927-8 season began with a visit on Saturday, 8th October by the Treasurer of the Lancashire Chess Association, Mr.Edmund Spencer. On conclusion of the meeting a simultaneous match over seven boards was arranged with Mr.Spencer winning 6½ - ½. In spite of this result Colne Chess Club still renewed its affiliation with the Lancashire Chess Association for which the fees were 2/6d. In a special meeting on the 30th November 1927, the club's delegate Mr.Parker gave his report of the meeting he attended at Accrington. This meeting had been called with a view to a league being formed or more inter-club matches. Mr.Parker explained that a knock-out tournament had finally been agreed upon instead of a league. As there were six clubs affiliated to the association at that time, two clubs would have a bye in the first round. Although no restriction for the numbers in each team, only the scores of the first seven players would count for the match. The first team drawn would have the choice of venue and the away team choice of colours (presumably on alternate boards). In their first season Colne Chess Club had a bye in the first round. Unfortunately no game results were recorded but Burnley won the very first competition. On the 31st January 1928, Colne played Burnley at the Mechanics in a friendly fixture. Colne lost by 5½ - 4½ but considering they lost the last four boards this was a good performance. Mr.Sinkinson offered to provide a permanent trophy for the competition. Each player of the winning team of seven to receive a prize donated by each club. The seventh prize was donated by the Rev.H.C.de Barathy (Blackburn). Records show two matches for Colne against the Burnley club. Colne losing both 2½ - 8½ and 3 - 7. It is not clear if the first one was for the inter-club competition but the winner this season was Haslingden. The prize giving for the season took place at the start of the new season and was recorded in the local press on the 27th November 1929. The column was entitled “Mecca of Chess - Dr.Sinkinson's Memories of the Mechanics". It read as follows:- “An event of interest to all chess players in East Lancashire took place at the Burnley Mechanics Institution on Wednesday night when Dr. Sinkinson of Accrington presented a handsome silver cup to the East Lancashire chess Association. The trophy is to be competed for annually by teams comprising the Association - at present, Accrington, Blackburn, Burnley, Colne, Darwen and Haslingden. Dr.Sinkinson, the first President of the Association, promised to provide a trophy some time ago, and it was won in 1928 by the Burnley team. In 1929 it was carried off by Haslingden. Before handing the trophy to the Secretary of the Association, Mr. Walroud, Dr.Sinkinson made a happy speech delighting the audience with his reminiscences of the Chess Rooms at the Mechanics. That room he said was regarded by all as the Mecca of Chess in East Lancashire. The members ought to be glad of the splendid facilities they had. One club (he was referring to Blackburn) was in danger of dying through inability to obtain suitable accommodation. In the room at the Mechanics he had played his first game, and many famous men had played there in his time. Mr.Blackburne, the grand old man of the game was often there during his lifetime. Kostich, Lasker and Marshall also. Sir James Mackenzie the beloved physician, Sir J.O.S.Thursby, Mr.J.Leadam (a disciple of Philidor !) Mr.M.P.Gray and Tom Bayne whom all would remember. Amongst the stalwarts of the present, Dr.Sinkinson mentioned Mr.W.Hargreaves, Mr.Creeke and Mr.A.A.Bellingham who being mated would quickly demonstrate how he could have done the same five moves back. He was glad to see the younger members carrying on the traditions. Dr.Sinkinson said it gave him no little pleasure that Burnley long regarded as invincible, had been beaten by Haslingden, the baby of the Association. It showed that the game was thriving in the district. The Association now had a representative on the county selection committee, and no longer was it an exclusive privilege of Manchester and Liverpool to provide county teams. Before the presentation, the Haslingden team, as winners, played the “Rest of the Association" losing 3½ - 6½. Of the Colne players J.L.Routledge won and T. Buller drew. In the 1929-30 season Colne were paired at home against Blackburn in the first round which took place on 11 January 1930 at Kirks Cafe, Albert Road. Colne won 4 - 3. The second round or semi final for the North East Lancashire tournament (now of course better known as the Sinkinson Cup) took place on the 18th February 1930 at the same venue. This time Colne were beaten rather heavily 5½ - 1½ by Burnley who went on to win the cup this season. On the 9th November 1929, a match was played at the Catholic County Club, Winckley Square, Preston between East Lancashire and North Lancashire resulting in a win for the latter by 15 -13. Colne Chess Club was represented by three players: J.G.Parker, Theo. Buller and J.L.Routledge playing on boards 6,12 and 21 respectively. On the 18th October the following year a match between a combined North and East Lancashire team against Liverpool was arranged. The former won 15½ -12½ won on this occasion. Colne had four players in the field this time, D.Johnstone being added to the squad. Colne Chess Club 1931 - 39 - the Cup-Winning YearsThe annual dual fixture with Burnley commenced towards the end of 1930 with a heavy defeat for Colne on the 25th November 1930 by 7½ - 2½ . The return fixture on home territory was more evenly contested but Burnley still won 5 - 4. On the 13th January 1931 Colne also lost to a team from Accrington but managed to draw 4 - 4 with Blackburn on the 16th February 1931. On the 30th December 1930 Colne had two representatives in the North & East Lancs match against Manchester at the County Catholic Club in Preston. T.Buller losing and D.Johnston winning their games. Manchester ended up winning the match by 16½ - 10½ At the Annual General Meeting on the 23rd September 1931 it was revealed that the club was in arrears by £3-6s-0d and although it was decided to keep the subscription at 5/- per year the allowance on match fares was cut by half. It was thought advisable to purchase a copy of the English Counties Year Book (@ 6/-) and make enquiries about the County and District Correspondence Chess tournament. Inter-area activities were now becoming very popular with several matches being played at Preston. The North Lancs versus East Lancs match on the 17th October 1931 ended with the result 10 - 7. Colne players winning were T.Buller, D.Johnston and J.L.Routledge, with J.G.Parker losing. On the 7th November 1931, North & East Lancs played against Liverpool losing 11½ - 7½. Colne players winning were D.Johnston and H.Perkins, with T.Buller losing. On the 5th December 1931, North & East Lancs played against Manchester and won by 13 - 12. Colne players T.Buller and H.Perkins both won. In the Burnley fixtures Colne won at home on the 24th November by 4 - 2 but the return match in February was answered by a convincing 8 - 1 win for Burnley. On the 19th March 1932 Colne also beat Blackburn 4½ - ½. In the first round of the knock-out tournament this year Colne had been paired against Haslingden. The match played on the 6th January 1932 ended with Colne scoring 3 points and 4 games unfinished. Unfortunately all these unfinished games were adjudged losses making the final result a win for Haslingden by 4 - 3. This season Accrington became the new cup winners. At the Annual General Meeting on the 21st September 1932, the problem of adjudicated games came under discussion. It appeared that some games had been put forward for adjudication with as little as twelve moves being made. Although it was felt that some minimum number should be played per hour this could not be enforced without the use of a clock and the cost was prohibitive. Once again at the start of the new season matches were arranged between North and East Lancs and also against teams from Liverpool and Manchester. Colne regulars, H.Perkins, T.Buller, D.Johnston and J.L.Routledge making up the teams once again.On the 8th November 1932 Accrington, winners of the previous seasons knock-out tournament took on the rest at the annual gathering. Colne players H.Perkins and T.Buller both winning. The first round of the North East Lancs tournament for 1933 saw Colne paired against Burnley on the 21st February 1933. This away match had always been a difficult one for Colne in the past with Burnley winning quite handsomely at times. This time the record books were turned about with Colne winning the match 4 - 3. A month later on the 21st March, Colne met Darwen in the second round. Although one game was not completed the match result was not in doubt. Colne having won the top three boards together with a draw on board six were the winners by the ruling which eliminated the bottom board score. This placed Colne in the final for the first time against Accrington. Colne were favoured with a home draw and the match took place at Kirks Cafe on Albert Road on the 8th May 1933. The match turned out to be a very close one in the end. Colne were winning two games to nil with several unfinished positions. On this occasion Edmund Spencer was present to give his decision on the remaining games with the overall effect of making the match score halved 3½ - 3½ . Thus by the elimination ruling Colne became winners of the Sinkinson Cup for the first time. The result for Colne for this competition was as follows:- Colne Burnley Colne Darwen 1.T.Buller ½adj W.Cole 1.H.Perkins 1 L.Hindle 2.H.Perkins ½adj H.B.Creeke 2.T.Buller 1 F.Hunt 3.J.G.Parker 0 A.Crossland 3.D.Johnston 1 J.Ainsworth 4.D.Johnston 1adj L.Hargreaves 4.J.G.Parker unf F.Gillibrand 5.J.L.Routledge 1 H.Leedham 5.F.Thompson 0 W.Briggs 6.F.Thompson 0 J.Hamilton 6.J.L.Routledge ½ S.Proctor 7.R.H.Petty 1 C.B.Nicholl 7.R.H.Petty 0 W.Collinson 8.J.Schofield 0 R.Halstead 9.J.Laycock 1 L.Kippax Colne 4 - 3 winners
Colne Accrington 1.H.Perkins ½a H.Johnson 2.T.Buller 1 H.Wright 3.D.Johnston 0a H.Whittaker 4.J.G.Parker ½a J.Wright 5.F.Thompson 1 F.Power 6.J.L.Routledge ½ W.Scott 7.R.H.Petty 0a A.Hunter Colne 3½ - 3½ winners on elimination of bottom board!! Winning this competition sparked a great deal of activity at Colne Chess Club. A special general meeting was held on the 14th June 1933 to discuss ways to celebrate the winning of the Sinkinson Cup. There was a unanimous decision to have photographs taken by Marie Podmore, the local professional photographer. The idea of a club photograph was arranged on Sunday 25th June at the studios of Marie Podmore, Swan Croft, Colne. It was resolved that the club should purchase one of these photographs and have it framed. This is held presently at Colne Library. The local papers published copies of two photographs; one of the winning team and one showing the members of the club.
The start of the 1933 - 4 season commenced with the regional fixtures. On the 21st October 1933 at Preston, Colne were represented by four players in the North v East Lancs match. H.W.Perkins and J.L.Routledge won their games and T.Buller and D.Johnston drew theirs. On the 4th November the combined Lancs side met Liverpool again at Preston resulting in a 9 - 9 draw. This time T.Buller and D.Johnston won their games and H.W.Perkins and J.L.Routledge drew theirs. The annual presentation of the Sinkinson Cup took place at Burnley and traditionally the winners, this time Colne took on the rest of the Association. The results were:- Colne 4 - 6 The Rest 1. H.W.Perkins 1 - 0 L.W.Whittaker (Haslingden) 2. T.Buller 1 - 0 H.B.Creeke (Burnley) 3. D.Johnston ½ - ½ J.G.Lomax (Blackburn) 4. F.Thompson 1 - 0 J.Calvert (Blackburn) 5. J.L.Routledge (Capt) ½ - ½ H.Crossland (Burnley) 6. R.H.Petty 0 - 1 H.Whittaker (Accrington) 7. A.Armistead 0 - 1 L.Hindle (Darwen) 8. J.Schofield ½ - ½ F.H.Gillibrand (Darwen) 9. J.Laycock 0 - 1 W.Scott (Accrington) 10.F.Lambert 0 - 1 J.C.Callis (Blackburn) The Sinkinson Cup was presented to the Colne Captain, J.L.Routledge by Mr.Bellingham, the ex-President of the Burnley Chess Club. It forms the centre feature in the photographs on the previous page and is still played for today on the basis of an all-play-all league competition. The friendly matches against Burnley took place on the 14th November 1933 at Colne which Colne won 4 - 3 and the return match away on the 6th February 1934 which was drawn 5 - 5. County fixtures this year commenced with a 40 board match against Cheshire on the 20th January 1934 (T.Buller losing on board 38). On the 27th January 1934, a 21 board match at Carnforth was arranged against Cumberland (T.Buller on board 6 and H.W.Perkins on board 9 winning with J.L.Routledge on board 15 drawing). On the 3rd March 1934, a 23 board match at Leeds was arranged against Yorkshire (T.Buller winning on board 21). At the Annual General Meeting on the 26th September 1934 suggestions were given to be put forward at the meeting of the East Lancs Chess Association. No doubt as a consequence of the Darwen match earlier in the year it was felt that the games should be a least decided over two hours play and only then adjudicated if unfinished. Since the hours of play at Colne were 7.30 p.m. - 10.00 p.m. this would mean a fairly prompt start. At the start of the season North & East Lancs played their usual match against Liverpool losing this time 9 - 7. T.Buller on board 3 drew and J.L.Routledge on board 8 won. On the 13th November 1934 an interesting simultaneous display of chess was given by Jacques Mieses the German chess master, at the Mechanics Institute, Burnley. The event was arranged by the Burnley Chess Club and Herr Mieses played 30 boards against the club augmented by members of various clubs in the district. He scored 23 wins and had two losses and five draws. Players from Colne Chess Club secured four of the draws and two losses. The draws were secured by T.Buller, H.Perkins, J.L.Routledge and F.Lambert. The annual friendly fixtures with Burnley this season were evenly contested. At Burnley on the 30th October 1934 the score was 5 - 5 and the return match on the 29th January 1935 finished 3 - 3. This season Colne met Darwen in the 2nd round of the Sinkinson Cup on Monday 14th January 1935. Unfortunately Colne had a couple of regular players absent and this was felt by them losing narrowly by 4 - 3. this put Darwen into the final against Blackburn with year Blackburn were the overall winners. Colne Chess Club received notification of an International Chess Federation Congress to be held at Nottingham from the 10th to 28th August 1936. This congress was to be the strongest one held in this country probably for all time, since it featured the World Champion Euwe, former Champions Alekhine, Capablanca and Lasker, and the future Champion Botvinnik. In addition Fine and Reshevsky, the best American players of the day were matched against the top English ones. The Club decided to donate 10/6d (half guinea) to the fund to support this congress. The winners, Botvinnik and Capablanca shared out a £350 prize. In the Sinkinson Cup this season Colne and Burnley were paired against other in the 2nd round. The match was played at Burnley on the 12th November 1936. Colne won this match convincingly 5½ - 1½ even winning the extra game on board 8 as well. This placed Colne in the final once again, this time to face Blackburn on the 10th March 1936. The match was a close one with Colne going down by the odd board. Colne 3 - 4 Blackburn 1.T.Buller 1 - 0 J.G.Lomax 2.H.W.Perkins ½ - ½ H.C.Lewis 3.J.L.Routledge 0 - 1 L.W.Whitaker 4.D.Johnston ½ - ½ R.Podmore 5.R.H.Petty ½ - ½ Rev.H.C.de Barathy 6.G.Ayers ½ - ½ J.Calvert 7.J.Schofield 0 - 1 H.Heap The annual contest between North and East Lancs took place at the Y.M.C.A. in Blackburn and resulted in a win for the East by 10 - 5. Colne players J.L.Routledge and G.Ayers won, H.W.Perkins drew and T.Buller lost. A match between North & East Lancs combined against Manchester took place on the 14th November 1936. A similar combined team contested a match against Liverpool and took place on the 30th January 1937. North & East Lancs won 11½ - 7½. Colne were represented by D.Johnston and A.Armistead who won, J.L.Routledge who drew and T.Buller who lost. In the first round of the Sinkinson Cup, Colne had been paired against Burnley on the 17th November 1936. By now Colne seemed to have the measure of Burnley and won comfortably 4½ - 2½. Colne also won in the next round and were in the final once again. Blackburn were their opponents for the second year running and the match took place on the 23rd February. In the previous matches, scores were taken over 7 boards but this time 8 players took the field and all games counted. Colne 4½ - 3½ Blackburn 1.H.W.Perkins 0 - 1 J.G.Lomax 2.T.Buller 0 - 1 H.C.Lewis 3.D.Johnston 1 - 0 L.W.Whitaker 4.J.L.Routledge 1 - 0 R.Podmore 5.G.Ayers ½ - ½ Rev.H.C.de Barathy 6.R.H.Petty ½ - ½ J.Calvert 7.F.Thompson ½ - ½ H.Heap 8.A.Armistead 1 - 0 C.Bell So Colne won the Sinkinson Cup for the second time. Celebrations did not appear to reach the levels of 1933 but it must be considered an achievement to prevent Blackburn winning for a third consecutive time. It was agreed to engrave the trophy with all previous winners. In the following year's competition Colne Chess Club proved all powerful once again. In the 1st round Burnley were swept aside 5 - 2 and in the final round once again beat Blackburn. This time by 5 - 1 with one game unfinished. On the 17th February 1938 a match was arranged for the Belgium Champion, George Koltanowski (born 1903) - to play against 25 local players simultaneously. Koltanowski was at the time the world blindfold chess record holder playing as many as 30 opponents at one time. It is not clear if this match was a display of blindfold chess or not. Two Colne players took part, J.L.Routledge drew and T.Buller lost after a long struggle. In the final year of the Sinkinson Cup before competitive chess made way for the war. Colne were again the winners for the third consecutive time and the leading club in East Lancashire. The trophy winners pre-war were:- 1928 Burnley 1934 Darwen 1929 Haslingden 1935 Blackburn 1930 Burnley 1936 Blackburn 1931 Burnley 1937 Colne 1932 Accrington 1938 Colne 1933 Colne 1939 Colne Here the story of Colne Chess Club comes to an end, but before that we must give credit to their first President John G.Parker who sponsored the club for several years and did a great deal to encourage chess in East Lancashire. Previously resident at 188, Skipton Road, Colne he later moved to Altrincham and played chess for Manchester. He died in 1963 at the age of 83. Out of sequence but Colne's final blast was in 1950/51 when they again won the title:Colne 5½ - 1½ Blackburn 1. T.Buller 1 - 0 J.G.Lomax 2. H.W.Perkins ½ - ½ R.Podmore 3. J.L.Routledge 1 - 0 Default 4. D.Johnston ½ - ½ H.C.Lewis 5. F.Thompson ½ - ½ Rev.H.C.de Barathy 6.J.Schofield 1 - 0 C.Bell 7. R.H.Petty 1 - 0 J.Stanworth Contact DetailsRing John Belbin on 01282 867291 - for email adress go to the new site (see the bottom of the Home Page) as emails to the address formerly given here are no longer being read. |
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Players at the club
We meet at Nelson Cricket Club
Our two team captains playing
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