What the papers say 1999 - 2000
| Date | Article | Paper |
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North Ayrshire Vs South Ayrshire - 14th May 2000. Click here to see the results. |
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| 28/3/00 |
Troon 'A' just failed to escape the drama of the dog-house when the first division split in two with the top four teams disputing the title while the bottom four struggle to avoid the two relegation spots. Troon were pipped by half a point by Prestwick for the safety place of fourth top. However as the season has progressed Troon have improved their results and they got the better of Largs in their first play off game. Wins from Gary and Len Weir and john Calder plus win claims from Clive Baird and Duncan Malcolm look to have put them into a 5-1 victory. Troon 'B' suffered from a lack of players available for their match against high flying Ayr and crashed 5.5-0.5 Troon's consolation was from newcomer Hugh Cameron. In the Coronelli quarter final the marathon match between Mike Chapman and John Calder was finally resolved with a time limitation and sudden death and it is mike who progresses to meet Duncan Malcolm in the semi. |
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| 3/3/00 |
Largs ‘a’ side were the first visitors to Troon’s new venue at Hopkins tearoom and although they found the surroundings to their liking they found the hosts to be in a mean mood. Len weir was first to record a win followed by Ian Sloan and then john Calder. Clive Baird got a draw and with Duncan Malcolm winning his adjudication Troon ran out comfortable 4.5-1.5 winners. The Coronelli knock-out trophy is nearing completion and the first player to book his place in the final is Ian Sloan who won a tousy joust with Len weir. Who he will meet in the final is a bit unclear as Duncan Malcolm awaits the winner of the marathon tussle quarter final tie between mike Chapman and john Calder. After almost thirteen hours play over four nights they have had three draws. The tournament controller has intervened ruling that the next game is played to a time finish with the player who runs out of time losing. The night of the short nails approaches! |
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| 10/1/00 |
With league chess in suspended animation the focus falls on Club tournaments and in particular on one player, Jim Wainwright whose star is most definitely on the ascendancy. Having always contested the reserve Championship, the Gardiner Cup, Jim decided this season to step up a gear and although he is unlikely to win the tournament his victory over Len Weir was a landmark as he had a poor record against this opponent. However an even more sensational result was to follow when ,in the second round of the Coronelli Trophy he dismissed holder Clive Baird. As Clive is the top graded player in Troon this was a major upset. Jim is a housepainter to trade and history shudders at the thought of housepainters who get too much power |
Troon Outlook |
| 8/12/99 |
Against a backdrop of unavailability both Troon sides produced their best results of the season. Troon B had set off to Largs knowing that two of their top 3 players were missing which meant that the rest of the team and reserves were playing at a higher level than their normal position. The 6-0 win was something beyond their dreams while Jim Wainright took the heavyweight number one board. He was quick to praise the good play of Vincent Bennis and Tom Mitchell. Troon Venetians had an even more bizarre set up prior to their tie in the first division with 3 call offs and a last minute withdrawal by Mike Chapman due to an eye injury. B Team players were drafted in and did not disappoint. Joe Bradley in particular had a nail biter which he may need stress counseling to overcome but in the end he triumphed. Jim Wainright repeated his form of the previous evening and A team regulars Duncan Malcolm and Gary Weir chipped in one and a half points to make the final score Troon Venetians 3.5 Kilmarnock Dragons 2.5
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Ayr Advertiser
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| 23/11/99 | The result of the match between Troon Band Ayr was 1.5-4.5. Ayr are averaging 4.5 per game but Troon have now played two of the strongest teams in the league and despite losing on both occasions they are proving a hard nut to crack. They got early encouragement through a confident win from youngster Tom Mitchell but when Vincent Bennis , Joe Bradley, Jim Wainwright and finally Norman Jackson it was left to Len Weir at board one to try to save the jerseys in a hard fought match with high ranking, Ian Clark which saw the Ayr man in deep time trouble and then emerge into an intriguing end game a draw was a result which nobody will argue with. | Troon Outlook |
| 20/10/99 |
It was a shaky return to top flight chess for
the Troon Venetians when they played their first match against Greenwood
Gambits.
The Troon team fresh from the success of winning the second division were without top graded, Clive Baird and fielded
two substitutes and found it tough going. The final result looks like going
4-2 in favour of Greenwood with Ian Sloan and John Calder's games at
adjournment but with draws beckoning. Further draws were gained by Duncan
Malcolm and Mike Chapman but with board points counting the Troon team were
having to settle for only two of the six points available.
A similar fate was to befall the Troon 'B' team
on their visit to the highly rated Irvine 'B' but captain Joe Bradley showed
the way with a fine win and Len Weir followed his example. Bradley was up-beat
about the performance praising the fighting qualities of youngsters Tom
Mitchell and Vincent Bennis.
In the Club Championship Duncan Malcolm has
gone off like a rocket recording 4.5/5 Champion Gary Weir is trying to stay
with him but admits its now up to others as the game between the two ended in
a draw.
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Troon Outlook |
| 13/10/99 |
Now that the nights are longer and another winter beckons are you ready with your armchair to be entertained by your television night after night until the spring when you can re-emerge from your hibernation? For many people this is all that happens in the winter months. For some it is the time of excitement and challenge. They are usually found at the Troon Chess club on Wednesday evenings at the Venice Cafe. This years bill of fare features the Club Championship, The Reserve Championship(the Gardiner Cup), The knock-out tournament (Coronelli Trophy) and the light-hearted Radford Handicap trophy. Coupled with that is the highly competitive team play in the Ayrshire Chess League where Troon have one team The Venetians, in the first division and Troon 'B' in the Second.There is levels of play to suit all abilities and believe it or not it is a fun evening.
But maybe you haven't seen enough adverts!
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Troon Outlook |