SHEPHERD'S Chess Club have not had a happy time recently.

They were defeated in the semi-final of the York League Team Knock-out, and Burton Stone's overwhelming win over RI Bishops took them past Shepherd's to the top of division one of the York Chess League.

The knock-out semi-finals, which were both played at the York RI club could hardly have offered a greater contrast.

RI Cavaliers 'A' beat York Health 5- in a match between two second division teams in which Health turned up two players short.

In the other tie, RI Kings elimnated Shepherd's after an excellent match between two full strength first division sides. Two of the six games were drawn, and in others, Simon Smith produced a brilliant problem-like finish and was well supported by Jon Griffith and Gawain Jones to record wins for the Kings. Against these, Shepherd's scored only a consolation victory by Richard Larkin.

York players obtained varying results in the Doncaster Congress. The most successful was Laurence Cornhill who scored four points from five games in the Minor section to earn a grading prize.

Holgate's Tony Slinger scored 2 in the Open, which was won by the blind player Graham Lilley, a regular visitor to the Fulprint York Congress. Tim Turner scored three points in the major section.

The best local score in the Intermediate section was three points by Sri Sriharan, but he was closely followed by Neville Pearce and David Hardcastle on 2.

The date of the friendly against Harrogate will take place on April 30, probably over 15 boards, five of these being reserved for juniors. It is hoped that York will be able to include players from the various league clubs, rather than restricting their team to players who already compete in Yorkshire Chess Association matches.

Entry forms for another end of season event, the York and District Rapidplay tournament, on Sunday, April 19 are now ready, and will be circulated to local clubs soon. Details are also available from league chairman Neville Pearce, tel 01904 491287.

The draw for the eighth round of the York RI club championship, scheduled for Tuesday, March 10 is: Richard Hardy v Paul Hopwood, David Baren v Nigel Holroyd, Rick Woodcock v Jon Griffith, Sri Sriharan v John Bennett, Paul Johnson v Laurence Cornhill, Don Glasgow v Peter Blacker, Dennis Danks v Ewen Cameron, Robert Elliott v Chris Somerville, David Latimer v John Foo, Nic Jones v Bob Oates, Paul Brooks v Steve Croft, John Lafferty v Mick Beavers and Marlon Sandford v Kevin Holliday. Bill Fulton has a bye. The first named player in each pairing has white.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.