Saturday 26 October 2024

Malcolm Harding Funeral Arrangements

 Details of our sadly deceased League Secretary:

On behalf of Malcolm's family, can we just thank everyone for their wonderful & kindhearted messages, following the announcement of his death. We have been deeply moved by them all.

Now we move on to giving him a good 'send-off'!
The funeral will take place at 11.00am on Wednesday, 13th Nov, 2024, at Rainsbrook Crematorium, Rugby, CV22 5QQ & afterwards an informal gathering with light refreshments at Christ Church, Brownsover CV21 1QG. We intend to have a live-cast of the service, which will remain available for a week or two. Please contact Sue Harding if you need this & we will forward the code details when we have them.
In lieu of floral tributes please consider a donation to either of our preferred charities - Road Peace or Chess in Schools
Any of you who would like to 'raise a glass' to Malcolm's memory might wish to visit his favourite pub, The Merchants, (CV21 3AW) just across the road from Rugby School, in town.

Friday 10 November 2023

Latest Version of the League Constitution 2023-24

Following the Constitutional Review Group meeting of March 2023, and the approved changes at the following League's Annual General Meeting in May 2023, the latest of version of the League Constitution, may be found here. [Uploaded:10 NOV 2023]

This Constitution is up-to-date, and in effect from 2nd May 2023, for the Season 2023-24.

Constitutional Review 2023 (Colin, Dave, Malcolm, Jonathan, and Hok).

Friday 5 May 2023

Post-Annual General Meeting Update from the Past Chairman

A big thank you from the outgoing Management Committee 2022-23 

Thank you to all of you (and your Club Members) who attended the League AGM, yesterday. For those who had exams and other engagements, full minutes of the meeting will come from Malcolm in due course; however, just a brief few words from me, as I stand down.

New League Officers

 

First of all, the new officers of the Management Committee were elected as follows, and special thanks goes to our Hon. President Mike Johnson, who will take on the role of Chairman, in an acting capacity for the coming season 2023-24. The intention is that we find a custodian in 2024, open to chairing the League for 2-3 seasons in the future, as we find our footing with a seamless season, and stabilise post-pandemic.

 

Malcolm Harding will continue his excellent work as League and Records Secretary.

 

President: Mike Johnson [Coventry] 

Chairman: Mike Johnson [Coventry] mike.j.johnson@hotmail.co.uk

General Secretary: Malcolm Harding [Rugby] malcolmharding@mail.com / msharding57@gmail.com

Treasurer: David Filer [Coventry]

Records Secretary: Malcolm Harding [Rugby]

League Delegate: Meghana Mohan [Warwick]

Secretary for Junior Chess: Ed Goodwin [Coventry]

Digital Marketing Officer: Hok Yin Stephen Chiu [Warwick]

Assistant Records Secretary: Jonathan Fowler [Coventry]

 

Independent Examiner: Mark Page [Kenilworth]

 

Big thank you to Jonathan, who is happy to continue managing the Shadow Grades system.

 

Outgoing Season 2022-23

 

Well done again, to Kenilworth for winning the League Championships 2022-23. Full results, scroll down to my last email.

 

Entries for Next Season

 

In terms of fixtures, the latest date that we are looking to accept entries will be mid-September 2023. New clubs please get in touch with Malcolm (Gen. Secretary) and Mike (Chair), [malcolmharding@mail.com / msharding57@gmail.com / mike.j.johnson@hotmail.co.uk].


I understand from the instinct of the meeting that the sooner teams can be submitted, the earlier Malcolm can circulate a draft fixtures list / skeleton for the league calendar, so that clubs may be able to book rooms sooner and make plans around special League events on free Tuesdays.

 

Therefore, late entries, will be at Malcolm's discretion only (for example, if there are odd numbers in the fixtures, etc).

 

Potential New Clubs

 

It may be unlikely in the foreseeable future that the League will be joined by Balsall Common, Coleshill, Daventry, or Leamington at this stage, however we encourage good club-to-club relations. Please get in contact with Mike/Malcolm, if you are interested in joining the League: [malcolmharding@mail.com / msharding57@gmail.com / mike.j.johnson@hotmail.co.uk]

 

Friendly matches between Coventry League clubs should be encouraged with Balsall Common, our closest neighbour.

 

Universities (Coventry & Warwick)

 

Please make sure you introduce your new captains and important dignitries, to Malcolm, i.e. name and email, especially if you are to be included in his regular email circulation, and gain LMS access.

 

Anyone who (1)  gets emails from me, and (2) does not get emails from Malcolm, and (3) wishes to get emails from Malcolm, should probably email Malcolm, asap!

 

Constant Board Order

 

In the routine tidy-up of the Constitution, it was reflected that there was some confusion over the status-quo on Board order rules.

 

The status quo, maintains that teams must keep a constant Board order throughout the season, and their initial order - the first time they play in a team - should be based on a player's September rating (within the 80 point rule), or if un-rated, based on the shadow rating submitted by their captain to the Shadow Rating form (and apprived by Malcolm/Jonathan).

 

Changes to a player's board order may be sought by any captain, with permision from Malcolm/Jonathan - by a submission of a new shadow rating. This could be for (1) someone with an existing september rating that is widely inaccurate (too high or too low, if their captain shows evidence, ie Congress performance, Online, etc), or (2) someone without a september rating, and was inaccurately estimated at the start of the season. You may email or use the submission form.

 

The extact etiquette of shadow rating re-submissions (to allow board order changes) is not strictly written down on paper, however, we do not reasonably expect any player to be re-evaluated more than once in a season.

 

And really, minor changes of strength does not necessary justify a re-evaluation; as a personal point, if I was a Captain, I would not ask for a new shadow rating to be re-approved, unless I believed the player's real strength was over 160/240 points out from their status-quo rating (i.e. 20-30 points out in the old system; a 120 playing at a 140-150 level).

 

Naturally, this comes down to the exercise of Malcolm's/ Jonathan's judgement, so any captain (in particular, the Universities) with any concern about League rules, should email them in first instance. The likely outcomes is that the League will come to a constructive and reasonable solution for each and every case. Always email/ring, if there is a query.

 

Summary

 

I hope I have done a reasonable job for the past 8-9 months, and look forward to supporting Malcolm, Mike, and the Management committiee, in a much reduced capacity overseeing the website and digital platforms.


Hok Yin Stephen Chiu

Outgoing Chairman 2022-23

Coventry & District Chess League.




Thursday 20 April 2023

Pre-Annual General Meeting Update from Outgoing Chairman

Here's my last CDCL Update, as League Chairman. I will briefly surmise this season's progress and achievements, many of which, are thanks to the hardworking efforts of the Management Committee, in particular, Malcolm Harding, who has been quite exceptional, and supportive over the last eight month.

 

Malcolm will be sending an email in due course, with more details for future meetings, plus anything that I may have missed, or written incorrectly, in this email!

 

1. Congratulations

 

The League Champions for the C&DCL Season 2022-23, is Kenilworth Chess Club. Which I believe makes Kenilworth the incumbant Champions of both local Leagues, the CDCL, and the LDCL. A very big well-done ðŸ™‚!

 

Division Two Champions: Rugby A Team

Division Three Champions: Coventry University - A particular well done to our newest club!

 

Divisional Cup A: Coventry A

Divisional Cup B: Nuneaton C

 

Knock-Out Cup: Coventry A

Plate Competition: Rugby B

 

2. IMPORTANT: Meetings (Management, Constitutional Review, and General)

 

The next Coventry League Meeting is the Annual General Meeting, which will be in exactly TWO weeks time, on Tuesday 2nd May, 2023 ('So-called' Term 2 Week 2). FYI: The AGM is earlier than usual, however the reasoning is (1) to hand over the new Chair as soon as the playing season was complete, and (2) it would be good for the new Committees from Coventry University and Warwick University to familiarise themselves with the new League Officers sooner than later.

 

This Season, we held a total of three in-person Management Committee Meetings. One Before the season start (September), one mid-way (January), and one on completion of the season (March).

 

A Constitutional Review Group meeting was held early March, after we sought volunteers from the January Management Meeting. Proposals, rules clarifications, and ideas stemming from that meeting will be circulated in due course by Malcolm. Thanks goes to Colin, Dave, Malcolm and Jonathan for their efforts on this.

 

3. LMS - Results submissions

 

A special thanks goes to the mammoth efforts of Malcolm, who set up the new system for results submission this season.

 

It is important that NEW club captains, are in touch with Malcolm to establish Log-ins, much BEFORE the start of the next season, so that the League hits a running start.

 

4. CDCL Shadow Ratings

 

A special thanks goes to the efforts of Jonathan Fowler, who joined us this season, as Assistant to the Records Secretary, in adminstering the shadow grades system.

 

Shadow Grade Form: [redacted]

Approved/Pending List: [redacted]

 

New links will be issued for the next season.

 

5. The 3rd CDCL Rapidplay 2022

 

Special thanks goes to Malcolm for organising the CDCL Rapidplay. It was a great way to bring everyone together. The event made a modest surplus.

 

Additional, we were delighted to celebrate the presentation of the ECF President's Award for Services to Chess, to Colin Green, recognising his contribution to local chess, as League Chairman over the pandemic, and his decades of service to club, League and County chess.

 

6. League Swiss Manager

 

Matthew Carr, and myself will hold a training session for a number of club representatives from each CDCL Club in due course, once we find the right time over the summer. The League has purchased a license for League events and League clubs to use where appropriate.

 

7. CDCL Management Committee - Housekeeping

 

I believe this email has gone to an updated list of all voting Members of the Management Committee (this includes, all elgible League Officers and Club Representatives (one-vote-per-team), who have played at least one CDCL game this Season).

 

Warwick University - We welcome the new faces join the Management Committe, from the Warwick University side; Sid Panicker (President), Thu-Nga Nguyen (Chair), Tommy Coker (Vice President - Competitive Chess), Arya Cont (Warwick A Captain), Archie Lodge (Warwick B & C Captain), and Bhushita Ahuja (Warwick D & E Captain).

 

Thank you, goes to Meghana, James, and Kieran for Warwick's engagement and general support vis-a-vis the League this season. We are conscious that it is no easy job, and appreciate your organisational efforts and many members, in supporting League competitions and the Coventry League Rapidplay.

 

Coventry University - We await updates from Brandan Read, as to the new contacts for Coventry University next season. A big well done to Brandan and team, for a successful season of Coventry University returing to League chess.

 

8. CAPTAINS' CONTACT DETAILS

 

Over this season, to make it easier for Captains to reach out to each other, we created a Captain's Contacts List 2022-23: https://tinyurl.com/CDCL2022Contacts

 

A new one will need to be put together for the next season.

 

9. CDCL Officers

 

As I mark my last email, I will be standing down. For next season, there will be a new Chair, due to be elected in two weeks time at the AGM. 


I would also like to thank Talita Frost (Marketing Officer), for assisting us in maintain the League website and social media platforms, in particular with promoting the December CDCL Rapidplay 2022 across Twitter/IG/Facebook.

 

I thank everyone for putting up with me for this one-season, in particular Malcolm and Dave, for their support, and everyone's constructive attitude and conduct.

 

10. Potential New Joiners to the CDCL

 

Following up from dialogue and interest from last season. We would be interested in reaching out / maintaining relations with Balsall Common, Coleshill, and Daventry.

 

Those who think of any potential local teams on the local circuit, or have sprung up since the Pandemic, who are within safe travelling distance of the Coventry & District area, welcome to suggest ideas.

 

11. Warwickshire Trust Fund Trustee (CDCL)

 

We previously thanked David Adams (Treasurer for Coventry Club). He will be representing the CDCL, as one of the three Trustees (from Birmingham, Coventry, and Leamington) in overseeing the Warwickshire Chess Association's Trust Funds. As a League within the County Association, it is good to see more members of our League engage with Warwickshire. If there's any notable updates, we look forward to them for future Management meetings/AGMs.

 

12. English Chess Federation Memberships

 

The ECF are currently reviewing potential future membership costs / structure. More details to follow.

 

13. Summary

 

To everyone constructive contributions, it has been much appreciated this season, and hope that working together, we continue to improve and make chess a better place locally across the District. 

 

Best wishes and good luck, 


Chairman 2022-23

Coventry & District Chess League.