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< 1865: 1st Redcar
Chess Meeting < : > 1867: 3rd
North Yorkshire & Durham CA Meeting >
6th to 11th August 1866,
(Royal Hotel?) Redcar, North Riding of Yorkshire (now Cleveland)
The second Redcar chess
meeting was held Monday 6th to Saturday 11th August, 1866.
Pre-Event
Notices and Arrangements
Following on from
the initial Redcar event in 1865, which was not very noteworthy as far as the
strength of the tournament was concerned, the Rev Arthur Bolland Skipworth
took steps to make Redcar 1866 a much stronger event, with a top class
tournament as well as tournaments for weaker players. In the Chess
Player’s Magazine, New Series, Volume II, 1866, page 25,
Löwenthal warmly greeted plans for the event, although initial signs of
future tension between two different national organisations are apparent when
he questions the desirability of the event having a “national
character”.
The Chess
Player’s Magazine item started as follows:
CHESS ASSOCIATION AT
REDCAR.
We have much
pleasure in giving publicity to the annexed letter. Nothing can be
more desirable than that the meeting proposed should be entirely
successful. We doubt, however, whether the committee are well-advised
in wishing to give their provincial assembly a national character. A
general meeting of the British Chess Association will probably be held
during next summer, and it is hardly possible to convene the chess public
twice in one year without failure. As a provincial gathering the Redcar
Association would be almost certain of success, and might become a worthy
co-rival of the West Yorkshire Chess Association.
|
A telling word in
the Chess Player’s Magazine’s comment is
“probably”. Nobody knew when the next BCA tournament would
occur. The BCA wanted to run grand international tournaments for the
top players. Catering for amateurs was only secondary to that.
The BCA had not run an event since 1862. It had pulled out all the
stops that year, but had been unable to sustain that level of activity on an
annual basis. Waiting for a BCA tournament was beginning to look like
waiting for Halley’s comet to come round again, though without the
predictability.
Skipworth
envisaged an annual event which drew participants from across the whole
country, and catered for the ordinary amateur chess-player rather than just
the professional elite and international players. The
“annual” and “national” aspects were the primary
features. Skipworth was addressing that problem from the point of view
of the common chess-player.
The Chess
Player’s Magazine then reproduced Skipworth’s letter which
was as follows. (The apostrophe in the name of the magazine was printed
in the wrong place. Whether this was a typesetting error, or whether
Löwenthal was faithfully replicating an error by Skipworth is unclear.)
TO THE EDITOR OF THE “CHESS PLAYERS’
MAGAZINE”
Sir, - It is
intended to hold a grand chess meeting at Redcar in August or September of
next year. We should be glad, as far as possible, to give it a
national character; and perhaps you will kindly enable us, through your
columns, to invite British chess clubs generally to aid us; each club
favourable to our proposition, and able to help us, electing at once one
member, who shall act upon the committee.
The Earl of
Zetland has promised to preside, and we have already a long list of
noblemen and gentlemen as vice-presidents. May I also ask secretaries
of clubs, and all chess players who desire to be informed of our
arrangements, to forward their address, without delay, to “the
Secretary,” Chess Association, Redcar, Yorkshire.
I am, sir,
yours obediently,
A. B. Skipworth,
One of the
Committee
Bilsdale,
Nov. 28, 1865.
P.S.
While we are desirous of being aided by suggestions from the various
British chess clubs, and while we promise that every suggestion shall have
its due weight and consideration, we feel that it will be necessary for the
executive committee, who reside in or near Redcar, to make the final
arrangements.
|
In due course, Chess
Player’s Magazine, New Series, Volume II, 1866, on page 154,
carried a detailed prospectus for the event:
MEETING OF THE NORTH YORKSHIRE AND
DURHAM
CHESS ASSOCIATION.
We have received the programme of
this meeting, which is to take place on Monday, August 6th,
under the presidency of the Earl of Zetland. It contains the names of
so many highly influential gentlemen as vice-presidents and members of its
general committee, that the meeting can scarcely fail to be a great
success. The following arrangements are the chief items: -
Prizes will be offered for
competition in four classes.
Class 1 – Open to all British
amateurs. The first prize of the value of £10 at least.
Class 2 – Open to North Yorkshire
and Durham specially; but other amateurs may be admitted (on application)
into this class, by consent of the members of the executive
committee. The first prize of the value of £10 at least.
Class 3. – Open to amateurs who
have not frequently played with strong players.
Class 4 – Open to ladies only.
A.- As Mr. Staunton and Mr.
Lowenthal, and many distinguished provincial players have promised, all
being well, to be present, and as Herr Anderssen and Herr Steinitz have
been invited, an appeal is made to Chess players generally to aid this
Association to offer a prize for competition, in consultation games,
English versus Foreign Players.
B. – It is intended there
shall be an exhibition of blindfold play. Amateurs making special
donations for prizes in these games may have an opportunity of playing
against the blindfold player.
It is intended that the prizes shall
not be given in money; but in books, plate, or anything that a winner may
select.
For any further information,
application may be made to
J. H.
Bennett, M.D.,
G. F.
Bodington,
W. Grimshaw, Whitby, or
A. B.
Skipworth, B.A.,
Bilsdale, Northallerton.
Redcar,
Yorkshire, April 16th, 1866.
|
The first thing to
note is that Skipworth, or perhaps “the committee”, has decided
to adopt a name for what is, in effect, a newly-formed organisation, but one falling
short of the “national” aspiration. This move is
reminiscent of the original Yorkshire Chess Association evolving into the
Northern and Midland Counties Chess Association. The whole history of
Skipworth’s chess organisational activities closely resembled that of
the original Yorkshire Chess Association.
The
“Durham” connection reflects the involvement of some Durham
players as committee members and potential participants. Nevertheless,
incorporating “Durham” into the title of the organisation was
arguably inappropriate as the 1st meeting of the Northumberland and Durham
Chess Association had already been held a fortnight before the date of
Skipworth’s programme, on Easter Monday and Tuesday, 2nd and 3rd of
April 1866, at the Central Exchange Hotel, Newcastle. This questionable
aspect of the organisation’s name would be remedied in a couple of
years’ time by the adoption of the name “Yorkshire Chess
Association”.
A
significant point to note is the explicit adoption of the term
“amateur”. Whilst London-based professionals might be
invited along, the tournaments were for amateurs only.
Despite
not adopting a name which overtly implies an aspiration that the meeting be a
“national” one, we find that Class 1 is open to all British
amateurs. So it’s a national event!
Class
2 was open, presumably, only to players resident in the North Riding of
Yorkshire or in County Durham. This was thus the top
“local” section.
Class
3 was similar in nature to the modern “Novices” section of some
weekend chess congresses.
One
feature of Skipworth’s early chess events, starting with the Caistor
chess meetings of 1851 and 1854, is that it seems he liked as many ladies to
be present as possible. Here we see his first specific section for
ladies being advertised.
In its next issue,
the Chess Player’s Magazine, New Series, Volume II, 1866, on
page 192, carried the following update:
THE FORTHCOMING
MEETING AT REDCAR. – There is every prospect of this meeting, which
is to take place in August, being very successful. We hear that
already many distinguished amateurs have signified their intention of being
present, and that Professor Anderssen and Herr Steinitz have received
special invitations. In the problem tournay the competitors should
send in their contributions not later than the 2nd of July.
|
This has the ring
of Skipworth’s own wording. “Herr” Anderssen has been
promoted to “Professor” Anderssen.
The Chess
Player’s Magazine of July 1866 contained a detailed
programme. It started with an impressive list of dignitaries and
players with the rolls of President, Patron, Vice-Presidents, General
Committee Members, and other officials. There followed a description of
the four primary competitions, then information on other anticipated
sideshows and general “domestics”.
The 28
vice-presidents were largely people whose status, by their association with
the event might be seen as conferring respectability on it, and adding
prestige, though they were perhaps not people who would actively do anything
to promote or run the event, or even attend it. The 23 members of the
general committee, who were too numerous to sit together as a committee,
tended to be notable players or organisers in their respective localities,
and might perhaps take active steps to promote the event within their
respective spheres of influence. Eight of the General Committee were
designated as members of an Executive Committee, who one imagines would
potentially serve as might be needed during the running of the event.
The two secretaries and a treasurer completed the 55-strong panoply of
officers.
Presumably all the
officers had agreed to being represented in the roles attributed to
them. Whilst Arthur Bolland Skipworth will have been the driving force
behind the enterprise, he was not listed as secretary, rather as a
Vice-President on the Executive Committee.
The President was
the Earl of Zetland, otherwise known as the Thomas Dundas.
Skipworth liked a
high female presence at the events he organised, in stark contrast with the
West Yorkshire Chess Association which appears never to have been attended by
a lady. For Redcar 1866 he arranged for a Patroness in the form of Lady
De L’Isle and Dudley.
There were 28
Vice-Presidents who one imagines were listed to lend dignity to the
proceedings (and maybe cough up some cash). They were:
The Lord De
L’Isle and Dudley
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Philip Sidney,
2nd Baron De L'Isle and Dudley (1828–1898)
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Hon. W. E.
Duncombe, M.P.
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Hon. William
Ernest Duncombe, MP for North Yorkshire, resident at the time at Leases
Hall, Aiskew, near Bedale, N. Yorkshire, son of William Duncombe, 2nd
Baron Feversham; later became Viscount Helmsley and Earl of Feversham
(25/01/1829, Hooton Pagnell, S. Yorks. – 13/01/1915, Duncombe Park,
Helmsley)
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The Ven.
Archdeacon Churton
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Ven. Edward
Churton (26/01/1800-July 1874, buried at Crayke 09/07/1874) rector of
Crayke, Co. Durham, Archdeacon of Cleveland, and Prebendary of York.
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F. A. Milbank,
Esq., M.P.
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Frederick Acclom
Milbank, (21/04/1820-28/04/1898) MP for N Riding of Yorks.
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Captain Surtees,
M.P.
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Charles Freville
Surtees (13/11/1823-22/12/1906) one of two MPs for South Durham
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J. W. Pease,
Esq., M.P.
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Joseph Whitwell
Pease, 1st Baronet (23/06/1828-23/06/1903) the other of two MPs for South
Durham
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M. Wyvill, Esq.,
jun., M.P.
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Marmaduke Wyvill, jun., MP for
Richmond. His family’s seat was at Constable Burton, North
Yorkshire. His own country residence was Denton Hall, Denton Park,
Ben Rhydding, West Riding of Yorkshire, originally his wife’s
family’s residence. (1815 – 25/06/1896)
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Rev. Canon Dixon
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Perhaps Richard
Watson Dixon (05/05/1833-23/01/1900 [though not yet a canon?]
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Rev. Canon Gooch
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Rev. Chas. Cator
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Rev Charles
Cator (1786/91-1872; buried 21/12/1872, Stokesley) Rector of Stokesley
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Rev. J. F.
Newton
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Rev. John Farmer
Newton, vicar of Kirkby-in-Cleveland, near to, if not adjacent to,
Skipworth’s own parish.
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Howard Staunton
Esq.
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Howard Staunton, a grand old
man of English chess, but now way past his best as a chess-player.
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Rev. Sir Charles
Macgregor, Bart.
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3rd
Baronet Macgregor of Savile Row, Rector of Swallow, Lincolnshire (3
miles SW of Skipworth’s place of birth at Laceby)
(1819–1879)
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Dr. Wilson
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William John Wilson,
physician and surgeon, Hill House, High Street, Clay Cross
(03/03/1833
– 19/11/1880)
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Rev. W. Wayte,
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Rev. William Wayte leading
English amateur of his day.
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Captain
Chaloner, R.N.
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Captain Thomas
Chaloner R.N. 6 February 1815 20 October 1884 of Guisborough
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Major Elwon
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Major Thomas
Light Elwon of N. Yorks. Rifles (born c. 1828, Bombay or Penang; died
1903; buried 24/08/1903, Saltburn), of Skutterskelfe, Stokesley
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Chas. C. Oxley
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Charles
Christopher Oxley (1810-1881; buried 30/12/1881, Coatham) magistrate of N.
Riding of Yorks. resident at Ripon
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A. H. T.
Newcomen, Esq.
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Arthur Henry
Turner Newcomen of Kirkleatham Hall, magistrate and landowner
(1843/44-1884; baptised 26/05/1844, Kirkleatham)
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A. Mongredien,
Esq.
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Augustus Mongredien of
Manchester Chess Club
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Herr Lowenthal
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Johann Jacob
Löwenthal, Hungarian-born immigrant chess-player who established
himself in England as a professional player and organiser.
(15/07/1810 – 24/07/1876)
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Rev. H. S.
Hildyard
|
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Rev. A.W.
Wetherall
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Rev. Augustus
White Wetherall, (1816/17-1891)rector of Stonegrave. Oswaldkirk
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Geo. Browne,
Esq.
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W. G. McLaughlin,
Esq.
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John Harrison
Aylmer, Esq.
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J. W. Rimington
Wilson, Esq.
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James Wilson Rimington-Wilson, of
Broomhead Hall, on the periphery of the hamlet of Wigtwizzle, not far from
the village of Bolsterstone, near Stocksbridge, near Sheffield. (01/071822
- 25/11/1877)
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D. Marsden Esq.
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David Marsden, bank manager of
Huddersfield (1806/07 - 12/08/1868)
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The 23 members of
the General Committee were:
Rev. B. N. R.
Batty, Redcar*
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Rev. Benjamin North Rockley Batty
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Rev. W. Beckett,
Heighington*
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Rev. Wilson Beckett
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J. H. Bennett,
Esq., M.D., Redcar*
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Dr.
James Heaton Bennett
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G. F.Bodington,
Esq., Saltburn*
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Dr. George Fowler
Bodington
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A. Ball, Esq.,
York
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Alfred Ball
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Thomas Bourn,
Esq., M.D., Whitby
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Thomas Bourn (not an MD)
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Robt. Cadman,
Esq., Leeds
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Robert Cadman
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M. R. Deas, Esq., M.D., Kirkleatham
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Dr Matthew Ross Deas
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C. Doughty,
Esq., Lincoln
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Charles Doughty
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W. Grimshaw,
Esq., Whitby*
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Walter Grimshaw
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Rev. G. G. Lyon,
Coniscliffe
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Rev. George
Goodenough Lynn
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W. Mitcheson,
Esq., Newcastle
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Rev. W.
Milburne, Redcar*
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Rev. J. Owen,
Cheshire
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Rev. John
Owen
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Rev. C. E.
Ranken, Richmond
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Rev. Charles
Edward Ranken
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John Rhodes,
Esq., Leeds
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John Rhodes
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Rev. A. B.
Skipworth*
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Rev. Arthur Bolland
Skipworth
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W. Trevor, Esq.,
Guisborough*
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William Charles Trevor
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G. H. Taylor,
Esq., Durham
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George Henry Taylor
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Howard Taylor, Esq.,
Norwich
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E. Walker, Esq.,
Cheltenham
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J. Whisker,
Esq., Hull
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John Wisker
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Jno. Watkinson,
Esq., Huddersfield
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John Watkinson
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The Executive Committee
consisted of those Vice-Presidents listed above with an asterisk (*) after
their names.
The joint honorary
secretaries were J. H.
Bennett, M.D., and G. F. Bodington, M.D.,
while the treasurer was Rev. B. N. R. Batty,
M.A.
Reports of the Event
The Yorkshire
Gazette of 18th August 1866, page 9 carried the following
report, clearly penned by Skipworth, put printing “Temple” for
“Semple” throughout:
THE NORTH OF ENGLAND CHESS
MEETING.
The chess
meeting held last week in Redcar has been a great success. Though we
regretted the absence of several patrons of the association, on account of
the busy week in York, yet we rejoiced in an assemblage of chess talent
that has never been surpassed and rarely equalled at any provincial meeting
in the kingdom. Among the company present we noticed Lord Benholme,
the Rev. Canon Dixon and Mrs. Dixon, Mr. and Mrs. Staunton, London; the
Rev. W. Beckett, Heighington; Mr. J. W. Morley, Birkby Rectory; the Rev. D.
Salter; the Rev. W. Wayte, Stow; Mr. and Mrs. Thorold, Bath; Miss Thorold,
Sheffield; the Rev. J. F. Newton; Dr. Wilson, Clay Cross, Chesterfield; Mr.
and Mrs. Browne, Bournemouth; the Rev. A. B. and Mrs. Skipworth, Bilsdale;
Mr. De Vere, London; Mr. and Miss Oxley, Redcar; Dr. and Mrs. Bennett,
Redcar; the Rev. B. N. R. Batty, Redcar; Mr. Hamel, Nottingham; Mr.
Whisker, Hull; the Rev. John and Mrs. Owen, Hooton, Chester; Mr. Coates,
Redcar; Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Cadman, and Mr. Myers, Leeds; the Rev. G. B.
Morley, Fellow of St. Catherine’s College, Cambridge; Mr. Kidson,
Liverpool; Mr. Fieldsend, Bradford; Mr. Grimshaw, Whitby; Mr. Bodington,
Saltburn; Mr. Temple [sic, means Semple], Stockton-upon-Tees; Mr. Park,
Hartlepool; the Rev. F. R. Drew, Malvern; the Rev. Chas, and Mrs. Bailey,
the Rev. J. and Mrs. Seaton, the Rev. J. B. Turner, Mrs. Harrison, Mr. and
Mrs. Thos. Hague Cook, and many ladies and gentlemen whose names we were
unable to ascertain.
In the
several classes each competitor played a single with each player in his
class, and the prizes were decided by the gross score.
Eight
gentlemen competed in Class I., Mr. Cecil De Vere, Mr. Thorold, the Rev. W.
Wayte, Mr. Wisker, Dr. Wilson, the Rev. A.B. Skipworth, the Rev. D. Salter,
and the Rev. John Owen; and the prize was won by Mr. De Vere (the winner of
the £50 Challenge Cup given recently by the British Chess Association),
who lost only one game, and that by Mr. Thorold. The Rev. J. Owen,
Mr. Thorold, and Mr. Wisker were equal for the second place, each having
lost two games.
There were
twelve competitors in Class II., Mr. J. W. Morley, Mr. Hamel, Mr. Kidson,
Mr. Fieldsend, Dr. Bennett, the Rev. W. Beckett, Mr. Grimshaw, Lord
Benholme, Mr. Park, Mr. Temple, Mr. Bodington, and the Rev. F. R. Drew: and
the prize was won by Mr. Drew, without losing one game. Mr. Hamel and
Mr. Kidson stood next in order of merit, each having won eight games; then
Lord Benholme and Mr. Temple with seven games.
The Rev. G.
B. Morley won Class III., and Miss Thorold in the Ladies’ Class.
The Problem
Prize was awarded (by Mr. Staunton, the Rev. W. Wayte, and Mr. De Vere, the
committee chosen to make the award,) to Mr. Grimshaw, of Whitby, who is one
of the best living composers.
Mr. Skipworth
and Dr. Bennett, owing to the necessary frequent interruptions, as the
chief managers of this meeting, were compelled early in the week to withdraw
from further competition in the class in which they had entered their
names.
In
consequence of the was on the Continent, Herr Anderssen’s visit to
England was delayed nearly a fortnight, and he and Herr Steinitz were
unfortunately unable to be at Redcar, on account of their great match
, which only terminated with the close of this meeting. Herr
Anderssen, contrary to general expectations, was compelled to succumb to
his youthful antagonist, who won eight games to his opponent’s six.
In the absence
of Herr Steinitz, Mr. Wayte kindly undertook the blindfold play, playing
five games simultaneously against Mrs. Seaton, Mr. Semple, Mr. Fieldsend,
the Rev. G. B. Morley, and the Rev. W. Beckett. At the end of a five
hour’s [sic] sitting, Mr. Wayte had won three of the games, and the
remaining two, with Mr. Semple and Mr. Morley, being unfinished, were
scored as drawn games.
About thirty
ladies and gentlemen made the excursion to Saltburn. Luncheon was
served at the Zetland Hotel. The Rev. Canon Dixon (in the absence of
the Earl of Zetland, the President) occupied the chair, and was supported
on his right by Lord Benholme. Mr. Skipworth was in the
vice-chair. After the usual loyal toasts, the Army and the Navy, the
Archbishop and the Clergy (when, by the bye, Lord Benholme remarked, in
proposing the health of the Archbishop, that, as far as he knew, his grace
had only one fault – he was not a member of the Chess Association),
Lord Benholme proposed “Success to the Chess Association,” and
most ably and feelingly advocated its support among all classes. Mr.
Skipworth, in returning thanks, stated the circumstances which led to the
formation of the Association, and briefly spoke of the advantages of the
institution, especially as a means of introducing chess into the homes of
the working people, where it would help greatly to bring into active
exercise the thinking powers, and prepare the mind for useful and solemn
teaching.
The last, but
by no means the least interesting of this most pleasant and successful
meeting was a Consultation Game on the Saturday – Mr. Staunton and
the Rev. D. Salte[r] against the Rev. John Owen and the Rev. A. B.
Skipworth. After playing over six hours, the game was given up, and
scored as a drawn game. During the week, Mr. Staunton played with
some of the members of the association, giving them the odds of a castle,
and he won on every occasion.
We close our
report by saying that York was chosen by an almost unanimous vote for the
next meeting, in August, 1867, and it was proposed to invite the Earl of
Zetland to be again president, and the Lady De L’Isle and Dudley lady
patroness.
|
The
Chess Player’s Magazine, New Series, Volume II, 1866, on page
280, carried the following report, essentially the same as that in the York
Gazette:
THE NORTH OF ENGLAND CHESS MEETING.
----------
The Chess
Meeting held last week in Redcar has been a great success. Though we
regret the absence of several patrons of the Association, owing to a busy
and attractive week in York, occasioned by the visit of the Prince and
Princess of Wales, yet we rejoice in an assemblage of Chess talent.
Among the company present we noticed: Lord Benholme, the Rev. Canon and
Mrs. Dixon, Mr. and Mrs. Staunton (London), the Rev. W. Beckett
(Heighington), Mr. and Mrs. Browne (Bournemouth), Rev. J. F. Newton, Rev.
W. Wayte (Eton), Mr. Morley (Birkby Rectory), Rev. G. B. Morley, Fellow of
St. Catherine’s College, Cambridge, Rev. Chas, and Mrs. Bailey, Mr.
and Mrs. Thorold (Bath ), Miss Thorold (Sheffield), Rev. F. R. Drew (Malvern),
Mr. and Miss Oxley (Redcar), Rev. Jno and Mrs. Owen (Hootan [sic],
Chester), Dr. Wilson (Clay Cross), Rev. John and Mrs. Seaton, Mr. Fieldsend
(Bradford), Mr. S. Tomkins (London), Rev. W. Milburne, Rev. D. Salter, Rev.
B. N. R. and Mrs. Batty, Mr. Whisker (Hull), Dr. and Mrs. Bennett (Redcar),
Rev. A. B. and Mrs. Skipworth (Bilsdale), Mr. G. F. Bodington, Mr. Hamel
(Nottingham), Mr. De Vere (London), Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Cadman, and Mr. Myers
(Leeds), Mr. Grimshaw (Whitby), Mr. Kidson (Liverpool), Mr. Coates
(Redcar), Mr. Semple (Stockton-upon-Tees), Mr. Park (Hartlepool), Mr. and
Mrs. T. H. Cook. There were many ladies and gentlemen whose names we
were unable to ascertain.
The continent
war delayed Herr Anderssen’s visit to in consequence of which his
match with Herr Steinitz commenced so late a period that it was not
concluded at the time of the Redcar meeting. Neither, therefore,
could be present. In the several classes the combatants played a
single with each other, and the prizes were awarded according to the gross
score. In Class I. eight gentlemen competed - Messrs. De Vere,
Thorold, Wayte, Wisker, Wilson, Skipworth, Salter, and Owen. The
prize was carried off by Mr. De Vere, who only lost one game, and that to
Mr. Thorold. Messrs. Owen, Wisker and Thorold were equal for the
second place, each having lost two games. There were twelve
competitors in Class II. - Lord Benholme, Messrs. Morley, Hamel, Kidson,
Fieldsend, Bennett, Beckett, Grimshaw, Park, Drew, Semple, and
Bodington. The prize was won by Mr. Drew, who didn’t lose a
single game. Next in order of merit stood Messrs. Hamel and Kidson,
each of whom won eight games; then Lord Benholme and Mr. Semple, winners of
seven games. The Rev. G. B. Morley won Class III., and Miss Thorold
in the Ladies’ Class. Mr. Skipworth and Dr. Bennett were
compelled in the early part of the week to resign all further competition,
on account of their frequent interruptions in the discharge of the somewhat
arduous duties which devolved to them as the chief promoters and managers
of this meeting. The prize for problems was awarded by Messrs.
Staunton, Wayte, and De Vere (the committee chosen to make the award) to
Mr. Grimshaw, of Whitby. In the absence of Herr Steinitz, the Rev. W.
Wayte kindly undertook the blindfold play, conducting five games
simultaneously against Mrs. Seaton, Messrs. Semple, Fieldsend, Morley, and
the Beckett. At the close of a five hours’ sitting Mr. Wayte
had won three of the games, and the remaining two, with Mr. Morley and Mr.
Semple were given up as drawn. About thirty ladies and gentlemen made
the excursion to Saltburne [sic]. Luncheon was served at the Zetland
Hotel. The Rev. Canon Dixon, in the absence of the Lord Zetland, the
president, presided, supported on his right by Lord Benholme. Mr.
Skipworth occupied the vice-chair. After the usual loyal toasts,
“The Army and Navy”, “The Archbishop and the
Clergy,” Lord Benholme proposed “Success to the North Yorkshire
and Durham Chess Association,” whose inaugural meeting was being held
in Redcar. Mr. Skipworth, in returning thanks, stated the
circumstances which led to the formation of the Association, and spoke
briefly of the advantages of Chess, especially on its introduction into the
homes of the working people, where it must tend to bring into active
exercise their thinking powers, and so help to prepare their minds for
useful and solemn teaching. The last but by no means the least
interesting of this successful meeting was a Consultation Game – Mr.
Staunton and the Rev. D. Salter against the Revs. J. Owen and the A. B.
Skipworth. After playing more than six hours the game was given up as
drawn. Mr. Staunton during the week played several games, giving odds
of a rook, and won in every instance.
It is
proposed to hold the next meeting of the Association in York, in August,
1867; it was resolved to invite the Earl of Zetland to be again the
President, and the Lady De L’Isle and Dudley to be again the Lady
Patroness.
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Complaints
There were, however,
those who found fault with the arrangements made. Click here for more about this
on a separate page.
Results
Results in the Class I tournament, as recorded in the Middlesbrough
Weekly News and Cleveland Advertiser, produce the following crosstable:
The game in which
Thorold scored the only win over De Vere was one in which both sides
seemingly maximised the complications, with errors on both sides. (Click here to play through the game.)
Results in the Class II tournament:
Class III was won by the Rev.
George Bentley Morley.
The Ladies’
Class was won by Miss Eliza Mary
Thorold of Sheffield, Edmund Thorold’s sister. There appear to
be eight ladies in the photograph mentioned below.
Visitors and Participants
One of the
visitors to the event, who records in his diary watching the tournament play,
was the 33-year-old Rev. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, aka Lewis Carroll.
There exists a group photograph of the players at Redcar 1866, which has in
the past been attributed to Dodgson, an amateur photographer, but current
theory seems to be that it is not his work. Alice’s Adventures
in Wonderland was first published in this country in 1865.
< 1865: 1st
Redcar Chess Meeting < : > 1867:
3rd North Yorkshire & Durham CA Meeting >
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