Post by arf on Oct 24, 2011 15:44:44 GMT
What could have been...?
The first match of the season saw the Open team face the erstwhile crowned ECF Open Champions - Surrey who exercised their bragging rights by having the Lowenthal Trophy on display. However the smug smile was almost wiped off their faces as the match was closer than anyone expected Mx losing 7.5-8.5 to the extent where Mx had one of those if only days....
If only George had managed to find the winning line instead of agreeing to what he thought was a forced draw by repetition the match would have at least been tied;
If only Peter and Simon had managed to hang on and secure draws with George winning Mx could have pulled off the improbable and won;
If only transport both road and rail hadn't been a nightmare more of the team would have arrived less frazzled and maybe not rushed their games thereby making errors;
If only Colin (Mackenzie) hadn't gotten ill in the days before the match the line-up wouldn't have had to be adjusted at the last minute;
If only key squad players were available the team would have been so much stronger and Mx could dream of attaining their first win against Surrey since their return to top flight chess thereby breaking their appalling record (+0 =1 -3);
If only the squad were so much stronger then it would be unnecessary to call on the u180 squad to complete the XVI giving both a fighting chance of securing respective Championships;
If only; if only; if only....
Although the game was one of lost opportunities there were still a few good highlights. Wins from Nev, Mark, and Guy. The most notable though was Bob's win over Graeme.
Close run thing but no banana
Full details
www.sccu.ndo.co.uk/match1.htm
Upon taking up the role of captain it was agreed a 5-year review takes place at the end of the 2011-12 cycle whereupon a decision is made as to whether I continue as captain or step down and let someone else with a 'name' take over. However pre-season comments from former squad members who have opted not to represent the County due to lack of strength has meant the review period has started earlier than expected.
At the beginning of my 5th year as captain it is clear the team are at a crossroads - too strong to be considered a Minor team but too weak to be able to consistently challenge for the Open Title. The history books show the following the last time Mx were Champions:
SCCU Champions 1988-89
ECF Open Champions 1988-89
ECF Minor Champions 1993-94
So comments from 'disgruntled' former squad members could be justified. Considering there had been no team for the best part of a decade (1996-2007 except with the abortive attempt of Paul Mckeown to revive team between 1999-2001) on returning to competition in 2007-08 the best we have achieved are:
SCCU Runner-up 2008-09
ECF Open Runner-up 2007-08
ECF Minor Runner-up 2009-10
On the whole not a bad record as captain if you include Semi-Final and Quarter-Final defeats to Lancashire in 2008-09 and 2010-11 respectively. Since there was no established team prior to my taking up captaincy my tenure to date has been primarily a rebuilding process ensuring Mx are able to field competitive (if not always winning) teams.
I am pragmatic enough to realise if the team is to step-up to the next level there is a desperate need to recruit players of the 190+ calibre in order to give Mx a realistic chance of challenging for both SCCU and ECF Open titles. Unfortunately, I do not have access to this class of player. In acknowledging I do not have access to players of necessary calibre I am heavily reliant on squad members to 'sell' the idea of County Chess on my behalf in order to ensure Mx can challenge for said titles. The usual request to pass on my contact details or their's remains in place. Consequently I need to consider what characteristics do I have that justify that I continue as captain? I may not be a strong player nor able to keep the company of GM's/IM's/FM's or players 190+ but what I do have in my favour is my enthusiasm and organisational skills, aspects which are fundamental to organising any team supported by the fact that I captain both Open and u180 teams with relative success for both teams. I leave it to you to help decide on my suitability as captain along with suggesting how to break through the glass ceiling. Replies to this thread welcomed. In the event I am to be replaced who do you think has sufficient status to take over?
Anyway, the first round of matches has been truncated as only Sussex and Essex were able to play their match with the Herts-Kent match deferred to 17th March 2012. Essex travelled to Hassocks and got comprehensively thumped 11.5-4.5. The Sussex line-up is worth taking notice of since Mx also travel to Hassocks (7th January 2012.) The match could determine whether Mx compete in the Open Championship albeit in 3rd place as the assumption is Kent and Surrey will fill the first two berths or whether we end up playing in the Minor Championship. However our next match on 5th November 2011 against Kent will allow us to challenge the presumption that Surrey and Kent are certainties to take automatic qualifying berths to ECF Stage proper.
Table after Round 1
Sussex 1/1 (11.5)
Surrey 1/1 (8.5)
Mx 0/1 (7.5)
Essex 0/1 (4.5)
Herts 0/0 (0)
Kent 0/0 (0)