October Newsletter
: Created:05 Nov 2007 , byThis is the first of our monthly newsletters during the 2007-08 match season.
With seven teams Ealing have to play an average of nearly three games per week so it was guaranteed to be a busy October. We like to think ourselves, a community club with an inclusive policy so while results are important of course, they are not the be all and end all.
The Thames Valley first team kicked off the season on 1st October with an encouraging draw at Wimbledon who are bound to be one of principal rivals for the 2007-08 title. Mike Lamb has led the team to four straight victories since then, propelling us to the top of the first division with 4.5 from five matches. Worth mentioning is the performance of new member, Adrian Ociepka, 100% after four victories but the availability and performance of most of our regular players has provided the inner core for success.
Pierre Davis, our new second team captain in the Hillingdon League led us to a brave but unavailing challenge in the Hillingdon Cup competition on the 2nd of October, going down four-one to Hatch End (Eastcote) first team. Pierre and his guys and gals can maintain a challenge in the third division but late news is that we have lost to Greenwood in our first league match.
This season we are back among the big boys in division two of the Middlesex league facing many first teams but Chris Greenshields led us to a stunning success against the Harrow first team on the 11th October. Played on the same night as an Ealing first team match we triumphed 4.5-3.5 but another unlucky clash of fixtures saw us going down 7-1 to Muswell Hill 1.
Our new third team in the Thames Valley league were beaten by Richmond 3 and despite a noble effort, succumbed to a strong Staines 2. On the night of the Staines match we were full to the brim with match and social players but regretfully the mobile phones of three non-competitors went off in the evening and we had to apologise for the disturbance to our match opponents. Please take note, Ealing!
David Reichenberg's newly promoted Hillingdon league team got off to a good start with a handsome victory over Hayes 3 by a margin of 4.5 to 0.5. With our Middlesex first team yet to play a game the last report is of our Thames Valley second team. We were left with no excuses when they were defeated by Staines 1 at their place 5.5-1.5 but recovered to draw with a good Maidenhead 2 outfit on 30th October.
On the social chess front we have had a successful summer and among many stirling members, we make special mention of Leszek Sarama's constant support and the return of Harvey Grewal, John Cameron and Jason Obihara. We still hope that the latter two might consider representing us this season. Simon Healeas and Alex Gregory look to be valuable club members in the making and we are delighted to welcome Elizabeth Flynn, our second female member to join us for many a long year.