Rounds 3 and 4 are to be played at the De Vere Wychwood Park (near Crewe). Round 3 is on Saturday January 15th, and play starts at 14.00 hrs. The opposition is Bradford DCA Knights B and our team is as follows:

1. Jonathan Blackburn
2. John Turner
3. Bob Clark
4. Mike Hancock
5. Chris Doran
6. John Gorman

On Sunday January 16th, we face the Bradford DCA Knights A team – probably favourites to win the league. But we are going to put a dent in their ambitions with the following team:

1. Jonathan Blackburn
2. John Turner
3. Bob Clark
4. Mike Hancock
5. Tony Soames
6. John Gorman

Play starts at 11.00 hrs.

I trust that we are all keeping ourselves fit for 4NCL chess. You are all aware that the time limits are 40 moves in two hours, 20 moves in the next hour and quickplay finish in 30 minutes. That is a maximum game length of seven hours, so at a minimum, we should do a 3 mile jog before breakfast, work out with weights in the afternoon, and do 20 crosswords in succession in the evening.

And some of us need to do some work on our openings. You hear me, young Jonathan?