On Thursday 15th October the Harvey Cup side played its first match of the season drawing 3-3 with Gravesend, last year’s winners. The match started badly with Sarah Walker-Buckton lost out of the opening against “nemesis” John Fowers and Ian McAllan losing two tempi in the opening as black. However, Chris Cheeseman won a good game and Bob Mitchell converted a favourable opening to also win. Gary Sharp was better throughout his game but could not find a way to convert his advantage and agreed a draw. Lee Brockwell also played soundly and drew. Meanwhile Ian McAllan would have had to defend accurately against a slow king’s side advance, but instead Ian’s opponent gambled on an unsound pawn sacrifice. Ian did not notice the pawn was takeable and was immediately lost.

Ian McAllan