Hampshire County Matches 1905 / 06

Hampshire played four matches this season and lost all of them! All all fronts this was a poor season and it will be interesting to see if there were any specific reasons for this position. Three of the matches were particularly heavy losses and losing 9 – 5 against Wiltshire was certainly a bad result, although this had always been a friendly match.

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For the record of Hampshire County matches, and links to any articles I have written, the table on the Hampshire County Chess Matches page will detail these. The Hampshire County Chess History page summaries the leagues Hampshire have played in, and the successes Hampshire have achieved. Both of these are available from the menu at the top of the site as well.

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Hampshire 5½ Sussex 10½ – Sept 30th 1905 – Chichester

Hampshire’s first match was against Sussex and after the excellent win the previous season this was a disappointing loss. As mentioned previously, where the match is played does make a difference and whereas last season this was a home fixture for Hampshire in Portsmouth, this year it was Sussex’s turn to host in Chichester.

Hampshire looked weaker than the previous year, specifically in the lower half. For example DHH Wassell played on board 15 in 1905 compared to board 11 this year. Sussex looked to be on par with their team from last year.

Hampshire’s top boards scored heavily, with three and a half points from the top four boards, but lower down Sussex’s strength told, which included them winning the bottom five boards.

Hampshire winners were JH Blake, FJH Elwell, GA Thomas, JS Flower, H Targett, DHH RH Wassell.

The report in the Hastings and St Leonards Observer mentioned the large number of Brighton, Southampton and Portsmouth players.

SUSSEX v. HANTS: The first county match this season was played last Saturday at the Anchor Hotel, Chichester. Sussex was represented by eight Brighton players and contingents from Hastings. Uckfield and Worthing, while Hampshire had seven Portsmouth, six Southampton, and three other players. After an interesting fight lasting 3½ hours, victory was declared for Sussex 10 to 5, with one game to be adjudicated.

Hastings and St Leonards Observer – Saturday 07 October 1905

Meanwhile the Hampshire Observer noted that Hampshire were missing the services of some of their well known players.

SUSSEX v. HANTS: The Southern Counties Union championship , match between the above-mentioned counties was played on Saturday, at Chichester. The unfinished games, which is considered to be in favour of Hants, has been sent for adjudication. Hants greatly missed the services of several well-known county players, who were unavoidably prevented from attending.

Hampshire Observer and Basingstoke News – Saturday 07 October 1905

Board	Hampshire	Club	Result	Sussex	Club	Result
1	JH Blake	Southampton	1	EG Reed	Brighton	0
2	FJH Elwell	Southampton	1	HE Dobell	Hastings	0
3	Sir GA Thomas	Portsmouth	1	AJ Field	Worthing	0
4	E Draycott	Gosport	½	Castle Leaver	Brighton	½
5	WC Kenny	Southampton	0	JE Hill	Brighton	1
6	HD Osborn	Portsmouth	0	J Creevy	Uckfield	1
7	E Clayton	Portsmouth	0	J Storr Best	Brighton	1
8	H Taggett	Southampton	1	AC Jenour	Hastings	0
9	G Wood	Portsmouth	0	JW Wright	Uckfield	1
10	SD Caws	Cowes	0	EW Morris	Uckfield	1
11	DHH Wassell	Petersfield	1	FE Purchas	Brighton	0
12	RG Stark	Basingstoke	0	A Trower	Brighton	1
13	Revd AT Richardson	Petersfield	0	A Chaworth-Todd	Worthing	1
14	WF Sandell	Southampton	0	HJ Stephenson	Hastings	1
15	HJ Penwill	Southampton	0	FJ Warren	Brighton	1
16	J Slatter	Portsmouth	0	S Pilch	Brighton	1
	Total		5½	Total		9½

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Hampshire 6½ v Kent 9½ – Nov 26th 1905 – London

Hampshire next met Kent, with the match being played in London. Even though Hampshire scored 1½ points more than the previous year, Kent were comfortable winners.

The Southampton Observer mentioned that Hampshire were missing a couple of their players, which going into these tough matches having these players would have given them a better chance. Despite George Thomas not playing, I think the Hampshire team were slightly stronger than the one in the Sussex match.

HANTS AND KENT: The Southern Counties’ Union Champion. ship match between the above mentioned dubs was played on Saturday at the City of London Club. °Grocers Hall Court. Poultry. E.C. with the following revolt. Hants unfortunately could not secure the attendance of several well known county players, but the score. 9½. to 6½. is an improvement on last year’s, when Kent won by 11 to 5.

Southampton Observer and Hampshire News – Saturday 02 December 1905

Hampshire winners were JH Blake, RF Barlow, H Martyn Jenkins and DHH Wassell.

Board	Hampshire	Club	Result	Kent	Club	Result
1	JH Blake	Southampton	1	OC Muller	Lee	0
2	FJH Elwell	Southampton	½	EL Raymond	Tunbridge Wells	½
3	T Crassweller	Portsmouth	0	CH Lorch	Sydenham	1
4	RF Barlow	Unattached	1	C Chapman	Seven Oaks	0
5	Dr TH Letchworth	Bournemouth	0	PHJ O’Connor	Lee	1
6	WC Kenny	Southampton	0	WB Dixon	Rochester	1
7	JS Flower	Ryde	½	TS Comman	Tunbridge Wells	½
8	WR Neve	Bournemouth	0	HG Sturton	Lee	1
9	HJ Penwill	Southampton	½	AK Prichard	Unattached	½
10	GA Cosser	Unattached	0	JH Eastwood	Lee	1
11	G Wood	Portsmouth	½	Revd WE Evill	Cantebury	½
12	H Martyn Jenkins	Basingstoke	1	AR Ropes	Sydenham	0
13	DHH Wassell	Petersfield	1	H Storr-Best	Sydenham	0
14	GH Barclay	Andover	½	CH Corke	Seven Oaks	½
15	RG Stark	Basingstoke	0	WM Brooke	Tunbridge Wells	1
16	Revd AT Richardson	Petersfield	0	WF Day	Lee	1
	Total		6½	Total		9½

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Hampshire 4 v Surrey 12 – Feb 3rd 1906 – London

Surrey were Hampshire’s final SCCU opponent and this year the match was played in London. Surrey inflicted a heavy defeat on Hampshire, who only managed two wins and four points in total. The top boards were normally Hampshire’s best hopes, but both Joseph Blake and Frank Elwell lost in this match. The Wainwright – Blake game was a lively Queens Gambit according to the West Sussex Times.

This match has been reported as a 12½ – 3½ win for Surrey in the excellent Southern Counties Chess Union – a retrospective book. But from the actual match report in the Southern Evening Echo it states the result as a 12 – 4 win to Sussex (have to take the half a point where you can). Also worth noticing was the number of Hampshire players whose club was stated as London (6).

Hampshire two winners were T Crassweller and GR Sloper.

Board	Hampshire	Club	Result	Surrey	Result
1	JH Blake	Southampton	0	GE Wainwright	1
2	FJH Elwell	Southampton	0	CEC Tatterall	1
3	T Crassweller	London	1	A Guest	0
4	TE Haydon	London	0	AJ Curnock	1
5	RF Barlow	London	½	AE Tregis	½
6	Dr TH Letchworth	Bournemouth	½	FL Anspach	½
7	Default		0	HS Barlow	1
8	WR Neve	London	0	Dr Dunstan	1
9	JR Waldron	Southampton	0	LP Rees	1
10	G Wood	Portsmouth	½	PJ Allingham	½
11	GR Sloper	London	1	WT Dickenson	0
12	H Martyn Jenkins	Basingstoke	0	FF Alexander	1
13	DHH Wassell	Petersfield	0	TR Banrey	1
14	GH Barclay	Andover	0	FA Sider	1
15	WS Fenwick	London	½	HR Allingham	½
16	H Gagen	Basingstoke	0	WB Pigg	1
	Total		4		12

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Hampshire 5 v Wiltshire 9 – Aug 8th 1906 – Salisbury

After three losses, Hampshire could normally rely on their friendly match against Wiltshire to obtain a win. But this year some of the Hampshire players had trouble reaching the venue and Wiltshire were comfortable 9 – 5 winners. It is unlikely the absence of some of the players changed the result though, as it seems it was only on board one and fourteen where Hampshire were affected.

Hampshire winners were Dr TH Letchworth, SH Barclay, HJ Penwill and F Martin.

The Southampton Observer and Hampshire News reported on the match, mentioning the travelling issues Hampshire had. The bottom board for Hampshire was also a Salisbury player, who probably stepped in due to Hampshire players absence.

A COUNTY CHESS MATCH. The annual chose match between the counties of and Wilts was played on Wednesday. at Wilsford near Amesbury. By the kind Invitation of Sir Edward Tennant, M.P., the play took place out of doors the beautiful grounds attached to the Manor House, and the teams were most hospitably entertained by him.

Unfortunately for Hants several prominent players found it impossible to reach Salisbury in time for the long drive to Wilford. However, it was considered better to play the match than to abandon it.

Southampton Observer and Hampshire News – Saturday 11 August 1906

Board	Hampshire	Club	Result	Wiltshire	Club	Result
1	Absent (JH Blake)	Southampton	0	Revd AG Gordon Ross	Swindon	1
2	PJ Dancer	Portsmouth	0	A Rumboll	Calne	1
3	Dr TH Letchworth	Bournemouth	1	CJ Woodrow	Salisbury	0
4	WC Kenny	Southampton	½	A Schomberg	Devizes	½
5	A Scott	Bournemouth	0	F Sutton	Salisbury	1
6	E Clarke	Andover	0	W Bruges	Melksham	1
7	DHH Wassell	Petersfield	½	E Fear Hill	Trowbridge	½
8	GH Barclay	Andover	1	HW Beaven	Bradford	0
9	HJ Penwill	Southampton	1	FE Young	Salisbury	0
10	FG Binning	Southampton	0	Dr Ward	Codford	1
11	WJJ Eaton	Andover	0	J Crompton	Bradford	1
12	F Martin	Portsmouth	1	T Brinsmead	Salisbury	0
13	G Spreadbury	Portsmouth	0	AE Chater	Salisbury	1
14	H Boger	Salisbury	0	A Watson	Salisbury	1
	Total		5	Total		9

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Hampshire Player Performance

Hampshire played four matches, with only DHH Wassell playing in all of them. He also had a great season scoring two and a half points. JH Blake and RF Barlow also had a good season, but apart from these, and a few players who won their one game no-one else stood out.

Individual player performance is detailed below in a sortable table.

Hants Player	Win Percentage	Points Scored	Games Played
DHH Wassell	62.5%	2.5	4
JH Blake	66.7%	2	3
RF Barlow	75.0%	1.5	2
GH Barclay	50.0%	1.5	3
Dr TH Letchworth	50.0%	1.5	3
FJH Elwell	50.0%	1.5	3
HJ Penwill	50.0%	1.5	3
GR Sloper	100.0%	1	1
H Taggett	100.0%	1	1
Sir GA Thomas	100.0%	1	1
F Martin	100.0%	1	1
T Crassweller	50.0%	1	2
H Martyn Jenkins	50.0%	1	2
G Wood	33.3%	1	3
E Draycott	50.0%	0.5	1
WS Fenwick	50.0%	0.5	1
JS Flower	50.0%	0.5	1
WC Kenny	16.7%	0.5	3
GA Cosser	0.0%	0	1
H Gagen	0.0%	0	1
G Spreadbury	0.0%	0	1
SD Caws	0.0%	0	1
FG Binning	0.0%	0	1
HD Osborn	0.0%	0	1
E Clayton	0.0%	0	1
H Boger	0.0%	0	1
Default	0.0%	0	1
WJJ Eaton	0.0%	0	1
TE Haydon	0.0%	0	1
WF Sandell	0.0%	0	1
A Scott	0.0%	0	1
PJ Dancer	0.0%	0	1
Absent	0.0%	0	1
JR Waldron	0.0%	0	1
E Clarke	0.0%	0	1
J Slatter	0.0%	0	1
RG Stark	0.0%	0	2
Revd AT Richardson	0.0%	0	2
WR Neve	0.0%	0	2

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Summary

A poor season for Hampshire, which after the 50% match performance last season was disappointing.

As some background on Hampshire Chess this season, the Hampshire Trophy was won by Southampton A. There were two sections of four teams. Andover, Basingstoke, Petersfield and Portsmouth A and B, Southampton A, B and C. Southampton A won the NW division and Portsmouth B the SE division. In the final played at Fareham Southampton A won 3½ – 2½.

It was mentioned in the report from the Hampshire Chronicle that several rule changes were to be implemented, although it did not state what these were. Looking ahead, one rule change was reducing the number of players in the teams from 6 to 5.

In addition, Hampshire did play and win one match this season, which was a Correspondence match against Cornwall. This resulted in a 21 – 9 win, and a further match was to be scheduled against Devon over 50 boards. The Hampshire team included a number of their strongest players as can be seen from the report in the Lake’s Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser when the match stood at 18 – 8.

The Hampshire Chess Officers were mainly unchanged from 1905, with just RF Barlow replacing E Draycott as SCCU delegate:

• R Chipperfield – President
• HJ Penwill – Hon. Secretary and Treasurer
• JH Blake – Match Captain
• FJH Elwell, G Wood – Adjudicators
• GR Sloper, JH Blake, RF Barlow – SCCU Delegates

The AGM was held at the Southampton Chess Club’s headquarters as reported in the Hampshire Independent.

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Gallery

A selection of newspaper cuttings on the various matches.

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Acknowledgements and Sources

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