Southampton Chess League - Hampshire Chess History

The Southampton Chess League was first held in 1922/23 (which makes at the time of writing this the centenary season). Southampton Chess Club were the first winners of Division One although numerous other clubs have also triumphed since that time.

Details of the various winners of the Southampton Chess Leagues, Cups, Individual Champions are below. I have summarised the relevant Trophies, but as always if anyone has additional details please do advise.

Links to the results on LMS have been added from the various tables.

Southampton Chess League Trophies
Southampton Chess League
Southampton Chess Cup
Southampton Individual Chess Championship
Southampton Rapidplay Chess Championship
Southampton League vs Bournemouth League
Gallery

Southampton Chess League Trophies

There are currently five divisions in the Southampton Chess League, three cups an Individual championship as well as the defunct team rapidplay competition. Some of these are named after various Southampton Chess players, from past and the present.

Trophy	Details
Division One	The Fry Trophy – The current trophy has the winners from 1956/57, but the league was first held in 1922/23 with Southampton Chess Club winning just ahead of Taunton’s School. I am currently researching missing years and will update accordingly. Named after WJ Fry who was a Southampton Chess Club player who won the Southampton Chess Club championship 22 times between 1926 and 1954 and the Hampshire Individual Championship 4 times (1933, 1939, 1949 and 1951).
Division Two	No name for this trophy, but details on the winners from 1945/46 are held on the current trophy.
Division Three	No name for this trophy, but details on the winners from 1958/59 are held on the current trophy.
Division Four	The HL Parsons a prominent officer and player in Hampshire Chess. Details on the winners from 1976/77 from the cup. I have located some previous winners from the Hampshire Bulletin when there was either no cup, or an earlier one.
Division Five	No name for this trophy, but details on the winners from 1987/88 when it was won by Hythe. This Division was not held for a number of years, but has been contested since 2008/09 (excluding the pandemic years).
Robertson Cup	I think this is named after another Southampton Chess Player who was active in the 1920’s, but not 100% sure. Winners since 1927/28 season are detailed on the trophy (I presume this was the first year it was held).
Robertson Plate	Held since 1979/80 when it was won by University Staff.
Div Four/Five Cup	The Clarke Cup, named after current Southampton Fixtures Secretary Malcolm Clarke. First held in 2006/07 although currently not running.
Southampton Individual	Elwell Trophy, named after prominent Hampshire and Southampton Chess Club player Frank Elwell. Winners since 1956/57 held.
Rapidplay	John Patience Trophy, this has only been held three times and is a team rapidplay competition which was open to teams in Hampshire. John Patience was a Southampton Chess Club player from the early 1960’s to the mid 2000’s.

Southampton Chess League Winners

Details of the winners of the Southampton Chess League various divisions. Current tables and fixtures from 2014 are on the Southampton Chess League website. I have located a few of the winners not originally known and have updated the table accordingly. However there are a number of missing records. If anyone has information please do let me know.

Links to the results on LMS have been added. As the 2014 and before ones are mostly taken from the ECF Rating site if matches / games were defaulted these are no details and therefore the result may not be known. I have made sure the winners match the table below.

Season	Division One	Division Two	Division Three	Division Four	Division Five
2023/2024	Fareham A	Chandlers Ford A		Basingstoke C	Salisbury C
2022/2023	Fareham A	Basingstoke A	Southampton B	Chandlers Ford B	Winchester C
2022	Fareham A	Salisbury A	Basingstoke A	Fareham B	Basingstoke C
2020/2021	Not held	Not held	Not held	Not held	Not held
2019/2020	Not awarded	Not awarded	Not awarded	Not awarded	Not awarded
2018/2019	Ringwood A	Hamble B	Ringwood B	Salisbury C	Ringwood C
2017/2018	University A	Southampton B	Southampton C	University C	Southampton D
2016/2017	Southampton A	Salisbury A	Winchester A	Basingstoke B	Andover B
2015/2016	Southampton A	Fareham A	Southampton D	Southampton E	Salisbury C
2014/2015	Southampton A	Salisbury A	Ringwood B	Fareham A	Basingstoke B
2013/2014	University A	Hamble A	Ordnance Survey A	Ordnance Survey B	Eastleigh Railway C
2012/2013	University A	Ringwood A	Southampton C	Salisbury C	Southampton F
2011/2012	Southampton A	University B	Ringwood A	Southampton D	Ringwood B
2010/2011	Passed Pawn A	University A	Salisbury B	Salisbury C	Southampton E
2009/2010	Southampton A	Southampton B	Winchester College A	Ringwood	Southampton D
2008/2009	Southampton A	Andover	Winchester A	University C	Winchester College B
2007/2008	Passed Pawn A	Salisbury A	Andover	Winchester College	not held
2006/2007	Passed Pawn A	Ringwood A	University B	Salisbury B	not held
2005/2006	Passed Pawn A	Southampton B	Salisbury	Eastleigh WMC	not held
2004/2005	Passed Pawn A	Eastleigh Railway B	Ordnance Survey A	Southampton D	not held
2003/2004	Passed Pawn A	University A	Southampton C	University C	not held
2002/2003	Southampton A	Passed Pawn B	Ringwood	Winchester C	not held
2001/2002	Eastleigh Unity A	Southern Water A	Southampton C	Eastleigh Unity C	not held
2000/2001	Southampton A	Winchester A	Ringwood	Winchester	not held
1999/2000	Southampton A	Botley A	Ordnance Survey A	Ringwood	not held
1998/1999	University A	Eastleigh BR A	Botley A	Eastleigh BR A	not held
1997/1998	Andover A	University A	University B	Andover B	Botley B
1996/1997	Southern Water A	Eastleigh Unity B	University A	Fair Oak B	not held
1995/1996	Southern A	Andover	Eastleigh (BR) A	Southampton D	Stoke Social
1994/1995	Southern A	Southern B	Andover	Winchester C	Southern D
1993/1994	Southern A	Southampton B		Andover	not held
1992/1993	Southern A	Sarisbury A		Ordnance Survey B	not held
1991/1992	University A	Southern A		Southern C	Dismas
1990/1991	Cricketers Arms A	Southampton B	Southern A	Southern B	not held
1989/1990	University A	Cricketers Arms B		Southampton B	not held
1988/1989	University A	Winchester A	Winchester B	University D	University E
1987/1988	University A	University B	Winchester A	Cricketers C	Hythe
1986/1987	University A	Cricketers Arms A	Cricketers Arms B	Sholing B
1985/1986	Eastleigh BR A	Southampton C	Southampton D	Sarisbury D
1984/1985	Eastleigh A	University C	Sarisbury C	University E
1983/1984	University B	University C	Fair Oak	Fair Oak B
1982/1983	University A	Brockenhurst College	Richard Taunton College	Southampton D
1981/1982	King Edward VI School A	AC Delco A	Southampton C	Sarisbury C
1980/1981	University A	University C	Winchester B	AC Delco B
1979/1980	Southampton A	Winchester A	University D	Southampton E
1978/1979	University A	Brockenhurst		R.T.C. B
1977/1978	Southampton A	Southampton C	After Eight	AC Delco B
1976/1977	Southampton A	Eastleigh	Southampton C	King Edwards B
1975/1976	Southampton A	University B	King Edwards B
1974/1975	University A	University C	Southampton C
1973/1974	Woolston A	Sarisbury	King Edwards B
1972/1973	University A	King Edward VI School	Southampton B
1971/1972	University A	University C	University E
1970/1971	Southampton A	Eastleigh	Richard Taunton College
1969/1970	University A	Woolston	Eastleigh
1968/1969	University A	University B	Sarisbury Green	Winchester B
1967/1968	Itchen Grammar A	University B	University C	University D
1966/1967	Itchen Grammar A	British Rail Institute	IBM B	King Edwards B
1965/1966	Bramtoco A	Winchester	University C	University D
1964/1965	University A	British Rail Institute	Itchen Grammar C
1963/1964	University A	St Mary’s College	Portcullis
1962/1963	Woolston A	Southampton B	St. Mary’s College
1961/1962	University A	University B	University C
1960/1961	Bramtoco A	King Alfred’s College	Southampton B
1959/1960	Bramtoco A	King Edward College	King Edwards B
1958/1959	Old Tauntonians A	University B	Eastleigh B
1957/1958	University B	Old Edwardians
1956/1957	University A	Southampton B
1955/1956		Woolston Comm CC2
1954/1955		King Edward School B
1953/1954		Bramtoco
1952/1953		King Edwards School
1951/1952		Taunton’s School B
1950/1951		Old Tauntonians B
1949/1950		Itchen Grammar School
1948/1949		Old Tauntonians B
1947/1948		Winchester
1946/1947		King Edward School
1945/1946		Thorneycroft’s
1939 to 1945	Not held	Not held	Not held	Not held	Not held
1938/1939	University College	King Edwards School
1937/1938
1936/1937	Southampton	Shirley OB
1935/1936
1934/1935
1933/1934	University College
1932/1933	Old Tauntonians A
1931/1932	Southampton A	University College B
1930/1931
1929/1930
1928/1929	Southampton A
1927/1928	YMCA
1926/1927	University College
1925/1926	Old Tauntonians
1924/1925	University College
1923/1924	YMCA
1922/1923	Southampton

Southampton Chess Cup Winners

Details of the Southampton Chess Cup winners, the main one is the Robertson Cup. Current tables and fixtures from 2014 are on the Southampton Chess League website.

Season	Robertson Cup	Robertson Plate	Division Four / Five Cup
2023/2024
2022/2023	Fareham A	Salisbury B	Not held
2021/2022	Not held	Not held	Not held
2020/2021	Not held	Not held	Not held
2019/2020	Not awarded	Not awarded	Not awarded
2018/2019	Southampton	Winchester	Ringwood C
2017/2018	University	Southampton B	Andover B
2016/2017	University	Ringwood B	Ringwood (Div 5 cup)
2015/2016	University	Southampton B	not held
2014/2015	University	Andover	not held
2013/2014	Eastleigh Rail A	Andover A	Fareham A
2012/2013	Andover	Southampton B	Salisbury C
2011/2012	University	Andover	Winchester C
2010/2011	Southampton	Ordnance Survey	Salisbury C
2009/2010	Southampton	Passed Pawn A	Winchester College B
2008/2009	Passed Pawn	University	Eastleigh Rail D
2007/2008	Passed Pawn	Salisbury A	Winchester College
2006/2007	Southampton	Salisbury	Salisbury B
2005/2006	Passed Pawn	Salisbury
2004/2005	Passed Pawn	Eastleigh Rail
2003/2004	Southampton	Ringwood
2002/2003	Stoneham	University/Andover
2001/2002	Passed Pawn	Southern Water
2000/2001	Southampton	Andover
1999/2000	Southampton	Winchester
1998/1999	Andover	Botley
1997/1998	Southampton	University
1996/1997	Southern Water	Eastleigh Rail
1995/1996	Southern	Eastleigh Rail
1994/1995	Southern	Andover
1993/1994	Southern	Fair Oak
1992/1993	Southern	Ordnance Survey
1991/1992	Southern	Southern Water
1990/1991	Southern	Southern Water
1989/1990	Southampton	Ordnance Survey
1988/1989	Sarisbury
1987/1988	Southampton	Winchester
1986/1987	Southampton	Winchester
1985/1986	Sarisbury	Itchen College
1984/1985	University	Sarisbury
1983/1984	University	Winchester
1982/1983	University	Brockenhurst College
1981/1982	King Edward VI School	Southampton
1980/1981	University	Itchen College
1979/1980	University	University Staff
1978/1979	Southampton
1977/1978	University Staff
1976/1977	University
1975/1976	University
1974/1975	Issonians
1973/1974	Woolston
1972/1973	University
1971/1972	University
1970/1971	University
1969/1970	Issonians
1968/1969	IBM
1967/1968	University
1966/1967	Itchen Grammar School
1965/1966	University
1964/1965	Old Tauntonians
1963/1964	King Edward VI School
1962/1963	University
1961/1962	Southampton
1960/1961	Bramtoco
1959/1960	Woolston
1958/1959	Woolston
1957/1958	Southampton
1956/1957	Old Tauntonians
1955/1956	Old Tauntonians
1954/1955	Woolston
1953/1954	Eastleigh Rail
1952/1953	Old Tauntonians
1951/1952	Taunton’s School
1950/1951	not awarded
1949/1950	Old Tauntonians
1948/1949	Southampton
1947/1948	Old Tauntonians
1946/1947	Southampton
1945/1946	Taunton’s School
1939 to 1945	Not held	Not held	Not held
1938/1939	Southampton
1937/1938	Southampton
1936/1937	Old Tauntonians
1935/1936	Southampton
1934/1935	Southampton
1933/1934	Old Tauntonians
1932/1933	Southampton
1931/1932	University College
1930/1931	Old Tauntonians
1929/1930	Old Tauntonians
1928/1929	Old Tauntonians
1927/1928	Old Tauntonians

Southampton Individual Trophy

The Southampton Individual Chess Championship. Current results from 2019 are on the Southampton Chess League website and I have some of the older ones. The older ones have started to be added to LMS, which can be seen by clicking on the link from the table. There is also a report on the 1967/68 tournament from the cross-table supplied by the winner Paul Habershon.

Season	Southampton Individual
2023/2024
2022/2023	Tom Anderson
2021/2022	Not held
2020/2021	Not held
2019/2020	Not awarded
2018/2019	Tom Anderson
2017/2018	Tom Anderson
2016/2017	Shared
2015/2016	Martin Buckley
2014/2015	Fraser McLeod
2013/2014	Martin Buckley
2012/2013	Fraser McLeod
2011/2012	Alec Samuels & Tom Anderson
2010/2011	Fraser McLeod & Tom Anderson
2009/2010	Moses Kawuma
2008/2009	Moses & Steven Kawuma
2007/2008	Fraser McLeod & Martin Buckley
2006/2007	Fraser McLeod
2005/2006	Fraser McLeod
2004/2005	Fraser McLeod
2003/2004	Fraser McLeod
2002/2003	Fraser McLeod
2001/2002	Fraser McLeod
2000/2001	Fraser McLeod
1999/2000	Fraser McLeod
1998/1999	Tom Anderson
1997/1998	Fraser McLeod
1996/1997	Tom Anderson
1995/1996	Richard Perrin
1994/1995	Robert Noyce
1993/1994	Robert Noyce
1992/1993	Robert Noyce
1991/1992	Robert Noyce
1990/1991	Robert Noyce
1989/1990	Robert Noyce & John Wilkinson
1988/1989	Robert Noyce
1987/1988	John Wilkinson
1986/1987	Robert Noyce
1985/1986	Robert Noyce
1984/1985	John Wilkinson
1983/1984	Iain Stenhouse
1982/1983	Iain Stenhouse
1981/1982	John Wilkinson
1980/1981	John Wilkinson
1979/1980	T.Joslin
1978/1979	Robert Noyce & S.Macauley
1977/1978	G.Keane
1976/1977	Marshall Thompson
1975/1976	C.Chandler
1974/1975	C.Chandler
1973/1974	Marshall Thompson
1972/1973	Marshall Thompson
1971/1972	Marshall Thompson
1970/1971	Ron Compton
1969/1970	B.F.O’Sullivan
1968/1969	Alf Edmonds
1967/1968	Paul Habershon
1966/1967	Alf Edmonds
1965/1966	Alf Edmonds
1964/1965	Alf Edmonds
1963/1964	John Wilkinson
1962/1963
1961/1962	A.G.Barton & M.G.Ford
1960/1961	Marshall Thompson
1959/1960	Marshall Thompson
1958/1959	Marshall Thompson
1957/1958	Peter Marshall
1956/1957	Peter Marshall

Southampton Rapidplay Trophy

The Southampton Rapidplay Trophy has only been held three times and was open to teams from the Southampton and Portsmouth Chess League.

Season	Southampton Rapidplay Trophy
2015 – Present	Not held
2014/2015	Emsworth
2013/2014	Portsmouth
2012/2013	Not held
2011/2012	Southampton

Southampton League vs Bournemouth League

Southampton and Bournemouth have always had a close relationship in chess, and for a long time there was an annual chess match. This continued into at least the 1980’s but has more recently been replaced with a Bournemouth v Poole match.

These matches are detailed in the Hampshire Bulletins. For some of the matches I only have the date the match was played, or the result. If I can find any of the other matches played, or anyone supplies additional information I will update the post accordingly.

These matches are detailed in the following post, but you can also link from the table below. An original post from the 1966/67 match is also available.

Year	Date	Location	Team	SCL Score	BCL Score	Opponent
1956/57	06/04/1957	Southampton	Southampton Lg	21	9	Bournemouth Lg
1960-61	May 1961		Southampton Lg	30	20	Bournemouth Lg
1962-63	11/05/1963	Southampton	Southampton Lg			Bournemouth Lg
1964/65	08/05/1965	Southampton	Southampton Lg	21.5	27.5	Bournemouth Lg
1965/66	07/05/1966	Southampton	Southampton Lg	20	30	Bournemouth Lg
1966/67	1967		Southampton Lg	23	27	Bournemouth Lg
1967/68	04/07/1968		Southampton Lg	22	28	Bournemouth Lg
1968/69	1969	Southampton	Southampton Lg	26	24	Bournemouth Lg

Gallery

Various cuttings from the British Newspaper Archives below, this includes the inaugural season (1922/23) which Southampton won as reported in the Hampshire Advertiser. Click on picture to open in more detail.