Our AGM took place in June. The following trophies were presented:
Club Champion: Michael Naylor-Eade
Club Rapidplay Champion: Michael Barnes
Gambit Trophy: Felipe Lessa
Brian Gretton Trophy: Graham Gibson
We decided to enter 7 teams again for the 2025-26 league season.
There were major changes regarding team captains, marking a new era for the club.
Gambit 1: Was Florian – now is Michael Naylor-Eade
Gambit 2: Was Drag – now is Felipe
Gambit 3: Was Felipe – now is Paul
Gambit 4: Was Graham – unchanged
Gambit 5: Was Paul – now is Marian
Gambit 6: Was Andy – unchanged
Gambit 7: Was Michael Naylor-Eade – now is Marshall
Florian retired from the 1st team captaincy due to uncertainty as to his availability next season. Mike was the natural replacement and as a result gave up the 7th team captaincy. Felipe was rewarded for getting the 3rd team promoted and equalling Drag’s rating. Paul was rewarded for his excellent captaincy of the 5th team. For several seasons we have been looking for a 7th team captain who will be in that team so it was great to see Marshall stepping up. As a result of all the changes Drag will not have to be a team captain for the first time since 1986.
Felipe has also taken on one of the toughest job in the association, that of League Secretary.
There will be 41 teams next season, 3 more than this season. Ashfield & Beeston have each entered an extra team while rapidly expanding Radcliffe & Bingham have entered two extra teams. WB have dropped a team but the surprise was that instead of dropping their 2nd team, which had almost the same group of players as the first team this season, they have dropped their 3rd team which begs the question of what they will do with their lower rated players. Do not be surprised if they request an extra team after the season begins.
The NCA tried out a new summer league this summer. There were two sections, U1800 average and U1500 average. Teams of 4, playing two games in each match at 25′ + 10″.
We entered 3 teams, Dark Horses in the U1800 section, White Knights and C.A.L.M in the U1500.
Dark Horses had 4 incredibly close matches, drawing 2 of them 4 – 4 and losing the other two 3.5 – 4.5., ending up 3rd out of 4 teams. Felipe performed best with 3.5 from 6 games. On 50% were Vinod, Drag and Mike N-E. Nikolai managed just 3 points from his 8 games and John T scored 0.5 from 2 games.
White Knights finished 2nd out of 8 teams in the U1500 section, with 5 points. Captain Paul scored 3 from 4 games and Jack scored 1.5 from his two games. John H scored 4 from 6 and Mark scored 3.5 from 8. Albert managed to score 2.5 from 6 and Dennis 1 from 4, his win coming over Marshall in the draw against C.A.L.M.
C.A.L.M finished midtable with 3 points. Andy performed best with 6 points from his 8 games. Marian and Marshall both scored 3 from 6. Captain Charlie managed 1.5 from 4 and Leo 1.5 from 6.
Overall the tournament was considered to have been a success.