This year’s Fleming Trophy match was played in the village hall at Bedmond (Herts) just south of Hemel Hempstead. Historians will already know that Bedmond was the birthplace of the only English pope, Nicholas Breakspear (Pope Adrian IV). In addition, one of the opposition players told me that Graham Taylor (who managed the England national football team, as well as Watford FC (amongst others)) lived locally, and frequently presented the medals at an annual running event in the very hall we were playing in.

Beds held a big rating advantage across the boards and when we raced to a 6-2 lead (including wins for all three of our Luton players) we looked sure to retain the trophy. However, Bucks clawed their way back winning the next four games to finish to tie the scores at 6-6. Around then Robert, who looked to have an advantageous position dropped a piece and was struggling. The match suddenly felt quite tense.

Paul calmed our nerves when, in a tricky ending with three minor pieces each his opponent got a little over-ambitious with his knight and it was trapped on Paul’s back rank, thereby restoring our lead. Graham agreed a draw in a knight ending shortly after, leaving two games in play. Brian’s opponent, who had been a piece for a pawn down for a while was making life difficult with a pawn on the 7th combined with bank-rank mate threats. Eventually Brian was forced to give the piece back for the pawn, and a agreed a draw with R & h-pawn vs R with no hope of a win.

So, 8-7 with Robert still in play. No sooner had we done the board count calculations when a draw was agreed thus clinching the match 8.5-7.5 (it turned out we would have won on board count anyway, but better to win on points scored rather than tie-break).

Humayun from Luton chess club is investigating the possibility of displaying the trophy at the University of Luton – a far more fitting place than my spare bedroom.

Many thanks to all who played, especially those representing the county for the first time.

The Results table for this match can be seen Here.

Kevin Williamson,
Bedfordshire County Team Captain.