After an incredibly successful season the year before, the 2019-20 season was always had the potential to be a bit of a damp squid. And Covid finished it off.
When Covid hit and the Bournemouth and District League shuddered to a halt Ringwood A were comfortably mid-table having played 8 games and amassed 9 points. Out of the running to win the league but equally comfortably safe from relegation. Well done to Niall for captaining the team, and I will take a plaudit as the teams highest scorer on slightly above average 5/8 😊.
Ringwood B held a similar position in division 3. With 7 games complete they were also third but a little closer to the top than the A team. The standout performer for them was Tim Weir who recorded scored an impressing 3.5 points from 4 games.
The Dorset league team lead by my good self, struggled most of all our teams and I would likely have lead them to relegation if such a thing happened in the league! At the truncation in play, we hadn’t won a match and only Graham Willetts had scored more than 50% with a commendable 3 points from 5 games. Everyone else who played with one glaring exception scored 50%. The benefit of writing the history is that you don’t have to dwell on details! Suffice to say I know where all my grading points went last season 😊.
The final and best performance from Ringwood in the B&D league that season was Ringwood Gambits in the Bacchus Bournemouth East. Merlin and Jack went on to do well in the Delancey UK Schools Chess Challenge with Merlin games being broadcast live on Chess24 for the Terrafinal Challengers Under 18. However, the best score in the team in the Bacchus league was Ben Cook with 2/2 which reflects Ben’s potential well.
A strong team in the Southampton league had completed 6 games when the season paused. They had 6 points to match and looked to be safe but out of contention for honours. That the team was mid table is testament to how strong this division is.
In division two, Ringwood B more than held their own with an impressing 3 wins, a draw and a loss from 5 games. At “close of play” they were second by a point having played two games less than the leaders.
It was always going to be tough to play 3 teams in the Southampton league but we did try! Ringwood C gave it a good go but were bottom when play was stopped. They were only a point off from two other teams but had games in hand so could believe an end of season “push” would bring them to safety!
