Life, like chess, has a habit of biting one on the b*m just when you thought things were going well. Having been a little smug yesterday about the virtues of Exmouth as a chess venue, last evening I went to book the hotel for 2014, only to be told there was a wedding booked for the Easter weekend, and they would be unable to host the congress next year. The first course of action is for me to approach the Town Council to see if they can come with the possibility of somewhere suitable in the town. Failing that, it’s back to the WECU Executive to devise a Plan B. So, a warning to the regulars – Don’t book any hotel rooms in Exmouth for 2014 just yet, as it may yet be held anywhere within the Union – from Penzance to Portsmouth to Cheltenham. Watch this space.
Meanwhile, the draw for Rd. 5 was as follows:
| Bd. | Open - Rd. 5 | |||||
| 1 | Smith , A. | (3) | Berry, S | (3½) | ||
| 2 | Regis, D | (3) | 0 | 1 | McMichael, R | (3) |
| 3 | Mackle, D | (2½) | Littlejohns, D | (2½) | ||
| 4 | Homer, S | (1½) | Krzyzanowski | (2½) | ||
| 5 | Stephens, J. | (2½) | Thompson, R | (2½) | ||
| 6 | De Coverley | (2) | Dilleigh, S | (2½) | ||
| 7 | Boyne, A | (2) | Cutmore, M | (2½) | ||
| 8 | Shaw, M | (2) | Bass, J. | (2) | ||
| 9 | Paulden, T | (2) | Cutmore, D | (1½) | ||
| 10 | Stephenson, D | (1½) | 0 | 1 | Brusey, A. W. | (1½) |
| 11 | Bartlett, S | (1) | Helbig, P | (1) | ||
| 12 | Czegeny, M | (½) | Medina, P | (1) | ||