After the well-known chessplayer, author, columnist, problemist and correspondence Grandmaster, Peter Hugh Clarke, died last December, it was his family’s wish that a tournament should be held in his memory, in his home area and involving both friends and family. It was eventually agreed that the scheduled 3rd Bude Rapidplay, organised by local residents, John & Christine Constable, should be dedicated to Peter’s memory, and if successful should become an annual event.
The venue, the New Life Centre in Bude, proved an ideal place for the event; just the right amount of playing space for the numbers involved, plentiful nearby parking and a beautiful setting (see below). The Open Section was headed by Stephen Piper who learned his chess in his youth at the Holsworthy Chess Club, which was founded by Peter when he lived in that area. The only half point he dropped was to Peter’s brother-in-law, Philip Wood, one of B. H. Wood’s 3 chess-playing sons. (Once upon a time, Sutton Colfield 1st team in the Birmingham League consisted of all 4 Woods). It was, perhaps, appropriate that, at the end of the day, these two should come clear 1st and 2nd.
The rest of the Clarke players were in the U-140 section; daughters Salli and Pennie, and Grandson George. Detailed results were as follows:
| 1st Peter Clarke Memorial RapidPlay – Bude – 3rd October 2015 | |||||||||||
| Name | Club | Grd | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Tot, | ||
| 1 | Piper, Steve | Salisbury | 189 | 15 | ½2 | 18 | 13 | 19 | 17 | 5½ | 1st |
| 2 | Wood, Philip | Kenilworth | 144 | 17 | ½1 | ½9 | 14 | 13 | ½5 | 4½ | 2nd |
| 3 | Slade, Theo | Barnstaple | 181 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 01 | 02 | 110 | 4 | 3rd= |
| 4 | Martin, Steve | Sidmouth | 166 | 16 | 17 | 03 | 02 | 110 | 18 | 4 | 3rd= |
| 5 | Bartlett, Simon | Newquay | 160 | 01 | 16 | 19 | 17 | ½8 | ½2 | 4 | 3rd= |
| 6 | Woolgar, Steve | Bristol | 141 | 04 | 05 | 110 | ½8 | 07 | 19 | 2½ | GP |
| 7 | Trudeau, Gary | Liskeard | 168 | 02 | 04 | 05 | 110 | 16 | 01 | 2 | 7th= |
| 8 | Body, Giles | Exeter | 162 | 110 | 03 | 01 | ½6 | ½5 | 04 | 2 | 7th= |
| 9 | Wilson, Matthew | Teignmouth | 146 | 03 | 110 | ½2 | 05 | 01 | 06 | 1½ | 9th |
| 10 | Jenkins, David R | Liskeard | 125 | 08 | 09 | 06 | 07 | 04 | 03 | 0 | 10th |
| 1st Peter Clarke Memorial RapidPlay – Graded Section U-140 | |||||||||||
| Name | Club | Grd | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Tot, | ||
| 1 | Hunter, Kelvin | Tiverton | 127 | 112 | 110 | 13 | 02 | 14 | 18 | 5 | 1st |
| 2 | Jones, Robert H. | Exmouth | 137 | ½bye | ½9 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 04 | 4 | 2nd= |
| 3 | Williams, Steve | Chester | 136 | 15 | 14 | 01 | 17 | 02 | 19 | 4 | 2nd= |
| 4 | Whittington, Reece | Exeter | 126 | 18 | 03 | 111 | 19 | 01 | 12 | 4 | 2nd= |
| 5 | Jones, Martin | Newquay | 106 | 03 | 08 | 112 | 16 | 17 | 110 | 4 | GP |
| 6 | Childs, Barry | Lerryn | 106 | ½bye | 07 | 110 | 05 | 111 | 112 | 3½ | 6th |
| 7 | Smith, Richard | Barnstaple | 128 | 010 | 14 | 19 | 03 | 05 | 11 | 3 | 7th= |
| 8 | Gosling, Salli | — | u/g | 14 | 05 | 02 | ½6 | ½5 | 04 | 3 | 7th= |
| 9 | Gardiner, Colin | Torrington | 107 | 111 | ½2 | 07 | 04 | 112 | 03 | 2½ | 9th |
| 10 | Jones, Keith | Holsworthy | 96 | 07 | 01 | 06 | 011 | 04 | 05 | 2 | 10th |
| 11 | Craddock, George | — | u/g | 09 | 112 | 04 | 010 | 06 | 07 | 1 | 11th |
| 12 | Channing, Pennie | — | u/g | 01 | 011 | 05 | 08 | 09 | 06 | 0 | 12th |
The end of a Smith & Jones affair in Rd 1, but the crowd are more interested in how Theo Slade is faring.
Wood and Piper met in Rd. 2
Salli (nee Clarke) plays Martin Jones in Rd. 2 while in the background sister Pennie plays her nephew George.
General view of the playing area.
The table used for the top section was the one presented by Fidel Castro to Peter at the Havana Olympiad, 1966. Each team captain received one.
The table was as nothing compared to the ornate box for the pieces.
In between round the Clarke clan gathered around the top board; siblings Peggy & Philip; 2 of Peggy's 3 daughters - Pennie on the right with her two children and Salli with her daughter and nephew George.
Meanwhile, life goes on in the outside world - the view from the window shows the river bearing left on its way to the sea and Bude town centre off to the right.
Open winner, Steve Piper, receives the Clarke Cup from Salli, while John Constable holds the smaller cup that Steve will be able to keep.
Salli presents a cheque to her Uncle Phil for coming clear 2nd.
Steve Woolgar got the Grading Prize.
Kelvin Hunter won the U-140 Section