Broadstairs Chess Club (founded in 1887) meets on Mondays at 7.30pm upstairs at the Bradstow Mill, High St, Broadstairs. New members are always welcome (we have started coaching sessions 7.00pm – 7.30pm). For more information contact Andrew Flood 07880 724893, email andrewflood042@gmail.com
You could ask yourself where did the last year go or indeed in Reg’s case the last 51 years at Broadstairs Chess Club?
Well, we finished 2025 in our now traditional way with the Christmas Buffet feast fit for a King and of course the now established Reg Pidduck 50 Blitz Tournament 2025 which went pretty much to the form book, with the club’s top 5 players / former players registering the highest number of wins and points from a maximum of 6.
(1) Samuel Marsden 5.5 , (2) David Hamplin 5, (3) Jasper Jeffs 4.5 (4) Paul Carfrae 4,
(4) Dominic Blundell 4
We welcomed back Jasper to the club who was on his break from Exeter University who magicked a draw against Samuel to deny Samuel a perfect score, but Samuel’s near perfect 5.5 points was sufficient to retain the trophy. Dominic returned to the club for the celebrations, as did Reg whose celebration of being a Broadstairs Chess Club member for 50 years begot the trophy. In a field of 15 players one of the best performance of the evening must have been that of Fredy Reber who scored a respectful 3 points. We missed Manoj who is now living in India, so a little too far to commute for him.
Hopefully 2026 will see a thriving Thanet and East Kent Chess League, particularly given the recent appointment and filling of various vacant posts.
Thanks to Chess and Bridge who continue to sponsor Broadstairs Chess Club which now enters its 139thYear. The answer to the riddle is of course Broadstairs Chess Club at Christmas.
Happy new year (also happy not to impose copyright requirements on the Christmas cracker type riddle).