Chess Scotland Noticeboard

DGCongalton · Queen Joined: 07 Nov 2010 Posts: 113

Some brief updates on the Prestwick congress being held 13th to 15th May.

1. First prize in each section increased by £75 to £250 (Based on total of 125 total entrants across the sections).

2. Trophies and medals for winners of each section. Medals for 2nd and 3rd. (In addition to prize money of course Smile

)

3. Trophiy and medals for top three performing juniors. Juniors in all sections eligible. Specific criteria for awards to be decided/worked out (suggestions welcome).

4. Arbiter team will be Donald Wilson, Andy Howie, John McNicoll & Paul McDonald.

5. 21 days until deadline for free entry for titled players.

6. Updated information brochure/entry form available on congress website. These will be available at the Edinburgh Congress this weekend and should be available on Chess Scotland calendar next week.

7. Two family rooms at Premier Inn, Prestwick Airport, at £29 per night still available through me.

Further details on the congress website at www.ayrshirechesscongress.co.uk

robin moore · King Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 164

Everyone, Prestwick is a great venue for a new congress and is certain to be well supported. If you are considering playing in it and staying over I would strongly advise you to book accomodation asap. The b and b's are busy with airline staff and customers especially towards the summer. There is a massive range of prices too so the reasonable ones get booked quickly. I stay on the seafront at Prestwick so have fair local knowledge and no I don't have any more spare space!

Robin.

robin moore · King Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 164

Sorry, forgot to say, the venue has it's own train station of course and there is an excellent service from Prestwick town (I will be getting this one), newton-on-ayr, Ayr and Troon on the main line every half hour so don't worry about transport to the venue. The bus also stops right outside the airport for links to the clyde coast, Glasgow and Ayr.

DGCongalton · Queen Joined: 07 Nov 2010 Posts: 113

A small amendment to the entry conditions, half point byes will be allowed in the final round, provided they are requested before the tournament starts.

DGCongalton · Queen Joined: 07 Nov 2010 Posts: 113

Tomorrow, Tuesday 19th April, is the last day for titled players to claim free entry. I'll be out in the evening, playing chess but any titled players wishing to enter before the free entry deadline runs out can leave their details on my answer phone or alternatively drop me an e-mail. Postal entries from titled players will qualify for free entry if postmarked before the 20th of April.

DGCongalton · Queen Joined: 07 Nov 2010 Posts: 113

Two family rooms at Premier Inn, Prestwick Airport, for Friday and Saturday, at £29 per night per room still available through me.

DGCongalton · Queen Joined: 07 Nov 2010 Posts: 113

I have just heard today that congress entrants will be charged £2.50 per day for parking. I was hoping for completely free parking (in line with every other congress in Scotland) or at least less than this but we are getting the venue at only £60 per day.

However, as I think this could have quite an impact on entry numbers I have decided that anyone using the airport car park can, if they wish, deduct £7.50 from their entry fee, if playing all 3 days and £5 if taking a bye on the Friday. This will be in addition to any other deductions they may take, such as the Chess Scotland membership deduction. This puts the Prestwick Congress on a par with the other congresses in Scotland in being able to offer free parking, should entrants wish to take advantage of this offer.

I should add that the airport operates a ticket barrier system so if you decide to drive into town and back for lunch then you would end up paying 2 x £2.50 for that day. So I suppose it’s really £2.50 per visit. The town isn’t far at all from the airport though and there is a good train and bus service to town, which takes minutes and is probably a more cost effective way of getting into Prestwick for lunch, shopping or light refreshments.

It’s not an ideal situation and something I’ll address for the 2012 event but I hope by addressing the issue in this way I have gone some way to encouraging entries to the event.

Please note the offer is per car not per person in the car. Smile

For those who have already entered and paid I will try to e-mail you separately if I have your e-mail address but the same offer will apply and if you wish to take up the offer I will arrange a partial refund of entry fee at the congress.

sigrun · King Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 307 Location: Europa

DGCongalton · Queen Joined: 07 Nov 2010 Posts: 113

Having received some adverse correspondence regarding my booking 2 hotel rooms for Prestwick Congress entrants and also on my offer of reduced entry fees for those parking at the airport I feel I must clarify some points regarding these, in case these adverse opinons are generally held.

1. I booked the hotel rooms as they were a special offer at good rates and I thought it might be a good idea in case there were people who decided they might like to enter but couldn't find such well priced accomodation. They could re-imburse me for the exact same amount as I had paid. There was/is no intention of making any personal profit from my booking these rooms at the special rate. I also did not intend and do not intend to put the rooms as an expense against the chess congress. I have personally paid for the rooms and if there was no interest in them then I would have borne the cost myself and saved myself a 10 or 15 minute journey in the morning and used the room(s) myself.

2. Getting details of the preferential parking rates has been a nightmare and I thought when I finally got details today that the nightmare was over. However, the offer of a full deduction of the cost of parking from the entry fee has had an adverse reaction due to it's percieved unfairness as it doesn't apply to all players.

Firstly, I should point out that the offer was optional and players using the airport parking could decide whether or not to incur the expense or deduct it from the entry fee.

Secondly, the idea was to encourage more entrants to the event.

Thirdly, I intended to personally make up the difference between what players taking the offer would have paid and any dedcution they made for parking, so that the congress didn't suffer financially.

Due to the adverse reaction regarding it's fairness and the concerns over the congress prize fund I have decided to reluctantly withdraw the offer of deducting parking fees from the entry fee.

For those whom I have personally e-mailed and offered discounted entry fees to compensate for the parking fees I will stand by the offer made. The congress finances will not be impacted by honouring these discounts.

Entrants can still benefit from the preferential rate of £2.50 per stay. The normal charge is £10 for a stay between 4 and 12 hours.

Finally, I would just like to say that I am trying to make a success of this tournament. This is the first such event I've organised and so there may be one or two things I could have and can do better but I'm trying my best and the decisions I've taken are not meant to benefit particular individuals or disadvantage others. I've made them because I've thought they'll be of benefit to the tournament overall.

For those who have helped and supported so far and for those who support the event by attending, thank you, it is very much appreciated.

George Murphy · Knight Joined: 14 Aug 2007 Posts: 19 Location: Cardross

Mr Congalton

I am so sorry that you have had this adverse reaction. Your efforts to stimulate chess in Scotland should be admired, not treated so shamefully.

It's not particularly convenient for me to come because of pre-existing commitments, but you may rest assured that - barring accidents - I will be at your Congress. If some emergency does arise, I will still send you the entry fee.

I sincerely hope that your Congress is a resounding success.

With best wishes,

George Murphy

Mike Scott · King Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 676 Location: Edinburgh

Well said George.

robin moore · King Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 164

Everyone,

Please support this new congress. A lot of hard work has gone in to the organisation of this from scratch and richly deserves to be recognised. We have lost too many good tournaments over the recent years and here is a fantastic opportunity to establish a new one. If you feel you can play in this please enter asap. Scotland needs tournaments and all support will be very much appreciated.

Robin.

admin · Site Admin Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 1386

Could not agree with Robin's comments more. David and others have put a lot of work into the congress. It is refreshing to see something new.

We are always moaning about numbers of congresses dwindling, how can we expect new ones to flourish if we are not going to bother attending.

Prestwick is easy to get to, it has a beach 10 - 15 minutes walk from the venue. Why not make it a family day out???

robin moore · King Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 164

I could always add that many people from along the Ayrshire coast head to Prestwick for a night out as it is considered to have good restaurants and a safe and interesting wide selection of local hostelries in the main street no more than 10 minutes walk from the venue. The views over to Arran and the Ailsa Craig from here are truly stunning so come and enjoy yourselves !

Robin.

Graeme Forbes · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 2:58 pm Post subject: