Scottish Teams in the Glorney Cup

The Glorney Cup competition for teams of Boys' began in 1948, a trophy being donated by Mr Cecil Parker Glorney of Dublin. In that first year only England and Ireland took part. Wales entered a team in 1949, but Scotland did not take part until 1951. This is not meant to be a detailed listing of Glorney Cup results, for this can be found on the excellent OlimpBase web site at - Under Youth Team Championships, look for Other Youth Events.

This is simply a record of those who represented Scotland in the first twenty years of our participation, perhaps with some interesting information about a particular event. Other years may be added later. Some cross-referencing can be made by looking at the Scottish Boys' Champions, as many of the names here were involved in that event over the years. Readers are welcome to contribute information or photographs, or to offer suggestions or corrections, by contacting Alan McGowan

1951 Dublin, July 25-27. The Scottish team was: Fergus G.H. Nicholson, D.G. Weir, Raymond W.M. Baxter, L.J. Hepburn, David Kinsler, Gilmour W. Kerr. Nicholson was Scottish Boys' Champion 1951.

Glorney Cup 1951
Leslie J. Hepburn (right) losing to Michael Davis, England.
Photo: Glasgow Ladies' CC archives─Margaret Hepburn

Sources: Chess 1951, August p252; SCA Yearbooks

1952 London, July 23 and 24. Gilmour W. Kerr, Roy W. Smeeton, D.G. Weir, G. Sachs, Michael Fallone, D.S. Brotherton. Sources: BCM 1952, p 242./3; SCA Yearbooks

Michael Fallone is sitting cross-legged, third from the right. Directly behind him is Scottish team leader, P.B. Anderson. In the middle, with trophy, is Malcolm Barker of England. A great future was expected of him in chess, but he soon gave up the game completely. To Barker's right is Mr J.N. Derbyshire, a driving force behind the organisation of the great Nottingham 1936 tournament. To his right is organiser W. Ritson Morry. Behind Mr Derbyshire is Bernard Cafferty, editor of the British Chess Magazine 1981-91. Photo courtesy of Michael Fallone.

1953 Glasgow (Glasgow High School), July 22 and 23. The Scotland team was announced as: Gilmour W. Kerr, David Kinsler, George McGowan, W. McLaughlin (all Glasgow) Michael Fallone (Hamilton), G. Sachs (Edinburgh), Roy W. Smeeton (Gourock). However, by the time the tournament was played Iain Morton, Scottish Boys' Champion 1952, was on the team, with no sign of Sachs. W. McLaughlin was Scottish Boys' Champion 1953. Sources: Glasgow Herald chess column (undated); BCM 1953, p 242/3; SCA Yearbooks.

1954 Cardiff, July 28 and 29. Michael Fallone (Our Lady’s, Hamilton), James Blair and B. Lindsay (King’s Park), N. McCarry (St Aloysius), T. Stothers (Allan Glen’s), W. Speculand (Kelvinside Academy), J. McCann (St Mungo’s) - all Glasgow. Source: Glasgow Herald chess columns (undated).

Peters (Wales) - Fallone 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Bf5 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Bf4 Nf6 7.e3 a6 8.Bd3 Bg6 9.Bxg6 hxg6 10.a3 Nc6 11.Qd3 Rc8 12.0-0 Bd6 13.Ne2 Bxf4 14.Nxf4 Ne4 15.g3 g5 16.Ne2 Qf6 17.Kg2 g4 18.Ne1 Kd7 19.f3 Rxh2+ 20.Kxh2 Qh6+ 0-1

1955 Dublin, July 27 and 28. Michael Fallone, W. Fleming, James Blair, J. McCann, Iain Morton, (Glasgow); George Dickson and J. A. Phillips (Edinburgh). Sources: Glasgow Herald chess columns; BCM 1955, p 266 (the BCM shows J. Morton, rather than I. Morton). George Dickson, Scottish Boys' Champion 1955, played two games, winning both. He would go on to have an outstanding record in this competition.

1956 Liverpool, August 1 and 2. The event was held at the Liverpool CC. Michael Fallone, George Dickson, John Hennigan, J.A. Phillips, P. McLaren, J. O’Sullivan Scotland was the only team without a reserve player. George Dickson again scored 100% - 3/3. Source: BCM 1956, p 234; CHESS September 8th 1956, p 313.

Standing, front row extreme right is P.B. Anderson, who accompanied the Scottish team. Standing next to him is W. Ritson Morry, an indefatigable tournament organiser. Standing next to him, 3rd from right is Michael Fallone. Standing 5th from right, wearing grey blazer and striped tie, is John Hennigan, whose son Michael Hennigan, would become an I.M. in 1991, and British Champion in 1993. In the back row, standing 2nd from left, is George Dickson. Photo (which also appeared in CHESS, courtesy of Michael Fallone.

1957 Glasgow, July 24 and 25 (10th year of the competition). The tournament was held in the MacBrayne Hall, 11 Park Circus Place. Scotland and England both ended up with 2½ match points, but England scored 12½ game points to Scotland's 10½. Under the existing rules, it seems that England should have been declared winners, but the Glorney Cup Committee decided that the Trophy should be held jointly. The Scottish team was Michael Fallone, George A. Dickson, J.O’Sullivan, John Hennigan, Colin Malcolm, Gerald Bonner, and J.E. Campbell. Again George Dickson scored 3/3, making his total score over three Glorney’s to 8/8. Sources: Glasgow Herald chess column (undated); BCM 1957, 226/7; CHESS October 19th 1957, p 30 (games).

Alcorn (Ireland) - Dickson Glorney Cup, 1957 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5 5.0-0 0-0 6.Nc3 d6 7.d3 Bg4 8.Nf3 Nd4 9.Kh1 c6 10.Be3 d5 11.exd5 cxd5 12.Bxd4 exd4 13.Na4 Bd6 14.Bb3 b5 15.h3 bxa4 16.Bxa4 Bh5 17.Rg1 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 Qa5 19.Bb3 Rad8 20.g4 Qd2 21.g5 Nd7 22.Bxd5 Ne5 23.Qf5 g6 24.Qf6 Qxc2 25.Rae1 Qxd3 26.Rg3 Qf5 0-1

Fallone - McMahon (Ireland) Glorney Cup, 1957 1.e4 c5 2.b4 cxb4 3.Bb2 d6 4.d4 Nf6 5.Bd3 g6 6.f4 Bg7 7.Nf3 0-0 8.h3 Qc7 9.0-0 d5 10.e5 Nh5 11.Ng5 h6 12.Nxf7 Kxf7 13.f5 Ng3 14.fxg6+ Ke8 15.Rxf8+ Bxf8 16.Qf3 e6 17.Qxg3 Nc6 18.Nd2 Qg7 19.Rf1 Nd8 20.Bc1 Bd7 21.Nf3 Rc8 22.Bd2 Ba4 23.Nh2 Bxc2 24.Bb5+ Nc6 25.Rf6 Bf5 26.Ng4 Bxg6 27.Bxh6 Qe7 28.Bxf8 1-0

1958 Cardiff, July 31 and August 1. England did not take part this year, a decision that received much critcism. The Glasgow Herald chess column of 11 July announced the team of six and one reserve as, but the BCM of September 1958 (p 228), showed only six Scottish players in the matches against Wales and Ireland: Derek R. Thomson, K. Clarke, J. Garland, Gordon R. Skinner, P. Ballantyne, Karl Joerg.

1959 Dublin July 15 and 16. Scotland was not able to participate due to a clash with the Scottish Championship.

1960 Gloucester July 26-28. The team members were:
Derek R. Thomson (Kelvinside Academy), John Wheeler (St Aloysius College), Alister M. MacLean (Royal High School), Kenneth McAlpine (Kelvinside Academy), Karl Joerg (George Heriot's School), Andrew Brown (Hillhead High School), W.D. Wallace (Royal High School).

England took first place. Scotland, Ireland and Wales were equal, in that they each won one match. Scotland lost 1-5 to England, Thomson drawing with J.A. Lawrence, the British boys' champion, on the top board. Scotland lost 1½-4½ to Wales, but won 3½-2½ against Ireland. Thomson had the best score: +1 =2.

1961 Bothwell (by Glasgow), July 25 and 26. Played at the home of Mrs S.M. Steedman, Scottish Ladies' Champion in 1951, 1956 (shared), 1959, and, later, 1969 (shared). Kenneth McAlpine, Karl Joerg, Alexander M. Davie, Gordon J. Burt, Peter Messer, Eric D. Edmond, G. McCune. McCune played in one match in place of Messer. Ken McAlpine had the best Scottish performance with 2½/3.

England 14; Scotland 9; Wales 8; Ireland 5.

Sources: BCM 1961, pp 252/3; Scottish Chess Association Bulletin No. 4.

A.M. Davie in 1962

1962 Brecon, Wales, July 31 and August 1. Kenneth McAlpine, Alexander M. Davie, Peter Jamieson, Gordon J. Burt, Peter Messer, Edward Marshall. 'Both the Scottish and Irish teams arrived one short; Hunter of Scotland having had to return at Crewe owing to illness and the Irish reserve having failed to obtain a sailing ticket.'

Bryan Hunter [D.B.A. Hunter] has confirmed that it was indeed he that was due to play. He says that 'The team 'trained' in Fairhurst's office/flat in Lynedoch Terrace (behind the main office in Woodside Cres. [Glasgow]) in a room containing a huge model of his current project – the Tay Road Bridge. Wade was there too; travelling with us later as manager...'

P. Messer was Scotland's top scorer with 2½/3. (CHESS) Sources: BCM 1962, pp 255/6; CHESS August 18th 1962, p 326, report and photo.

1963 Dublin. The venue was St. Joseph's School for Blind Boys. Sandy Davie recalls being billeted there, and that the toilet cubicle had no doors. Scotland lost to England 1-5; defeated Ireland 4-2, and won against Wales 4½-1½. England lost a match for the first time ever in this competition - to Ireland. This helped created a triple tie between Ireland, Scotland and England. The Scottish team was: Kenneth McAlpine, Alexander M. Davie, Fraser G. Dingwall, Peter Jamieson, Gordon J. Burt, Norman Bissell.

Peter Jamieson, in 1963.

1964 London, July 27-30. Alexander M. Davie, Peter Jamieson, Edward Davis, G. Hay, Peter M. George, Terence Cowling, John Glendinning. Continental European teams played for the first time – Holland and France.

Scotland defeated France 4-2, and Ireland 5½-½ in the first two rounds. The crucial match was the round 3 encounter with England, which was adjourned with Scotland leading 2½-1½, with both unfinished games looking to be wins for Scotland. On resumption, Davie, the Scottish Champion, played weakly and could only draw, and Hay lost a winning endgame against Griffiths, thereby resulting in a drawn match. This meant, in the end, that England avoided a triple tie with Holland and Scotland. Peter Jamieson and Eddie Davis each scored 4/5, and Cowling scored 3/4. Other scores: Davie 2½/5; Hay 2/4; George 2½/4; Glendinning 1/3.

Jamieson - Daumens (France) Glorney Cup, 1964 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Nbd2 Bg4 6.g3 Qd7 7.Bg2 Bh3 8.0-0 Nge7 9.Nb3 Bxg2 10.Kxg2 Ng6 11.Nbxd4 0-0-0 12.Be3 Ngxe5 13.Qa4 Bc5 14.Nxc6 Bxe3 15.Nfxe5 Qe8 16.fxe3 bxc6 17.Qa6+ 1-0

Moles, J. (Ireland) - Jamieson Glorney Cup, 1964 1.f4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 g6 4.Be2 Bg7 5.0-0 Nbd7 6.d3 0-0 7.Qe1 c5 8.Qh4 Nb6 9.Nc3 Bg4 10.Bd2 With 10. e4, White could have obtained active play for his pieces: e.g. 10...d4 11. Nd1 Bxf3 12. Rxf3 followed by f5, Rh3, Ng5 etc. 10...d4 11.exd4 cxd4 12.Ne4 Nxe4 13.dxe4 Bxf3 14.Rxf3 The main differences between this position and thos in the last note are the increased scope of Black's bishop and the weakness of White's c4 and c2 squares (enhanced by the semi-open c-file). These give Black the advantage, e.g. if 14. Bxf3 then 14...Nc4 immediately. 14...e6 Discouraging f5 and inviting a queen exchange which would be in his favour. 15.Qg3 Rc8 16.Rc1 Nc4 17.Bxc4 Rxc4 18.f5 exf5 19.exf5 Qb6 20.Rb3 Qc6 21.fxg6 hxg6 22.Qf3 An attempt to relieve the pressure on his c-pawn. It is doubtful if White has anything better. 22...Qxf3 23.Rxf3 Rfc8 24.c3 Be5 25.Rcf1 f6 26.b3 Rxc3 A neat sacrifice of the exchange which gives Black the win. 27.Bxc3 dxc3 28.Rc1 c2 29.Rff1 Bd4+ 30.Rf2 Be3 0-1

Basman (England) - Jamieson Glorney Cup, 1964 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.Nf3 d6 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.f4 Nc6 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.e5 Nd7 9.Bc4 Nb6 10.Be2 Bg7 11.exd6 exd6 12.Be3 0-0 13.Bd4 Bh6 14.Qd2 c5 15.Bf2 Bb7 16.0-0 Qf6 17.g3 Rfe8 18.Rad1 Rad8 19.a4 Qf5 20.Rfe1 Nxa4 21.Bd3 Qc8 22.Bb5 Nxc3 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 24.Qxc3 Bg7 25.Qb3 Re4 26.Rxd6 c4 27.Qa4 Bf8 28.Rd7 Bc5 29.Rxb7 Bxf2+ 30.Kg2 Bb6 31.Rd7 Re2+ 32.Kf1 Rf2+ 33.Ke1 Qe8+ 0-1

Whitcutt (Wales) - Jamieson Glorney Cup, 1964 '...wild and woolly chess', said CHESS. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Bf5 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.f3 e5 6.e4 Bg6 7.d5 Be7 8.Qd2 h6 9.Be3 0-0 10.0-0-0 a5 11.g4 Nc5 12.h4 h5 13.Bxc5 dxc5 14.g5 Nd7 15.Bh3 Nb6 16.Qe2 Bd6 17.f4 exf4 18.e5 Re8 19.e6 c6 20.exf7+ Bxf7 21.Be6 g6 22.Ne4 Bxe6 23.Nf6+ Qxf6?! 24.gxf6 Bg4 25.Qc2 Kf7 26.Rh3 cxd5 27.Rb3 Nxc4 28.Rxb7+ Kxf6 29.Qf2 Bxd1 30.Kxd1 Re3 31.Ne2 Rd3+ 32.Kc1 Ne3 33.Nc3 Rb8 34.Ra7 Nc4 35.Ra6 Rxb2 36.Qxf4+ Ke7 37.Ra7+ Ke6 38.Qf7+ Ke5 39.Qg7+ Kf4 40.Qf7+ Ke3 41.Nd1+ Rxd1+ 42.Kxd1 Rb1+ White resigns, because of 43. Kc2 Na3+ 44. Kc3 Be5+. 0-1

Glorney Cup 1964. Top row from the left: J.M. Glendinning, E. Davis, G. Hay, G. Bonner (non playing captain), P.M. George, T. Cowling. Second row, far left is A.M. Davie; Front row left, sitting cross- legged is Peter Jamieson. Other notable players: holding the trophy is Michael Basman; 2nd row, sixth from left is Raymond Keene; next row of those seated, fifth from left is William Hartston.

Sources: Scottish Chess Association Bulletins Nos. 14 and 15; BCM 1964, pp 268-271; CHESS August 20th 1964, pp 364/5; John Glendinning (photo).

1965 Glasgow, August 3 and 4. Scotland are outright winners for the first time.

The event was held at the Baird Hall of Residence at the new University of Strathclyde, the local organiser being Gerald Bonner. P.B. Anderson, 'a veteran of Glorney Cup administration' officiated. Due to the high costs of such an event, the Scottish organisers were unable to invite teams from France and Holland, so the event reverted to a contest between the four home countries.

The Scotland team, including a reserve, was: G. Hay, John Glendinning, W. Peter Watson, Craig W. Pritchett, Roy A. Batchelor, Frank McKenna, and Ian Jardine. Both the Scottish and English teams were involved in training sessions in preparation for the event. Under the supervision of W.A. Fairhurst, the Scottish players had received coaching for several weeks.

Scotland defeated Wales 4½-1½ in their opening match, followed by a round two win of 5-1 against Ireland. England also won their opening matches so, appropriately enough, the important deciding match was in the third and final round, with both teams having level scores in both match and games points. The following comments are taken from Gerald Bonner's report in Scottish Chess Association Bulletin No. 17:

'McKenna won quickly with an adventurous Morra gambit against Thomson's Sicilian. (This gave him 3 out of 3 and Scotland's best performance prize.) ....England levelled the score when Wise beat Jardine. ...By the time the adjournment was reached the score was 1½ pts. each, as Hay had drawn his game with Whiteley despite a winning advantage earlier in the session. A summing-up of the three remaining games pointed to a drawn match or a slight edge to England. ....Lee sealed a move which Batchelor, after the adjournment, quickly proved to be fatal. Pritchett drew his game with Denman and the score was 3-2 for Scotland, with Glendinning in a decidedly inferior position. He fought on and created a passed pawn which proved sufficient to force a draw by repetition of moves. Scotland had won the match (our first individual victory over England), had won the Glorney Cup outright for the first time, and had become the first country to finish above England in the 15-year history of the event [that is, Scotland's involvement - AMcG]. It seems that the home ground acted as a tonic to our strong, though untried, team.

Scotland 3½ - 2½ England: (1). G. Hay ½-½ A.J. Whiteley; (2) J. Glendinning ½-½ T.C. Fox; (3) C.W. Pritchett ½-½ B.J. Denman; (4) R.A. Batchelor 1-0 P.T. Lee; (5) F. McKenna 1-0 T.A. K. Thomson; (6) I. Jardine 0-1 D. Wise.

1. Scotland 6 (13 game points); 2. England 4 (12); 3. Wales 2 (7½); 4. Ireland 0 (3½).

McKenna - Thomson (England) Glorney Cup, 1965 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.c3 dxc3 5.Nxc3 d6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bf4 Nf6 8.a3 Be7 9.Qc2 a6 10.0-0 Qc7 11.Rac1 Ne5 12.Nxe5 dxe5 13.Nb5 Qb8 14.Nc7+ Qxc7 15.Bb5+ axb5 16.Qxc7 exf4 17.Rfd1 Nd7 18.Rc2 Bd8 19.Qd6 Be7 20.Rxc8+ 1-0

Sources: Scottish Chess Association Bulletin No. 17; BCM 1965, pp 260/1;

PGN download of all the games from Scotland's winning year (courtesy of Sean Coffey of Ireland)

1966 Paris to Aug 1-6. This was the first time the Glorney Cup was held abroad, and the competition was restored to six teams, with France and the Netherlands competing again.

Despite catching our boat connection to France by a few minutes (when the boat was late in leaving!), the trip was very enjoyanle and a tribute to the efficiency of the Organisers, both British and French. The English team manager - J.E. Littlewood - soon attracted attention by analysing all the games from each round with the players, and this became a very welcome addition to the normal routine.'

In addition, it should be noted that a young (14) Jan Timman was on board one for Holland. He was the youngest player in the tournament, Dutch Junior Champion at the time. John Glendinning faced him in the first round and, according to Littlewood, 'Glendinning was unfortunate not to win but we cannot help but admire the resourcefulness of his 14-year-old opponent...' The game was drawn. Littlewood had further praise for Timman as the tournament progressed.

Here, though, two victories for Scotland.

Ligterink (Holland) - Montgomery Glorney Cup, 1966 (Round 1): 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 Be7 8.0-0-0 0-0 9.f4 Nxd4 10.Qxd4 Qa5 11.Bc4 a6 12.e5 dxe5 13.fxe5 Nd5 14.Bxe7 Nxe7 15.Rhe1 b5 16.Bb3 Nf5 17.Qf4 Bb7 18.g4 Nh4 19.Qg3 Ng6 20.h4 Rad8 21.h5 Ne7 22.h6 gxh6 23.Qh4 Ng6 24.Qxh6 Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1 b4 26.Ne2 Qxe5 27.Bc4 Bf3 28.Qd2 a5 29.Re1 Rc8 30.Nd4 Qg3 31.Nxe6 Bxg4 32.Re3 Qg1+ 33.Re1 Qg3 34.Re3 Qg1+ 35.Re1 Qb6 36.Qd7 Qc6 0-1

Pritchett - Sugden (England) Glorney Cup, 1966 (Round 5): 1.f4 This seldom played opening is better than its reputation. It can lead to virtually uncharted territory if, as in this game, White chooses to follow the pattern of the Dutch defence with a tempo more. It is interesting to note in passing that Scotland's only other win in this match (Montgomery-Tate, board 3) also opened with this move. 1...d5 2.Nf3 g6 3.e3 Bg7 4.Be2 Nf6 5.0-0 0-0 6.Qe1 b6 7.d3 Bb7 8.Nbd2 In the Dutch Defence proper (i.e. with the White Queen at d1), this move is met by ...Ng4! Now, however, this is innocuous because of the reply 9. Bd1. 8...c5 9.Qh4 Qd6 This is too ambitious since it allows White to gain a strong initiative on the K-side by means of an interesting Kt-manoeuvre. 10.Ne5 Nfd7 11.Ng4! A difficult move to meet. If now 11...h5 12. Nf2 and Black has only weakened his K-position and left White well-placed for the break e4. 11...f5 12.Nh6+ Kh8 12...Bxh6 is the lesser evil, since the KB cannot be retained in any case. Black has underestimated the latent strength of the Nh6 and proceeds to exchange his KB for the other White Knight. 13.Nf3 Bf6 14.Ng5 Bxg5 15.fxg5 Nc6 16.Bd2 e5 In spite of its formidable appearance, Black's centre is really weak, because none of the Black pawns can be safely advanced. 17.Rf3 Kg7 18.Raf1 Ne7 19.Rh3 Rh8 20.g4 White now seeks to demolish Black's weak point f5. Note that 20...fxg4 fails to 21. Rf7 mate. 20...Raf8 21.Qf2! [21.Rhf3 d4 22.e4 f4 and White's attack is at a standstill.] 21...Qe6 [21...d4 22.gxf5 gxf5 23.e4 f4 (Not 23...fxe4 24.Qf7+! Rxf7 25.Rxf7+ Kg6 26.Bh5#) 24.Bg4 with an excellent position, a possible continuation being 24...Bc8 25.Rf3 Qg6 26.h4 Nb8 27.Bxc8 Nxc8 28.Bxf4! exf4 29.Rxf4 Rxf4 30.Qxf4 and wins. In the game, if 21...fxg4, White again mates on f7.] 22.Rf3 c4 The f-pawn must fall, since if 22...fxg4, mate follows on f7. 23.gxf5 Nxf5 24.Nxf5+ Rxf5 25.Rxf5 gxf5 26.Qxf5 Qxf5 27.Rxf5 Kg6 28.Bg4 cxd3 29.cxd3 Bc8 30.h4 h5 [30...Nc5 31.Rf6+ Kg7 32.Bxc8 Rxc8 33.Bc3 Nxd3 34.Rd6 wins comfortably.] 31.gxh6 Nf6 32.Rg5+ Kxh6 33.Bxc8 Rxc8 34.Bc3 Simplest, forcing Black onto the defensive. 34...Nd7 35.Kg2 Nc5 A last desperate effort in a lost position. 36.Rxe5 Nxd3 37.Rxd5 Nxb2 38.Be5 Rc2+ 39.Kf3 Nc4 40.Bf4+ Kg6 41.h5+ Kf6 42.h6 Rxa2 43.Rh5 Ra5 and Black resigned. 1-0 Notes by Craig Pritchett in SCA Bulletin No. 20.

Sources: Scottish Chess Association Bulletin No. 20, pp 7/8; BCM 1966, pp 258/9; CHESS August 2nd 1966, pp 397-403.

1967 Brecon (Wales) July 31-Aug 3. Accommodation for nearly thirty players and team managers ws kindly provided by local families, and all were very well looked after. England won much more easily than expected-and by a surprisingly large margin. Scotland failed to reproduce the fine showing of previous years, tailing off to lose to Ireland in the last round. The Scottish team, with individual scores, was Craig W. Pritchett 1½/3; I. Jardine ½/3; E.I. Stevenson 2/3; Allen Taylor 1½/3; James Lumsden 1/2; Robert D. Waugh 1/2; A.H. Crooks 1/2.

Stevenson - Horton (England) Glorney Cup, 1967: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bc4 Be7 7.Be3 Nf6 8.Qe2 A currently popular and sharp attacking variation. 8...a6 9.0-0-0 Na5? A decisive error which allows White to take advantage of the latent pin of his QR on Black's queen. Better is 9...Qa5 or 9...Qc7. 10.e5! Nd5 There is nothing better: If10...Nxc4 11.exf6 Nxe3 12.fxe7; or 10...Ne4 11.Nxe4 d5 12.Bb3 11.Bxd5 exd5 12.Nxd5 0-0 12...dxe5 13.Nf3] 13.Nf3! The simplest move. which neatly wins a piece. 13...Nc6 14.Nb6 Rb8 15.exd6 Bf6 [15...Bxd6 16.Nc4] 16.d7 Qe7 17.dxc8Q Bxb2+ 18.Kxb2 Qb4+ 19.Kc1 Qa3+ 20.Kd2 Rbxc8 21.Nxc8 Rxc8 22.Ke1 Nb4 23.Nd4 1-0

Sources: Scottish Chess No. 23, p 10; BCM 1967, pp 257/8.

1968 Plymouth, July 28-August 3. Teams from West Germany and Belgium joined the competition, making a total of eight countries participating. Scotland beat Holland 3½-2½, and Belgium 4-2, lost to England 1½-4½, defeated Wales 4-2 and Ireland 3½-2½, drew with France 3-3, and beat W. Germany in the final round 3½-2½. Scotland took 3rd place, behind England and Holland. The team, and their scores: Allen Taylor 2½/7, James Lumsden 4/7, Robert D. Waugh 4/7, Donald T. Marr 3/6, Eric J. Holt 4/6, Colin C. Campbell 3/5, Ian D. Mullen 2½/4. Donald Marr was 14 years old, one of the youngest players ever to represent Scotland.

Giesen (Germany) - Lumsden Glorney Cup, 1968 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Qb6 5.a3 Bd7 6.b4 cxd4 7.cxd4 Bb5 8.Bxb5+ Qxb5 9.Qe2 Qxe2+ 10.Nxe2 Nd7 11.Be3 Ne7 12.Nd2 Nb6 13.0-0 Nc6 14.Rfc1 Be7 15.Rc3 Kd7! 16.Nc1 Rhc8 17.Ncb3 Na4 18.Rc2 b6 19.Kf1 a6! 20.Nf3 Na7 21.Rac1 Nb5 22.Rxc8 Rxc8 23.Rxc8 Kxc8 24.Bc1 Nac3 25.Nfd2 Bg5! 26.Bb2? Bxd2 27.Nxd2 Na4 28.Ba1? Nxa3 29.Ke2 Nc2 30.Nb3 Nxb4 31.Kd2 Kd7 32.f4 Kc6 33.g4 Kb5 34.h4 Kc4 35.Nc1 Nc6 36.Ne2 b5 37.f5 b4 38.fxe6 fxe6 39.Nf4 Nxd4 40.Bxd4 Kxd4 41.Nxe6+ Kxe5 42.Nxg7 Kf4 43.Nh5+ Kxg4 44.Nf6+ Kxh4 45.Nxh7 Nc5 46.Kc2 a5 47.Nf6 d4 0-1

Campbell - Nippgen (Germany) Glorney Cup, 1968 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be2 Nc6 6.0-0 e6 7.c4 Nb6 8.exd6 cxd6 9.d5 exd5 10.cxd5 Bxf3 11.gxf3! Ne5 12.Bb5+ Ned7 13.Qd4 Be7 14.Qxg7 Rf8 15.Re1 Nxd5 16.Bh6 1-0

Sources: Scottish Chess No. 26; BCM 1968, pp 245-249; CHESS No. 563-4, pp 23-26; John Glendinning (photo).

1969 Dublin, Trinity College Chess Club. Because of the projected costs, the host country could not invite continental teams. The competition therefore reverted to the four Home Countries. England win again (14), Scotland were second (9½), follwed by Wales (6½) and Ireland (6). The Scottish team was: Colin C. Campbell, Eric J. Holt, Michael Rosenberg, David J. Findlay, Philip M. Giulian, D.J. May, C.J.A. Jones.

1970 Bearsden (by Glasgow), July 29-August 1. A great deal of effore went into organising this competition, held at Notre Dame College of Education in Bearsden. On previous occasions when Scotland played host, only the four home countries were invited, due to the prohibitive costs involved in inviting additional European nations. This time, Holland and France were included, making it the largest junior international ever held in Scotland. The total costs of £500 for the tournament were defrayed by J. & P. Coats Ltd., and the Scottish Chess Association, who each donated £100, by Mr C.P. Glorney and Mr W.A. Fairhurst, who made the largest personal donations, by donations of stationery by the British Chess Magazine, and by advertising in the programme. The principal drawback of the pleasantly quiet setting of the College, namely its distance from the centre of Glasgow, was offset by the generous donation by British Rail of free rail travel, and after the opening dinner on 28 July, attended by Provost William Cumming of Bearsden and his wife, Mr W.A. Fairhurst and Mr and Mrs Munn as principal guests, all was set for what promised to be one of the strongest Glorney Cup Tournaments for some years.

Glorney Cup 1970, the opening dinner. From l to r: Provost William Cumming, John Glendinning, William A. Fairhurst, Walter Munn and John Robertson.

The Scottish team. From l to r, at the back, Roddy McKay and Eric Holt; front row, John Glendinning (non-playing captain), Ian Meiklejohn, Iain Sinclair, Christopher Jones, David Findlay, with Michael Rosenberg in front of Findlay.

Round 1: Scotland 5-1 Holland ■ England 5-1 Ireland ■ Wales 3-3 France

Rosenberg - Kuijpers (Holland) Glorney Cup, 1970 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Bd3 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.Ngf3 Qb6 8.0-0 Be7 9.Re1 h6 10.c4 Nb4 11.Bb1 dxc4 12.a3 Nd5 13.Nxc4 Qc7 14.dxc5 Bxc5 15.Nd4 a6 16.Nf5 N7b6 17.Qg4 exf5 18.Qxg7 Rf8 19.Nd6+ Ke7 20.Bxh6 Be6 21.Qg5+ Kd7 22.Bxf8 Rxf8 23.Nxf5 Qd8 24.Qxd8+ Rxd8 25.Be4 Bxf5 26.Bxf5+ Ke8 27.Rad1 Ne7 28.Rxd8+ Kxd8 29.Be4 Nc6 30.Rc1 Nd7 31.Bxc6 bxc6 32.b4 Bd4 33.Rxc6 Bxe5 34.Rxa6 Ke7 35.h4 Nb8 36.Rb6 Nd7 37.Rb7 Ke6 38.a4 Bf6 39.a5 1-0

Sinclair - Uylings (Holland) Glorney Cup, 1970 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nc3 e6 5.Nxd5 exd5 6.d4 Nc6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qxd5 Qb6 9.Bc4 Bxf2+ 10.Ke2 0-0 11.Rf1 Bc5 12.Ng5 Nd4+ 13.Kd1 Ne6 14.Ne4 d6 15.Nf6+ gxf6 16.exf6 Be3 17.Qh5 Ng7 18.fxg7 Qd4+ 19.Ke1 Bd2+ 20.Bxd2 Re8+ 21.Be2 Qxg7 22.Qg5 Qxg5 23.Bxg5 Bg4 24.Rf3 Re5 25.Bf4 Re4 26.Rg3 h5 27.h3 Rxe2+ 28.Kf1 Rae8 29.hxg4 h4 30.Rc3 1-0

Round 2: Scotland 2½-3½ England ■ Holland 5-1 France ■ Wales 4½-1½ Ireland

McKay defeated Bellin on board 1, after the latter left a piece en prise in time trouble. Stean-Rosenberg was a close tactical struggle, with Stean finally clearing up matters with a drawing rook sacrifice. Holt-Moberly was fairly drawish throughout, though the opposite-coloured bishops ending had to be played exactly for Holt to draw. Saverymuttu-Sinclair simplified into a rook and pawn ending, agreed drawn on resumption. Findlay was unlucky to lose to Miles after having a slightly better position. Meiklejohn's resignation was premature.

Stean England) - Rosenberg Glorney Cup, 1970 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 Ne7 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.a4 Nbc6 8.Nf3 Qa5 9.Bb2 Bd7 10.Be2 c4 11.Ng5 h6 12.Nh3 Ng6 13.Bh5 Nce7 14.Qg4 Bxa4 15.Nf4 Nxf4 16.Qxf4 0-0 17.0-0 Qb5 18.Bd1 f6 19.exf6 Rxf6 20.Qg4 Qe8 21.Qh3 Bd7 22.g4 Ng6 23.Qg3 Qf8 24.h4 Nf4 25.g5 hxg5 26.hxg5 Rf5 27.Kh2 g6 28.Bg4 Rf7 29.Rae1 Re8 30.f3 b5 31.Rf2 e5 32.Bxd7 Rxd7 33.Kg1 Rh7 34.Rh2 Nh5 35.Qg4 Rf7 36.Rxh5 gxh5 37.Qxh5 Rxf3 38.Qg6+ Kh8 39.Qh5+ Kg8 40.Qg6+ Kh8 41.Qh5+ Kg7 42.Qh6+ Kf7 43.g6+ Ke6 44.Qg5 e4 45.Rxe4+ ½-½

Round 3: Scotland 2½-3½ Wales ■ England 5-1 Holland ■ France 3½-2½ Ireland

Disaster! Rosenberg strayed in time trouble against Cronick, and Holt played the same innovation he had tried in round 1, but this time his opponent found the refutation. Despite good wins by Sinclair and Jones, the match was sadly beyond saving.

Round 4: Scotland 4½-1½ France ■ England 5½-½ Wales ■ Ireland 3-3 Holland

' Scotland showed an encouraging determination in the face of finishing runner-up yet again, with Holt, Findlay and Jones playing long endings to extract the full points'. (BCM) 'A sundly played round by the Scots except by Sinclair who, in time trouble, blundered away a winning endgame on the 40th move. (Scottish Chess)

Round 5: Scotland 5½-½ Ireland ■ England 5-1 France ■ Holland 4½-1½ Wales

Findlay - Evans (Ireland) Glorney Cup, 1970 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f4 Qc7 7.Bd3 Nbd7 8.0-0 Nc5 9.Kh1 Nxd3 10.cxd3 b5 11.Qe2 Bb7 12.Bd2 Rc8 13.Rac1 Qd7 14.Nf3 e6 15.e5 Nd5 16.f5 Nc7 17.Ng5 exf5 18.exd6+ Ne6 19.Rxf5 Bxd6 20.Rxf7 Qxf7 21.Nxf7 Kxf7 22.Rf1+ Bf4 23.Bxf4 Ke7 24.Qe5 h6 25.Qd6+ 1-0

Final scores: England 24, Scotland 20, Holland 14½, Wales 13, France 10, Ireland 8½.

Individual scores of the Scottish team were: McKay 4/5; Rosenberg 3½/5; Holt 3½/5; Sinclair 3/5; Meiklejohn 1/3; Findlay 2½/4; Jones 2½/3.

'It was generally felt that the English and Scottish teams, clearly better than the other four, were perhaps the strongest ever to have taken part in the tournament and the air of Scottish disappointment at not winning was a remarkable change in attitude from previous years.' (Scottish Chess)

Sources: Scottish Chess No. 29; BCM 1970, pp 280-282; John Glendinning (photos).

Alan McGowan
Historian, Chess Scotland

updated 24/06/2023