First Lanark Easter Congress, 1960

The South Lanark Chess League, by now in its tenth year, made plans for its first Easter Congress at the Clydesdale Hotel, Bloomgate, Lanark, on Saturday, April 16th and Monday 18th (no play on Sunday).

The Premier section was a 6-player, all-play-all, though the British Chess Magazine reported that it was a four-round Swiss System.

Premier
1. A. Macleod (Dingwall) 4; 2. M. Fallone (Larkhall) 3; 3-4. W. Gray (Lanark) and M. Freeman (Ayr) 2. Other players were Mrs S.M. Steedman and Lt.-Col. W.G. Irvine-Fortescue.

Alastair Macleod and Michael Freeman were undergraduates at Glasgow University. William Gray was Lanark champion.

Major
1-2. J.W. Tait (Ardrossan) and A.F. Hoggan (Glasgow); 3-4. D. Perrow (Larkhall) and J. Simpson (Falkirk).

Minor
1. T. Hutton (Glasgow); 2. P. Johnstone (Glasgow); 3-4. W.T. Allan (Lanark) and A. Kilpatrick (Larkhall).

Left-right: Alastair Macleod, Lt-Col. W.G. Irvine-Fortescue, William Gray, Michael Fallone, Mrs S.M. Steedman and Michael Freeman. (Photo courtesy of Michael Freeman).

The good work of the South Lanarkshire organisers meant that this congress became a regular event on the tournament circuit, continuing into the early 1970s, by which time it was held in Bothwell. It may also have helped inspire the Glasgow League, which held its first congress in 1962.

Sources
Michael Freeman
British Chess Magazine 1960, p. 172.

Alan McGowan

Updated - 29/06/2019