Declining entries

[Patrick McGovern]

Thank goodness someone has articulated the decline in Ayrshire chess participation. Given the raison d'etre of the Ayrshire Association is to foster and promote chess in Ayrshire, I find it very surprising that the only proposal of note for the associations AGM is to restrict spectators at league games. (the only other proposal, from the same club [Ayr], is in regard to electronic devices)

There have been several tournaments cancelled/postponed in the past season in Ayrshire, I would have thought that an urgent review of this matter would be upper most in the minds of the Ayrshire officials.

Now that we have congresses in other parts of the country where the prize is free entry into a congress in Ayrshire, I think the prospects for increased numbers in Ayrshire maybe brighter than you think.

congresses will survive due to hard work, sponsorship and the expertise the volunteers undoubtedly have. internally there have been many association run tournaments that have been postponed/cancelled. chess within Ayrshire is in serious decline. if it had not been for a very generous donation by an office bearer some years ago the association would be close to bankruptcy. Income is at an all time low, sponsorship for association run tournaments is non existent. I fear for Ayrshire chess.