Organised by Stewarton Chess Club in Association with Stewarton Bonnet Guild Held on Sunday 7th June 1998 in the Institute Hall, Stewarton
The attendance at this year's event was slightly down on previous years with 84 players attending the tournament. Over half the players were from Ayrshire clubs with other players from as far afield as Inverness, Aberdeen and Bradford in England.
This chess tournament is held as one of the events held during the Bonnet Guild gala week in the Ayrshire town of Stewarton. The Bonnet Guild week traces its roots back to the town's long history of association with the production of Stewarton Bonnets which are similar to berets but usually have a tassle or pom-pom on top.
The Open section of the tournament was won outright by Kenny Malkin from Kilmarnock and he holds the Bonnet Guild Chess trophy for one year as well as keeping the presentation shield (and of course the prize money).
Stewarton Chess Club would like to thank John Broadhurst and the other officials from the Bonnet Guild committee for their assistance in setting up and running the tournament this year and our sincere thanks to local company McCluskey Brown who donated all the trophies, shields and medals awarded during the prizegiving
The organisers of the event would like to thank the controllers who have supported the tournament for many years with their help and skills in running the events. Thanks to John McNicoll of Kilmarnock Chess Club , Steven Taylor of Greenwood Chess Club and Alan Steel of our own Stewarton Chess Club. The ladies of the canteen / tuck shop outdid themselves with their home baking and excellet selection of hot and cold food (Bunty Montgomery, Maryann Cowie, Audrey McAngus). Thanks are also due to Sam and Laura Collins of Chess and Bridge Supplies (Scotland) for running a bookstall at the venue.
Open Section
First Kenny Malkin, Kilmarnock;
Second equal Robert Mitchell, Paisley,
Second equal Gordon Rattray, Kilmarnock
Grading prize Alex Goral, Stewarton
Grading prize Mike Hanley, Holy Cross, Hamilton
Best Ayrshire player Douglas Hamilton, Kilmarnock
Major section
First (on tiebreak) Jim Docherty, Kilmarnock
Second (on tiebreak) Bob Carter, Prestwick
Third (on tiebreak) Steven Donohoe, Kirkcaldy
Fourth (on tiebreak) Robert Loughran, Kilwinning
Grading prize Hugh Flockhart, Lasswade, Edinburgh
Grading prize Sam Philips, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow
Grading prize Alasdair Ahmed, Renfrew
Grading prize Jim Ward, Crowwood, Glasgow
Best Ayrshire players Andrew Brown, Ardrossan
Minor section
First Tony Ritchie, Kilmarnock
Second (on tiebreak) Paul Carroll, Holy Cross, Hamilton
Third (on tiebreak) Iain Selkirk, Newmachar, Aberdeenshire
Grading prize Kevin Campbell, Holy Cross, Hamilton
Best female player Sheila Cook, Kilmaurs
Best Ayrshire player Barry McGovern, Troon
Best Stewarton players Peter McLanachan, Stewarton
Under 14 section
First (on tiebreak) Derek Rooney, East Kilbride
Second (on tiebreak) Jimmy Orr, Giffnock Glasgow
Third Stuart Campbell, Glenrothes
Best female player Marjorieann Kennedy, Carrick Maybole
Best Ayrshire player Alasdair Carey, Greenwood, Irvine
Best ungraded player Richard Graham, Greenwood, Irvine
Best Stewarton (tie) Ross Thomson, Stewarton Best Stewarton (tie) Michael Whyte, Stewarton
Under 12 section
First Gordon Phillips, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow
Second John Anthony Daly, Holy Cross, Hamilton
Third Stuart Henderson, West Kilbride
Best female player Lynsey Shovlin, St Johns Perth
Best Ayrshire player Maurice Davidson, West Kilbride
Best ungraded player Tom & Chris Elsden, St Johns Perth
Best Stewarton player Fiona Dickson, Stewarton
Prepared by : John Montgomery, Secretary, Stewarton Chess Club 4 Barbeth Place, Girdle Toll, Irvine KA11 1QL, Telephone 01294-221486