Division A

Lytham Ex 1 v Blackpool 1  1½ - 3½

Blackpool only needed to draw this match to snatch the title from Preston 1 on board difference.  Blackpool were at full strength.  Neil Coward and Andy Jaques both won fairly quickly against John Regan and Doug Williams respectively.  The Blackpool Chairman, Steve Lamb, then scored a draw against Leo Ainsworth which fittingly gave Blackpool the title.  Darryl Wolstencroft and Mike Parker both settled for draws against John Cooper and Phil Raynor respectively.  This is the first time that Blackpool have won the title since 1980!  It is interesting to note the excellent and consistent standard of the Blackpool team in the top division where every opponent knows the game from A-Z.

Darryl Wolstencroft, on top board, is the third strongest player in the League and was undefeated with three wins and three draws.  The Captain, Andy Jaques, scored three wins, three draws and one defeat.  Steve Lamb scored three draws and one loss.  Michael Parker was undefeated with four draws and one win.  Neil Coward, bottom board but an experienced county player and congress competitor, scored a remarkable five wins and one loss.

Div C

Preston 3 v Lytham Ex 4  ½ - 3½

A remarkable result by any standards.  The runaway leaders of Division C were not only defeated but almost whitewashed!  The absence of Preston's top board, Geoff Pennington, was a crucial factor.  Full marks to Lytham for inflicting the first defeat on Preston in 10 outings.

Poulton 2 v Blackpool 2  2 - 2

This was a match that Poulton had to win to keep in touch with the leaders, Preston 3, but Blackpool's Steve Lamb and Dennis Davies were too strong for Dave Hartley and Chris McConnachie.  Poulton's youngsters, James McConnachie and Abigail Pritchard, both scored valuable points to earn their side a valuable point.