Fylde Championship
Third Round Results
| Paul Evans (Blackpool) | 0 | 1 | George Ellison (Poulton) |
| Oleg Cukovs (Poulton) | 0 | 1 | John Cooper (Lytham) |
| Malcolm Peacock (Preston) | 1 | 0 | Abigail Pritchard (Blackpool) |
| Doug Williams (Lytham) | 1 | 0 | Michael Parker (Blackpool) |
| Les Hughes (Poulton) | 0 | 1 | Phil Copeland (Lytham) |
| Phil Raynor (Lytham) | ½ | ½ | Jon Wright (Blackpool) |
| Dennis Davies (Blackpool) | ½ | ½ | Pat Coleman (Lytham) |
Paul and George, the only players on 100% after two rounds were paired in Round Three just as they were last year and produced the same result. Paul sacrificed his g pawn for tactics but George steered his way through them and won neatly in the ending.
John Cooper versus Oleg Cukovs was also a repeat of last year's pairing in the 3rd round and result. Abigail Pritchard kept Malcolm Peacock at bay for a while but the grading difference of 80 points proved too much in the end. Doug Williams outplayed Michael Parker in a positional game which lasted 56 moves. Phil Copeland won a brilliant game with the black pieces against the improving Les Hughes - see the Games pages of this website.
The only draws came at the lower end of the field where Phil Raynor failed to convert a significant advantage into a win. Pat Coleman was a pawn up against Dennis Davies but relieved to score a draw when he ran into time pressure in the allegro finish.
Division A
Morecambe v Lytham Ex 1 4 - 1
A full strength Morecambe were far too strong for a weakened Lytham side who were a man short. Leo Ainsworth and Phil Raynor did extremely well to take draws against higher graded opponents. This result placed Morecambe two points behind the leaders, Preston 1.
For Lytham, John Regan, a last minute replacement, could not make an impression on Morecambe's Captain, Norman Blade, and was never really in with a chance. John Cooper, on top board, was outgraded by 40 points when he faced Glen Charleshouse and had the further disadvantage of the black pieces. The game was level after 27 moves but a slight weakening move let in Glen.
Division B
Preston 3 v Lytham Ex 2 ½ - 3½
For Lytham, Doug Williams, Leo Ainsworth and Phil Copeland are still unbeaten.
Division C
Lytham Ex 3 v Bispham 1½ - 2½
Bispham are on a roll. They head up the table with a match in hand.
Poulton 2 v Lytham Ex 4 3 - 1
Bispham v Poulton 2 2½ - 1½
For Bispham, Blaine McGrady is still unbeaten with five wins and a draw.
Preston 4 v Lytham Ex 3 2 - 2
This was a poor result for the Lytham side, it also marked the end of Ricky Lord's unbeaten run with 3 wins and 2 draws to his credit before losing in this one.
| Division A | |||
| Morecambe | Lytham Ex 1 | ||
| G. Charleshouse | 1 | 0 | J. Cooper |
| R. Newton | 1 | 0 | D. Williams |
| J. Lyth | ½ | ½ | L. Ainsworth |
| C. Heald | ½ | ½ | P. Raynor |
| N. Blade | 1 | 0 | J. Regan |
| 4 | 1 | ||
| Division B | |||
| Preston 3 | Lytham Ex 2 | ||
| A. Pidcock | 0 | 1 | D. Williams |
| G. Pennington | ½ | ½ | L. Ainsworth |
| K. Quinn | 0 | 1 | P. Copeland |
| A. de Santos | 0 | 1 | P. Raynor |
| ½ | 3½ | ||
| Divison C | |||
| Lytham Ex 3 | Bispham | ||
| Default | 0 | 1 | B. McGrady |
| P. Coleman | ½ | ½ | D. Graham |
| A. Wilson | 1 | 0 | R. Broxson |
| K. Sansom | 0 | 1 | N. Thompson |
| 1½ | 2½ | ||
| Poulton 2 | Lytham Ex 4 | ||
| H. Sowerby | 1 | 0 | P. Coleman |
| C. Duerden | 1 | 0 | G. Robinson |
| T. Wright | 0 | 1 | A. Wilson |
| M. Wilkinson | 1 | 0 | P. Connolley |
| 3 | 1 | ||
| Bispham | Poulton 2 | ||
| B. McGrady | 1 | 0 | K. Gorman |
| D. Graham | ½ | ½ | C. Duerden |
| R. Broxson | 1 | 0 | M. Wilkinson |
| G. Wolstencroft | 0 | 1 | B. Wilson |
| 2½ | 1½ | ||
| Preston 4 | Lytham Ex 3 | ||
| T. Fielding | 1 | 0 | R. Lord |
| C. Fielding | 0 | 1 | P. Coleman |
| C. Riley | 0 | 1 | A. Wilson |
| D. Lambourne | 0 | 1 | K. Sansom |
| 2 | 2 |