Division A

Lytham Ex 1 v Preston 2  2 - 3

Lytham were without two of their more experienced players, Phil Copeland and Leo Ainsworth.  Preston were at full strength.  Preston's Peter Thompson launched a powerful attack against John Regan's K-side which left the latter well beaten.  Phil Raynor held out longer against Connor Reaney but lost two pawns in the late middle game which proved decisive.  Doug Williams had a quick win against Arthur Pidcock who blundered a piece away in a level position.  Colin Leitch (Preston) also blundered badly when faced with pressure on the board and the clock.  This left the score at 2 - 2 and all depended on new signing, Paul Evans, and his game against the Preston Captain, Phil Taylor.  Paul started aggressively, attacking on both flanks and leaving his king in the centre.  He then sacrificed a piece in order to give himself further attacking chances but Phil held on and won the end game in a situation where both players were desperately short of time.

Division B

Poulton 1 v Preston 3  1½ - 2½

Preston edged home in a very tight match which was eventually decided by Geoff Pennington outplaying Oleg Cukovs - superb endgame play in a complicated position.

Blackpool 2 v Lytham Ex 2  1½ - 2½

Doug Williams beat Neil Coward in a position where the middle game tactics favoured the player with the Black pieces.  John Cooper appeared to have a slight edge in his game against Michael Parker - an endgame was reached with two rooks and pawns each - Michael had sufficient resources in a complicated position to be able to hold John to a draw.  Jon Wright quickly whipped up a convincing attack against Keith Sansom on bottom board - this was enough to finish Keith off fairly quickly.  Therefore everything depended on the result on Board 3 where Leo Ainsworth's positional grip on the game seemed to be loosening as Abigail's King's Indian position started to uncoil.  It looked as if Abi's extra pawn was going to tell in the balance when, in a dramatic turn of events, with just one move to make, her flag fell giving Leo and Lytham the victory.

Division C

Poulton 3 v Lytham Ex 4  1½ - 2½

Poulton narrowly lost despite spirited performances by three of their juniors.  Connor Heelis (aged 12) on top board excelled to take half a point from Ricky Lord.  Jordan Lewis (aged 8) also played well.

Lytham Ex 3 v Poulton 3  3 - 1

Poulton 2 v Preston 4  1½ - 2½

Preston 4, with an advantage of seventy grading points were too strong for the Poulton side.

Lytham Ex 4 v Bispham  1 - 3

Bispham now have the title in their sights as they only require a draw from one of their last two matches to clinch it.  Their remaining matches are against Preston 4 and Poulton 3.

Top board, Blaine McGrady, has a tremendous record - unbeaten with six wins and a draw.  Solidly behind him have been David Graham, Ron Broxson and Neil Thompson who have only lost one game each.

It is an amazing achievement for a club that has plodded on year after year and won its last title, the Division 2 title, in 1987.