Peter Myers, "WILKINSON RETURNED FOR A THIRD TERM AS CHESS PRESIDENT" Jamaica Chess Federation.

Incumbent Ian Wilkinson was re-elected to the presidency of the Jamaica Chess Federation (JCF) at the Annual General Meeting and Awards Ceremony of the JCF, held at the Shirley Retreat House in Kingston on Saturday.

Wilkinson, who was unchallenged for the post, was returned to the National Executive Council of the JCF along with thirteen others who were also unchallenged. They included:

- National Master Mark Holness - Vice President for Cornwall;
- Peter Myers - Vice President for Middlesex;
- FIDE Master Warren Elliott - Vice President for Surrey;
- Germaine Griffith - Secretary;
- National Master Robert Wheeler - Treasurer;
- National Master Shane Matthews;
- Maurice Robinson;
- Michael Ramsay;
- Mark Henry;
- National Master Andrew Mellace;
- Daren Wisdom;
- Allan Wilson; and
- National Master Geoffrey Byfield

In addressing the AGM after his re-election, Wilkinson highlighted the establishment of a Parish Association in each parish as one of the key objectives that he will be seeking to achieve before he demits office.

AWARDS CEREMONY FOR 2006

Immediately after the Annual General Meeting, the JCF held its annual awards ceremony for 2006. The top awardees included:

- National Chess Champion National Master Duane Rowe, "Player of the Year" ;
- National Master Russel Porter won awards for being most active player and a Gold Certificate of Merit for being the first Jamaican to defeat a Grandmaster, when he defeated Finnish Grandmaster Heikki Westerinen at the 37th Chess Olympiad held in Turin, Italy last year;
- A Gold Certificate of Merit was also awarded to Deborah Richards for obtaining the Woman FIDE Master title

Silver Certificates of Merit were awarded to:

- NM Robert Wheeler for being awarded the title of FIDE Arbiter;
- Tewana Mellace for winning the Under 9 section at Miami chess champs; and
- NM Malaku Lorne for winning the New Providence Tournament in Bahamas.

Peter Myers was presented with an award for Chess Journalist of the Year, Ian Wilkinson copped the Chess Analyst of the year award, brothers Sidley and NM Shane Matthews shared an award for Fair play and Ardenne student Jared Lewis was awarded most improved and promising player. Mark Bowen, Bertram Scott and Richard Sullivan were awarded Special certificates of merit for promoting chess through their individual chess related websites.

Other awards went to the Knightmares for winning the 2006 Lasco Chess team league, Brandon Wilson for winning the National Junior Championships, Campion College for winning the RBTT National Schools Chess Championships, Damon Davy for winning the Presidents Invitational Tournament, WFM Deborah Richards for winning the Women's National Championships, and IM Amon Simutowe for winning the Jamaica Open.

Awards were presented to chess contributors Lasco Distributors, RBTT Bank, Axis Jamaica, Dehring Bunting and Golding, Encephalon, General Accident, Ispo Construction, Jamaica Money Market Brokers, Norman Manley Law School, Offices of Utility Regulation and the Sports Development Foundation.

Posted by The Chess Drum: 12 June 2007