SUCCESSFUL players received their trophies at the 175th annual meeting of the Worcester City Chess Club.

Ed Osbourn won the Gross Cup for the best new player and Jim Keene the Jones Cup for most improved player.

Ray Collett scooped the Ranken Cup for the All-Play-All and the Dollin Plate for the Rapidplay tournament.

Phil Smith was presented with the cup for the Minor Championship and Steve Mellor received the Knight trophy for his win in the Five Minute Tournament.

Keene has been re-elected as president, while Andrew Farthing took over from Steve Mellor as secretary and Collett replaced Pat Greenow as treasurer. Meanwhile, the highlight of the annual meeting of Worcestershire Chess Association was the presentation of the rose bowl trophy to Geoffrey Herbert, captain of the victorious Malvern side.

In a tight three-way contest in Division One with Halesowen and Kidderminster, it all depended on Malvern player Brian Turner’s key win at the end of the season.

Hagley won all their matches to claim Division Two with Andy Moore, also the new captain of the county open team, collecting the trophy.

Worcester City won the Wheatley Memorial Cup with skipper Collett accepting the trophy.

Peter Kitson claimed the Woodcock Prize for the most enterprising game won against Turner.

Peter Kitson remains president, Maurice Bissell secretary and Bert Foord treasurer.

Giles Stanton and Richard Turner are still captains of the under 140 and under 120 grade sides respectively.