UK Teaching Event

Although no Go tournament took place, Roger Huyshe ran a stand with the aim of introducing some of the 500 attendees at this event in Cardiff to Go, managing to sell four beginner’s books and three basic sets as well as putting eight or nine people in touch with their nearest club and playing trial games with half a dozen. This was also the first outing of our new roller banner - available for use by anyone who needs to market Go at an event.

The most promising contact was with a couple who have Local Authority responsibility for 17 schools and are interested in setting up School Chess and Go clubs.

Also helping staff the stand were our Membership Secretary Paul Barnard, Welsh Champion Dylan Carter and, from the Cardiff Go Club, Neil Greenwood, Keiran Grayson and Club Secretary Neil Moffatt.

Report by Tony Collman for the AGA

The weekend, 9-10 November is part of an ongoing series of events and will bring together some of the UK’s strongest players for an intensive training weekend with the aim of increasing the number of UK players graded over 2400. It is being organised by Alison Bexfield and held in Letchworth Garden City with Guo Juan as the resident professional.

It is by invitation only, and these will be sent to BGA members with a grade over 2100. There is a maximum number of 16 players and priority will be given according to Go strength, with some preference towards younger players.

Final confirmation will be sent out to those people who have responded by 30 September.

If you think you should have received an invitation, but have not, please contact Alison Bexfield (email: alison at bexfield.com)

We are pleased to announce that articles written by Michael Redmond and some photos of his teaching trip in UK will be on the Nihon Ki-in's Go Weekly Newspaper next Monday.

Some other articles about his teaching trip in Cambridge, written by Tom Urasoe, will also be printed in their Go magazine 'Igo Mirai', which will be released on 5th June.

Between March 31 and April 7 Michael Redmond, professional 9 dan, will be visiting the UK. Michael was born in the USA. but has been living in Japan for several years.

Michael will be hosting several events during that week.

More details

From the 16th-18th November, fourteen of the UK's strongest players gathered together for a training event at Kirsty Healey and Matthew Macfadyen's house in Barford, Warwickshire. The format was similar to previous years, with the participants being split into two groups according to rating. One group played games while the other had their games reviewed. Later there was a chance to mix, with a match taking place between the two groups on Saturday evening.

Fantastic teaching was provided by the indefatigable Guo Juan, who gave four lectures and reviewed some fifty-six games over the course of the weekend. Kirsty and Nick Wedd proved excellent chefs, with meals being eaten on-site so as not to spend any time away from the Go boards.

Many thanks to Kirsty, Matthew and Nick for hosting, cooking and giving lifts (in various combinations). Of course, thanks are also due to Guo Juan: her teaching was inspiring as ever.

We had a stand at the Japanese Festival on the August Bank Holiday Monday 2010 at Chiddingstone Castle, demonstrating and teaching successfully many parents and children (some as young as 3).

In the next room was a fascinating collection of high quality Japanese items including Samurai swords, armour, lacquerware and articulated insects. Sadly, the box with a depiction of a Samurai warrior on top of a Go board can't be photographed, but is on display when the castle is open.