It's that time of year again! The new league season is nearly upon us. Fixture lists are being distributed, secretaries are phoning around checking availability for the coming season. So what are the prospects the coming year?

Last year the main leagues were won by Cardiff, Cardigan, Monmouth and Nidum. I think the best chance of a change lies in Gwent, where there are several clubs who are capable of replacing Monmouth as top dog. It will be interesting to see how things work out. In the other areas last years winners certainly look clear favourites, but who knows? There's many a slip betwixt pawn and title, and somebody may give them a good run for their money. No disrespect to the clubs concerned, but I hope so. It would be a shame if they had it too easy. So, WB will be reporting progress in the various leagues on a regular basis.

Many thanks to Kevin Thomas (Monmouth) for the following details of Welsh results in the British:

Debbie Evans Quek 3 90^th=

Ian White 2.5 94^th

Major Open [ 90 entries]

Rhiannon Hammond 3/11 87^th

Olivia Smith 4.5 59^th=

U175 [34]

Gwynfor Rees 3/5 9^th=

U150 [49]

William Elworthy 2.5/5 20^th=

Soanes U140 Weekend [29]

William Elworthy 3.5/6 6^th=

Beryl Hughes 1.5 28^th

U16 [22]

Ioan Rees 3.5/7 10^th=

Gruffydd Johnston 2.5 18^th=

U14 [31]

Ioan Rees 5/7 2^nd=

U13 [27]

Joseff Thomas 3.5/7 11^th=

U12 [46]

Joseff Thomas 4.5/7 5^th=

U11 [48]

Jac Thomas 4/7 14^th=

Ifan Johnston 2.5 35^th=

Sioned Rees 2.5 35^th=

U10 [52]

Jac Thomas 5/7 4^th=

Yudi Fleming 3.5 24^th=

U9 [53]

Thomas Cooke 3.5/7 25^th=

Ifan Johnston 3 31^st=

Open Rapidplay 28^th July

Bob Hurn 3/6

Jac Thomas 3

Joseff Thomas 2

Open Rapidplay 4^th August

Autumn Cooke 2.5/6

Mark Cooke 2.5

Summer Cooke 1

Raymond Cooke 0

Forthcoming Events

Get your skids on if you want to enter Hereford. There's a £5 surcharge for entries received after 18th Aug. I've put an entry form on the WB Community website: Go to http://groups.msn.com/WinterButterfly/_whatsnew.msnw and then click on documents followed by entry forms.

I have also place an entry form for Merthyr (South Wales Autumn Congress 6th 8th Sept) in the same folder.

The West Wales congress will be on 11th 16th Oct at the Patti Pavilion in Swansea. Entries to Les Philpin, 59 Cecil Rd, Gowerton, Swansea. SA4 3DF. tel (01792-418711) or email newsilure@hotmail.com . I'll try and get an eletronic entry form for the website asap.