Dear Friends Thank you for your patience during the period when I was offline, and for the surprising number of emails welcoming me back. I had no idea that Winter Butterfly was so highly regarded. Many thanks. I get so many contributions from Iolo Jones that I am tempted to call him our Mid Wales correspondent. This edition consists almost exclusively of contributions he has made in the last few weeks. Thank you Iolo. The Dyfed league seems to be boiling up to an exciting climax. Only half a point in it with five(?) matches to go. Table up to 01/02/02 (as provided by Iolo) 1. Cardigan 'A' P7 W6 D0 L1 23½ 2. Carmarthen 'A' P7 W7 D0 L0 23 3. Cardigan 'B' P7 W4 D1 L2 14½ 4. Pembroke P6 W3 D0 L3 12 5. Newcastle Emlyn P7 W0 D2 L5 8½ 6. Carmarthen 'B' P7 W0 D2 L5 8 7. Fishguard P7 W1 D1 L5 6½ He sent me the following report of the top of the table clash a few weeks ago. The ... indicates I have removed a clause which has become misleading because I wasn't able to publish it at the time. ... it should be mentioned that the recent crucial match between Cardigan and Carmarthen 'A' teams ended in a shock win for the latter. With the average grade of the Cardigan team being 2086, compared with their opponents 1882, it was widely expected that Cardigan would win the match. The game on Board 1 between Howard Williams and Dafydd Johnston ended in a short draw after a brief flurry of activity. On Board 2 Iolo Jones managed to get the better of his opponent Keith Downey after a hard tussle. On Board 3, Andrew Walden-Jones fell for a sucker punch right at the end of his game with Huw Morcom, after turning down the offer of a draw and over-stretching for a win. On bottom board, the Dyfed Champion, Caerwyn Owen, lost to 14-year-old Gruffudd Johnston, graded more than 300 below him! Hope he'll keep us informed of developments. FORTHCOMING EVENTS The Dyfed tournament has always been unique, both in its atmosphere and the high standard of play. It's well worth taking part in and I very much regret that I will be unable to be there this year. Iolo has confirmed the details as follows: Categories OPEN, MAJOR (U-1800), MINOR (U-1500) Open Section 1st£250, 2nd £110, 3rd £70, Grading prize £20 Major Section 1st £160, 2nd £75, 3rd £65 Grading prize £15 Minor Section 1st £130, 2nd £55, 3rd £40 Grading prize £10 Entry fees:- Open- Adults £14, Juniors £7 Major- Adults £13, Juniors £6 Minor- Adults £12, Juniors £5 Congress Sec. Roland Spencer (Tel.01239 682703) Address:- Riverside, Ponthirwaun, Cardigan SA43 2RJ IN THE NEXT EDITION. Because of the problems I had with my computer I thought I'd lost a file from Glyn Sinnett giving the West Wales tables. But I've managed to open it and will include it in the next edition, going out tomorrow or Friday. Very Best Wishes Dai James.

Thank you for your patience during the period when I was offline, and for the surprising number of emails welcoming me back. I had no idea that Winter Butterfly was so highly regarded. Many thanks.

I get so many contributions from Iolo Jones that I am tempted to call him our Mid Wales correspondent. This edition consists almost exclusively of contributions he has made in the last few weeks. Thank you Iolo.

1. Cardigan 'A'     P7 W6 D0 L1 23½

2. Carmarthen 'A'   P7 W7 D0 L0 23

3. Cardigan 'B'     P7 W4 D1 L2 14½

4. Pembroke         P6 W3 D0 L3 12

5. Newcastle Emlyn P7 W0 D2 L5   8½

6. Carmarthen 'B'   P7 W0 D2 L5   8

7. Fishguard        P7 W1 D1 L5   6½

He sent me the following report of the top of the table clash a few weeks ago. The ... indicates I have removed a clause which has become misleading because I wasn't able to publish it at the time.

... it should be mentioned that the recent crucial match between Cardigan and Carmarthen 'A' teams ended in a shock win for the latter. With the average grade of the Cardigan team being 2086, compared with their opponents 1882, it was widely expected that Cardigan would win the match. The game on Board 1 between Howard Williams and Dafydd Johnston ended in a short draw after a brief flurry of activity. On Board 2 Iolo Jones managed to get the better of his opponent Keith Downey after a hard tussle. On Board 3, Andrew Walden-Jones fell for a sucker punch right at the end of his game with Huw Morcom, after turning down the offer of a draw and over-stretching for a win. On bottom board, the Dyfed Champion, Caerwyn Owen, lost to 14-year-old Gruffudd Johnston, graded more than 300 below him!

The Dyfed tournament has always been unique, both in its atmosphere and the high standard of play. It's well worth taking part in and I very much regret that I will be unable to be there this year. Iolo has confirmed the details as follows:

Categories OPEN, MAJOR (U-1800), MINOR (U-1500)
Open Section 1st£250, 2nd £110, 3rd £70, Grading prize £20
Major Section 1st £160, 2nd £75, 3rd £65 Grading prize £15
Minor Section 1st £130, 2nd £55, 3rd £40 Grading prize £10

Entry fees:- Open- Adults £14, Juniors £7
Major- Adults £13, Juniors £6
Minor- Adults £12, Juniors £5

Congress Sec. Roland Spencer (Tel.01239 682703)
Address:- Riverside, Ponthirwaun, Cardigan SA43 2RJ

IN THE NEXT EDITION.

Because of the problems I had with my computer I thought I'd lost a file from Glyn Sinnett giving the West Wales tables. But I've managed to open it and will include it in the next edition, going out tomorrow or Friday.