Fletcher Fallow Shield
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Guidelines for Competition - Adopted 14 August 2016
- An annual inter‑city chess challenge match between Ballarat and Geelong Chess Clubs.
- The match will be played over 10 boards from each club. Additional games may be arranged when possible, but those games will not count towards the overall result.
- The venue will alternate each year between the clubs.
- The home club will have the white pieces on the top board. Colours will alternate on each successive board (black on board 2, white on board 3, etc.).
- The rate of play will be 90 minutes for each player plus an increment of 30 seconds from move one.
- The match will be held on the second Sunday in August each year, giving clubs and players sufficient notice. Games will begin at 1.00 pm. Pairings will only be provisional until the clocks have started.
- Should any problem or disagreement arise, the respective captains will resolve the issue. The match is expected to be conducted in a competitive but friendly atmosphere.
- Each club will hold a perpetual shield on which the annual result will be recorded.
Ballarat–Geelong Challenge
In 2011 we hosted Geelong Chess Club for Round 5 of the Victorian Teams Tournament, and at the suggestion of Geelong President Ben Kersten a 10‑board challenge match was arranged in the spirit of the famous 1925 and 1926 encounters, with the top four boards counting toward the teams competition. Before play commenced, we were presented with a copy of Andrew Wemyss’ splendid history of the Geelong Chess Club. The original Ballarat–Geelong tournaments were held at the Mechanics' Institute, and the revived event is now held annually, with both clubs vying to have their name inscribed on the Fletcher Morrow Shield — now renamed the Fletcher Fallow Shield to more accurately reflect the captains of each team — generously donated by Bill Stokie. A memorandum of understanding outlining how and when the tournament is to be run was signed in 2016 and is available for viewing above, and to assist with planning and venue booking the second Sunday in August was agreed upon as the regular annual date for the match.