BLACK IS OK

Bullwinkle at the Queensland Interclub Championship

The brainchild of Mister Howard Duggan, this annual competition sees teams of eight players competing in rapid matches throughout one day of intense interclub rivalry. Team spirit is everything and each club is colour-coded: BRISBANE ~ BULLWINKLE ~ THE GAP ~ GOLD COAST ~ LOGAN CITY ~ QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY ~ REDCLIFFE ~ KINGS OF CHESS

2009 Campaign: Black Flag

Hosted by: Gardiner Chess

Bullwinkle’s Performance: 1st (of four)

Much of the team was assembled well before time this year; and yet, the usual shenanigans still took place. Late withdrawals, a three-pronged player scramble. But all turned out well for the men in black. Some good play, some quality swindling, seven out of eight board prizes and the title was wrapped up with a round to spare. We may need to recruit Yazz as non-playing captain next year.

2008 Campaign: Black and Blue

Hosted by: The Brisbane Club

Bullwinkle’s Performance: =1st (2nd on countback) (of four)

Some good points, some bad points. Bullwinkle turned in a neurotic performance; at times inspired, at times insipid. Players came and went, ably directed by Raquel Bastos as non-playing captain.

2007 Campaign: One Step Black

Hosted by: Logan City

Bullwinkle’s Performance: second (of six) & first (of three)

Once again, fielding a team - nay, two teams! - proved problematic. Although unable to notch up a third consecutive victory in the open division, Bullwinkle did scramble into second place, and also emerged victorious in the u1600 event. We came, we slept. Every team a phoenix.

2006 Campaign: Back in the Black

Hosted by: The Gap

Bullwinkle’s Performance: first (of five)

Assembling as much of the previous year’s team as possible, we played this event as an unofficial tribute to David, who we only wish could have been there with us. Regina Grenfell took on and was resplendent in the role of colourful non-playing captain.

2005 Campaign: Black is Black

Hosted by: The Brisbane Club

Bullwinkle’s Performance: first (of seven)

New President David Lavercombe took control of the team as non-playing captain and injected new life into the Bullwinkle offensive. (Going so far as to do up t-shirts depicting a moose brandishing a bloodied axe!) For most of us this event evokes mixed memories – it being the last time we saw David prior to his death – but at the time it was a happy day indeed.

2004 Campaign:

Hosted by: Redcliffe

Bullwinkle’s Performance: absent

Three years in a row was too much. With only half a team available – and another long road-trip looming – we opted out. Regrettable.

2003 Campaign: Second Move, Black

Hosted by: Gold Coast

Bullwinkle’s Performance: equal first (of five)

Determined to make amends for the previous year, Monsieurs Stawski, Edwards et al were disillusioned to find that it was all just a little bit of history repeating. However, a team ultimately was assembled and – under the long-beaked auspices of Ms. Penguin – we drove off down the highway, determined either to put in a good showing or give up and go to the beach.

2002 Campaign:

Hosted by: The Brisbane Club

Bullwinkle’s Performance: fifth (of seven)

With a promising new competition kicking off, the Bullwinkle think-tank was dismayed to find that many of its players were unavailable. (Nik Stawski still maintains that this year’s biggest achievement was fielding a team at all.) Our showing in 2002 was not unlike a game of musical chairs, so chaotic that some of the results went unrecorded.