The penultimate event in the 2025-26 series of inter-club team competitions was held on Sunday 17th May 2026 at the spacious venue of Clyst St Mary Village Hall, just outside Exeter. Four teams of six took part: Exeter, Newton Abbot, Barnstaple and Teignmouth. Originally Totnes had announced an intention to enter but were unable to raise a team.
The Bremridge is the former old Division 1 competition with no limit on individual or team ratings. This meant that there was a big disparity between the rating totals of the two stronger teams (Exeter 11,763 and Newton Abbot 11,537) and those of the other two (Barnstaple 10,813 and Teignmouth 9,821). Exeter and Newton Abbot had no players rated under 1800. No Teignmouth player was higher than 1775. Barnstaple had only one player above 1800.
These rating disparities naturally are reflected in the final results but were not so clear in the actual play in which the majority of games were hard-fought with the higher-rated players often only triumphing in the endgame or on the time factor. Barnstaple's team contained by far the top player on the day, IM Jack Rudd 2352. So when Jack surprisingly lost to Exeter's Steve Homer (2051) in round 1, this had a huge effect on the chances of any team overhauling Exeter.
After round 1 Newton Abbot (4.5) were still in touch with the host club who had only dropped 1/2 a point and had 5.5. Despite their best efforts in round 2, they fell another point behind and ended up with 7.5, two points adrift of the extremely strong Exeter team on 9.5.
Barnstaple's nightmare first round of only half a point was redeemed by a strong second round of 4 points to clinch 3rd place while the heavily-outrated but gallant Teignmouth team finished fourth with 2.5.
Team squads:
Exeter: Team letter A
1 Steve Homer (2051)
2 Tim Paulden (2086)
3 Graham Bolt (1978)
4 Chris Lowe (1952)
5 Giles Body (1888)
6 Sean Pope (1808)
Newton Abbot: Team letter B
1 Mark Abbott (1993)
2 Adam Clarke (1987)
3 Alan Brusey (1946)
4 Paul Brooks (1910)
5 Andy Dunn (1855)
6 Josh Blackmore (1846)
Barnstaple: Team letter C
1 Jack Rudd (2352)
2 Charlie Sturt (1775)
3 Pete Worthington (1765)
4 Stephen Clarke (1669)
5 Jon Munsey (1666)
6 Rick Dooley (1586)
Teignmouth: Team letter D
1 Peter Halmkin (1762)
2 Bill Ingham (1775)
3 Ian Henry (1654)
4 Jack Smith (1577)
5 Charles Doidge (1571)
6 Robin Hart (1482)
Results
| Board | White | Result | Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | |||
| 1 | B1 | 1-0 | D1 |
| 2 | A1 | 1-0 | C1 |
| 3 | C2 | 0-1 | D2 |
| 4 | B2 | 1/2-1/2 | A2 |
| 5 | D3 | 1/2-1/2 | C3 |
| 6 | A3 | 1-0 | B3 |
| 7 | B4 | 1-0 | C4 |
| 8 | D4 | 0-1 | A4 |
| 9 | C5 | 0-1 | B5 |
| 10 | A5 | 1-0 | D5 |
| 11 | D6 | 0-1 | B6 |
| 12 | C6 | 0-1 | B6 |
| Round 2 | |||
| 1 | D1 | 0-1 | A1 |
| 2 | C1 | 1-0 | B1 |
| 3 | A2 | 0-1 | C2 |
| 4 | D2 | 1/2-1/2 | B2 |
| 5 | C3 | 0-1 | A3 |
| 6 | B3 | 1/2-1/2 | D3 |
| 7 | A4 | 1/2-1/2 | B4 |
| 8 | C4 | 1-0 | D4 |
| 9 | B5 | 1/2-1/2 | A5 |
| 10 | D5 | 0-1 | C5 |
| 11 | A6 | 1-0 | D6 |
| 12 | B6 | 1-0 | C6 |
Final positions:
1. Exeter 9.5
2. Newton Abbot 7.5
3. Barnstaple 4.5
4. Teignmouth 2.5
Summary of 2025-26 DCCA team competition results to date:
- 14.12.25: Newman Cup RP @ Seaton
- Winners: Barnstaple (6 teams)
- 18.1.26: Moyle Cup u6100 @ Plymouth
- Winners: Newton Abbot B (7 teams)
- 15.3.26: Schofield Cup u6850 @ Barnstaple
- Winners: Newton Abbot A (6 teams)
- 18.4.26: Mamhead Cup u7600 @ Newton Abbot
- Winners: Newton Abbot (6 teams)
- 17.5.26: Bremridge Cup Open @ Exeter
- Winners: Exeter (4 teams)
- 20.6.26: Rooke Cup 8 boards u 14000
- Winners: ??
Thanks are due to Tim Paulden and the Exeter team for hosting the Bremridge in an excellent and conveniently located venue and for providing excellent refreshments. It is hoped that there will be a healthy turnout of teams for the season's climax at Newton Abbot on 20th June for the Rooke Cup.
Report compiled by Trefor Thynne, 18th May 2026
