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Prizes, to become the property of the winning team, shall be competed for, in addition to the trophy.”
On 14th September 1895 there was a ‘Watkinson Trophy Meeting’.
This was held at the Byram Arcade, under the chairmanship of the Huddersfield Club’s President, T.S.Yates, with the Huddersfield secretary, W.U.Rothery, and representatives of the other clubs.
Twelve teams entered for the trophy competition, namely, Honley Liberal Club, Slaithwaite chess team, Milnsbridge House chess club, Lockwood Conservative club, Primrose Hill club, Lindley Church Institute, Friendly and Trades club, Huddersfield YMCA and St. John’s YMCA.
The teams were divided into 3 groups of 4. Fixtures were made for each team to play home and away matches in these groups by the end of February 1896. Then a further meeting was to be called to arrange details for the 3 group winners to play off to decide the trophy winner.
Although these two meetings were not officially described as the ‘Huddersfield Chess Association’ it seems clear that this was the real beginning of this organisation.
It would appear that the Holmfirth Club was a late entry, as they were to become the first winners of the Watkinson trophy. When they repeated their performance in the 1900-01 season, they claimed possession of this trophy. It was described as “a handsome black marble timepiece with an engraved and ornamental gilt dial, bronze figure and bronze inlaid, standing on an ebony pedestal in which were inserted gilt chamfered shields, one inscribed with the name of the donor, and the
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