Everything You Ever Wanted to Know!
Meetings are held every Wednesday Night at the Ray Dwier Recreational Center on Church Street in Hamilton (Mercer County) New Jersey. Perhaps you remember the old Groveville Elementary School ... this is that building! Skittles games usually begin around 7:30 PM with the scheduled events for the night starting promptly at 7:45 PM. Please note these new starting times as of 2005. The building is a Township owned and maintained structure, so we must abide by Township rules. We have to be out by 10:30 PM and there is no smoking allowed in the building.
Tournaments are held throughout the entire year. Speed (Blitz - 5 minute games), 30-30 games, regular quads and Swisses, Club Championships, position nights, challenge nights and just fun games (skittles) are just a few types of games played.
Members ages range from the early teens to near 80. We have had about a dozen players under the age of about 14 join us last year. If you have an interest in chess and can get to our meetings, please do. We would love to introduce you to our members and set you up with a game. All you need to bring to the Club is your interest in playing Chess! Everything else is provided.
Dues are a mere $10 per year for the 24th consecutive year in 2005! Now how can any organization survive on such a mere pittance? It would be impossible except for the great folks in the Hamilton Township Recreational Department. Coffee and donuts are served at every meeting. Playing boards, pieces and chess clocks are furnished by the Club.
All games are Club rated. We use the USCF ELO system for all our rated events. The Championship games and certain quads and swisses are also USCF rated events in addition to being Club rated. Thus a member of the HCC would eventually establish both a Club ratings and an international USCF rating. We are a registered USCF affiliate member since 1980.
You can contact us on each Wednesday night at the club or during the Saturday Quads. This is the number that will be active at that time 609-585-9655. Someone will answer during meeting hours only!
The playing strengths of our members range from novice (under USCF rating of 1000) to master strength of 2300+. Two of our previous Club Champions (Pete Peterson & Robin Cunningham) are currently rated nearly 2400. We are proud to have several very active female players in our organization. So if you are a lady chess player looking for a nice friendly game, please come out and give us a try.
our address at the meeting hall is:
392 Yardville Groveville Road
Groveville, New Jersey 08620
This area is also known as Hamilton or Trenton, so don't
be confused if your map locator uses either of those names.
For those possessing GPS capability, the coordinates are:
40°10'19.71" North, 74°40'20.21" West
Coming Eastbound on I-195:
Exit #2 ( Sign reads South Broad Street - Yardville) toward Yardville on South Broad Street (Route 524). Go approximately 1.3 miles to 3rd Traffic light ... (Yardville's 5 Points). You'll see the Yardville Bank in front of you ... a Presbyterian Church on your left, Schroeder's Gas Station at your immediate right and the Roma Bank on your immediate left at the light. Make a right at the the light. You'll pass Yardville Supply on your right. Go across Rt 156 and road becomes Church Street. After you pass Eagle Rock Apartments on your left, at the top of the hill will be the Ray Dwier Center. Enter on the left and proceed to the rear of the building. There is ample parking for about 40 cars. Handicap access is provided as are 4 Special parking spaces.
Coming Westbound on I-195:
Exit at 3A towards Yardville on Route 609. At traffic light you'll be at Yardville's 5 Points. On your left is a Presbyterian Church ... the Yardville Bank is slightly off to the left on an angle ... the Roma Bank is at your right and Schroeder's Gas Station is to your right front. Proceed through the light straight. You'll pass Yardville Supply on your right. Go across Rt 156 and road becomes Church Street. After you pass Eagle Rock Apartments on your left, at the top of the hill will be the Ray Dwier Center. Enter on the left and proceed to the rear of the building. There is ample parking for about 40 cars. Handicap access is provided as are 4 Special parking spaces.
Northbound Route 130:
Take the Yardville-Groveville exit as you go under the first bridge. (If you go under a second bridge you have gone too far ... there are 3 bridges in rapid succession.) Make a left at the stop sign at the top of the ramp ... this is Church Street. After you pass Eagle Rock Apartments on your left, at the top of the hill will be the Ray Dwier Center. Enter on the left and proceed to the rear of the building. There is ample parking for about 40 cars. Handicap access is provided as are 4 Special parking spaces.
Southbound Route 130:
After coming under 3 bridges, take the Exit marked for Yardville-Groveville (Sign "To Route 156"). Make a right at the blinking light. After you pass Eagle Rock Apartments on your left, at the top of the hill will be the Ray Dwier Center. Enter on the left and proceed to the rear of the building. There is ample parking for about 40 cars. Handicap access is provided as are 4 Special parking spaces.
New Jersey Turnpike (North or South):
Take Exit7A and follow the directions for I-195 Westbound as noted above.
