On the following pages you can find the annual report of 2000 and balancing account of ST. The Finnish championship of quick solving was contested before the annual meeting. Neal Turner directed, selected the problems and judged the solutions. In the latter task, Kenneth Solja assisted him. The problems are on pp. 41-42, solutions on p. 43 and results on p. 44. All Finnish top solvers took part, with the exception of Pauli Perkonoja, who was unable to participate due to other commitments.
Information on Wageningen PCCC is on p. 44.
Two Finnish problemists have celebrated their anniversaries. Reino Heiskanen turned 70 on March 26 and his career is described by Henry Tanner, p. 45. Jorma Pitkänen celebrated his 60th birthday on the 7th of April. On pp. 46-47 Marko Ylijoki presents Jorma´s active personality and three problems. ST congratulates and wishes many more composing years!
Starting with this issue, Neal Turner begins a new series presenting difficult and interesting problems for solving. The first problem in this series is an intriguing 3# by W.A. Whyatt, p. 48.
On the same page there are two short obituaries. The death of Veikko Karhia in 1996 came only recently to our attention. Karhia was born in 1916 and started composing during the WWII. After the war his composing activity declined due to professional demands. Another composer, well known world over, passed away at the beginning of this year. Werner Speckmann had a long and illustrious career as a composer and author of problem books.
On p. 49 we inform on national composing competitions. Changes are necessary to the moremovers award of 1998-1999, published in ST 2/2000, p. 49. On p. 50 we inform on study composing competitions.
Jukka Tuovinen has indexed the years 1998-1999 of ST and his work has been checked by Henry Tanner, pp. 51-57. Due to technical difficulties, we are not able to reproduce all letters in composers´ names. This affects especially composers from Eastern Europe. We apologise to all concerned.
Two excellent books are reviewed shortly on p. 57. Versunkene Schätze by Friedrich Chlubna gives interesting view to time preceding the period covered by the FIDE-albums. Another brilliant book, Cyclone by Peter Gvodzjak, researches the development of modern cyclic themes.
The originals section consists of 14 pages, 33 original problems, two corrections to previously published originals, four comparison problems, comments by the solvers and the editors of respective columns. Plenty of mental activity from many sources!
This time there are two points tables, one showing the points for originals of ST 4-5/2000 and the second for originals of ST 6/2000, p. 72.
Marko Ylijoki presents topical helpmates from recent publications on pp. 73-75 and Henry Tanner continues the four corner project on pp. 76-79.
The next issue is due to appear during the summer.
Published 27th April 2001