Robert Alexander Cleland
Brother of Hugh Cleland.
His composed problems found so far are here.
THE AUSTRALIAN CHESS ANNUAL, 1896 (Article by J. C. Andersen)
Mr. R. A. Cleland, Otago Chess Club. — President of his club in 1894, vice-president of the New Zealand Chess Association. Won 1st prize Otago Club handicap tourney from scratch in 1891, also in 1892. Tied for club championship, 1893. First holder of
Mr. Johnstone's championship trophy in 1894. Playing in three tourneys during 1894-5 scored 43 wins, 2 draws ; and 1 loss. Represented club at championship congress , Christchurch, 1892, taking 6th place, and Dunedin , 1893, winning 3rd prize.
Ladder Competition
Otago Witness 24 June 1903
OTAGO CHESS CLUB.
MEMBERSHIP ROLL.
Tho roll of members of the Otago Ch*S3 Club for 1903-4
H. J. Cleland
R Cleland (father)
R. A. Cleland
Otago Witness 30 March 1904
During the year we had to mourn the loss by death of Mr R. Cleland, one' of our oldest and most respected members, and we desire tc extend tc Messrs R. A. and H. Cleland our deepest sympathy m^irheir bereavement.
Otago Daily Times 9 July 1923
OBITUARY.
MR R. A. CLELAND,
On Friday morning there passed away in Dunedin Mr Robert A. Cleland, one of the foremost chess players of New Zealand. He was not only one of the strongest players, winning the championship of the local club three years in succession (after which he ceased to compote), and the championship of the dominion in 1898,' but ho shone m every branch of the game. lie was »n expert in the problem art, both as solver and composer, and acted as judge in several competitions which were arranged by the Otago Witness when the late Mr John Mouat so ably conducted its chess column. He was also a painstaking member of the Adjudication Committee. The New Zealand Chess Association (of which he was president, for some years) owes its present constitution to Mr Cleland’s efforts, and ho also took a, loading part in framing the rules governing match-play by telegraph. The well-known “Cleland Ladder” for grading and encouraging challenge play was the invention of Mr Cleland and his brother Hugh, and it has been adopted in many other branches of sport. The Otago Chess Club owed Mr Cleland a deep debt, as its splendid equipment of playing material, furniture, etc. (second to none in the Southern Hemisphere) was largely due to his energy and forositrht. Mr Cleland was elected president in 1895, and 25 years later the members again conferred this honour upon him. lie was on the committee almost without interruption for nearly two score years, and he also served as treasurer for some years. Two years ago the members recognised Mr Clelnnd’s many valuable services by conferring life membership upon him. Unassuming and generous as an opponent, Mr Cleland took a special delight in helping young players, and his lectures and demonstrations were full of valuable information. The sympathy of the chess comnnmitv of Now Zealand is with his widow and two sons in their great loss.
Dominion 16 July 1923
OBITUARY
Mr. R. A. Cleland, one of the foremost and most popular chess players of New Zealand:; died in Dunfedin on July 6, aged 69 years. He was very prominently connected with the Otago Chess Club for about 35 years. He served as hon. treasurer for several terms, and was twice elected as president. He won the club’s championship no less than seven times, and in the three club tourneys of 1894 and 1895 he nut up the fine record of 43 wins, 2 draws, and only one loss. He was a prize-winner at three of the New.’ Zealand congresses, his best performance being made in December 1898, when he scored “the possible” in winning the Dominion championship, the onlv occasion that this feat has been performed. The late Mr. Cleland, who was an accountant by profession, was also an expert in the problem art, both as n solver, and as a composer. His lectures on problems were full of valuable information for the stu ’ent. and he acted as judge in several competitions that ' were arranged bv the “Otago Witness.” when the late Mr. John Mount so ablv conducted its chesa column. He was also for many years a. painstaking member of the New Zealand Adjudication Board. and the originator of both the New Zealand Chess Association’s present un-to-flate constitution, and also of the “ladder” system, that has been adopted in other branches of sport. A telegram conveving the condolence of the New kealand Chess Association (of which bodv be was an ex-nresi-fient) and also of the Wellington Chess Club, to the late Mr. Clelands’ widow and two sons—and svmna+hv irt+b +b» ntaqo Chess Club—wn= dispatehed hv Mr. C. W. Tanner, the association’s non. secretary).
NZ Chess Championships Results
* - Cleland was awarded 3rd prize on the basis of Sonneborn points
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
References:
[1] Ancestry Ireland Unlimited Company
(https://www.ancestry.com.au/genealogy/records/robert-alexander-cleland-24-gx29dg)
[2]
His composed problems found so far are here.
THE AUSTRALIAN CHESS ANNUAL, 1896 (Article by J. C. Andersen)
Mr. R. A. Cleland, Otago Chess Club. — President of his club in 1894, vice-president of the New Zealand Chess Association. Won 1st prize Otago Club handicap tourney from scratch in 1891, also in 1892. Tied for club championship, 1893. First holder of
Mr. Johnstone's championship trophy in 1894. Playing in three tourneys during 1894-5 scored 43 wins, 2 draws ; and 1 loss. Represented club at championship congress , Christchurch, 1892, taking 6th place, and Dunedin , 1893, winning 3rd prize.
Ladder Competition
Otago Witness 24 June 1903
OTAGO CHESS CLUB.
MEMBERSHIP ROLL.
Tho roll of members of the Otago Ch*S3 Club for 1903-4
H. J. Cleland
R Cleland (father)
R. A. Cleland
Otago Witness 30 March 1904
During the year we had to mourn the loss by death of Mr R. Cleland, one' of our oldest and most respected members, and we desire tc extend tc Messrs R. A. and H. Cleland our deepest sympathy m^irheir bereavement.
Otago Daily Times 9 July 1923
OBITUARY.
MR R. A. CLELAND,
On Friday morning there passed away in Dunedin Mr Robert A. Cleland, one of the foremost chess players of New Zealand. He was not only one of the strongest players, winning the championship of the local club three years in succession (after which he ceased to compote), and the championship of the dominion in 1898,' but ho shone m every branch of the game. lie was »n expert in the problem art, both as solver and composer, and acted as judge in several competitions which were arranged by the Otago Witness when the late Mr John Mouat so ably conducted its chess column. He was also a painstaking member of the Adjudication Committee. The New Zealand Chess Association (of which he was president, for some years) owes its present constitution to Mr Cleland’s efforts, and ho also took a, loading part in framing the rules governing match-play by telegraph. The well-known “Cleland Ladder” for grading and encouraging challenge play was the invention of Mr Cleland and his brother Hugh, and it has been adopted in many other branches of sport. The Otago Chess Club owed Mr Cleland a deep debt, as its splendid equipment of playing material, furniture, etc. (second to none in the Southern Hemisphere) was largely due to his energy and forositrht. Mr Cleland was elected president in 1895, and 25 years later the members again conferred this honour upon him. lie was on the committee almost without interruption for nearly two score years, and he also served as treasurer for some years. Two years ago the members recognised Mr Clelnnd’s many valuable services by conferring life membership upon him. Unassuming and generous as an opponent, Mr Cleland took a special delight in helping young players, and his lectures and demonstrations were full of valuable information. The sympathy of the chess comnnmitv of Now Zealand is with his widow and two sons in their great loss.
Dominion 16 July 1923
OBITUARY
Mr. R. A. Cleland, one of the foremost and most popular chess players of New Zealand:; died in Dunfedin on July 6, aged 69 years. He was very prominently connected with the Otago Chess Club for about 35 years. He served as hon. treasurer for several terms, and was twice elected as president. He won the club’s championship no less than seven times, and in the three club tourneys of 1894 and 1895 he nut up the fine record of 43 wins, 2 draws, and only one loss. He was a prize-winner at three of the New.’ Zealand congresses, his best performance being made in December 1898, when he scored “the possible” in winning the Dominion championship, the onlv occasion that this feat has been performed. The late Mr. Cleland, who was an accountant by profession, was also an expert in the problem art, both as n solver, and as a composer. His lectures on problems were full of valuable information for the stu ’ent. and he acted as judge in several competitions that ' were arranged bv the “Otago Witness.” when the late Mr. John Mount so ablv conducted its chesa column. He was also for many years a. painstaking member of the New Zealand Adjudication Board. and the originator of both the New Zealand Chess Association’s present un-to-flate constitution, and also of the “ladder” system, that has been adopted in other branches of sport. A telegram conveving the condolence of the New kealand Chess Association (of which bodv be was an ex-nresi-fient) and also of the Wellington Chess Club, to the late Mr. Clelands’ widow and two sons—and svmna+hv irt+b +b» ntaqo Chess Club—wn= dispatehed hv Mr. C. W. Tanner, the association’s non. secretary).
NZ Chess Championships Results
* - Cleland was awarded 3rd prize on the basis of Sonneborn points
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
References:
[1] Ancestry Ireland Unlimited Company
(https://www.ancestry.com.au/genealogy/records/robert-alexander-cleland-24-gx29dg)
[2]