Joan Caws

Joan Caws (née Halsey; died November 2, 2017) was a British English draughts player. Caws was a multiple-times English champion, a 1979 British champion and the first Women's World champion (3-Move system, 1986), having successfully defended the title in 1987 and 1989.

Sports career Joan has been introduced to Endlish draughts by her brother Bill Halsey, who was representing Birmingham and invited her to take part in Open Air Tournament in St Nicholas' Park, Warwick. Joan, who was the only woman in company of 50 men, met there her future husband Ian Caws. In 1969 they played together in the English Open, and two years later this event coincided with their honeymoon.

In 1986, United Kingdom and Irish Draughts Federation, in partnership with the American Checker Federation, organized the first ever World Women's championship in English draughts. Four players representing England, Ireland and Scotland took part in the tournament that was held in Aberdeen during the British Open, and Caws won the title without losing a single game.

In 1987, Caws successfully defended her world title on her home ground, at Ryde, Isle of Wight, in a match against the American Faye Clardy, winning with a score of 6–5–8. Two years later at Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, In 2006 In London Caws won a bronze medal at the Go As You Please (GAYP) English Open championship, behind two male rivals Dave Harwood and C. McCarrick.

For 37 years Joan Caws served as the Treasurer of the national draughts federation. In addition, she was trusted with refereeing at Charles Walker's successful attempt at the World simultaneous play record setting in 1994 and at the 2008 World Mind Sports Games. Caws also took active part in the campaign to get draughts in the Olympic program.