"Chess Club rises to the Land Challenge"

Fifteen Grappenhall Chess club members were amongst 1000 children who were in action last weekend, having qualified for the Northern Gigafinal of the British Land Chess Challenge. This is a national tournament, which originates with 70,000 entrants and culminates in the Terrafinal, where approximately 200 children compete.

The best results of the day went to George Cloake and Martin Brown, both Under 12's who scored 5/6 and 4 ½ /6 respectively and successfully qualified for the Terrafinal in Sheffield in August.

Scott Waring (U11) and George Fortune (U8) both scored 4 ½ /6 but just failed to qualify. Christopher Chadwick (U12) was also close with a very respectable 4/6.

All of the children scored half marks, which is a tremendous result in a national tournament of this caliber.

The results were as follows:

James Lobo U15 3/6

George Cloake U12 5/6 (Terrafinal qualifier)

Martin Brown U12 4 ½ /6 (Terrafinal qualifier)

Christopher Chadwick U12 4/6

Robert Hughes U12 3 ½ /6

Charles Gilman U12 3 ½ /6

Steven Jones U12 3/6

Darryn Buckley U12 2/6

Scott Waring U11 4 ½ /6

Peter Machin U11 3/6

Max Walker U11 2 ½ /6

Cathy Machin U10 Girls  3/6

Christopher Brown U9 3 ½ /6

Ellen Scattergood U9 3/6

George Fortune U8 4 ½ /6

Ben Scattergood U7 3/6

The talents of the Grappenhall Chess club children are increasingly being recognised on the National Chess circuit, as they continually win acclaim for their performances.

Grappenhall Chess Club meets every Friday evening 6.30 - 8.15 at Grappenhall Youth and Community Centre, Bellhouse Lane. The Club will recommence on Friday September 16th , where new members aged 7 plus will be welcome. For more information on the club, please contact George Davison on 266567.

report by Scott Waring.