Chess hosts make right moves
WEXFORD COMMUNITY Games have got their 2020 calendar of events under way.
The county Under-13 chess finals were held in Piercestown G.A.A. complex recently. Hosted by the local Piercestown-Murrintown Community Games Area, there were ten teams competing and they were representing the Bree/Davidstown, Castlebrdge/Crossabeg, Piercestown-Murrintown, Rosslare/Our Lady’s Island, Bannow-Ballymitty, Taghmon and Glynn-Barntown Areas. It was good to see a few new Areas competing.
The competition consisted of three rounds and, at the end of round one, there was little or nothing between the top five or six teams, who each earned three, three and a half, and four points.
Into round two and again there was good scoring all round. These competitors, many of them as young as ten years of age, showed a high knowledge of the game.
At this stage the local Area were in the lead on seven and a half points, with Taghmon ‘A’ team on seven points and Castlebridge/ Crosssabeg ‘A’ team and Bree/Davidstown on six and a half points.
It was all to play for in round three and the local team won all their games to add five points to their tally, bringing them up to twelve and a half in total, to take the county title and the gold medals.
Castlebridge/Crossabeg ‘A’ team finished strongly to add four more points to their tally and secure second place on ten and a half points, taking the silver medals.
The Taghmon ‘A’ team finished up on nine and a half points and claimed third place, with the team from Bree/Davidstown in fourth place on nine points. Well done to all who competed.
The gold medal-winning team featured Declan Callan, Hannah Callan, Jack Mernagh, James Quirke, Sarah O’Mahony, Kevin O’Mahony and Seán Collier.
The silver medallists were represented by
Cian O’Brien, Craig Byrne, Sonya Barron, Pheobe Cowen, Yvonne O’Brien, Keile Cullen and Cara O’Donoghue.
Taghmon were represented by Tiernan Crotty, Fiach Webber, Odhran Crotty, Harvey O’Brien, John Pitt and Charlie Banville.
Wexford Community Games wish to thank most sincerely the local Games committee for hosting the competition, and for the lovely cup of tea and refreshments.
Much apreciation also to Paddy Casey who stepped in at very short notice to co-ordinate the event, and who got the action under way very smoothly and efficiently with help from Martin Humphrey (Bree/Davidstown) and a very confident young man (aged 13 years), Peter Kenny from Castlebridge/Crossabeg Area, who kept the scoreboard in order. Thank you all.
Area Secretaries are reminded to keep a sharp eye on upcoming deadlines. The closing date for entries for the swimming competitions is March 20.
The title to work from this year in the projects and debating competitions is the same across all age groups (Under-11, -13 and -16).
Design a greener and safer school bus for the future, with four competitors per team. Use your imagination and enjoy the process.
In the debating competition, the five titles for discusssion are as follows:
1) This house believes social media has improved human communication.
2) This house believes fast food companies should be banned from sponsoring sports teams.
3) This house believes standardised testing should be abolished.
4) This house believes all people should be vegetarians.
5) This house believes television and radio stars’ salaries should be capped.