MAKING ALL THE KNIGHT MOVES!
CONCENTRATION was the name of the game at the 25th County Wexford Chess Challenge which was held in Gorey recently.
210 children from around the county battled it out to become the county winner and the competition was fierce as the 35 teams of six students vied for the title. The competition had two sections, junior and senior with 18 teams competing in the junior section and 17 teams in the senior section. Both categories played three rounds of chess.
The senior section was won by St Joseph’s, Gorey while Piercestown and Bunclody were second and third respectively. In the junior section Bunclody emerged victorious while Kilanerin and St. Joseph’s, Gorey were second and third.
A total of 315 games of chess were played over the course of the competition which was presented by Eamonn Barrett, the retired principal of Piercestown who initiated the competition initially.
Organiser Brid Cleary, chess teacher in St Joseph’s, said that the success of the competition is attributed to over 30 volunteers organising the event, including registration secretary, Deirdre Hobbs, past pupils of St Joseph’s, Gorey Chess Club, Wexford Chess, St Joseph’s Parents’ Council and school caretakers Jackie and Alan and secretary Geraldine.
Schools participated from all parts of the county from Crossabeg in the south up to Kilanerin in the north.
Many schools new to chess including Ballygarrett, Tara Hill and Gorey Central School participated this year. Brid says there was lots of fun for beginners and the more experienced players alike .
Manuel Gardines, Gorey Chess Club’s trainer from Barcelona was the arbitrator for the challenge.