South Of England Championships: 4th - 5th February 2006, Yateley Manor

Ben Blundell followed his brother Tristan this weekend in gaining his second norm to gain immediate entry to the England squad. He won his final round in the U12 closed competition to gain the 2.5 from 5 needed to secure his place. Charlie Mills also succeeded in gaining an U11 half norm in the U11 major, to guarantee himself an invite to the England trials at Easter, alongside Polly Lambert, Jude Lenier, Matthew Payne, Joe Quinn and Chris Yates, who secured their invitations earlier in the season, meaning an unprecedented 6 Sussex players at the trials this year..
Results from the tournament were as follows (courtesy of Maurice Galliano and Clare Salimbeni):

U14 closed competition: David Grant came equal 4th on 3.5 points from 5. George Salimbeni scored 2.5 from 4, but then had to leave the competition before the last round. Chris Linnett 2.

U12 closed competition: Alex Galliano 3.5 from 5 (joint 2nd), Ben Blundell 2.5

U11 Major: Joe Quinn joint 1st (4 points from 5), Charlie Mills, Matthew Payne and Xi 3.5, Polly Lambert, Barnaby Paul and Chris Yates 2, Freddie Keen 1.

U11 Minor: Won by George Galliano on 6 out of 6.

U8 : Robert Fitzgerald and Cosima Keen 5 out of 6, on equal points with the eventual winner. However Cosima was awarded second and Robert third on progressives. Charlie Keen 4.

U7: Cosima Keen finished in 2nd place to the same 5 year old who won the U8 tournament.