EPSCA U11 Championship
The English Primary Schools' Chess Association (EPSCA) exists "to advance the education of primary school aged children by teaching, supervising and developing the playing of chess by those children."
E.P.S.C.A. holds three annual championships for member associations - Under 9, Under 11, and Girls Under 11.
The U11 Championship is for teams of 20, playing 3 rounds in a 'jamboree' format. Sussex compete in a local "4-Counties" match kindly organised by Berkshire before the zonals stage in March, and the national finals in May.
Final, 7th May, Bolton
Zonal, 20th March, Oxford
4-Counties, 21st February, Maidenhead
National Final, 7th May, Bolton
|
 |
The final was being hosted by Manchester Junior chess at Bolton School (Mutare Vel Timere Sperno), which entailed a long trip ‘oop north’ for the Sussex team.
Being of independent mind, players made use of train, plane and automobile, some even staying at the famous Stoke-on-Trent overnight stop.
The team seemed to arrive as one in room B8 in the wonderful surroundings of Bolton School. After what seemed an eternal walk from the main entrance to the team room, we soon discovered we were closest to the playing area. A quick head count established that our board one was missing with 45 minutes before the start: Otto was stuck on a train with the Kent Team and would be very late! All was not lost as Jonathan Tuck soothed everybody’s nerves with his pep talk and at the turn of midday, we took up arms in our famous blue Sussex Junior Chess sweatshirts.
The team:
Ewan Borland, Scott Borland, Frank Brand, Andrew Easton, Jonathan Finn, Thomas Finn, Cassie Graham, Joshua Higgs, Matthew Howell, Cosima Keen, Jamie Lear, Daniel Manvell, Daniela Parada-Sanchez, Otto Pyper, James Reid, Ben Simpson, Michael Stockham, Brian Tarhon, Joe Thorley, Billy Twigge-Molecey, Jamie Ward, Joe Whitehill-James.
The tournament is always a tough one with no easy games – we knew that Wey Valley and Kent would feature on the leader board, with a possibility of Nott’s leading the way.
As a non-chess playing exile firmly routed in the team room, I could only count them out and count them back in again. At the end of round 1, Sussex scored a creditable 13/20 and was placed 4=. Morale was high and players soon put their heads down for practice between the rounds. Otto arrived via taxi from Manchester with 20 minutes left of round 1 and promptly beat an England player!
Round 2 was very exciting with early successes and the team achieved 14/20 and moved into 3= place. The expectation of players, parents and coaches was growing by the minute, and the team was itching to return to the player area. Subtle supplies of bacon barm cakes (bacon rolls to you) and sweets kept the blood sugar levels up to par.
The team made the short walk to the playing area for the last time with medals in their eyes. They had worked so hard and really deserved a result. On this occasion it was not to be. The team scored 9/20 and ended in 4th position.
All 22 children scored at least 1 win and special mention goes to our 3/3 players: Joe Whitehill-James; Brian Tarhon; James Reid; Cassie Graham and Dan Manvell. Let’s not forget the reserves that battled hard and scored some great points.
Thank you to all parents and helpers through the year for your support at events and training – it has been much appreciated.
John Higgs
Southern Zonal, 20th March, Oxford
|
 |
The team:
Toby Barden, Ewan Borland, Scott Borland, Andrew Easton, Jonathan Finn, Thomas Finn, Cassie Graham, Joshua Higgs, Matthew Howell, Alexander Keen, Cosima Keen, Jamie Lear, David Liu, Daniela Parada-Sanchez, Otto Pyper, James Reid, Joshua Rowe, Ben Simpson, Michael Stockham, Brian Tarhon, Billy Twigge-Molecey, Jamie Ward, Joe Whitehill-James
 |
 |
4-Counties Match, 21st February, Maidenhead
Thanks to everybody who made the journey down the M4 for the precursor to the UPSCA U11 national tournament on February 21st.
After a shocking start where Sussex only managed to score 6.5 points from 20 we got into our stride and pulled out some big wins in the second and third rounds to finish the day on a respectable 29 from 60. We ended up in second place behind Berkshire but thanks to some fantastic performances by some of our less experienced players, the gap between 1st and 2nd place was not too large:
1st |
|
Berkshire |
|
40 |
|
2nd |
|
Sussex |
|
30 |
|
3rd |
|
Oxfordshire |
|
20 |
A special mention goes to Matthew Howell, Joshua Higgs and Frank Brand who all scored maximum points and James Reid with a hard won 2.5 from 3.
Also, very well done to Edward Critchley and Brian Tarhon for holding their own well as U9's.
Finally well done to the Thomas and Freya who were runaway winners in the reserve competition.
We look ahead to the knockout stages on March 20th with confidence.
Matthew Keen.