The reports below cover the many junior chess activities up to the end of season 2018/19. Eric Sachs resigned as the B&DCL & County League Junior Chess Officer in May this year. Therefore, please contact Nikki Forster for any Junior Chess related activities. Nikki’s appointment is reported above and her email address is [email protected]
Thank you very much.
July 2019
Venue – Bournemouth Grammar School for Girls
We had a successful and very enjoyable Championship where 53 Juniors competed within 3 groups over 6 rounds and a time control of 15 minutes each.
Ages of Juniors/Seniors were from Year 3 (8 years) to Sixth form (17). The competitors came from all over the area and overall winner Ted Paul scoring 6/6 is a regular league chess player from Dorchester (age 15). Florence Spirling came from Swanage (year 5) and competed for the first time and came equal 3rd scoring 4/6. All the Juniors scored points and enjoyed the experience which will encourage them to continue chess through schools and the local various clubs.
It was great to see such a wide group of Juniors competing and playing chess which is the main objective of the day in one arena and the parents/guardians watching on so proudly.
A few senior players are playing in the local leagues however many of the younger Juniors specifically in years groups 3/4/5 were playing for the first time.
Details of the Prize and Medal winners over the age groups are published separately as are the Individual list of scores for all age groups.
Bournemouth Grammar School for Girls hosting the event for the 2nd year is an excellent venue and the facilities are perfect for this type of event, including parking, access and space.
I need to mention all the helpers which carried out such a creditable job and assisted with all, without them an event on the scale would not be possible.
Ian Clark/Bryan Lose/Graham Morris/Steve Bailey/Paul Errington and Dee Nustedt.
ERIC SACHS
B&DCL & DCCA JUNIOR CHESS OFFICER
20 February 2109
JANUARY 2018
DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRESS OF JUNIOR CHESS CONTINUES IN THE BOURNEMOUTH AREA
THE WEEKLY LIBRARY SESSIONS CONTINUE WITH A LEVEL OF INTEREST THAT IS INCREASING ALL THE TIME. CURRENTLY THROUGH JANUARY WE ARE TEACHING OVER 30 CHILDREN EVERY WEEK. THERE IS AN INCREASE IN BEGINNERS AND WE HAVE AT LEAST 2 COACHES TEACHING BEGINNERS EVERY WEEK. IN THE ANALYSIS WE REVIEW GAMES FROM GRAND MASTERS, OPENINGS, TACTICS AND ENDINGS. ALL PLAYERS PLAY GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER EVERY WEEK.
THE COACHING TEAM HAVE JUST GAINED GRAHAM MORRIS AND IS SUPPORTED BY PAUL ERRINGTON, STEVE BAILEY, BRYAN LOSE, AND IAN CLARK.
THE SESSIONS ARE LIVELY, ENTHUSIASTIC, BUSY, AND ENJOYABLE AND IT’S A PLEASURE TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS CONTINOUS DEVELOPMENT OF CHESS.
CHESS IN SCHOOLS IN DIFFICULT AT TIMES AS THE SCHOOLS ARE FURTHER STRETCHED TO COPE WITH CURRENT EVERYDAY DEMANDS WITH STAFFING AND BUDGETS AND CHESS IS SQUEEZED INTO A SMALL CORNER, IT IS SOMETIMES IS TREATED AS A NICE TO HAVE.
HOWEVER, THERE IS SCOPE FOR PLACING CHESS TEACHERS INTO SCHOOLS BUT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE COME FORWARD TO ASSIST. I AM ASKING ALL PRESENT HERE TODAY TO ASSIST IN THIS REQUEST.
CURRENTLY WE ARE TEACHING CHESS AT THE FOLLOWING SCHOOLS
CASTLE COURT – PAUL ERRINGTON AND ERIC SACHS (TUESDAY)
FERNDOWN MIDDLE SCHOOL – ERIC SACHS (PERIODICALLY THURSDAY)
POOLE GRAMMAR SCHOOL – SIMON ERRINGTON AND ERIC SACHS (WEDNESDAY)
QUEENS PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL – ERIC SACHS (JUST ABOUT TO START ON MONDAY)
HIGHCLIFFE COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL – BRYAN LOSE (TEACHER AND CHESS PLAYER)
I CANNOT VISIT 4 SCHOOLS EACH WEEK AND AT THE SAME TIME AM RELUCTANT TO SAY NO WE CANNNOT HELP TO ANY PROSPECTIVE SCHOOLS. I NEED SOMEONE FROM THE CLUBS/CONTACTS TO GO TO FERNDOWN MIDDLE SCHOOL EVERY OTHER WEEK EACH THURSDAY AND AM LOOKING FOR A VOLUNTEER. IT WOULD BE ON A THURSDAY FOR 3.30 AND FINISHING AT 4.30.
COMPETITIONS AND EVENTS
2017 DORSET CHAMPIONSHIPS
WE HELD A VERY SUCCESSFUL AND ENJOYABLE EVENT AT BOURNEMOUTH GRAMMAR GIRLS SCHOOL AT THE END OF NOVEMBER. THERE WERE OVER 70 ENTRANTS ACROSS ALL AGES FROM 6 TO 17 YEARS OLD. DETAILS OF THE WINNERS, PRIZES, SPEECHES AND PICTURES ARE POSTED ON THE JUNIOR SECTION OF THE DORSET WEB SITE.
THE SCHOOL WERE VERY ACCOMODATING AND I WOULD RECOMMEND THEIR FACILITY TO ANYONE WHO WOULD WISH TO HIRE A HALL/VENUE.
FOR THE FIRST TIME WE USED AN ELECTRONIC PAIRING PROGRAM OPERATED BY GABOR TO ARRANGE PAIRINGS/PUBLISH RESULTS AND EFFECTIVELY BE THE CONTROLLER. IN THE MAIN IT WORKED WELL AND SAVED MAN POWER.
IT WAS GOOD TO SEE CHESS PLAYERS FROM OUR LOCAL CLUBS COME ALONG AND TAKE AN INTEREST ON THE DAY.
AS ALWAYS THANKS TO ALL HELPERS THAT MADE THE DAY POSSIBLE NAMELY, STEVE BAILEY, GABOR HORZATH, IAN CLARK, BRYAN LOSE, DEE NUSTEDT AND DAVID FULLER WHO PROVIDED A SPEECH AT THE PRIZE GIVING.
ECF UNDER 19 CHAMPIONSHIPS.
HIGHCLIFFE SCHOOL HAVE REACHED THE REGIONAL FINAL HAVING BEATEN A STRONG WINCHESTER TEAM TO PLAY WELLNGTON COLLEGE. THIS MATCH WAS PLAYED THIS MONDAY 29/1 AT HIGHCLIFFE.
WELLINGTON COLLEGE WITH A TOP BOARD PLAYER GRADED 200 AND TWO OTHERS STRONG PLAYERS ON BOARDS 2/3 WON 4-2. HOWEVER JAMES FORSTER DREW HIS BD 1 GAME , ADAM URSELL DREW WITH A PLAYER OF 155 (FEMALE) AND THOMAS TRACH BEAT HIS OPPONENT TO GIVE A SCORE OF 2/1 ON THE TOP 3 BOARDS. DETAILS AND PICTURES WILL BE POSTED ON THE DORSET WEBSITE.
CONGRATULATIONS MUST BE GIVEN TO BRYAN LOSE THE TEACHER RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THINGS CHESS AT HIGHCLIFFE AND A GREAT SUPPORTER OF CHESS.
INTER SCHOOL/TEAM COMPETITION
IT IS PLANNED TO START THE SCHOOL/TEAM EVENT DURING FEBRUARY FOR PRIMARY & SENIOR SCHOOLS. DETAILS WILL BE POSTED ON THE WEB SITE. SIMILAR TO LAST YEAR WE PLAN TO PLAY THE GAMES AT THE BOURNEMOUTH LIBRARY FOR JUNIORS AND BGS FOR THE SENIORS. WE NEED TO FIND A NEW VENUE FOR THE FINAL AS THE WHITEHALL HOTEL WHO KINDLY SUPPORTED THE EVENT OVER THE LAST 2/3 YEARS HAVE CLOSED.
ONCE AGAIN I NEED TO REITERATE WE NEED MORE HELP WITH TEACHING IN SCHOOLS IF WE WANT OUR LOCAL KIDS TO LEARN AND PLAY CHESS AND MANY THANKS FOR MY SERLING TEAM OF HELPERS THAT CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO JUNIOR CHESS.
ERIC SACHS
31/1/18
16th September 2017
JUNIOR CHESS CLUB AT BOURNEMOUTH LIBRARY – update from the Junior Chess Officer
We are resuming weekly chess at the Library from the 16/9 and I hope you will be able to attend this session and as many as possible until Christmas.
For this term we plan to have more competitions and the first one is scheduled on the 4/11 when we have will hold a 6 round rapid play competition for all. This will be in conjunction with a National Library games day which will be played all around the UK.
In addition, there is a plan to have a mixed adult/junior match on 6-8 boards during November. The purpose is for adults to assist the junior players where appropriate and for juniors to gain experience in this type of chess.
We will also be holding the 2017 Junior Dorset Championship around end of November or in early December upon the same lines as previous with trophies and prizes for every year group.
There is also the possibility of attending the London Chess Classic later this year with a junior group and maybe a possibility to plan a Grandmaster in a simultaneous, watch this space.
CSC (Chess in the Community) have kindly sent us new boards and sets to support our class at the Library to start of the new season.
We plan to continue with teaching all aspects of chess to include openings both practical and theory, middle games strategies and fundamentals of end games.
Our existing coaches Paul Errington, Bryan Lose, Steve Bailey, Ian Clark & yours truly will all be supporting these sessions to have as much variety as possible. There may be an occasional guest speaker/instructor.
We will continue with teaching beginners and hope these players can develop and learn to play chess to a reasonable standard.
Chess is an outstanding game for all juniors to learn and play. The way it helps to develop the mind is well documented but especially for your children at a time they can easily learn and have this interest for life. There are of course other hobbies/interests/sports that supplement this and chess in isolation is not good however the enjoyment I have from seeing the progress and development of all is very rewarding.
I look forward to seeing you in the new term.
ERIC SACHS
OFFICER FOR JUNIOR CHESS REPRESENTING THE BOURNEMOUTH & DISTRICT LEAGUE AND CHAIRMAN OF POOLE CHESS CLUB
JUNIOR CHESS REPORT
JUNE 2017
DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRESS OF JUNIOR CHESS CONTINUES WELL IN THE BOURNEMOUTH AREA
THE WEEKLY LIBRARY SESSIONS TAKE A CENTRAL ROLE AND HAVE IN THE REGION OF 25 JUNIORS WHO COME ALONG AND PLAY EVERY WEEK. EACH ONE OF THESE ARE TURNING INTO CHESS PLAYERS WITH THE STANDARD RISING ALL THE TIME. THIS INCLUDES COMPLETE BEGINNERS AND NOVICES WHO ARE PLAYING GAMES WITHIN A SHORT TIME, THIS IS REALLY ENCOURAGING AND IT IS WHERE THE MAIN FOCUS OF JUNIOR CHESSS COACHING IS CONCENTRATED.
WE HAVE 3/4 COACHES SUPPORTING THIS SESSION EVERY SATURDAY AND RECENTLY HAVE SEEN THE ADDED SUPPORT OF BRYAN LOSE A MATHS TEACHER FROM HIGHCLIFFE COMPREHENSIVE SENIOR SCHOOL.
THE 2017 INTER SCHOOL CHALLENGE HAS TAKEN PLACE NOW WITH THE SUCCESSFUL AND ENJOYABLE FINAL PLAYED AT THE END OF APRIL.
IN SUMMARY THERE WERE 6 PRIMARY TEAMS WHO PLAYED A IN A LEAGUE WITH THE TOP TWO REACHING THE FINAL.
THE WINNERS WERE FOR THE SECOND YEAR RUNNING WERE BADEN-POWELL BEATING THE LIBRARY TEAM. THE LEVEL OF PLAY WAS EXCELLENT AND THEY WERE WORTHY WINNERS.
IN THE SENIOR SECTION THERE WERE 4 SCHOOL TEAMS WHO PLAYED IN A LEAGUE TO REACH THE FINAL. BOURNEMOUTH GRAMMAR A TEAM BEATING A STRONG HIGHCLIFFE TEAM. AGAIN THE STANDARD WAS VERY HIGH AND ALL GAMES WERE PLAYED IN A COMPETITIVE AND ENJOYABLE SPIRIT, ALAN DOMMETT CAME ALONG KINDLY TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION. IN TOTAL 210 GAMES OF CHESS IN TOTAL WERE PLAYED IN THIS COMPTETION.
MOST OF THE SCHOOLS HAVE WRITTEN AND THANKED ALL FOR RUNNING THE COMPETITION.
DETAILS OF THE EVENT WITH PICTURES OF THE FINAL TEAMS AND SCORES ARE ON THE DORSET WEB SITE UNDER THE JUNIOR SECTION.
OTHER COACHING
CHESS CLUBS ARE BEING RUN AT SEVERAL SCHOOLS:
LYTCHETT MINSTER/HIGHCLIFFE COMPREHENSIVE/BOURNEMOUTH GRAMMAR/POOLE GRAMMAR/BADEN-POWELL/TALBOT HOUSE/FERNDOWN MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE DO TRY AND SUPPORT THESE CLUBS AND VISIT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. WHERE THERE IS TEACHER SUPPORT IT HELPS BUT DOES NOT GUARANTEE PROGRESS AND IT IS IN THIS AREA IF WE HAD MORE DEDICATED COACHING THIS WOULD HELP BRING EXISTING PLAYERS ALONG AND ENCOURAGE NEW ONES TO JOIN.
WE HAVE CONTINUED TO SEE JUNIORS JOINING OUR ADULT LEAGUE CLUBS AND THIS IS ENCOURAGING BUT IF WE HAD MORE DRIVE AT SENIOR SCHOOLS THIS COULD REALLY HELP.
IF ANYONE PRESENT TODAY OR ANY CLUB PLAYERS FROM OUR CLUBS WOULD LIKE TO EITHER COME ALONG TO COACH AND OR SUPPORT THE LIBRARY SESSIONS THIS WOULD BE WELCOME.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK AS ALWAYS, PAUL ERRINGTON/IAN CLARK/ STEVE BAILEY AND GABOR HORZATH SUPPORTING THE SATURDAY SESSIONS AND JUNIOR CHESS.
ERIC SACHS
DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRESS OF JUNIOR CHESS CONTINUES WELL IN THE BOURNEMOUTH AREA
THE WEEKLY LIBRARY SESSIONS TAKE A CENTRAL ROLE AND HAVE IN THE REGION OF 25 JUNIORS WHO COME ALONG AND PLAY EVERY WEEK. EACH ONE OF THESE ARE TURNING INTO CHESS PLAYERS WITH THE STANDARD RISING ALL THE TIME. THIS INCLUDES COMPLETE BEGINNERS AND NOVICES WHO ARE PLAYING GAMES WITHIN A SHORT TIME, THIS IS REALLY ENCOURAGING AND ITS WHERE THE MAIN FOCUS OF COACHING IS CONCENTRATED.
WE HAVE AND NEED AT LEAST 3/4 COACHES TO SUPPORT THIS SESSION AND I WILL TALK ABOUT THIS AT THE END OF THE REPORT.
THE 2017 INTER SCHOOL CHALLENGE HAS TAKEN PLACE NOW WITH THE SUCCESSFUL AND ENJOYABLE FINAL PLAYED AT THE END OF APRIL.
IN SUMMARY THERE WERE 6 PRIMARY TEAMS WHO PLAYED A IN A LEAGUE WITH THE TOP TWO REACHING THE FINAL.
THE WINNERS WERE FOR THE SECOND YEAR RUNNING WERE BADEN-POWELL BEATING THE LIBRARY TEAM. THE LEVEL OF PLAY WAS EXCELLENT AND THEY WERE WORTHY WINNERS.
IN THE SENIOR SECTION THERE WERE 4 SCHOOL TEAMS WHO PLAYED IN A LEAGUE TO REACH THE FINAL. BOURNEMOUTH GRAMMAR A TEAM BEATING A STRONG HIGHCLIFFE TEAM. AGAIN THE STANDARD WAS VERY HIGH AND ALL GAMES WERE PLAYED IN A COMPETITIVE AND ENJOYABLE SPIRIT, ALAN DOMMETT CAME ALONG KINDLY TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION.
MOST OF THE SCHOOLS HAVE WRITTEN AND THANKED ALL FOR RUNNING THE COMPETITION.
DETAILS OF THE EVENT WITH PICTURES OF THE FINAL TEAMS AND SCORES ARE ON THE DORSET WEB SITE UNDER THE JUNIOR SECTION.
OTHER COACHING
CHESS CLUBS ARE BEING RUN AT SEVERAL SCHOOLS:
LYTCHETT MINSTER/HIGHCLIFFE COMPREHENSIVE/BOURNEMOUTH GRAMMAR/POOLE GRAMMAR/BADEN-POWELL/TALBOT HOUSE/FERNDOWN MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE DO TRY AND SUPPORT THESE CLUBS AND VISIT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. WHERE THERE IS TEACHER SUPPORT IT HELPS BUT DOES NOT GUARANTEE PROGRESS AND IT IS IN THIS AREA IF WE HAD MORE DEDICATED COACHING THIS WOULD HELP BRING EXISTING PLAYERS ALONG AND ENCOURAGE NEW ONES TO JOIN.
WE HAVE CONTINUED TO SEE JUNIORS JOINING OUR ADULT LEAGUE CLUBS AND THIS IS ENCOURAGING BUT IF WE HAD MORE DRIVE AT SENIOR SCHOOLS THIS COULD REALLY HELP.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK AS ALWAYS, PAUL ERRINGTON/IAN CLARK/STEVE BAILEY FOR SUPPORTING THE SATURDAY SESSIONS AND JUNIOR CHESS.
ERIC SACHS
