ECF National Schools Girls team finals. 12/13th April 2014

National developments, strategies and ideas.
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Andrew Martin
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ECF National Schools Girls team finals. 12/13th April 2014

Post by Andrew Martin » Fri Apr 11, 2014 12:20 pm

We have two tremendous finals lined up this coming weekend:

U11

Howell's School Cardiff A+B

Fernwood ( Notts) A+B

Putney High

Newcastle Prep


U19


RGS Newcastle

King's Chester

Nonsuch

Burnt Mill Academy( Harlow)

St Edwards (Leek)

The Abbey School,Reading


Both sections are all-play-all.


I am particularly pleased to see the spread of the teams countrywide. This is a truly national final.


The final takes place at the home of the sponsor, St Catherine's School, in Bramley, Guildford, Surrey. Facilities are first-class.

If you have any way of encouraging new schools to enter a team of three into next year's tournament, please do so. Girls and women's chess in the UK, not just England, needs every boost it can get.


I will be posting results on Sunday.

Andrew Martin
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Re: ECF National Schools Girls team finals. 12/13th April 20

Post by Andrew Martin » Sun Apr 13, 2014 1:45 pm

FULL RESULTS

2014 ECF National Schools Girls Team Championships


U11

1st Howell's A Cardiff 13.5 CHAMPIONS

2nd Fernwood A Notts 10

3rd Fernwood B 10 ( Fernwood A come second on tie-break).

4th Howell's B 5.5

5th Newcastle Prep 5

6th Putney High 1


Three boards per match, an all-play-all.




U19

1st Nonsuch School 12 CHAMPIONS

2nd The Abbey School Reading 11.5

3rd Burnt Mill Academy,Harlow 9

4th St Edward's Leek ( Staffs) 9 (Burnt Mill come third on tie-break)

5th RGS Newcastle 7.5

6th King's Chester 6.5


A great weekend,a great atmosphere. Both championships were remarkably hard-fought.

Thanks must go out to the sponsors, St Catherine's School, Bramley, who provided fantastic hospitality and to Crowthorne Chess Club, who generously supplied the equipment, making sure everyone had the chance to play with super wooden sets and digital clocks.

Final thanks to ECF colleagues,all of whom are helping the drive to boost girls chess and to the parents and staff of the competitors, who gave up precious holiday time to come to the finals.


The sponsorship for the girls event is secured for next year. I am looking to push on and encourage plenty of new schools to enter. Please support us.

abi&timadams
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Re: ECF National Schools Girls team finals. 12/13th April 20

Post by abi&timadams » Sun Apr 13, 2014 7:06 pm

Congratulations to all the girls who participated, it's great to see such competition!

Thank you to the organisers, parents and teachers, and as Andrew wrote, let's hope this event attracts even more entrants next year.

Andrew Martin
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Re: ECF National Schools Girls team finals. 12/13th April 20

Post by Andrew Martin » Mon Apr 14, 2014 10:33 am

It will have to be pushed by chess administrators, organisers, teachers and parents. What else is going on in women's and girls chess right now? To me there seem to be pockets of excellence all over the country, but do we have a coordinated strategy to bring all the strands together?

I was very impressed with the teams from Cardiff. I guess it may be easier in Wales to bring everyone together for training, as the distances involved are smaller.

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John Upham
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Re: ECF National Schools Girls team finals. 12/13th April 20

Post by John Upham » Mon Apr 14, 2014 10:41 am

Presumably the Manager of Girls’ Chess would have be involved in a coordinated strategy. Is this role currently active?
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Re: ECF National Schools Girls team finals. 12/13th April 20

Post by Neill Cooper » Mon Apr 14, 2014 10:55 am

Andrew Martin wrote:It will have to be pushed by chess administrators, organisers, teachers and parents. What else is going on in women's and girls chess right now? To me there seem to be pockets of excellence all over the country, but do we have a coordinated strategy to bring all the strands together?

I was very impressed with the teams from Cardiff. I guess it may be easier in Wales to bring everyone together for training, as the distances involved are smaller.
Congratulations Andrew (and your helpers) on organising this excellent national competition. I can remember previously taking girls teams to enjoyable one day events in South London where few teams from outside the south east took part.

I think as with much junior chess the pockets of excellence will occur around an individual or team of enthusiastic organisers. The same occurs with all secondary school chess, and at present there is a skew towards the South East.

Andrew Martin
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Re: ECF National Schools Girls team finals. 12/13th April 20

Post by Andrew Martin » Mon Apr 14, 2014 11:01 am

There is no such skew in girls chess, as the geographical distribution of the teams in the final demonstrates. There is a chance now to make things happen, but the strands of excellence have to be brought together. The current best female players have a huge role to play here, as they have to care enough to want it to happen. I am absolutely sure they do care, but it will also require some work. Caring is not enough.

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Re: ECF National Schools Girls team finals. 12/13th April 20

Post by Matthew Turner » Mon Apr 14, 2014 11:33 am

The Ketts (David and Sarah) have done a remarkable job in South Wales getting vast numbers of children playing (from both the private and state sector). Great to see Howell's success; I suspect it won't be the last coming from that part of the World.

Andrew Martin
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Re: ECF National Schools Girls team finals. 12/13th April 20

Post by Andrew Martin » Mon Apr 14, 2014 4:16 pm

A few snaps from the weekend
Attachments
U19 National Champions 2014 Nonsuch School.jpg
U19 National Champions 2014 Nonsuch School.jpg (48.15 KiB) Viewed 2239 times
U19 Nat Schools girls  finals 2014.jpg
U19 Nat Schools girls finals 2014.jpg (50.51 KiB) Viewed 2239 times
U11 Nat Schools 2014.jpg
U11 Nat Schools 2014.jpg (53.01 KiB) Viewed 2239 times
The playing location at St Catherine's School.jpg
The playing location at St Catherine's School.jpg (49.31 KiB) Viewed 2239 times
U11 Champions 2014 Howell's School.jpg
U11 Champions 2014 Howell's School.jpg (26.96 KiB) Viewed 2239 times

Christopher Dunworth
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Re: ECF National Schools Girls team finals. 12/13th April 20

Post by Christopher Dunworth » Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:50 am

Great result from the Fernwood teams as well;
The best girl chess players in England.
http://t.co/L43wX9TnfK

Follows on from Nottinghamshire winning the EPSCA Under-11 Girls Chess Team last month for the first time in their history,
Saturday 22 March at Didcot Girls School in Oxfordshire.

Special congratulations go to the Team Manager, John Crawley, who has worked hard over the years for this success.

Full standings at http://eastmidlandschess.blogspot.co.uk ... s-are.html

Andrew Martin
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Re: ECF National Schools Girls team finals. 12/13th April 20

Post by Andrew Martin » Thu Apr 17, 2014 8:41 am

Interesting to note that all the team managers who stuck around at the weekend were male.

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