ALMT: First Awards

As previously mentioned, funds from the Angus Lawson Memorial Trust have enabled CSC Teesside to provide a number of chess items for our chess players in the Gifted and Talented category.

I awarded the first of the prizes yesterday to Taylor of Park End Primary School.

Taylor spearheaded the Park End Primary team at the recent CSC Team Tournament, winning both of this games on board 1. He has also won the Park End chess competition for the last three years.

Taylor and I played many times at the Park End lunchtime club while I was there for the pioneering series of staff training days and I was impressed by the standard of his play and his general attitude.

Taylor with his club mates at Park End Primary

I will be presenting more chess items over the next couple of weeks.

Park End Primary School Training (5)

Today brought the fifth and final training day in our special series at Park End Primary School. 

Over the course of the five days we have worked with virtually every member of staff. A unique project, instigated by Deputy Head Julia Rodwell, immediately establishing extremely strong chess roots all across the school.

Rumour had it that Park End had saved the best students until the final session. Was it true? Well, look; I don't want to start any trouble...

Mini-games with pawns

Deep thinking from the very start

Blocked!

A volunteer moves like a Bishop!

Diagonals only, please

Enjoying the strength of the dangerous Rook

A tough mini-game

Serious stuff

Moving like a Rook. Keep those lines straight!

The Queen joins the fun

Another Queen!

Moving majestically around the room

The afternoon brought the toughest pieces

Knight mini-games demand great concentration 

Castling by both sides! These students are great

Still concentrating - several hours later!

I thoroughly enjoyed my five days at Park End Primary School. There will be more to come in September...

Meanwhile, the feedback has all been very positive indeed, including these quotes from Julia:

'They have loved it! I am amazed by their enthusiasm.'

'One of our staff told me it has been the best training day they have ever been on!'

Mind you, one of today's students came out with the classic line: 

'It's just like bingo!'

Thank you, everyone!


Park End Index

Training Day 1

Training Day 2

Training Day 3

Training Day 4

Training Day 5

Park End: Chess Mania

Taylor's Awards


Our next general CSC Teesside Training Day is coming up next. Further details are available here.

Park End Primary: Chess Mania

Chess mania has hit Park End Primary School!

We weren't even half-way through the special chess training days when all of a sudden a set of giant chess pieces emerged to take over one of the halls.

The children were immediately engaged in a series of pawn mini-games.

Park End Primary will come on board CSC Teesside from September 2016 onwards.

Meanwhile, we have one more in the series of special training days to come. A report will follow soon.

All photos © Kate Rennison

Special Awards

We have some special awards to allocate over the next couple of weeks, provided by the Angus Lawson Memorial Trust.

The awards will be in the form of books and top-quality chess software, which will be presented to a small number of our players who have shown exceptional promise over the last few months (essentially, those producing a level of play and potential consistent with the criteria required for the Gifted and Talented category).

Stay tuned for further details...

From the Archive (14)

There existed, for a relatively short period of time, a dedicated Junior Sports newspaper on Teesside. I wrote for them regularly (at the same as my columns for the Cleveland Herald and Post), until the paper merged with another one and then lost its identity altogether.

This feature (click on the image for a larger version), from 1991, shows intense junior activity is not a recent phenomenon in our area.

I remember it all as if it were yesterday..

From the Archive (13)

Our Under-9 and Under-11 Cleveland Schools' Chess Association county squads enjoying a reception and presentation at Middlesbrough's Town Hall.

In Their Own Words (13)

I like chess because I get to compete against my friend and I have fun. I have my own glass chess set at home so I can play with my Dad.

My favourite type of chess game is Pirate Chess because it's easier to win. It's easier to lose at normal chess.

Chloe (10)

My best bits about chess are getting people in checkmate, playing with your best friends and Mr Marsh teaching us. My worst bit about chess is losing when you get checkmated.

Callum (10)

I enjoy chess because I'm not that bad at it and I sometimes win and sometimes I don't, but it doesn't matter about winning or losing; it matters about having fun and taking part.

I remember when I was playing chess with my friend and we drew. He was so funny because he kept taking his own piece.

Liberty (10)

I like chess because it is very entertaining and you can try to challenge yourself. I love the Megafinal because you need to see if you can win. Mr Marsh is our nice teacher who teaches us chess, who is cool.

Poppy (10)

I like chess because I beat my sister all the time. She is good but not that good.

Liam (10)

I like chess because you learn lots of moves to kill the other side.

Briogan (10)

I like chess because it is fun and I like the challenges we have. Also I like playing with my friend, although I usually lose. My favourite piece is the Queen.

This thing I dislike is losing but practice makes you better. Chess is the best!

Emily (10)