The 44th Primary Chess Congress takes place at Cronk-y-Berry Primary School this Saturday, 21st February.

Thirteen schools are taking part – Arbory, Buchan, Bunscoill, Cronk-y-Berry, Laxey, Onchan, Peel, Phurt le Moirrey, Rushen, Sulby, St Johns, Victoria Road and Willaston, making the highest number of entries for many years. 

Play commences at 9.00am with a 15 minute break at 10.30am.  The presentations will take place at 12.15pm.

Each school enters a team of six, with players ranked. The winning school receives the Bob Kermeen Trophy.

There will be prizes for the best individual, who receives the Tom Karen Trophy; the best youngest player, who takes home the Henry Krebs Memorial Cup, provided by Ruth Coombes in memory of her father; the best girl competitor (prize presented by Ann Cottier); the best reserve (a competition kindly organised by Simon Jones).

The Rotary Club of Onchan will be generously sponsoring the Congress, once again.

Arthur Taggart (retired Headteacher of Onchan School and long-time supporter of the Congress) will be presenting the trophies on behalf of the Rotary Club of Onchan.

Last year saw Peel Clothworkers School rise to the challenge.  They won the team competition and were awarded the Bob Kermeen trophy.  Pearse Trimble, their youngest player, had a fantastic day, winning the Henry Krebs memorial cup for the best young player and the Tom Karen Trophy as the Congress Champion.  The winning reserve, in the competition organised by Simon Jones, was Anthony Saunders on his 9th birthday too!  Laxey School were last year’s runners up.

Christina Adcock in the Buchan School’s team won the Ann Cottier Cup for the best girl in the competition, Ann presented her with her cup.