By Melissa Brown, Junior School Teacher
On Monday, 2 March, two teams of extremely excited Sidcot Chess players, from J4 to J6, attended the largest nationwide primary Chess event of the year. Schools travelled from across the Southwest and Wales to take part in this highly competitive tournament at Bristol Grammar School.
Our pupils were outstanding and proved to be fantastic ambassadors for Sidcot School. They approached every game with enthusiasm and pride, representing the School with great sportsmanship. Win, lose or draw, they shook hands with their opponents with grace and maturity, something that made us especially proud.
There were four challenging rounds, with players facing different teams each time.
• Sidcot A secured two wins, one draw and one loss.
• Sidcot B achieved one win, one draw and two losses.
Every single player won at least one game, an amazing achievement, particularly as many competitors held national rankings. Several of our players won more than one match, and a special mention must go to Owen, J4, who won all four of his matches against older children, a remarkable accomplishment!
Team captains Sam and Freddie not only performed strongly in their own games but also encouraged and supported their teammates throughout the evening, demonstrating excellent leadership.
Overall, Sidcot A finished in an impressive 8th place, with Sidcot B finishing 14th in a very tough field. This is a challenging competition, and the standard of play was exceptionally high. I am incredibly proud of all the players; they were utterly amazing.
