For the third year in succession, Howell’s chess team has won the Welsh Primary Schools’ Chess Championships, held at Merthyr Tydfil in mid-June. 28 school teams gathered from all corners of Wales to compete for a trophy won by Howell’s for the last two years. Our team of Venetia S, Susanna F., Nayana K. and Lara O. had a terrific day, winning all matches by some distance. They saw off the challenge of The Dell School, Chepstow, who were second, and The Grange of Monmouth, who were third. There was a separate individual event for 23 players not in teams, in which Isabella C. came third.
Coach Mr. Thomas said: “This was another brilliant day for our junior squad. We have now been crowned as champions for three years running. This squad has won every team competition going during the academic year. Three of the girls – Venetia, Susanna and Nayana – have been representing Wales for some time now, while Lara and Isabella, who are in Year 2 and Year 1, represent the future.”
Susanna F. has also been selected to represent Wales at the European Union Youth Chess Championships 2016, which will take place in Mureck in Austria during the summer holidays. Mr. Thomas commented: “This is one of the happiest and best run events on the international circuit. It is one of the consequences of the Referendum that the opportunity to take part at this event may now be denied to future generations of Welsh juniors.”
Finally, all girls in Chess Club will finish the academic year with a smile after winning a medal in the Howell’s Chess Superleagues – a tough competition yet always played in the friendliest of spirits.
