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Last update: Tuesday November 1, 2005 15:42
by Lynsey Shovlin
A fantastic time was had by all at Dalguise Activity Chess Weekend which was held from Friday 7 th until Sunday 9 th October 2005 at Dalguise Activity Centre in Perthshire. The aim of the residential chess weekend was to mix physical activities with a mind sport as a “healthy mind, a healthy body” but more importantly for young players to have a fun, sociable, relaxed weekend with the tournaments intentions to raise the image of chess, in particular, taking the serious image out of chess and replacing it with a fun and exciting one to the wider community with the high level of media attention this successful event achieves.
By Friday evening once all participants and accompanying adults (ACC’s) had arrived, the football pitch was immediately located and a game played before dark once most of the 57 strong group had dumped their bags and claimed their bunks in the house’s dormitory accommodation. Many quickly settled in to their scenic surroundings, and had been roomed, grouped for activities, toured, given a fire alarm drill and safety talk before the first meal on Friday evening. After a welcoming dinner the first two rounds of the chess tournament started around 7.15 pm, this year due to our increased numbers and other guests in the complex we were allocated space in the dining hall to conduct the tournament. Again this year many surprise results were achieved on the Friday night and shock horror to many of the highest junior rated seeds of a “sneaky” IM entrant!
After the players had finished, everyone drifted back to the house in groups accompanied by older players to each others dorms. Many discussed the day's events and activities to come and introduced themselves to others before the curfew for minimalist noise by 11 pm, although the younger players could certainly teach some of the older ones in regards to this but eventually everyone settled down for the night.
Surprisingly everyone was exceptionally chirpy on Saturday morning at 8 am when gathered for breakfast, even those who chose to have only a few hours sleep! As we queued for breakfast we discussed the previous night’s results, actions and banter whilst eagerly anticipating the weekend’s activities which were to begin at 9.30 AM and included: ARCHERY, ORIENTEERING, INITIVIE EXCERCISES, TRAPEZE, CLIMBING WALL, JACOBS LADDER, SEQUIOA SCRAMBLE and ZIPWIRE.
We
had 5 groups on rotation of the above activities, our day included breakfast,
2 activities, lunch, two activities and ended around 5pm which was shortly followed
by dinner then the tournament where we excelled ourselves by playing 4 final
rounds of chess on the Saturday evening. It was suspected after all games had
ended, 5 minute blitz play offs would need to be played to determine grading
prize winners. With that, we once again returned to our dorms in preparation
for our final day of activities and play offs. Some played doubles, some played
blitz others played cards and many ate sweets before falling sound asleep.
I think it's fair to say most people were sleepy on Sunday morning but spirits were still flying high and never faltered over the weekend which was terrific to see as well as many friendships made and developed. It was confirmed play offs would be played between Calum Vipond, John Tawdrous and Andrew McClements for the under 1250 grading prize. The day continued with exciting and challenging activities and the free time at lunch was mainly used to repack bags and reflect over the weekend before more activities and the planned 6pm departure time.
After dinner we ended the tournament with prize giving, We felt it unfair for an adult to win a junior tournament and with an IM playing it would seem probable that 2nd place would work out “who lost to the IM first?” so instead had a Best Adult prize and although the Fair City usually provides 3rd prize if there are ties for 1st or 2nd, with over 10 on 4/6 in 3rd place it was agreed we did not have time for this many playoffs for just £5.
There
was a definite excitement in the air as everyone who participated was awarded
laminated Dalguise and PGL participation certificates. At one point we also
had no £2 coins and suggested £5 for those who came in 2nd place….
horrified, Hugh Brechin scouted high and low and eventually found change so
that he would not be deprived of his winnings! – He later looked rather
crimson as this was announced as well as Calum MacQueen who’s words came
back to haunt him, “Steve Mannion… I can beat him!” Calum
lost one game… to IM Stephen Mannion however the final results were as
follows:
1st Calum MacQueen 5/6 £15 & Shield
2nd Hugh Brechin, Blair Hawthorne, Robbie Coleman 4.5/6 £7 and shield
each
Best Adult Stephen Mannion IM 6/6 £5 and shield
Best Girl Lynsey Shovlin 4/6 £5 and sash
Late Starter Jamie Robertson 3/6 £5
Giant Killer Emma Grant 474 points difference £5
Grading Prize - £5
1250+ combined with 2nd place
1250 and less Andrew McClements and Calum Vipond 4/6
900 and less Jonathan Scott 4/6
under 500 Morven Petrie 3/6
FREE ENTRY TO TOURNAMENTS prize was picked at random by a number pulled out
a hat which referred to a player’s number in the tournament. Alistair
Jarvie was selected first however kindly suggested it be re-drawn as he plays
in very few tournaments. When re-drawn along with the drum roll of many stamping
feet on the floor it was awarded to the ecstatic SAM GREGORY from Sciennes Primary
school, Edinburgh aged 10. Many thanks to all the kind tournament organiser
and committees who donated a free entry.
A HUGE thank you goes to all the kind and cheery staff at Dalguise, participants,
parents and accompanying adults who supervised all those present, Phil Thomas
for running the tournament, all those who attended and played, the Vipond, Jarvie
and Hughes families for their gifts to the supervisors and everybody else who
has helped, encouraged and supported the event! Many thanks also for the kind
words and positive comments bout the event which I have received from many people.
I sincerely hope everybody had a fantastic time and made new friends and will come back in 2006 as everyone was a pleasure to have for the weekend. Genuinely an excellent bunch of juniors who were extremely friendly with fun, positive attitudes and behaved superbly. A credit to junior chess in Scotland!
The 2006 event will be from Friday 13th – Sunday 15th October 2006. If you would like more information when it become available please let me know at .
Kind Regards
Lynsey Shovlin