As the 2006-07 season draws to a close, it is becoming clear that Aberdeen’s most successful school chess club has been…Tullos Primary School!
Pop your eyes back into your head and read on….
Tullos Primary Chess Club meets each Thursday from 3.00pm – 4.15pm as an after school club, and members compete in local and national tournaments about once per month. The club has achieved success `way beyond its expectations at the start of the season.
Three players reached national finals by qualifying through regional heats. In addition, the Tullos Primary 5 and under team made it through to the last four of the Scottish Junior Chess Teams event (full report below).
Two major trophies have been won by Tullos pupils. The first, the highly competitive Aberdeen P4 & Under Chess Championship Trophy, sponsored by BG Group, was won by Josh Leslie, with long-time tournament leader Scott Arthur (also Tullos Primary), narrowly losing his final match.
This was the first time that this event has been played in Aberdeen. Around 200 youngsters from across the city took part in the qualifying stages of the event with 40 talented 8-year-olds making it through to the final, which were staged at Summerhill CEC in April and May. Pupils from more than a dozen schools took part in the event, which was dominated by pupils from Tullos School, who finished 1-2.
Thanks to the generosity of the sponsors, the top four players were presented with keepsake cups, and all finalists were awarded medals. The annual trophy is to be kept at the winners’ school for one year.
In all, there were 10 rounds played over the final two sessions.
Results: -
1st: Josh Leslie (Tullos Primary School) 8points
2nd equal: Scott Arthur (Tullos Primary School) and Robbie Stewart (Smithfield Primary School) both 7½ points
4th equal: Robert McDonald (Gilcomstoun) and Fraser Conway (Smithfield) both 7 points
The second major trophy to be won was the Lord Provost’s Cup. Every year, all Aberdeen City schools are invited to send pupils to take part in this chess competition, which is held in the historic Town and County Hall in Aberdeen’s Town House.
Callum Strachan played the best chess of his career, winning 10 and drawing one of his 11 games. Runner-up was Scottish U12 International Ian McDonald (Gilcomstoun Primary).
New Lord Provost Peter Stephen made an opening speech to the 50+ competitors and 20 parents/teachers before dashing off to attend a committee meeting, but returned immediately afterwards to watch some play, and present prizes at the close of play.
Tullos P5 & Under Team reached the final stages of the SJC Teams Championships, which were held in Dunkeld in April. They had qualified for the finals by winning the North East heat in December. The team finished in fourth place in their category. However, the young Tullos team included three P4 pupils, who will still be eligible to play in this event next season.
Another Tullos Primary pupil, Caroline Barbour (Tullos Primary) finished runner-up in the Scottish Junior Chess Girls Primary Novice Championship, which was held at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, on June 17.
Caroline’s magnificent attempt to win the title began in March when she qualified for the Grand Final from the Aberdeen Heat. She was thwarted at the final hurdle by Lisa Flaherty (Glasgow) who won the tournament by a single point. Lisa Bain also made it to the final of this event, and Josh Leslie reached the final of the SJC P5 and Under Individual Championships, also held at Murrayfield
Prizes were presented by Doug Graham of sponsors BG Group, and by Edinburgh South MP Nigel Griffiths.