Gold Coast Primary Schools Teams Chess Finals 2005

For the first time for several years, all the schools were together on one day, at one venue, at one time for the finals of the Gold Coast Primary Schools Teams Championship for 2005. The turnout of 907 was an Australian record for the most number of players (adult/and or child) at one event, at one venue at one time. Next year we are most definitely going to go for the big 1,000.

 

We were able to hold this tournament at this excellent venue thanks to the the continued, and increased sponsorship from the Heritage Building Society. Many thanks to Mike Kerrison, who has been involved for some 12 years, and more recently Jane Stehmann. Thanks also to Councillor Bob La Castra who helped Jane present the prizes. I know that Bob shares our disappointment that at this stage chess receives virtually no funding from any level of government.
 
From feedback received, it seems that the Carrara Basketball venue was very well received. There was more space to move around, and the behaviour of students was very good. Channel 9 produced a news story on the event, and the Courier Mail provided a very interesting photo story on Zac Clarkson. Zac is visually impaired, yet was able to finish 9th equal in A grade. Well done Zac! ABC Radio Gold FM 91.7 did a short interview early on the day with Molly McGarity who had just returned from the World Junior Championships in Belfort, France.
 
They followed up late in the day with an excellent five minute segment, in which they interviewed Margo Amundsen, Deputy Principal at Worongary Primary, the current national champions. Margo spoke very eloquently and knowledgeably on the educational and other benefits of playing chess at school. This was followed by an interview with Dalton Tucker who is the captain of the Worongary Rugby League team who spoke very well indeed about why he thinks it is necessary to have a balance between the sports of rugby league and chess. He even compared the strategies involved with forwards and backs in RL and chess.
 
The Gold Coast Primary Schools Chess Champion school for 2005 is Somerset College, finally breaking a five year winning streak for Worongary. Second was Mudgeeraba Creek, third Kings Christian College and fourth Worongary on tie-break from the Somerset Arase and Robina teams. The top four teams qualify for the state titles being held at Brisbane Grammar on the weekend of 8/9 October.

 
Final scores: 1st Somerset College 21.5, 2nd Mudgeeraba Creek 15.5, 3rd Kings Christian College 14.5, 4th Worongary Jule, Somerset Arase and Robina (all 14).
 
Board Prize Winners: 1. Kelvin Finke 2. Liam McGarity 3. Brendan Baker 4. Daniel Arase (there was an error in Daniel's score - Kantley Wu was awarded this medal and will get to keep it). 48 players.
 
Winners in the other grades were as follows:
 
A Grade: 1st Gilston French 19.5/28, 2nd Hillcrest Bassett 18, 3rd TSS Charalambous 18, 4th Bellevue Park Dance 17.5. Individual 1st Caleb Eriksson 6.5/7, 2nd Alex Stahnke 6.5, 3rd Luke Toda 6. 124 players.
 
B Grade: 1st AB Paterson Thatcher 20/28, 2nd Varsity College Baericke 19, 3rd Silkwood Conman 17, 4th Saint Stephens Chynoweth 17. Individual 1st Jordan Api 6.5/7, 2nd Ryan Brockwell 6, 3rd Justin Arditto 6. 109 players.
 
C Grade: 1st Kings Christian Nijskens 22.5/28, 2nd St Joseph's Hardy 17.5, 3rd Elanora Mason 16.5, 4th Silkwood Reid 16. Individual 1st Davien Nijskens 7/7, 2nd Daniel Reptis 6.5, 3rd Peter Oh 6. 118 players.
 
D Grade: 1st Arundel Pearl 20/28, 2nd Helensvale Ogilvie 17, 3rd Worongary McFarlane 16.5, 4th Gilston Graham 16.5. Individual 1st Harry Nan 7/7, 2nd James Turnes 6, 3rd Zac Slijderink 6. 106 players.
 
E Grade: 1st Arundel Rees 20/28, 2nd Biggera Waters Nowicki 17, 3rd Hillcrest Rudloff 16.5, 4th Pacific Pines Peers 16.5. Individual 1st Kaidon Anderson 7/7, 2nd Joseph Chai 6, 3rd Zac Tollemache 6. 107 players.
 
F Grade: 1st Worongary James 19.5/28, 2nd Mudgeeraba McCaffrey 19, 3rd Trinity Wong 19, 4th Arundel Church 17.5. Individual 1st Garion McCaffrey 6.5/7, 2nd Stephen Hunt 6, 3rd Matthew Pyper 6. 103 players.
 
G Grade: 1st Worongary Alker 20/28, 2nd Pimpama McFarlane 20, 3rd Silkwood Sigsworth 20, 4th Ashmore Roberts 16. Individual 1st Shayna Hardy 6.5/7, 2nd Russell Reed 6, 3rd Gilio Caleffi 6. 96 players.
 
H Grade: 1st Trinity Daniels 19.5/28, 2nd Worongary Dove 18, 3rd Worongary Power 16.5, 4th Trinity Fritz 16. Individual 1st Matthew Lye 6.5/7, 2nd Isaac Deboer 6, 3rd Viboo Mihindu 6. 96 players.
 
Total 907 players participated. Full results at: Gold Coast Primary Schools Teams

As usual, a special presentation was made to Chess Coordinator of the Year. This is given to the chess coordinator, who in the opinion of the organisers, has done most to promote and develop chess within their school. This year the award was presented to Shaun McGurgan of Silkwood Steiner School.

 

 

 
Many thanks to the following involved in organising the event:
 
Arbiters: Remi Broadway, Joel Beckett, Kerry Corker, Anthony Lam, Matthew Sonter, Michelle Mowles, Ian Murray, Jenna Johnsen, Nik Hart, Mitchell Carey, John Bassett, Craig Duxbury, Peter Cafolla, Bernie Saavedra.
 
Setting Up and Taking Down: Monica Lawrence, Caleb Lawrence, Margo Amundsen, Denis Amundsen, Paul Hamill, Shaun McGurgan, Christine Broadway, Remi Broadway, John Broadway, Regis Broadway, Matt Sonter, Anthony Lam, Brett Cullen, Michelle Curtis, Mark Buzolic, Kerry Corker, Lexie Yates, Gunnah Haenel, John Bassett, DJ Bassett, Joel Beckett, Wendy Gardiner (Please advise me if I have missed someone - I think I probably have, in which case I apologise in advance).
 
Office preparations for the event: Wendy Gardiner, Sue Kimura and Remi Broadway.
 
Many thanks to the chess coordinators in all participating schools. Also the chess coaches who work in many of the schools involved in this event. Also parents for their support. And last, but certainly not least, the committee of the Gold Coast Chess Club, led by President Peter Haron.
 
Good luck to our four representatives at the state titles!!!
 
Graeme Gardiner
Gardiner Chess
11 Hardys Road
Mudgeeraba Qld 4213
Australia
Phone +61 7 5522 7221
Fax +61 7 5522 7760
Email ggardiner@gardinerchess.com
Webpage www.gardinerchess.com