Kent take Whitehead Cup at U11 Pilot Jamboree, Streatham 27 September 2003

A splendid Kent team pipped Surrey by half a point to take the new Whitehead Cup in the first U11 Jamboree ever organised by ECGCF. The Kent team, which contained two U9 players and one U10, was the first for many years to inflict a defeat on the famed Surrey Girls team. Bronze medals went to third placed Lancashire. To see all of the results from this most interesting event, please Click Here, and to see the scores of all girls playing, click Here.
This U11 jamboree will now take place every Autumn term, (so as to keep clear of EPSCA and UK Chess Challenge) at a London venue; if the number of teams entering exceeds 7, preliminary rounds of some sort will be arranged.

49th Richmond Rapidplay, 14 September 2003

There is no better way to sharpen up your play than to take part in these popular events. Look at the girls who played in this one, and you see a list of girls who are really showing the way to others - girls who are strong players, respected and feared as opponents wherever they play!
The Open had 24 players and two girls, Teresa Khoo and Aly Wilson, both of Surrey, who each scored 2½/6 placed 12-17.
The Major (U160) also had 24 players, this time only one girl, Selina Khoo [Surrey]. She scored 2½/6 and was placed 15-18.
The Intermediate (U120) had 38 players, the only girl being Jessica Thilaganathan [Surrey], who scored 2½/6, placed 26-28.
And the best news comes at the end, for in the 41-player Minor (U80), Thilagini Anandajeyarajah [Surrey] was joint winner, placed 1-3 with 5/6.

4th Leek Congress, 12-14 September 2003

Apologies for the lateness of this item.
Gus Brain writes:The 4th Leek Congress was held in the beautiful surroundings of the early eighteenth century Westwood High School in the heart of the Staffordshire Moorlands. The Brittanic Building Society Open, (prize money £1150), a Grand Prix 'elite' event with 6x points, held in the oak-panelled library attracted 26 players including 7 juniors but no girls, unfortunately. With half the entries under 180 this would be a good one for some of the stronger girs to enter.
The Leek United Building Society U-180 grade section (Prize money £330, GP 3x) had 27 players with 6 juniors including one girl - Suzy Blackburn [Cheshire] who was equal second with 3½/5. [She now leads the Prixette - Ed].
The Alton Towers U-129 grade section also had £330 prize money and GPx3. There were 26 players with 5 juniors including one girl, Molly Moruzzi of Staffordshire who was =6th with 3/5.
The Cottage Delight Under 104 grade section also had the same prize money and GP points. There were 28 players with 8 juniors including 3 girls - Nicola Thomas [Wiltshire] came 3rd= with 3½/5, Yangshan Yu [Staffordshire] was 12th= with 2½/5, and Victoria Crompton [Cheshire] was 17= with 2/5. The adult lady Sandra Blackburn scored 3/5 placed 8=.
The Westwood Under 80 grade section had prize money £300 and GPx3. It had 29 players with 12 juniors including 4 girls. Lateefah Messam-Sparks [Nottinghamshire] who came 4= with 3½/5, Sheila Dines [Surrey] who was 8= with 3/5, Megan Moruzzi [Staffordshire] who came 17= with 2/5, and Ellen Scattergood, age 7, [Cheshire] who I believe was playing in her first Congress, thoroughly enjoyed it but, unfortunately came 28= with ½/5. Rebecca Baddeley [Staffordshire] scored 1, 27th.

European Youth Championships 2003, Budva, Montenegro

This event is now all over. In the last round, Jessie was on top board in the U16 Section, facing the leader Maria Fominykh. Jessie drew, thus concluding an excellent performace in which she was undefeated, had three wins, and finished just half a point adrift of bronze, with a magnificent 2279 performance rating.
All of the girls did well and you can see all the details by clicking Here.

Official Grader for ECGCF

Emma Freeman of CCF has agreed to become the official grader for all ECGCF/SGCL events; in the past, some events have escaped grading; Emma's experience will ensure that from now on, all of the events get included, even the Trials.

ECGCF Southern Region, Coulsdon 20 September 2003

No other Counties being able to raise teams, this came down to a 3-round match between Surrey and Buckinghamshire, whose first entry in and ECGCF competition this was. The Bucks team were always goint to find the going tough against their older and more experienced Surrey opponents, but they played very well even though in the end they were heavily defeated. For full details, please Click Here .
Surrey thus retain the Southern Region cup as winners for the sixth consecutive time, and secure a place in the Grand Final. Buckinghamshire qualify for a place in the Minor Counties Final, both of these Finals to be held on 26 June in Milton Keynes. Buckinghamshire also have their U11 team in next Saturday's Pilot Jamboree where seven Counties are playing, and should find things a little easier there.
Note: A second Southern Region U14 jamboree, in which Counties such as Middlesex, Sussex, Bedfordshire, Kent and Essex can play, is being arrange by Bruce Birchall: one further place in each of the Finals, Grand and Minor, will be on offer at this event, although the Southern Region trophy has already been won by Surrey.

Surrey Girls Trials, Streatham 13 September 2003

In preparation for the new Season, some 18 girls of all ages took part in this event over 5 rounds at 50 minutes ppg.
The winner was the very promising Y-year (U11) player Jessica Thilaganathan who scored 4½/5; joint runners-up on 4/5 were Lydia Prieg (R year) and Deepa Patel (V year)
To see all the results, please Click Here.

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