Stormont a perfect location to celebrate chess talent

The annual Belfast Scholastic awards took place at Stormont on 30th May. Celebrating another brilliant year of chess. Kieran McCarthy MLA invited Children, Parents, Teachers to enjoy this historic building and play some chess.

Kieran McCarthy MLA welcomed us to the Long Gallery in Stormont and praised the students for their chess skills. This was followed by an excellent tour of the building. Visiting both chambers and listening to an entertaining history of the building and its architecture. Its not everyday that you sit in a chair and told thats where the first minister sits!

Returning back to the Long Gallery for coffee, chat and most importantly chess.

We run 3 tournaments 4 player all-play-alls 15mins each player. The Stormont Elite tournament. The players are selected from the top players in the Childrens Chess series of tournaments. A Grand-prix points system is applied to each of the monthly tournaments and the top 4 children in the 4 categories: Primary, Lower Secondary (Form1-Form3), Upper Secondary (Form4 and above) and puzzle solving. You have to be good to get through this gruelings entry requirement.

The results of this years Grand-prix. The winners of each group recieve a perpetual shield for their school and a small trophy and certificate to keep.

The top youngest player is awarded the exceptional young player award. Usually this is given to a youngster who hasnt achieved the top4. But this year the 2nd place student Calvin Patterson is only P2 and so very deservedly wins this trophy.

The Belfast Scholastic Shield. Exceptional Young Player

Name	Year	School
Calvin Patterson	P2	Home Educated

Peter Todd won the Primary Shield with full points having played 4 tournaments without loosing a game. An incredible result.

The Belfast Scholastic Shield.Primary Chess Champion

	Name	Year	School	Score
1^st	Peter Todd	P7	Kilmaine PS	30
2^nd	Calvin Patterson	P2	Home Educated	22
3^rd	Phoebe Patterson	P5	Home Educated	19
3^rd	Fiachra Avery	P5	Home Educated	19

The Belfast Scholastic Shield.Lower Secondary Chess Champion

	Name	Year	School	Score
1^st	Joel Dawson	F3	Friends School	28
2^nd	Hannah Patterson	F2	Home Educated	22
3^rd	Matthew Duffy	F1	Rathmore Grammar	18
4^th	Cameron Brown	F1	Bangor Grammar	16.5

The Belfast Scholastic Shield.Upper Secondary Chess Champion

	Name	Year	School	Score
1^st	Kevin Robbin	F5	RBAI	27
2^nd	Andrew Todd	F5	Bangor Grammar	24
3^rd	Eoin McCorkindale	F4	Ballymena Academy	20
4^th	John Dawson	F5	Friends School	17.5
5^th	Jake Patterson	F4	Home Educated	15.5

The Belfast Scholastic Edward Whiteside Shield.Primary Puzzle Solving Chess Champion

	Name	Year	School	Score
1^st	Phoebe Patterson	P5	Home Educated	26
2^nd	Calvin Patterson	P2	Home Educated	21
3^rd	Peter Todd	P7	Kilmaine PS	17.5
4^th	Fiachra Avery	P5	Home Educated	15.5

The Belfast Scholastic Fergus O’Neill Shield. Secondary Puzzle Solving Chess Champion

	Name	Year	School	Score
1^st	Kevin Robbin	F5	RBAI	30
2^nd	John Dawson	F5	Friends School	26
3^rd	Jake Patterson	F4	Home Educated	18
4^th	Joel Dawson	F3	Friends School	16

The Chess competition took 30mins per round. All of them didnt go according to expectation. Phoebe Patterson winning the Primary Elite title, Hannah Patterson winning the lower school Elite title and joint holders Eoin McCorkindale and Andrew Todd of the Upper Secondary Elite title. Some exciting chess in a beautiful setting.

Final positions:

Stormont Elite Chess Tournament 2014

Primary Championships

Place	Name	Year	School	Points
1^st	Phoebe Patterson	P5	Home Educated	3
2^nd	Calvin Patterson	P2	Home Educated	2
3^rd	Peter Todd	P7	Kilmaine PS	1
4^th	Fiachra Avery	P5	Home Educated	0

Secondary F1-F3 Championships

Place	Name	Year	School	Points
1^st	Hannah Patterson	F2	Home Educated	3
2^nd	Joel Dawson	F3	Friends School	2
3^rd	Cameron Brown	F1	Bangor Grammar	1
4^th	Matthew Duffy	F1	Rathmore Grammar	0

Senior Secondary Championships

Place	Name	Year	School	Points
1^st	Andrew Todd	F5	Bangor Grammar	2
1^st	Eoin McCorkindale	F4	Ballymena Academy	2
3^rd	John Dawson	F5	Friends School	1 ½
4^th	Jake Patterson	F4	Home Educated	½

With the competition over it was time for the Award ceremony. The Principals, teachers and Home Education representative formed a line of honor. The awards were given by UCU President Geoff Hindley and Ulster Schools Chess Council President Dr Graham Murphy. Each Student receiving their prize and walking down the line of honor shaking hands and being congratulated.

Mark Newman thanked Kieran McCarthy MLA for being our host and enabling such a brilliant event to happen in such a beautiful location. Thanks were also given to the volunteers, Methodist College, the Parents and most importantly the young chess players...

Get those chess sets out and practice - See you next year

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