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Detailed match results
Local Zones
updated 2.8.09
YATELEY MANOR
NATIONAL SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIP
2008-9
sponsored by Yateley Manor School http://www.yateleymanor.com
The competition got under way in October with an increased entry of 156 teams. The Zones (see below) were completed by mid February and, as an additional route to qualification for the National Stage, there were Last Chance Saloons (7th February at Nottingham HS and 8th February at Wilson's School) offering qualifying places to teams that had not qualified through the Zones.
The first two rounds of the National Stage were completed by half way through May and there was then, as always, an intermission while people sat exams. The eight surviving teams resumed play on 2nd and 3rd July with the Finals at Uppingham School.
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The age range at Uppingham, at six and three-quarter years, must have been the largest ever. Aughton St Michaels, two years ago the first primary school ever to make the finals, put in a remarkable repeat appearance. Nottingham High School, at the other end of the scale, were there for the sixth year running and are not as young as they were. Three of their current squad were in the 2004 team, and one of them (another record?) has not missed a year in that time.
This year's event was also marked by some strong new teams. Norwich School looked much too strong to be first-time attenders. A renascent Winchester College - not quite first-timers, but the last time was in 1960 - looked strong contenders in the Plate, and one would not have guessed that Reading School were in their first ever year of the competition, in recent times at least.
And then Wellington College, last year's Plate runners-up, were in the Championship this time with a much strengthened team; and Nottingham HS, though missing top board Ankush Khandelwal, were still very strong.
The Championship quarter-finals produced probably the best match of the two days. Wellington College looked to have things under control against Norwich School, but a sudden accident threw everything into doubt and in the end Wellington scraped home on board count in an exciting finish. Nottingham HS meanwhile were securing the expected victory against a Dulwich College team seriously weakened by unavailability of players. Dulwich suffered the same fate against Norwich next day in the third place play-off. The Championship Final was dourly contested but Wellington never really looked like requiring their one-year age handicap advantage, and ground out a win by a fairly comfortable 4½ - 1½.
In the Plate semi-finals Wilson's School, the defending Plate Champions and considerably improved since last year, dispatched Aughton St Michaels efficiently. Reading School produced an upset by knocking out the higher-graded Winchester College, whose 4 -2 score was insufficient to overcome Reading's age advantage. Winchester beat Aughton St Michaels 6-0 next day in the play-off, but Aughton looked for a good while to have serious chances of scoring the 1½ they needed. In the Final Wilson's, on level terms by age, ran out winners by 4½ - 1½ to retain their title.
David Welch, ECF Chief Arbiter, officiated as always. Andrew Martin, representing the sponsors, presented the prizes and judged the best game prize (and was observed doing some coaching when not otherwise occupied). Best game: Michael Keetley of Nottingham HS, who fittingly is the six-times attender mentioned earlier. Highly commended: Felix Ynojosa of Wellington College.
At the close of proceedings Andrew Martin announced that the Yateley Manor sponsorship will continue next year.
For photos and extended coverage, see The Right Move (August 2009).
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Age handicap
The older team, to win, must finish ahead by a number of points at least equal to the age difference in years (up to a maximum of four years). For full details, see the Rules of the Competition. In the listings below, a team winning on age handicap (or board count etc) will be marked with an asterisk. Failing an asterisk, the higher-scoring team is the winner.
NATIONAL STAGE
(For full match results, see Detailed match results)
CHAMPIONSHIP
Round 1 (by 27th March)
Methodist College, Belfast (A team) (15.3) 2 4 Manchester Grammar School (13.11); St Wulstans Primary, Newcastle under Lyme (9.6) 0 6 Nottingham HS A (17.2); Nottingham HS B (13.11) 1 5 K Edwards Birmingham (15.5); S Anselms Bakewell (10.5) 0 6 Norwich School (15.9); Q Elizabeth Barnet (15.7) 2½ 3½ Wellington College A (15.3); Haberdashers A (15.5) 3 3 *Dulwich College (15.0); St Olaves GS Orpington (15.5) 3½ 2½ Hampton School A (15.0); Millfield School* (14.11) 3 3 Eton College (14.9)
Quarter-finals (by 8th May)
Nottingham HS A (17.3) 5½ ½ Manchester Grammar School (14.0); Norwich School (15.10) 4½ 1½ K Edwards Birmingham (15.7); Dulwich College (16.0) 3½ 2½ St Olaves GS (15.7); Wellington College (15.8) 4½ 1½ Millfield School (15.0)
Semi-finals 2.7.09
Dulwich College (15.5) 1 5 Nottingham HS; Norwich School (16.0) 3 3 *Wellington College (15.7)
Third Place Play-off 3.7.09
Norwich School (16.0) 5½ ½ Dulwich College (15.5)
Final 3.7.09
Wellington College (15.7) 4½ 1½ Nottingham HS
PLATE
Round 1
Greenwood Academy, Irvine A (15.10) 3 3 *Yarm School A (16.8); Aughton St Michaels Primary, Ormskirk (10.5)* 2 4 Leeds GS (14.6); K Edwards Camp Hill, Birmingham (16.1) 5 1 Kings School Chester (15.4); Woodbridge School w/o scr Aylesbury GS A; Reading School (14.4) 6 0 North London Collegiate School (13.8); Kings House School A, Richmond Surrey (10.10) 1 5 Westminster Under School (12.4); Winchester College A (16.5) 4 2 Torquay GS (15.0); Bye Wilson's School, Wallington
Quarter-finals
Yarm School A (16.9) 4 2 *Aughton St Michaels (10.7); Reading School (13.6) 5 1 Camp Hill Birmingham (15.10); Woodbridge School (15.6) 2½ 3½ Wilson's School (13.10); Westminster Under School (12.7) 1 5 Winchester College A (16.5)
Semi-Finals 2.7.09
Reading School (13.8)* 2 4 Winchester College (16.8); Wilson's School (14.2) 6 0 Aughton St Michaels (10.9)
Third Place Play-off 3.7.09
Winchester College (16.6) 6 0 Aughton St Michaels (10.9)
Final 3.7.09
Reading School (13.8) 1½ 4½ Wilson's School (13.11)
LOCAL ZONES
Zone 1: Three Nations
Winners Methodist College A; Runners-up Greenwood Academy A
Group A
St Columbs College, Derry (A team)
St Columbs College, Derry (B team)
Methodist College, Belfast (A team) Group winners
Methodist College, Belfast (B team)
Rathmore GS
Group B
Greenwood Academy, Irvine (A team) Zone Champions
Greenwood Academy, Irvine (B team)
Trinity Shool, Carlisle
Austin Friars School, Carlisle
The Group winners will play off for the Zone Championship.
Zone 2: Lancs & Greater Manchester
Winners Manchester Grammar; Runners-up Aughton St Michaels
League Group
Aughton St Michaels CE Primary, Ormskirk Group winners
Bolton School Boys Division: Junior School
Trinity & St Michaels CE Methodist School, Leyland
Balshaws CE HS, Leyland
Whalley CE Primary, Clitheroe
Knockout Group
Lancaster Royal Grammar School
Manchester Grammar School Zone Champions
Palatine Community Sports College, Blackpool
St Johns Catholic Primary, Poulton le Fylde
The Group winners will play off for the Zone Championship.
Zone 3: Merseyside, Manchester, Cheshire & the North Midlands
Winners St Wulstan's Primary, Newcastle under Lyme; Runners-up King's School Chester
League Group A
Moor Allerton Prep School, Didsbury Group winners
Our Lady's Primary, Whalley Range, Manchester
Woodheys Primary School, Sale
League Group B
Haydock Sports College, St Helens
Great Sankey HS, Warrington
Culcheth Community Primary, Warrington
King's School, Chester Zone finalists
League Group C
St Edwards Junior HS, Leek
S Anselm's School, Bakewell
Clayton Hall College, Newcastle under Lyme
Hassell Primary, Newcastle under Lyme
St Wulstan's Primary, Newcastle under Lyme Zone Champions
The winner of Group C will proceed direct to the Zone Final. The winners of A and B will play off for the right to meet them.
Zone 4: The North East & Yorkshire, mostly
Winners Nottingham HS A; Runners-up Yarm School
One-Day All-play-all Group
Durham-Johnston Comprehensive, Durham (A team)
Durham-Johnston Comprehensive, Durham (B team)
Yarm School (A team) Group winners
Yarm School (B team)
Swainby & Potto CE Primary, Northallerton
Gosforth Central Middle School, Newcastle on Tyne (A team)
Gosforth Central Middle School, Newcastle on Tyne (B team)
Knockout Group
Abbey Grange CE HS, Leeds
Heckmondwike GS
Q Elizabeth GS, Wakefield
Mount St Mary's College, Sheffield
Nottingham HS (A team) Zone Champions
The Group winners will play off for the Zone Championship.
Zone 5: Yorkshire, mostly
Winners Nottingham HS B; Runners-up Leeds GS
League Group A
Leeds GS Group winners
Birkdale HS, Dewsbury
St Peter's Primary, Wakefield
Q Elizabeth GS Wakefield Junior School
League Group B
Northcliffe HS, Doncaster
Yewlands Technology College, Sheffield
Nottingham HS (B team) Zone Champions
Top Valley School, Nottingham
Heanor Gate Science College, Heanor
The Group winners will play off for the Zone Championship.
Zone 6: Birmingham & More
Winners K Edward's School; Runners-up Camp Hill
League Group A
Warstones Primary, Wolverhampton
Sharmans Cross Junior, Solihull Group winners
St Laurence Junior, Northfield, Birmingham
League Group B
Camp Hill School, Birmingham Zone finalists
Small Heath School, Birmingham
Nicholas Chamberlaine Technology College, Bedworth (B Team)
Lutterworth HS, Lutterworth
Windsor HS, Halesowen
Knockout Group
Christopher Whitehead Language Centre, Worcester
Dormston School, Sedgley
K Edward's School, Birmingham Zone champions
Nicholas Chamberlaine Technology College, Bedworth (A Team)
The winner of League Group B will proceed to the Zone Final. The winners of the other two Groups will play off for the right to meet them.
Zone 7: South Central
Winners Eton College; Runners-up Aylesbury GS A
League Group
Aylesbury GS (A team) Group winners
Aylesbury GS (B team)
Rushden Community College, Rushden Northants
Castle Primary, Northampton
Loughton Junior, Milton Keynes
Knockout Group
Abingdon School
Biddenham Upper School, Bedford
Bedford Modern School
Dolphin School, Hurst Berkshire
Eton College Zone Champions
Langley GS, Slough
Magdalen College School, Oxford
The Group winners will play off for the Zone Championship.
Zone 8: East Anglia & More
Winners Norwich School; Runners-up Woodbridge School
League Group
Colchester RGS
Nacton Primary, Ipswich
Royal Hospital School, Ipswich
Woodbridge School Group winners
Knockout Group
John Warner School, Hoddesdon
K Edward VII School, Kings Lynn
Norwich School Zone Champions
Old Buckenham Hall School, Ipswich
Payne Primary, Wisbech
St John's Primary, Lemsford Village, Welwyn Garden City
The Group winners will play off for the Zone Championship.
Zone 9: London North East & More
Winners QE Barnet; Runners-up Westminster Under School
League Group A
Westborough Primary, Westcliff Group winners
St Thomas of Canterbury Junior, Brentwood
Uphall Primary, Ilford (A team)
League Group B
St Mary & St Michael Catholic Primary, London E1 (A team)
St Mary & St Michael Catholic Primary, London E1 (A team)
Westminster Under School Zone finalists
Forest School, Snaresbrook
Knockout Group
Brentwood School
Castle View School, Canvey Island
Islington Arts & Media School
Oakthorpe Primary, London N13
Q Elizabeth Barnet Zone Champions
Southend HS for Boys
The Knockout winner will proceed direct to the Zone Final. The two League winners will play off for the right to meet them.
Zone 10: London North West
Winners Haberdashers A; Runners-up North London Collegiate School
League Group A
The Mount School, London NW7
Heathfield School, Pinner
Dormers Wells High School
Bishopshalt School, Hillingdon
North London Collegiate School, Edgware Zone finalists
League Group B
Holloway Secondary, London N7 (A team)
Holloway Secondary, London N7 (B team)
University College School, Hampstead Group winners
Wetherby Prep School, London W11
Knockout Group
Capital City Academy, London NW10
Haberdashers' Aske's Boys, Elstree (A team) Zone Champions
Haverstock School, London NW3
Torriano Junior, London NW5
The winners of League Group A will proceed direct to the Zone Final. The other two winners will play off for the right to meet them.
Zone 11: London South West
Winners Hampton School (A team); Runners-up King's House A
League Group
Twickenham Prep School
Hampton School (B team)
King's House School, Twickenham (A team) Group winners
King's House School, Twickenham (B team)
Knockout Group
Aldro School, Godalming
Haberdashers' Aske's Boys, Elstree (B team)
Hampton School (A team) Zone Champions
Riddlesdown HS, Purley (A team)
Sutton Boys GS
Whitgift School
The Group winners will play off for the Zone Championship.
Zone 12: London South East & More
Winners Dulwich College; Runners-up Wilson's School
League Group
Riddlesdown HS, Purley (B team)
Judd School, Tonbridge Group winners
Maidstone Boys' GS (A team)
Knockout Group
Dulwich College Zone Champions
Maidstone Boys' GS (B team)
Reigate GS
RGS Guildford
St Olaves GS, Orpington (A team)
St Olaves GS, Orpington (B team)
Wilson's School, Wallington Zone finalists
Woodcote HS, Coulsdon
The League winner will join the Knockout at the semi-final stage.
Zone 13: The South
Winners Wellington College; Runners-up Reading School
League Group A
Bushey Hill Junior, Guildford
Aldworth Science College, Basingstoke
Yateley Manor School (A team)
Reading School Zone finalists
League Group B
Brookfield Community School, Southampton Group winners
Winchester College (B team)
Bishop Wordsworth's School, Salisbury
Knockout Group
Winchester College (A team)
Thornden School, Chandlers Ford
Churchfields School, Swindon
Wellington College (A team) Zone Champions
Wellington College (B team)
Yateley Manor School (B team)
The Knockout winners will proceed direct to the Zone Final. The other two winners will play off for the right to meet them.
Zone 14: Wales & the West
Winners Millfield School; Runners-up Torquay GS
League Group
K Arthur's Community School, Wincanton
Ash Primary, Martock Group winners
Holway Primary, Taunton (A team)
Holway Primary, Taunton (B team)
Knockout Group
Bristol GS
Broadclyst Primary
Devonport HS for Boys
Hanham HS, Bristol
Kings Monkton School, Cardiff
Millfield School Zone champions
Monmouth School
Torquay Boys' GS Zone finalists
The League winner will join the Knockout at the semi-final stage.
Last Chance Saloon North
in Nottingham, 7th February 2009
Qualifiers: S Anselms School, Bakewell
There were only two entries:
Highfields School, Newark
S Anselms School, Bakewell
and Highfields, who had been hoping for several matches in a day, opted to withdraw.
Last Chance Saloon South
at Wilson's School, Wallington, Surrey
8th February 2009
Winners St Olaves GS Orpington; Runners-up Winchester College
Reigate GS
St Olaves GS
Wilson's School (B team)
Winchester College
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