The ECF Schools Girls’ team championships 2023/24

[Andrew Martin]

Below, notice of a forthcoming event ,which has been very successful in recent years.


Entries can now be made at the following link:


https://www.englishchess.org.uk/NSCC/gi ... s-2023-24/

CHESS FLYER 2023 (5).pdf

[Andrew Martin]

As usual, I will be compiling a list of entered schools here.



Semi Final South. St Catherine’s Bramley 14th January


U11

St Catherine’s Bramley 9 teams
St Helen’s Northwood 3teams
Northwood College 4 teams
Bancroft’s Prep School 3 teams
Ecole Jacques Prevert 1 team
Headington Prep 1 team
St Nicholas’ School, Fleet 2 teams.
Guildford High 5 teams
Abbey Junior School, Reading 3 teams
Sutton High 1 team
Wimbledon High 2 teams
Putney High 1 team
Eltham College 1 team
Brentwood School 1 team
Highgate Junior School 2 teams
Haberdasher’s Girls’ School 2 teams
City Junior School 4 teams
St Aubyn’s , Woodford 2 teams
North London Collegiate 5 teams
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Headington 2 teams
St Cedd’s, Chelmsford 1 team
Latchmere 2 teams
St James 1 team


(58)

U19

St Catherine’s Bramley 3 teams
Holyport College. 1 team
Ellen Wilkinson School for girls, Ealing 2 teams.
Abbey School, Reading 3 teams
Wycombe Abbey 1 team
Dunottar School, Reigate 1 team
Haberdashers’ Girls’ School 2 teams
Stroud High School 2 teams
James Allen Girls’ School 3 teams
Headington School 1 team
Denmark Rd , Gloucester 2 teams
Dartford Grammar School 2 teams
St Paul’s Girls’ School 4 teams
Eltham College 1 team
Brentwood School 2 teams
City of London School for Girls 1 team
South Hampstead High School 2 teams
North London Collegiate 5 teams
Nonsuch 2 teams

(40)


Teams of three. We look forward to your entries.

[Andrew Martin]

We have the Northern semi final coming up on 19th November. Nottingham High School is a great venue, so please get your entries in.

Teams of three only.

Thanks.

[Andrew Martin]

Only just over two weeks to go and entries are very low for the upcoming Nottingham semi-final. Please do enter your teams.

Entries here:

https://www.englishchess.org.uk/NSCC/gi ... s-2023-24/

[Andrew Martin]

Regrettably, the northern semi final has been cancelled due to the very poor response. Everyone involved is disappointed.

I hope the Southern event on Jan 14th has a better fate.

[Andrew Martin]

Entries are building up for the Southern semi on Jan 14th. Why not join them?

[Andrew Martin]

PLEASE NOTE

Entries are progressing nicely for this always popular event. However, some changes have been made this year, which school organisers should note.

1) Please read the new rules that have been written by the ECF Junior Director here – https://www.englishchess.org.uk/NSCC/wp ... -Rules.pdf. Any queries about the rules should be directed to the ECF’s Junior Director Alex Holowczak please at [email protected]

2) Please note that the semi-final will be rated for the first time. Full team lists must be sent to the Junior Director as soon as possible, and no later than Thursday 11th January. Failure to do this could result in logistical difficulties and delays on the day.

3) Entries will close on 6th January. No further entries will be accepted after this date.

[Andrew Martin]

Please note the closing date for entries has been brought forward to midnight on Dec 31st

Thanks.

[Andrew Martin]

Because of the extraordinary entry, I am going to close entries at midnight on December 26th. We are fast reaching capacity.

[Andrew Martin]

Entries to the Southern semi-final are now closed.

[John Upham]

Entries to the Southern semi-final are now closed.

Congratulations Andrew on achieving a full entry.

[Andrew Martin]

My letter to all schools just circulated. All those attending on the day will find this information useful:


To all competing schools at the ECF Girls Schools Team Southern semi-final on January 14th,

Thank you for entering this event, which has a record entry of 98 teams - 294 players. Here is some important info, which you should send to all those who plan to attend.

1) Wi-fi
Pairings for each round and ongoing results will be posted using wi-fi . Any questions about this should be addressed to the ECF Junior Director:
[email protected]

The Wi-Fi login for Sunday is as follows:

Network – SC-Guest

Password - Check2024

There is an overflow network : ‘SC – VIPs’ if the first login becomes clogged. The password is the same to access the overflow: Check2024

2) Accommodation
Each school will have a base allocated to it, which in some cases might mean sharing a classroom with another school. On arrival you will be shown to your base. Parents may rest in the base area.

Upon completion of a game it is important that players return to the base in order to clear the hall.

3) Lunches
St Catherine's offers a free hot lunch as part of the sponsorship package. The school will prepare up to 400 lunches, with beef, chicken and vegetarian options for the main course.

Lunch is for players, coaches, teachers, ECF and St Catherine's staff and parents ONLY and not additional family members.

Lunch can be taken between 1245pm and 145pm. Please try to stagger your arrival for lunch.

4) Cafe
A cafe will be open all day from 9.30am until 4pm. for hot and soft drinks and light snacks such as toasties etc, at very reasonable prices..

5) Numbers
Because the overall entry is so high, we kindly ask that parents do NOT bring extra family members to the tournament unless it is absolutely necessary.. This could result in difficulties with parking and accommodation, which in turn could lead to delays.

6) Parking
Signage will be posted directing traffic to various car parks around the school. Please use:

The main car park to the rear of the school.
The marked parking spaces to the front of the school
The prep school car park opposite the main school
The overflow car park in Hall Rd ( just past the school, turn right and then left after approximately 50 yards).

We would prefer minibus drivers to use the overflow car park in Hall Rd. Coaches may use the designated coach bays at the front of school.

7) Safeguarding
St Catherine's cannot be responsible for children from other competing schools. However:

If a child goes missing, report this to the main control desk AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
If a child becomes confused or lost, tell them to wait at the main control desk to be picked up.
Play on the green areas outside is possible, but schools must ensure that there is direct supervision from a teacher or parent who has been approved FROM THE SAME SCHOOL.
In general, we would prefer children not to play on the grass, as this risks bringing mud into the hall.

Mobile Phones
Players will NOT be allowed to have mobile phones in the tournament hall.

Team Managers will be allowed phones in the hall, but they must be turned completely off during play.

If a phone goes off in any way during play, either from a team manager or player, that team will forfeit the match 3-0. This may seem harsh, but it is an unfortunate necessity in modern chess.

9) Prizegiving
The prizegiving is scheduled for approximately 5pm or as soon after the completion of the last game that we can manage. If you could attend and show your support for the sponsors, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks for reading and see you all on Sunday!

Andrew Martin

[John Upham]

We are set-up here in Bramley and ready to go.

300 girls paying chess at a superb venue organised by Andrew Martin and St. Catherine's School.

Should be fun!

[John Upham]

Here are the results of the Semi-Final:

https://chess-results.com/tnr878134.aspx?lan=1


https://chess-results.com/tnr878132.aspx?lan=1&art=0

It was most impressive to see the sheer number of girls teams and the support so many of these teams received from the

She Plays to Win Initiative and IM Lorin D'Costa: https://www.sheplaystowin.co.uk/

I was looking forward to discussing this incredible event with the ECF Director of Women's Chess but she was not able to attend. Hopefully Aga will experience the finals in April at the same venue.

A huge and momentous credit is due to IM Andrew Martin and his partner Naomi and St. Catherine's School in Bramley which is an outstanding venue for junior chess.

[John Upham]

Day one of the U11 and U19 finals have been taking place today in Bramley, Surrey.

You may inspect the positions of each team following round 5 as follows:

U11: https://chess-results.com/tnr912471.aspx?lan=1

U19: https://chess-results.com/tnr912055.asp ... turdet=YES

Four more rounds to go.