The team from 1st Cheslyn Hay has won the 2017/18 National Chess title at the finals at BBNI Headquarters at Newport on Saturday 24 March 2018.

Cheslyn Hay competed against the other National Finalists: 1st Glenwherry and 1st Ardstraw from Northern Ireland; and Scottish team 6th/8th Dundee. The teams took a welcome break at lunch time to have a walk around nearby historical Hillsborough to take in the sights and sunshine before heading back to the final round.

Deputy Mayor Hazel Legge visited the competition in the afternoon and presented the trophies. The teams and leaders from 1^st Cheslyn Hay and 6/8 Dundee also had the privilege of being the first guests to stay in the new Residential Centre at the NI Distirct Headquarters Newport.

In the team from Cheslyn Hay were Tom Walters, Vince Jordan and John Walters.

Tom said:

“After the disappointment of losing last year’s final on count-back, it was a pleasure to represent 1st Cheslyn Hay at another UK final and try to improve on last year’s result. Our well-deserved victory was a culmination of hard practice, experience and commitment to achieve our goal of winning a national final, the very first in our company’s history!”

Following the final, Vince commented:

“The Final was a remarkable experience. Our winning was a well-deserved outcome after two years of National ‘checkmates.”

John also offered his reaction to the team being crowned champions:

“The competition was fantastic and well organised and I would like to thank everyone who helped organise this for making the experience even better.”

Results:

1^st Cheslyn Hay

1^st Glenwherry

1^st Ardstraw

6/8 Dundee

 

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