Chess Scotland
Juniors
designed by kids,
for kids!
Thoughts
By Andrew McClement,
P7
Andrew is a newcomer to the Youth Squad and he has
written this piece for the website.
Anybody with a contribution to the site can e-mail me.
J. Rowson v.
Andrew’s Bedside Lamp
When I am not
buzzing round the country going to Chess Congresses I live far, far away in
the remote village of Machrihanish on the Mull of Kintyre.
My local school, Drumlemble PS, is only a
couple of miles away and our teacher, the talented but formidable Mrs
Macalister, has been very keen this term to improve our ‘creative writing
skills’. We were just back from our
summer holidays and she asked us to write a few sentences on our ‘Most
Precious Possession’. I then hit on
this idea and my pen just seemed to flow ……..
“When asked to this
task my first thought was my bedside table lamp!
The reason this was
my first thought was because I love reading, especially at night. I often read up to late hours which really
aggravates my parents. I still can’t
think why.
However, I suddenly
realised it doesn’t meet the criteria because although it is precious to me,
I don’t own it! So I had to find
another solution. I searched round my
consciousness looking for an object which was one of my favourite things but
it also had to hurt me most if I lost it.
Also more importantly, I had to own it – I knew it didn’t have to be
expensive.
Eventually I found
an object which fitted the criteria to the dot. I own a lot of books but there is one more
special than the rest. Although I have
two other books with the author’s signature in them this book is more special
than even them because the author wrote a message for me in it.
In the summer of
this year I went to the British Chess Championships which were held on the
Isle of Man. Jonathon Rowson
is a Scottish Grandmaster who lives in Troon. He was to rewrite the history books by
becoming the first Scottish chess player to win, and retain, the British
title.
There was an
extremely good chess bookstall stationed at the Championship and by luck I
saw a book titled, “The Seven Deadly Chess Sins”, by Jonathon Rowson of all people.
Of course, I just had to buy the book!
On the very last
day, I was employed as a Chess Board Operator which is someone who shows one
of the best five games on a large board.
I was employed on the board next to Jonathon Rowson’s
board and so I was able to watch Jonathon win the Championship at very close
range.
About two hours
after his game he was in the stands watching two very good players play a
long, hard-fought game. Rather
tentatively I walked up beside him and I asked for his autograph. We had a nice short chat about a lot of
things while he signed the book. Then
I had a strange revelation. Here I
was, the lowest graded player during that week, standing beside the strongest
chess player in Britain.
As for the book, it
is a very good read and is influencing my chess more and more and it helps
prevent me losing.
So yes, I would
agree with the statement that “The Seven Deadly Chess Sins” is my most
precious possession. However, my
thoughts come back to my bedside lamp because it allows me to read this
brilliant book even more often.”
|
