Chess Scotland Juniors
designed by kids, for kids!

Youth Squad Training Day – Grangemouth – 24 March 2007

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When I retired from the position of International Director for Juniors at the end of last season, I never for one moment considered that I would be back organising the Youth Squad Training Days again! Not that I mind, on the contrary during my retirement period, I was quite lonely, missing the chat from ‘my boys’ and the verbal abuse from the more sarcastic juniors I have worked with! Indeed I may introduce a new certificate for the most sarcastic comment – I wonder who would win it????

Anyway, to stop John Glendinning from absolute heart failure by using the Prudential again, we decided that a new venue would be just the ticket. We’ve used the Prudential for many years now and thanks need to be given to all those involved in the booking of the venue. Thanks to Ivan Stokes and Stephen Mannion, we managed to book the Grangemouth Education Centre with the added bonus that it was free of charge – of course we made a donation tho’.

Originally we had planned on inviting Jonathan Rowson to attend this training day – in fact we got as far as inviting him but the logistics of such a visit in the venue we had chosen proved to be too much for even me to arrange. Still, chances are, we will be able to organise a visit from him for the next training day which is due to be held in June. But the day had to go ahead regardless and invitations to players were issued and coaches were booked. This year we have a full complement of coaches to call on - we are very lucky to have such a prestigious group of people committed to furthering the skills of our intrepid juniors. The old faces (old as in ‘well known’, not aged!!) Stephen Mannion, Jacob Aagaard, Neil Berry, Tom Donohue, Phil Thomas, Graeme Kafka, Craig Pritchett are still willing and able to impart their knowledge to us all, but we have also enlisted the help of Duncan Grassie and Gunnar Jacob. On the day, Stephen, Jacob, Tom, Neil and Gunnar drew the short straws and organised their coaching material for the long hours ahead.

Of course it doesn’t help if the organiser is late to arrive – who me? What was my excuse – ehm – Amy took hours to get ready; I had to drive to Dundee to collect Gunnar, traffic – all of the above!! No, I didn’t sleep in!

Anyway, the day started…..eventually! Welcome to the new members to the squad – Robert Childs, Peter Devenny, Callum Dickson, Shivan Murdochy, Kieran O’Donnell and William McIntosh. Of course we would not be complete without the long term squad members – Ivan, Andrew, Calum, Matthew, and Amy – all experienced junior internationalists. Absent members, familiar faces who were missed this time round but will surely make the next day - Connor, Robbie, Rhian. Adam, Blair amongst others. Neil did his usual great job of organising coaching groups – he missed me out again! Silence descended briefly ….. Jacob had handed out worksheets – problems to work through – I think there was a great deal of cheating going on!!!! Well, there was a certain amount of giggling going on – so much so Andrew and Calum ended the day on the stage.

Gunnar’s coaching style is very interesting – he compares chess to karate and asks for a volunteer ‘Donna you’ll do!’ – a novel way of asking for a volunteer!!! Filled with trepidation, I ‘volunteer’ myself only to be beaten up! I thought chess was a quiet, peaceful game!

The groups swapped, the groups swapped again, the peace in the hall was amazing – well apart from the giggling from Jacob’s group! Finally it was lunch time and virtually everyone went to play football.

After lunch we had one more coaching session and then --- the Blitz!

All the coaches played – Donald Wilson, who had come along to visit (great to see you there, Donald) almost got to play. Parents were invited, but declined – probably quite sensibly! It is always very interesting to see how seriously the juniors take this Blitz. When one is paired against a coach, then it’s all out to win – and of course the stronger juniors are also a target. I won’t embarrass by naming names! Suffice it to say the Jacob and Gunnar won the event on 4.5 points out of 5. Andrew Green was the highest junior on 4 out of 5. Well done everyone!

All too soon it was 5pm and time to go home. Sets and boards were packed up – thanks to Lynsey for the use of the Fair City sets – thanks were made to the coaches etc and everyone went home.

It is a tradition for the coaches to go out for a meal after the training days, and this one was no different. We retired to the Brewer’s Fayre and had a very enjoyable meal.

All that remains is for me to thanks the coaches, parents and most of all the players for making it such an enjoyable day. It was great to chat to all the parents again and catch up on the news. The overwhelming support of the parents and players is what makes the International Director for juniors job so rewarding and enjoyable!

Donna Officer

Chess Scotland Juniors designed by kids, for kids!

Chess Scotland Juniors
designed by kids, for kids!