Aberdeen Chess Academy

November 6, 2004

by David Leslie

Aberdeen Lord Provost John Reynolds (pictured right) has officially launched Aberdeen Chess Academy. The short ceremony took place prior to an innovative teams tournament, which featured teams of juniors, parents, grandparents, teachers, and local politicians. 20 teams of four took part in the fun event, including the Scottish Primary Girls Club Team Champions, and Quarryhill's Primary P5 & Under Scottish Team Champions.

The Lord Provost led the team of politicians, which also included local councillor Ramsay Milne, Dod Forest , and CS gradings guru Alex Bisset, who has played a crucial role in support of schools chess in Aberdeen in recent months.

 

John Reynolds and Ramsay Milne were sufficiently impressed by outcomes to commit funds for two new local events: The Provost's Cup, and The Northfield ASG Trophy. Whether these are to be individual or team events has yet to be decided.

Earlier in the week, two juniors were invited to Aberdeen Town House by the Learning and Leisure Committee, when committee members were advised of their chess playing achievements. The committee, Education Convener, and Corporate Director for Education, applauded the pupils and have expressed continuing support of Chess Development in the city.

Plans for Aberdeen Chess Academy were shelved in 2001 when the NOF Chess Development Project took priority. Work on the structure began again in the summer, and is now near completion. Community Development will be central to the objects of the initiative, in particular family involvement. Links have been formed with the University for Children and Communities, which has led to a joint venture for the whole of 2005.

During the course of the coming weeks, all schools in Aberdeen will be advised of the ambitions of Aberdeen Chess Academy , which will be inclusive, and of the extensive playing and training opportunities offered at evening and weekend clubs and tournaments. Ambitious juniors will be delighted to learn that Elaine Rutherford and David Grant have agreed to continue their involvement in the schools programme with specific coaching roles for the Academy.

 

Tournament result:

1. Quarryhill Primary School

2. Northfield Academy ‘B'

3. Scottish Girls Primary Team Champions

4. Teachers

5. Politicians.