European Youth Championship 2006

Herceg Novi, Montenegro

September 9-20, 2006

official website

Sep 22: The Scotland squad had a wonderful time in Herceg Novi, Montenegro, at the European Youth Chess Championships from 9-20 September 2006. We enjoyed beautiful scenery, good company, and the the opportunity to make new friends from throughout Europe and most certainly improve our chess ability by playing the best Europe had to offer.

We understood on arrival we would find the event very difficult and the final score achieved by many did not justify the quality, perseverance and determined efforts put in by all the players.

Those playing were:

U18 Boys: Ivan Stokes 3/9
U18 Girls: Lynsey Shovlin 3/9
U16 Girls: Amy Officer 4/9
U14 Boys: Ian MacGregor 3.5/9
U12 Boys: Jonathan Wright 2.5/9, Andrew McClement 3.5/9
U12 Girls: Rhian Hughes 4.5/9, Ali Roy 3/9
U10 Boys: Calum MacDonald 1.5/9

Our coach Esben Lund from Denmark did a fantastic job preparing all nine of us every day. Esben was a vital support to us as were the accompanying parents; Anne and Charlie Roy, Paul MacDonald, Steve Wright, Douglas MacGregor and Brenda Hughes. Their encouragement, enthusiasm and banter was essential in helping maintain the positive team spirit we had throughout the event. In addition a huge thanks goes to Jeremy Hughes and Donna Officer for all their organisation in getting us there!

Thank you to all those who made it possible.

photos and text by Lynsey Shovlin

 

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Sep 11: Scotland has 9 players attending:

U/18 Ivan Stokes, Lynsey Shovlin

U/16 Amy Officer

U/14 Ian MacGregor

U/12 Jonathan Wright, Rhian Hughes, Andrew McClement, Ali Roy

U/10 Calum Fraser McDonald

The journey to the event was long and tiring and the players eventually arrived at their hotel, tired and ready for bed.  Not to be so easy, however as the accommodation was unacceptable and the team had to be moved to another hotel which is much nicer. Round one was yesterday and Rhian and Ali won, Jonathan Wright drew his game. The players are sporting lovely Scotland shirts thanks to the efforts of Steven Wright (Jonny's Dad). 

Donna Officer