2023 Counties Chess Championship
Hi all I am Happy to report our first ever Counties Chess Championship organised by the Counties Chess Club from Mauku was a resounding success with everyone enjoying the venue and Tournament setup, we had over 100 players of all ages taking part particularly impressive were the two Juniors who are only 6 years old playing in the Junior Boys section so much so that I decided to arrange for young Taarush and young Shawn to be given a book each entitled “ How to beat your Dad at Chess” lol written by NZ`s only Grandmaster since 1983 Murray Chandler, I can see in a few years’ time both Dads will be on the back foot and suffering Chessically speaking lol.
As for the Results of our Tournament the following are the 2023 Counties Chess Champions of the various age groups.
2023 Senior Counties Chess Champion = Xxavier Willoughby-Ansell (Counties Chess Club)
2023 Youth Counties Chess Champion = Aden Dexter (Counties Chess Club)
2023 Junior Boys Counties Chess Champion = Levi Fillmore (Counties Chess Club)
2023 Junior Girls Counties Chess Champion = Aria Windleborn (No Chess Club)
The following are the players with 6 wins out of 6 games,
Senior section Karl Holdo from Onehunga
Junior Boys section Levi Fillmore from Pukekohe
Junior Girls section Alina Shaikh from Blockhouse Bay
We had a couple of glitches (some Prizegiving and clock stopping issues) which will not happen next year but all in all the Feedback has been Very Positive
I would like to Thank the Rosehill Intermediate School for providing a Fantastic venue (look at the decorations in two of the pics that Students prepared they were magnificent)and the Rosehill Intermediate Teacher Volunteers especially the human dynamo named Salome who organised everything at the Rosehill Intermediate School end and of course the Fantastic effort put in by all the Student volunteers on both the Friday setup and Saturday pack down of Chess equipment which was so Very Welcome, Friday especially would have been many many times more difficult without Salome and her Students Help!.
Also, Thanks is due also to the Volunteers from the Counties Chess Club, Kim for ensuring tables and chairs etc were dimensionally in the correct place and Natasha, Yating, Diane, Donna and Benji (the Counties Chess Club Mascot hound who attracted the most attention of anyone lol) for sorting out and making the registration area work as efficiently as it did.
A Chess Tournament has a lot of moving parts mostly sight unseen I was Pleased to receive Help from John McRae, Alex Postma and Bruce Pollard.
The School Canteen was magnificent with lovely things on offer on a personal note the Coffee was Magnificent!.
Please find attached some pics and results sheets from our Tournament.
Lastly, I would like to Thank not only the Players for their support but importantly, Caregivers and Parents for committing their time to allow their young players to take part I look forward to seeing you all next year!
Regards
Ron Lanning
Contact details.
ron-lanning@xtra.co.nz
Phone 0272128232
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Harbour Bridge lane closure - protests
The Treaty Principles Bill was introduced to parliament last week and could have ramifications on the partnership between the Crown and Māori.
Hīkoi mō te Tiriti (March for the Treaty of Waitangi) set off from Cape Rēinga on Monday morning and is expected to reach Wellington next Tuesday. It has now passed through Kaitaia, Kawakawa, Whangārei, Dargaville and is passing through Auckland on Wednesday.
What you need to know today:
- The hīkoi is due to cross the Auckland Harbour Bridge about 9.30am on Wednesday. Two northbound lanes will be closed at some point before the crossing, and remain closed during it.
- NZTA shared at 8:50am Wednesday:
'Curran St northbound on-ramp will be closed shortly, with two northbound lanes on the Harbour Bridge expected to close from approx 9.30am this morning. Allow extra time for likely delays through this area.'
- The hīkoi is expected to go across the Harbour Bridge, in a controlled fashion before marching through parts of the CBD towards Okahu Bay.
- Auckland commuters should expect traffic disruption in vicinity of both sides of the Harbour Bridge.
Stuff reporter Steve Kilgallon was at Stafford Park on the north side of the Harbour Bridge at 8.30am Wednesday and shared:
"I just walked through Stafford Park, where there’s about 400-500 people quietly assembled and more arriving; and about 20 police standing over near the motorway off ramp. Lot of Tino Rangatira flags in evidence, local streets very busy with parked cars."
Police have shared that they will respond accordingly to any issues that may arise along the route.
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