Junior Chess Congress - Keith Hoban Memorial Trophy

            February 9^th 2008

Nearly 50 children congregated in Stonehaven Town Hall for last Saturday’s individual events organised by the North East Junior Chess Association (www.NEJCA.co.uk). Competition was for 3 major trophies with the top prize, the Keith Hoban Memorial Trophy, going to Marc Woods from Nairn Academy. This was most fitting as, before his untimely death, Keith had helped train Marc and other young chess enthusiasts in the Nairn area. Marc was closely followed by Grant Hay (Robert Gordons) and Paul Andrews (International School). In the intermediate Rising Stars tournament, local girl Emma  Grant from Mackie Academy, emerged successful, just ahead of Miriam Abraham (St Margarets), Sean Wilson (Kemnay Promary ) and Mubin Islam (Glicomstoun Primary). In the Novice Section, more than 30 youngsters joined in battle royal, with Markus Obendreuf (Albyn School) just pipping Timothy Groves (Strachan Primary) and Carl Milton (Culter Primary) for the Novice Trophy. Primary level prizes were also won by Alexander Fyfe (P7, Aboyne Primary), Thomas Strachan (P6, Banchory Primary), Peter Eayles (P5 Keith Hall Primary), Patricia Kelly (P4, Kemnay Primary), Johnathan Hoyle (Lairhillock Primary) and Kai Pannwitz (Crown Primary). The event attracted entrants from as far apart as Inverness and Arbroath and was made possible through the sponsorship provided by Tinto Architecture and Absoft to the NEJCA.