To: Parents of children who were in the Middlesex U14/130 chess squad last season and also new players
Dear All
I am the Middlesex Team Manager role again this season and
am looking to putting together the U14/130 squad. The squad is made up
of children in Years 7-9 whose ECF Rapidplay Grade is 129 or less.
For parents new to the U14 County chess (or a recap):
- Middlesex plays in a tournament run by Southern Counties Chess Union.
- We are in the East Group with Essex, Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
- We play two matches at home (Surrey and Sussex) and two matches away (Essex and Kent).
- Teams are made up of 12 players and we can have 2-3 reserve players.
- Children play two games with 59 minutes each on the clock.
- Matches take place on a Saturday or Sunday afternoons.
-
The winners of the group play in the final with the winner of the West
Group made up of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire.
More details about the championships can be found at http://www.sccu.ndo.co.uk/
FIRST MATCH AWAY TO ESSEX ON SATURDAY 8 NOVEMBER
Our first match is away to Essex on Saturday 8 November in Wanstead at 1pm.
Would
you please let me know by return (and no later than Monday 3 November)
whether or not your child will be available to play.
I hope we will be able to field a strong team to get our season off to a winning start.
Surrey
and Sussex are normally favourites to win the group. Last season we
beat Essex (14-10) and Sussex narrowly (12.5-11.5) but lost to Surrey
(13-11).
Last
year's results show how close these matches are. I'm mindful that we
are lucky in North London with lots of opportunities for children to
play in weekend tournaments. I'm involved in county chess as I think it
is another important platform for the development of junior chess. And I
know as parents, it's yet another weekend day to chess, if your child
is able to play, they do have a fantastic time especially I think from
being part of a team (and all that follows from team events - new
friendships, the camaraderie etc) and with children who are sometimes
their opponents in individual tournaments!
Transport for away matches
As
the children are now older, we don't need 12 sets of parents driving to
Wanstead for the match. There will be parents who offer lifts and set
up a rota. So if your child is available to play on Saturday 8 November
but transport is an issue, please let me know. I'm sure we will be able
to work something out.
I hope all this helps for now but if you have any queries, please do get back to me.
Best wishes,
Kamlesh - kamleshkaria@sky.com