Campion retain schoolgirls’ chess title
Campion College retained the Wigton Windfarm Dr Hope Anderson National Schoolgirls’ Chess Championship title at the end of last month after defeating Wolmer’s High School for Girls in the final round of the tournament at the PCJ Auditorium in New Kingston.
The Campion team comprising Sheanel Gardner, Aulanni Kidd and Yendi Foo went into the fifth and final round tied in second place on six points with both Immaculate Conception High and Charlemont High. Campion needed a win against tournament leaders Wolmer’s High School for Girls to keep the championship trophy at Hope Road, while Wolmer’s, who were already on eight points and enjoying sole leadership of the championship, needed only a draw to take the title.
When the final round ended, Campion had secured a 2-1 victory over Wolmer’s High School for Girls to join them on eight points. Immaculate also won their final-round match against Charlemont High to finish with eight points and ensured a three-way tie atop the standing. When tiebreaks were employed, Campion emerged as the national champion, followed by Immaculate in second place and Wolmer’s High School for Girls third.
The rest of the standings were Holy Childhood, Excelsior High, Old Harbour and Charlemont tied in fourth place on six points each, followed by Decarteret A and B with four points each in eighth place and St Mary High and Bog Walk tied in 10th place with two points each.
The category prizes that were awarded at the closing ceremony were:
·Best New School — Charlemont High school
·Top Rural Team — Charlemont High school
·Top Urban Team – Campion College
· Best Coach — National Master Ryan Blackwood (Campion and Immaculate)
· Best Board 1 — Ashanti Blackwood (Charlemont)
· Best Board 2 — Ashley Renee Gregory (Immaculate) and Rochelle Porter (Wolmer’s)
· Best Board 3 — Leah Ann Chai (Immaculate) and Tian Henry (Excelsior)
·Best Reserve — Alliyah Yankana (Wolmer’s)
Wigton Windfarm Limited and Petrojam Limited are subsidiaries of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ), who is the title sponsor of the National Schools Chess Championships.
