A GROUP of junior chess players from Frome helped scored the best ever results for the county when they won two golds and a silver at the Wales and West of England Jamboree last month.
Nine Frome players were selected for the Under 14, Under 11 and Under 9 Somerset chess teams.
The Under 14 team, which included Oakfield pupil Onni Macleay and St Augustine’s pupil Jamie Keil, beat all the other counties into first place to win the trophy.
The Under 9 team, which included St John’s pupils Rudy Bull, Oliver Summers and Gabriel Keech, also came first, beating the other counties with a comfortable margin.
The Under 11 team, which included Oakfield pupils Abi Arnall-Culliford, Eero Macleay, Tom Grogan and Tom Wright, were beaten into first place by 2 points, and so won silver.
Frome Junior Chess Club’s Sally Somers said, “These are the best results Somerset has ever had at an inter-county event, as the teams go from strength to strength. It’s a great step forward for county chess, in which we are climbing the national rankings every year, and for all the Frome children involved.
“Somerset chess has continued to thrive and grow in recent years, thanks in part to more schools becoming involved and offering chess clubs and even curriculum chess lessons.
“The county teams, a few years ago short of players, are now selected from a large pool and are competing at a high level, producing several England squad junior players.”
Frome Junior Chess Club takes place at the rugby club every Tuesday evening from 6.15pm to 7.15pm. For more details contact sallysomers@yahoo.co.uk
