Above: Jacinta Murphy and Philomena Burgstaller from St Thomas Aquinas.
By Ed Merrison
SCORES of local primary students took to Beaconsfield last week to pit their wits against each other in a cerebral sportsfest.
The Victorian Interschool Chess Championships held at Beaconsfield Primary School on Wednesday, 9 August, attracted 123 students from six schools in the region.
Students from St Kevin’s Hampton Park, Berwick Primary School, Hallam Valley Primary School, Lang Lang Primary School and St Thomas Aquinas College joined the hosts at the event, which was open to children in grades three to six.
The children locked horns for almost four hours in a competition that sought to emphasise participation, learning and social interaction.
St Kevin’s Hampton Park emerged overall winner after the event’s seven 15minute rounds, while St Kevin’s student Josh Martin took out individual gold with seven wins out of seven.
Beaconsfield Primary School classroom teacher Vicky Fisher said the event, staged as part of the school’s program for gifted children, was a huge success.
“It was fantastic, and it’s those sorts of days that make schooling so special and add an extra dimension,” she said.
A chesslover herself, Ms Fisher was said the students had great fun as well as learning a lot in a competitive environment.
“It’s one of the best games because it teaches you patience and logic and you’re forced to think and think in sequences.
“It’s also very good at getting the kids thinking about what they’re doing,” she said.
This was the second consecutive year the school had held the competition, and the excitement generated sparked hopes to establish it as an ongoing annual event.
“The grade threes did really well and came away really excited and wanting to compete next year,” Ms Fisher said.
All entrants received a certificate of participation, and St Kevin’s will go on to compete in the state finals.
