Gold medal for Hauraki Plains College
Hauraki Plains College’s chess team have struck gold at the Inter-school Chess Tournament Te Aroha Zone held at Stanley Avenue School.
Hauraki Plains College’s chess team have struck gold at the Inter-school Chess Tournament Te Aroha Zone held at Stanley Avenue School.
Ten HPC chess players faced up to Stanley Avenue School, Paeroa College and Te Aroha College students.
Hauraki Plains College chess coordinator Amanda Fitzpatrick says the tournament went really well.
“It’s awesome to see medals around their necks.”
HPC came away with gold for their team players: Joshua McCormack-Goeth, Tyson Skinner, Taz Nicholson, and Joshua Walters.
As well, individual gold went to Joshua McCormack-Goeth and silver to Tyson Skinner along with them both gaining a Distinction.
Mrs Fitzpatrick says everyone got something.
“As well as our gold medals, Taz gained an excellence, Joshua Walters and Cameron Gordon a Credit, with Junior Pene, James Pou, Ryan Walker, Jordan Sinclair and Robert Death all gaining merits. So a fantastic result.”
Last year HPC hosted the tournament that attracted about 50 players.
The HPC chess team started off playing at lunchtime as an extra activity.
“Lunchtimes in The Hub are always buzzing and it’s just another activity to do. I managed to find some great chess sets and boards on Trade Me and it just took off. We had a donation by a local person so I invested that money into our clocks,” says Mrs Fitzpatrick
The team varies from year 9 through to year 12, all boys, and consists of 20 players although only 10 could play at the tournament.
HPC is now able to take six players to the chess finals held on Wednesday September 19 at the Trusts Stadium, Auckland.
