ENTRY FORM 2004-5
The form itself is down at the bottom. An alternative, word-processed, version can be downloaded by clicking here. Zipped rtf, 5 KB.

The British Chess Federation invites entries for the United Kingdom’s leading and most prestigious Team Competition for schools. This competition, formerly the Sunday Times and then the Times Championship, has existed continuously since 1958. The strongest teams are always very strong. Most teams are not, and many are quite inexperienced. Consider entering, if you have not done so before.

It has not been possible to send this form to every school in the country. If you know of other schools in your area which might be interested but may not know about it, please mention it to them. Bring a friend.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP IS OPEN to all schools in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Entries from Islands of the UK outside these areas may be accepted at the Conductor’s discretion. He is much more likely to say yes if an Island has several entries.

TEAMS are of 6 players, who must all be pupils of the school. Age limit: under 19 on 31st August 2004. A school may enter any number of teams, but no player may play for more than one.

AGE HANDICAP. There is an age handicap, based on the difference between teams’ average ages. It starts at a difference of 12 months and increases in yearly steps until the difference is four years or more. At the maximum four-year handicap, the younger team needs only 1½ points out of 6 to win. Primary schools go quite a long way in the competition sometimes.

HOW DOES IT WORK? Teams are initially placed in local Zones which start in early October and finish after Christmas. Zone winners win an inscribed chess clock. They go on to the knockout National Stage, with the semi-finals and Final (and a play-off for third place) taking place at a single venue in late June. There is also a Plate competition, run on the same lines, for Zone runners-up.

The conduct of the Zones will be according to schools’ preference as expressed on the entry form (see Note 1 below).

ENTRY FEE, payable to BCF, is £15 per team. The fee, together with the completed entry form, should reach the Chief Conductor not later than 30th September 2004. Late entries may be accepted, but telephone or email the Chief Conductor to say they are coming. The competition will start in October.
     Chief Conductor: RJ Haddrell, 48 Southview Rd, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 9BX 01892 532361 rjh@sccu.ndo.co.uk

If you would like more information, do not hesitate to email or telephone the Chief Conductor.

1. FORMAT OF ZONES
   There is a question on the entry form about this. Please answer it, if you have a preference.
        Some, if not all, of the Zones will be split initially into groups. Groups will be leagues or knockouts according to schools’ preference. Knockouts speak for themselves. In a league, everybody plays everybody (with half the matches home and half away). Leagues will have a maximum of six teams, more likely four or five. The groups, of whichever sort, will normally finish by Christmas. The group winners then play off after Christmas for the Zone Championship and runners-up place.
        An obvious advantage of a league is that no one gets knocked out in round 1. It is also more flexible than a knockout in that matches can be played at any time and in any order, and arranged well in advance. However, in some areas travelling distances may rule it out. In others, schools may already have a local league and prefer to play the BCF as a knockout.
        Every effort will be made to meet schools’ preferences. However, it will not be possible to suit everyone. It is guaranteed that schools opting for a knockout will get one. Schools opting for a league may sometimes find that they been unavoidably placed in a knockout group.
2. EXTRA TEAMS
   Teams from the same school will be entered as "A" and "B" and so on. They will normally be placed in different Zones or groups where travelling distances permit. If you do not wish this, you can say so on the entry form. It can still be done, at a school’s request, even if travelling distances are large. But in this case the team in the "distant" Zone would have to undertake to play all matches away from home. If you would wish to consider this, put a note on the entry form. The Conductor will contact you before proceeding.
3. ADDRESSES AND PHONE NUMBERS
   Please give all the information requested on the form. Home telephone numbers are particularly important. Home addresses will not be given to other schools unless you wish correspondence to go there. However it will be assumed, unless you say otherwise, that your telephone number may be passed on. There is a space on the form for you to say otherwise if you wish.
        Please give your email address, if you are prepared to be contacted that way.
4. SOME DETAILS ABOUT MATCHES
   Who is home and who is away will always be laid down in advance. The date and time of a match are by agreement between the two sides. Matches are usually played after school, but there is no rule about it.
        Schools must provide their own equipment. Chess clocks should be used where available, and for stronger players they are important. In practice many schools have no clocks and manage without.

BCF National Schools Chess Championship: Entry form 2004-5
Closing date 30th September 2004
Be legible! If you print out the form only, displayed "smallish", it should fit on a side of A4.

To the Chief Conductor: RJ Haddrell, 48 Southview Rd, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 9BX 01892 532361 rjh@sccu.ndo.co.uk

Name of School

Address of School


Telephone


Email

Correspondence should be sent to (name):

Captain/Teacher/Other adult (delete as appropriate)

Please give home address:


Telephone


Email

My telephone number may / may not be given to other schools
(delete as appropriate)

Correspondence should normally be sent to my ................... address.
(Insert HOME or SCHOOL)


I wish to enter .......... team(s). I enclose entry fee of £.......... and I have not stapled my cheque to anything. (Fee: £15 per team payable to BCF.)

If entering more than one team, would you like them to play in different groups?

     YES / NO

Would you prefer a knockout Zone, or a league in which you would
be guaranteed (say) four or five matches? (See Note 1 above.)

     Prefer KNOCKOUT / LEAGUE
     (delete as appropriate)

It will not be possible to please everyone. If you have special preferences, please add a note.