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Updated 2.7.03

BCF NATIONAL SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIP
2002-2003


2002-3 CHAMPIONS:
CHAMPIONSHIP Oakham School
PLATE Manchester Grammar School


THE FINALS
The competition, having got under way at the start of October in 15 Zones, reached its climax on Saturday 28th June at the Nottingham Moat House where eight teams, in Plate and Championship, contested the semi-finals and Finals.
     In the PLATE competition Manchester Grammar School, clear favourites and former National Champions, beat St Olaves GS Orpington in the semi-finals by a 4½-1½ margin which did not reflect the closeness of the match. Nottingham High School's B team meanwhile, probably fourth favourites on paper, attracted some attention by beating City of London School 6-0. They are surely the first B team to reach even the semi-final stage, and they played with a style and confidence which belied their grades. In the afternoon's Final, however, they never looked like scoring the 3 points they needed to beat Manchester Grammar. The favourites, requiring 3½, scored another 4½-1½ win. City of London bounced back by winning the Third Place play-off.
     The CHAMPIONSHIP semi-finals produced one of the most remarkable matches your Webmaster has seen. While RGS Guildford, last year's runners-up, were scoring a convincing 6-0 win against Southend High School, favourites Oakham School - Champions two years ago - were simply losing to Bluecoat Oldham. Bluecoat, last year's Plate Champions, were outgraded by 25 points per board and playing out of their skins. No match is lost until it's won, and the Oakham board 1 somehow scrambled back from a lost position in the last game to finish. It looked drawish but he declined the offer as he had to, since Oakham still needed a win to win on board count. With both sides down to their last few seconds he actually achieved a won position. King and rook v king, but it didn't matter because by that time it was always going to be a question of which flag fell first. The Bluecoat one did, and we think the Oakham one was showing 1 second. Which, with a DGT, means "not more than 1 second but more than 0". It should have been a Final.
     The real Final was a comparatively sedate affair in which Oakham beat RGS Guildford 4-2. Southend HS, in a curious parallel to the Plate, bounced back to take third place.


Detailed match results, for the whole of the National Stage, are in a separate page. A Summary follows.


NATIONAL STAGE
Average ages are in brackets. The older team, to win, must beat its opponents by a number of points at least equal to the age difference in years (taken as a whole number by truncation). If it does not, it loses. Board count and elimination apply only when there is no age handicap. An asterisk means win on handicap (or board count or elimination if they apply), and failing an asterisk the team with more points wins.
      The semi-finals and Final, and a play-off match for third place, will be on Saturday 28th June in Nottingham.

CHAMPIONSHIP
Round 1 (by 19th March)
RGS Newcastle* (14.6) 3 3 Queen Elizabeth GS Wakefield; Bluecoat Oldham (14.6) 5 1 Calday Grange GS Wirral (15.3); King Edward Camp Hill Birmingham (14.10) 1 5 Oakham School A (16.0); Magdalen College School Oxford A (15.9) 4 2 Monmouth School A (13.5); Haberdashers Askes Elstree (12.7) 0 6 Southend HS (15.1); RGS Guildford A (17.4) 6 0 Maidstone GS (15.5); St Pauls School London 5½ ½ Millfield A. Bye: Hampton School
Quarter-finals (by end of term)
Bluecoat Oldham (14.9) 4½ 1½ RGS Newcastle (14.7); Oakham School A (15.9) 4 2 Magdalen College School A (15.10); Southend HS (15.2)* 3 3 Hampton School; RGS Guildford (17.5)* 3 3 St Pauls School (16.6)
Semi-finals RGS Guildford (16.11) 6 0 Southend HS (15.7); Oakham School* (16.0) 3 3 Bluecoat Oldham (15.3)
Third Place Play-off Southend HS (15.7) 4 2 Bluecoat Oldham (15.3)
Final Oakham School (16.3) 4 2 RGS Guildford

PLATE CHAMPIONSHIP for Zone runners-up
Round 1
St Bedes GS Bradford w/o scr Royal Belfast Academical Institution; Manchester Grammar School 6 0 Blue Coat Liverpool; Nottingham HS B (13.11) 4½ 1½ Rushey Mead Leicester (12.11); City of London School (14.7) 4 2 King Edward VI GS Chelmsford (15.5); North Bridge House School (12.8) 2 4 Latymer School (14.1); Bristol GS 2½ 3½ Devonport HS A. Byes: St Olaves GS Orpington; Magdalen College School C. Not competing: Winchester College
Quarter-finals
Manchester Grammar School (15.6) 4½ 1½ St Bedes Bradford (15.3); Magdalen College School C (11.6) 1½ 4½ Nottingham HS B (14.0); St Olaves GS (15.1) 5½ ½ Latymer School (13.10); City of London School (14.4) 3½ 2½ Devonport HS A
Semi-finals Nottingham HS B (14.3) 6 0 City of London School (14.4); Manchester Grammar School (16.3) 4½ 1½ St Olaves GS (16.7)
Third Place Play-off City of London School (14.4) 3½ 2½ St Olaves GS (15.7)
Final Manchester Grammar School (16.3) 4½ 1½ Nottingham HS B (14.4)



ZONE WINNERS AND RUNNERS-UP
Zone 1 (N Ireland/Scotland/N England)
     1 RGS Newcastle; 2 Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Zone 2 (Lancs/Greater Manchester)
     1 Bluecoat Oldham; 2 Manchester Grammar School
Zone 3 (Yorks)
     1 Queen Elizabeth GS Wakefield; 2 St Bedes GS Bradford
Zone 4 (Wirral)
     1 Calday Grange GS Wirral; 2 Blue Coat Liverpool
Zone 5 (W Midlands)
     1 K Edward Camp Hill Birmingham; 2 Nottingham HS (B team)
Zone 6 (E Midlands)
     1 Oakham School A; 2 Rushey Mead Leicester
Zone 7 (Glos/Hereford/Worcs/Wilts)
     1 Monmouth School A; 2 Bristol GS
Zone 8 (Beds/Bucks/Oxon)
     1 Magdalen College School Oxford (A team); 2 Magdalen College School C
Zone 9 (Essex/E Anglia)
     1 Southend HS; 2 King Edward VI GS Chelmsford
Zone 10 (London NW)
     1 Haberdashers Elstree; 2 North Bridge House School
Zone 11 (London NE)
     1 Hampton School; 2 Latymer School
Zone 12 (London SW)
     1 St Pauls School; 2 City of London School
Zone 13 (London SE/Kent)
     1 Maidstone GS; 2 St Olaves GS Orpington
Zone 14 (Hants/Surrey/Sussex)
     1 RGS Guildford A; 2 Winchester College
Zone 15 (West)
     1 Millfield School A; 2 Devonport HS A



TEAMS COMPETING 2002-3
Zones are Knockout unless otherwise stated.

Zone 1A: N Ireland
Conductor: Graham Murphy
1. Methodist College Belfast (A team)
2. Methodist College Belfast (B team)
3. St Columbs College, Derry
4. Royal Belfast Academical Institution

Zone 1B: Scotland/N England
Conductor: Stephen Taylor
1. Austin Friars School, Carlisle
2. Greenwood Academy (A team), Irvine
3. Greenwood Academy (B team)
4. Queen Katherine School, Kendal
5. Royal Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne
6. Stanley School of Technology, Durham
7. Yarm School, Yarm, Cleveland

Zone 2: Lancs/Greater Manchester
Zone Conductor: David Matthews
1. Bluecoat School, Oldham
2. Bolton School Boys Division
3. Bolton School Boys Division (Junior School)
4. Bury Grammar School
5. Lancaster Royal Grammar School
6. Lytham St Annes High Technology College (A team
7. Lytham St Annes High Technology College (B team)
8. Manchester Grammar School

Zone 3: Yorks
Zone Conductor: Michael Burn
1. Canon Lee School, York
2. Hymers College, Hull
3. Leeds Grammar School (A team)
4. Leeds Grammar School (B team)
5. North Halifax Grammar School
6. Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Junior School, Wakefield
7. Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield 8. St Bedes Grammar School, Bradford
9. Worksop College, Worksop


Zone 4: Wirral
Zone Conductor: Dave Welch
     League Group
1. Argoed High School, Mold, Flints
2. Ellesmere College (B team), Ellesmere, Shropshire
3. St Marys College (A team), Wallasey
4. Calday Grange GS, Wirrall
     Knockout Group
1. Blue Coat School, Liverpool
2. Ellesmere College (A team), Ellesmere, Shropshire
3. Ladymount RC Primary School (A team), Irby, Wirral
4. Ladymount RC Primary School (B team)
5. St Marys College (B team), Wallasey

Zone 5: W Midlands
Zone Conductor: David Matthews
     League Group
1. St Edwards Middle School, Leek
2. Westwood High School, Leek
3. St Anselms School, Bakewell, Derbys
     Knockout Group
1. Bishop Veseys Grammar School, Sutton Coldfield
2. King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys, Birmingham
3. King Edwards School, Edgbaston Park Rd, Birmingham
4. Nottingham High School (B team)
5. Queen Marys Grammar School, Walsall
6. Solihull School
     The League winner will join the KO at the semi-final stage.

Zone 6: E Midlands
Zone Conductor: Michael Burn
     League Group
1. Northampton Prep School, Great Houghton Hall, Northampton
2. Our Ladys Convent School, Kettering, Northants:
3. Rushey Mead Secondary School, Leicester
4. Oakham School (B team)
5. Oundle School
     Knockout Group
1. Kings School, Grantham
2. Nottingham High School (A team)
3. Oakham School (A team)
4. Spalding Grammar School
5. Stamford School, Stamford, Lincs
6. Uppingham School, Uppingham, Rutland

Zone 7: Glos/Hereford/Worcs/Wilts
Zone Conductor: John Place
     League Group
1. Bristol Grammar School
2. Sir Bernard Lovell School, Bristol
3. Fitzalan High School, Cardiff
4. Hereford Cathedral School
     Knockout Group
1. Commonweal School, Swindon
2. Hereford Cathedral Junior School
3. Monmouth School (A team)
4. Monmouth School (B team)
5. St Edwards School, Cheltenham

Zone 8: Beds/Bucks/Oxon
Zone Conductor: Dave Welch
     League Group
1. Abingdon School, Abingdon
2. Magdalen College School, Oxford (C team)
3. Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe
4. Hamilton Primary School, High Wycombe
5. Ridgeway School, Maidenhead Thicket
     Knockout Group
1. Bedford Modern School (A team)
2. Bedford Modern School (B team)
3. Bedford School
4. Magdalen College School Oxford (A team)
5. Magdalen College School (B team)
6. Hitchin Boys School
7. Dr Challoners Grammar School, Amersham

Zone 9: Essex/E Anglia
Zone Conductor: Richard Haddrell
     League Group
1. Brentwood School
2. Beauchamps High School, Wickford, Essex
3. Temple Sutton Primary School, Southend
     Knockout Group
1. Bishops Stortford High School
2. King Edward VI School, Chelmsford
3. Leigh North Street Junior School, Leigh on Sea
4. Moulsham High School, Chelmsford
5. Royal Hospital School, Ipswich
6. Southend High School for Boys
7. St Albans School, Ipswich
8. Thurstable School, Tiptree, Essex
9. Woodbridge School
     The League winner joins the KO at the semi-final stage.

Zone 10: London NW
Zone Conductor: Michael Sergeant
     League Group A
1. Chancellors School, Hatfield
2. Haberdashers Askes School, Elstree (B team)
3. Queen Elizabeths Boys School, Barnet
     League Group B
1. Hasmonean Primary School, Hendon
2. North Bridge House School, London NW1 (B team)
3. Arnold House School, London NW8
     The two League winners play off for a place in the Zone Final.      Knockout Group
1. Haberdashers Askes School (A team)
2. Highgate Junior School
3. Watford Grammar School for Boys
4. Parmiters School, Watford
5. North Bridge House School (A team)

Zone 11: London NE
Zone Conductor: Michael Sergeant
     League Group
1. Chingford CE Junior School
2. Chingford School
3. Highams Park School, London E4
4. Latymer School, Edmonton, London N9
     Knockout Group
1. Forest School, Snaresbrook, London E17
2. Christs College, Finchley
3. NAIMA JPS School, London NW6
4. Hampton School, Hampton, Middx (A team)
5. Ilford County High School
6. Heathland School, Hounslow, Middx

Zone 12: London SW
Zone Conductor: Alec Webster
     League Group
1. Westminster School (A team)
2. Westminster School (B team)
3. Wallington County Grammar School (A team)
4. Wallington County Grammar School (B team)
5. City of London School, London EC4V
     Knockout Group
1. Hampton School, Hampton, Middx (B team)
2. Royal Grammar School Guildford (B team)
3. St Pauls School, London SW13
4. Sutton Grammar School for Boys
5. Tiffin School, Kingston upon Thames
6. Twickenham Prep School, Hampton

Zone 13: SE London/Kent
Zone Conductor: Richard Haddrell
     League Group
1. King Ethelbert School Birchington (A team)
2. King Ethelbert School (B team)
3. Nonington CE Primary School, Nonington, Dover
     Knockout Group
1. Dulwich College Prep School, Dulwich
2. Dulwich College
3. Eltham College
4. James Allens Girls School, London SE22
5. Judd School, Tonbridge
6. Maidstone Boys Grammar School
7. Maidstone Girls Grammar School
8. St Olaves Grammar School, Orpington
     The League winner joins the KO at the semi-final stage.

Zone 14: Hants/Surrey/Sussex
Zone Conductor: David Matthews
     League Group
1. Mountbatten School, Romsey (A team)
2. Mountbatten School (B team)
3. Twyford Prep School, Winchester
4. Winchester College
5. King Edward VI School, Southampton
     Knockout Group
1. Christs Hospital School, Horsham
2. Dorothy Stringer High School, Brighton
3. Kingswood House School, Epsom
4. Lingfield Notre Dame School
5. Royal Grammar School Guildford (A team)
6. Yateley Manor School, Yateley, Hants

Zone 15: West
Zone Conductor: Dave Welch
     League Group
1. Allenbourne Middle School, Wimborne, Dorset
2. Baden Powell & St Peters Middle School, Parkstone, Poole
3. Lytchett Matravers Primary School, Lytchett Matravers, Poole, Dorset
     Knockout Group
1. Devonport High School for Boys (A team)
2. Devonport High School for Boys (B team)
3. Millfield School (A team)
4. Millfield School (B team)
5. Torquay Boys Grammar School (A team)
6. Torquay Boys Grammar School (B team)
7. Truro School
     The League winner joins the KO at the semi-final stage.


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