NYCA Under 14 Championships (11 Nov 00)
A Sussex team of twelve players defied the organiser’s predictions and took the National Youth Chess Association’s under 14 title by a clear three points. The result was never going to be in doubt once the team manager (Martin May) had offered a Mars Bar a win. The Sussex chocaholics needed no further temptation. The only loser was likely to be Martin as he saw his stock of chocolate bars dwindle with exceptional speed. On paper this was always going to be a tough assignment, and after a solid first round with 9 points it still appeared that the pre tournament favourites, Richmond would again take the honours as they were half a point ahead. However, it was consistency that would take the day, and Sussex were up to the task. The second round of 9½ points put them well ahead of all the opposition and a further 9 in the final round was more than enough to see them home. This was a true team effort with all the players performing their very best.
Team Results
| Team | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total | Position |
| Sussex | 9 | 9½ | 9 | 27½ | 1 |
| Lancashire | 8 | 8 | 8½ | 24½ | 2 |
| Richmond | 9½ | 7 | 7½ | 24 | 3 |
| Manchester | 7½ | 7 | 7 | 21½ | 4 |
| Essex | 5½ | 8½ | 5 | 19 | 5= |
| Wiltshire | 6½ | 6 | 6½ | 19 | 5= |
| Cheshire | 4 | 5½ | 8 | 17½ | 7 |
| Staffordshire | 5 | 6 | 6½ | 17½ | 8 |
| Glamorgan | 4½ | 5 | 5 | 14½ | 9 |
| Barnet | 4½ | 5 | 4 | 13½ | 10 |
| Somerset | 4 | 3½ | 3 | 10 | 11 |
| Warwicks | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| Board | Name | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| 1 | Thomas Rendle | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Staffs | Wiltshire | Warwicks | |||
| 2 | Theo Penty | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Glamorgan | Cheshire | Lancs | |||
| 3 | David Barraclough | 1 | ½ | 1 | 2½ |
| Somerset | Staffs | Manchester | |||
| 4 | Nick Campion | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1½ |
| Barnet | Essex | Richmond | |||
| 5 | Michael Hamilton | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Warwicks | Manchester | Wiltshire | |||
| 6 | Stephanie Barraclough | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Lancs | Glamorgan | Cheshire | |||
| 7 | Adam Prescott | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Manchester | Somerset | Staffs | |||
| 8 | Matthew Linnett | ½ | 1 | 1 | 2½ |
| Richmond | Barnet | Essex | |||
| 9 | James Purcell | ½ | 1 | 1 | 2½ |
| Wiltshire | Warwicks | Somerset | |||
| 10 | Georgina Draper | ½ | ½ | 1 | 2 |
| Cheshire | Lancs | Glamorgan | |||
| 11 | Richard Howell-Peak | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Staffs | Manchester | Somerset | |||
| 12 | James May | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ |
| Essex | Richmond | Barnet | |||
| 9 | 9½ | 9 | 27½ |
Sussex Under 12 team third at NYCA event (24-Sep-00)
Sussex was represented at the National Youth Chess Association’s under 12 team competition in Stoke-on Trent. The team members included many of the previous year’s under 11 team with a few younger players taken along to broaden their team competition experience. The event itself was unusual in that whole teams competed against other teams in a ‘Swiss’ style competition.
The Sussex team performed very well to be placed overall third on 32 points , only 1½ points behind the runners up Greater Manchester. The event was won by Richmond with 52 points.
| 1st | Richmond | 52 |
| 2nd | Gt. Manchester | 33½ |
| 3rd | Sussex | 32 |
| 4th= | Cheshire& N Wales | 30½ |
| Essex | 30½ |
| Board | ||
| 1 | Grant Bucher | 3½ |
| 2 | Sebastian Elliott | 2 |
| 3 | Adam Prescott | 4 |
| 4 | Danny Glebocki | 3 |
| 5 | Daniel Khoo | 2 |
| 6 | Steven Stracey | 3 |
| 7 | Andrew Tucker | 3 |
| 8 | Matthew Doggett | 1 |
| 9 | Simon Bell | 1½ |
| 10 | Ben Johnson | 2 |
| 11 | Jonathan Paley | 3½ |
| 12 | Katherine Rattle | 3½ |
| Total | 32 |