Burgess Hill Chess Academy
About Chess Academies
Sussex Junior Chess established the Chess Academy concept as a way of encouraging wider participation in chess.
The programme seeks to liaise with schools within a geographic area and then to tailor fun, innovative, and age and experience appropriate chess events to suit that community. It is hoped that this will bring chess to a new audience, encouraging them to learn to play chess and offering them a path for progression through local clubs to County and even National level events.
Brian Stockham, a coach with many years experience in junior chess is the Academy Director for the Uckfield and Burgess Hill areas.
26th July
The Burgess Hill Academy summer championships saw a record attendance of 45 children from 13 local schools, with Downlands winning Top School and Birchwood Grove the Top Primary School, with Jack Barnett of the Burgess Hill Academy School the individual champion.This event also saw the presentation of the season’s Burgess Hill Rotary Club awards by local President Julie Smyth. The player of the season shield was retained by Edward Hamey of Downlands, and the school shield was retained also by Birchwood Grove.
2nd June
12 children from 6 schools entered the Burgess Hill Academy Minor Magician event at Birchwood Grove, with the hosts winning Top Primary School and Downlands the Top School, and Jack Barnett of The Burgess Hill Academy was individual champion.
21st April
24 children from 7 local schools attended the 37th Burgess Hill Academy event, with Downlands narrowly retaining Top School from the hosts Birchwood Grove, who were Top Primary School, with Ryan Sargent of Downlands the tournament champion and Adam Parvin of Downlands winning the Easter Egg challenge.
30th December
25 children from 9 schools entered the Burgess Hill Academy winter championships at Birchwood Grove school, with the hosts easily regaining Top Primary School, and Downlands also easily achieving Top School with three of their team scoring 5/6 and Ryan Sargent the individual champion
28th October
20 children from 8 schools entered the Burgess Hill Academy event at Birchwood Grove with the Burgess Hill Academy (formerly Oakmeeds) winning as Top School and Wivelsfield the Top Primary School, and Tom Rousell of BHA the individual champion.
2nd September
The Burgess Hill Academy summer championships saw 36 children entered from 17 schools, a special invitation having gone to Uckfield Academy. The event was still narrowly won by the hosts Birchwood Grove, with the individual champion Michael Stockham of Uckfield CTC with a perfect 6/6
The Burgess Hill Rotary Club shields for the season were presented to Birchwood Grove CP as best school for the fourth year running and to Ed Hamey of Downlands as best player