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.
Latest news from the Burgess Hill Chess Academy:
25th July 2018
The Burgess Hill Academy summer championships took place at Birchwood Grove School, with 27 entrants from 12 schools; James Robertson of Lancing Prep was the individual champion, with Lancing Prep winning Top Primary School and Downlands were Top School. The annual Rotary Club Awards for the best season were presented by Local Rotary President Jack Bennett to Downlands School and Jack Barnett of The Burgess Hill Academy School.
1st June 2018
16 children from 7 schools entered the 43rd Burgess Hill Academy event entitled Bishop Botherer held at Birchwood Grove, which was a training event, with the host team emerging not only as Primary champions in the competition element, but were also Top School overall, with Toby Ralph of Lancing Prep the individual champion.
11th April 2018
11th April 2018 – 23 children from 10 schools entered the 42nd Burgess Hill Academy special Easter event at Birchwood Grove, which was completely dominated by St Lawrence CEP of Hurstpierpoint, with Seth Brewer winning the Easter Egg challenge, Oliver Goswamy individual champion and St Lawrence narrowly winning Top School on a tie-break from Downlands.
3rd January 2018
29 children from 11 schools attended the Burgess Hill Academy winter championships held at Birchwood Grove, with Downlands winning Top School and the hosts Birchwood Grove Top Primary School and Edward Hamey of Downlands was the individual champion with 5.5/6.
23rd October 2017
23 children from 9 schools entered the 40th Burgess Hill Academy event entitled Pawnstormer, with Downlands winning Top School, the hosts Birchwood Grove narrowly winning Top Primary School and the individual champion was Thomas Martin of Chailey.
