The 24th County Wexford Chess Challenge has been held in St Joseph’s PS for the last three years and every year it’s getting better and better. The previous 21 years it was held in Piercestown NS organised by the now retired principal, Eamonn Barrett .
This year , on the 11th February , 24 teams of six , from all over the county , from New Ross CBS to Gaelscoil Enniscorthy to Riverchapel NS took part . So each of the 144 children played three rounds of chess , meaning that over 400 exciting games were played between 6.30pm and 8.30pm that evening .
Visitors commented on the super welcome they received in St Jopseph’s . This was a credit to our wonderful Parents’ Council that provided refreshments for all. Gorey Chess Club and the parents of St Joseph’s chess students ensured that the tournament ran smoothly and that all the children were cared for . Our caretaker , Jackie, and our secretary , Geraldine, prepared the school for this the biggest chess event in Co Wexford . Eamonn Pierce presented the evening and as one non chess playing parent commented , “ He even makes the game of chess sound exciting ! “
Last but not least St Joseph’s A Senior and St Joseph’s A Junior swept the boards by winning both the senior and junior sections !
RESULTS: 1st St Joseph’s – 17 ½ pts, 2nd New Ross CBS- 14 ½ pts, 3rd Crossabeg , Piercestown and Gaelscoil Enniscorthy – 11 ½ pts
Junior Section: 1st St Joseph’s 1 -15pts, 2nd Bunclody – 12 ½ pts,3rd Piercestown – 11 ½ pts ,4th St Joseph’s 2 and 3 – 11pts . see below!!
ST JOSEPH’S TEAMs : Senior section
1: David, Ryan, Andy, Conor , Gearoid, Ben
2: Jude , Adam , James, Ewan, Cian, Harry
Junior Section
1: Aidan, Shay ,Oisin, Paddy, Finn, Dylan,
2 Tiernan, Robert, Ben, Angelo, Peter, Paul
3: Aron, Aaron, Thierry, Mikey, TJ, Conor
Subs : AJ, Ben Jamie