Sutton on Trent take Newark school chess tournament win in final round, held at Holy Trinity

f.burrows@iliffepublishing.co.uk

Published: 06:00, 24 May 2025

The third and final round of the Newark primary schools’ chess competition saw very strong performances and close competition.

Sutton on Trent A team and Highfields both scored 11 points from their 12 games, but Sutton’s performance ensured that their school became winners for the third consecutive year.

Highfields jumped into second place overtaking the Sutton on Trent B team, who finished third. Holy Trinity A team finished in fourth place.

Winning Team, Sutton on Trent 'A'. L-R Myron Tymofieliev 11, Finlay Allen 11, Max Stephenson 11, Reuben Ashman 10, Auston Hadley 11

Alfie Hemstock 10 of Sutton on Trent school, Albie Hughes 11 of Barnby Road Academy

2nd place team, Highfields school. L-R Ethan 11, Xander 11, Parker 11, James 11

Parker Pidhorodeckyj 11 of Highfields School, Austin Hadley 11 of Sutton on Trent school.

3rd place team, Sutton on Trent 'B'. L-R Alfie Hemstock 10, Austin Hadley 10, Hanna Nadachewicz 9, Gabe Tyers 9

The event, held at Holy Trinity school on Wednesday (May 21), involved 48 children, across 12 teams, from seven schools: Barnby Road, John Blow (Collingham), Donald Bailey, Farndon, Highfields, Holy Trinity, and Sutton on Trent.

Each team was made up of four players, with each child playing three games in the afternoon against different teams in a jamboree format.

Eight children won all three of their games — a player each from Donald Bailey and Holy Trinity, and three players from both Highfields, and Sutton on Trent.

These children were presented with medals by Vili Chung from the competition’s sponsors Tallents Solicitors. Mrs Chung also presented the trophies to the teams in first, second and third places.

L-R Noah Dewsbury 11 of Sir Donald Bailey Academy, Erin Haarhoff 10 of Barnby Road Academy

L-R Tom Funchall of John Blow School, Florence Sweeney 9 of Holy Trinity Academy

Carter Henderson 10 of Fardon St Peters School

L-R Nisa Etker 11 of Sir Donald Bailey Academy, Hubi Kazula 10 of Holy Trinity Academy

Two previous rounds of the competition were held at Barnby Road in November last year and Donald Bailey in March.

The scores from these two events were added to the points gained in the final round to produce the overall positions, with Sutton on Trent coming out on top.

Their points total of 32.5 out of 36 from the three rounds was the highest score achieved since the competition started in 2008/09, beating the Holy Trinity total of 32 in 2019.

Sutton on Trent A and B team members L-R Finlay Allen 11, Myron Tymofieliev 11, Max Stephenson 11, Alfie Hemstock 10, Reuben Ashman 10, Gabe Tyers 9, Austin Hadley 11, Hanna Nadachewicz 9

A spokesman for the competition said that the standard of play once again improved over the school year, and the final event produced some very good checkmates involving minor pieces. In some games, players gambled on giving up a piece to gain a better position.

Human Interest Newark Fionn Burrows