All set for chess final

A schoolgirl will be taking part in the biggest event in the primary school chess calendar tomorrow.

Sophie Hudspeth (11) of Winthorpe, will represent Nottinghamshire in the English Primary Schools’ Chess Association girls’ national final, at Bolton.

It will be the third time that Sophie, a pupil at Winthorpe Primary School, has competed in the final. Last year Nottinghamshire came fourth out of 15 teams.

Sophie, who started playing chess at six, is ranked fifth out of 12 in the team.

She is a member of Winthorpe Primary School’s chess club, run by her mother, Mrs Maggie Hudspeth, the organiser of Newark Chess League.

A total of 36 children took part in the second round of the league at Muskham Primary School.

Nine teams compete, representing four primary schools, with four players on each team.

The scores were added to results of the first round, at Sutton-on-Trent Primary School.

Holy Trinity Primary School will host the league’s third round, played in the summer term.

Coaching lessons will be offered to pupils who compete in the league by one of the organisers of the county team, Mr John Crawly. The lessons, during the summer term, are being paid for by Tallents Solicitors, Newark.