In October last year, BG generously agreed to sponsor the Aberdeen Chess Academy and Scottish Junior Chess novice programmes. Arrangements were quickly made to stage a series of events specifically aimed at novice chess players, together with a girl’s only section. New categories that have been added this season include: -

1. The SJC Novice Championship, for primary players new to chess
2. The SJC 600, for secondary or primary seven students whose ranking is no higher than 600
3. The SJC Girls Novice, a girls’ only event for beginners
4. The SJC Girls Open.
5. Aberdeen Chess Academy League, divisions 1-4.

These events have been a marvellous addition to the SJC programme in particular, filling a significant gap in the national chess calendar for groups of young players that have, in the past, been poorly catered for.

Between November and March, SJC staged heats of the above categories in Aberdeen, Lanarkshire, and Renfrewshire. These have proved to be hugely popular, resulting in some very encouraging feedback. Below is a full list of the 36 finalists, who are to be invited to Murrayfield on June 17.

SJC plans to double the number of novice and girls heats next season, making this one of the biggest junior events of the year.

BG Novice Cup / West of Scotland / Lanarkshire Heat qualifiers

SJC Novice Finalists

Ryan Hunter (Quarryhill Primary); Mubin Islam (Gilcomstoun Primary); Alex Farquhar (Middlefield Primary); Scott Thomson (Newmachar Primary); Simon Denholm (Tinto Primary); Fearghus Thompson (Tinto Primary); Andrew Glancy (Jordanhill Primary); Kieran McCourt (St Brides Primary); Scott McDonnell (Airdrie YM); Reiss Armstrong (Kilmacolm Primary); Ricky Cornforth (St Mark’s Primary, Barrhead); Darryn Sims (St Francis Primary); Andrew Wylie (Bishopton Primary).

SJC 600 – Finalists

Steven Dunbar (Middlefield Primary); Lewis Manson (St Machar Academy); Emma McIntosh (Muirfield Primary); Aletia McCulloch (Shawlands); Gregor Nesbitt (Mearns Castle); Duncan Webb (Houston Primary); Russell Petrie (Hillpark Secondary); Allan Gallacher (John Ogilvie High School); Ciaran Morcombe (St Brides, Cambuslang)

SJC Girls Open - Finalists

Maryann McDonald (Aberdeen Grammar); Gemma King (Northfield Academy); Emma Grant (Newtonhill Primary); Charlotte Childs (Hamilton CC); Alice Lampard (Troon CC); Shona Jordan (Giffnock CC)

SJC Girls Novice - Finalists

 Caroline Barbour (Tullos Primary); Hollie Will (Quarryhill Primary); Lisa Bain (Tullos Primary); Aminah Ahmed (Cults Primary); Nadia Ameur (Bothwell Primary); Rebecca Childs Bothwell Primary); Lisa Flaherty (Holy Family Primary, Glasgow); Rebekah Jack (Carrick Primary)

Left: Girls Open and Girls Novice Qualifiers from Aberdeen Heat. Right: Aberdeen Girls Novice Heat