Nuhaka School chess champs strike again

Hundreds of children attend the Hawke's Bay Schools' Years 1-6 chess tournament at the Hastings Sports Centre. Photo/Supplied

Nuhaka School students' chess prowess is legendary and last week they clocked up more success at the Hawke's Bay Schools' Years 1-6 chess tournament.

Eleven schools entered 139 players in the competition held at the Hastings Sports Centre where the concentration in the air was palpable as the youngsters battled each other over their chessboards.

A group of Nuhaka School students, who made the more-than-two-hour road trip down to Hastings for the competition, won three of the four age categories in the junior tournament held last Friday.

Nuhaka School principal Nick Chapman said the game had always been played at the school, but it was local movie The Dark Horse that really turned the students into chess enthusiasts.

"It started with a letter from [the late] Genesis Potini and the Eastern Knights chess club, offering to help promote chess in schools. Now we have a trophy at the school called the Dark Horse Trophy," he said.

Played by Cliff Curtis in the film, Mr Potini was the star who was known locally in the Tairawhiti/Gisborne region for his strong chess skills and his development of the Eastern Knights chess club.

Mr Chapman said that after the film was made Mr Potini, who was suffering with health issues before he died in 2011, would drop into the school to spend time with the students and check out how they were doing with their chess.

"We actually don't play that much at school - there's a large chessboard in the grounds and there are enough boards for all the kids and they play online.

"They have developed wonderful skills, thinking through strategies, anticipating moves and reading the game.

"Tutors from local clubs come around about once a year to teach in the schools and we have one or two workshops a term."

The students also attend tournaments across the country throughout the year, and Mr Chapman challenged other schools to try to knock them from their top spot.

"We want other schools playing and promoting the game of chess."

Hawke's Bay Chess member Alan Berry said this junior tournament was one of three held each year, including one for senior students in May and a teams' tournament in August, which had been held for nearly 40 years.

The Hastings District Council shared in this history, partnering Hawke's Bay Chess in holding the competition over the years, something the council was very proud of, said social and cultural committee chairman Malcolm Dixon.

"Chess is an activity that suits students from all types and sizes of schools, from rural to urban, and encourages both critical and strategic thinking, as well as concentration and sportsmanship.

"It is wonderful that teachers, parents and the chess club continue to put a great deal of effort into supporting the competition."

Tournament winners:
Years 1-3: Dane Wilson, Nuhaka School
Year 4: Kuki Green Thom, Nuhaka School
Year 5: Zack Caton, Hereworth School
Year 6: Exodus Taylor, Nuhaka School