Chess puts Greytown on the board

Despite being the major supplier of chess supplies in the country, Greytown couple Brian and Colleen Foster don't play chess themselves.
"We used to, but I guess when you're surrounded by chess pieces, boards, clocks and now all the computer software that's available, it's gets into overload" says Brian, who has been at the forefront of the game since when his daughter began to play in the early 1970s.
They have been in Greytown only a year, having moved their home and all the chess-related supplies from Wainuiomata.
Being a mail order business, they don't hold on to a lot of stock but they still value the large garage and extensive living space in their Greytown home, especially chosen because of their home-based work. It's also easily guessed there's something going on with chess when you arrive to see giant chess pieces peering out of a spare bedroom and the foyer is graced with a beautiful wooden set.
Their daughter, Fenella Gordon, became so enthralled with her chess she became New Zealand's women's champion four year's running.
The Fosters have also published a book about Ortvin Sarapu, the Estonian refugee who fled to New Zealand from war torn Europe in 1943 and became one of New Zealand's best known chess players for over 50 years.
Known amongst his peers as "Mr Chess", Brian Foster says Sarapu was the major influence on chess in New Zealand.
Asked if he felt chess was on the upsurge with children, he felt young people's interest has always been there, it was simply up to the dedication and encouragement of teachers and parents to add the impetus as has been showing in recent school tournaments.