Chess Competition 

NSW Junior Chess League Tournament

This term has seen the library buzzing at recess and lunchtimes as students show off their skills and tactics in the game of chess. After seeking interest at an assembly, Miss Cuddigan arranged a round robin chess competition with eight students participating in a play-off to reveal the school's four strongest players.

WWHS has since entered the team of Thomas Gavan, Hayden Kelly, Aaron Pagett and Dean Bennett-Clancy, as well as important reserves Michael Horne, Haylie Reynolds, Dustyn Allen and Jackson Reynolds, into the NSW Junior Chess League’s Country Secondary Schools Competition. This is a knock-out team competition for schools outside the Sydney Metropolitan area, the Central Coast and Blue Mountains.

The competition, which is for one team of four players per school, is played in six regions – Hunter, North Coast, North West, Riverina, South Coast and Western. When a team loses it is knocked out of the main competition but then participates in a "second place competition", which determines second place in the region. The region winners qualify to play in finals which are held in Sydney in November.

WWHS was set to play Collarenebri Central School (CCS) on Monday 25th March, however this game never eventuated as CCS were forced to forfeit. This means that we have automatically progressed to round two of the competition and are set to play Narrabri High School early next term. In the meantime, the students will continue practising their chess, with occasional coaching and tips from chess guru, Mr Gary Stewart and teacher’s aide, Mr Rod Crawford.