Schools Championship

British Go Journal No. 65. July 1985. Page 13.

This year the British School Team Championships, sponsored by Equity & Law PLC, was held on March 10th at Furze Platt Comprehensive In Maidenhead. The 24 players in the four round tournament were hard at it till 6.15 in the evening, although there was never any doubt as to who was going to claim the Castledine Trophy and the BGA prize.

As the results table shows, the Furze Platt A team of Simon Carter, Leigh Rutland and Benedict Prynn steamrollered the opposition and won all of its games to retain the trophy for a second year.

However Go teaches us that we cannot all be winners, and an enjoyable day was, as they say, had by all. The tournament was enlivened by visiting dan players, including the British champion Matthew Macfadyen, and Francis Roads, himself a teacher (there to help with discipline?). There was also a book shop, refreshments (a Very Important Factor), and a friendly atmosphere generated by the doyen of schools Go, France Ellul, his teams and various helpers.

The whole event was very capably organised by France, who has put a tremendous amount of work into fostering Go in his school, organising the club, promoting the game, taking pupils to tournaments, and so on. He deserves our thanks for his largely unsung efforts. It was certainly a pleasure to see so many young players for once, especially the female ones!

The prizes were awarded by Mr. Bruce James on behalf of the sponsors, who also deserve recognition and our thanks for their continuing support.

British Schools Team Championships