24-08-2016, 12:27 AM
Ian, to all intents and purposes the various junior bodies already run one of the critical stages of the UKCC regionally (both in Scotland and the UK). SJC run the west megafinal, LJC run the east megafinal and NEJCA run the north megafinal. If they qualify, the kids then get to go and play the Gigafinal in Manchester and opportunities to play in the Terafinal 'down south' somewhere.
The one thing thats central and I think UKCC is good at, is the Schools being able to run their own qualifier and act as a pathway for increasing participation - the prizes are a bit 'tatty' at the school qualifiers, but the kids love them.
I'd say that as an initial doubter of the UKCC, I was completely won over this year with the experience that I saw Scottish kids (including my own) having at the Gigafinal. Lots of nice touches to make the kids feel proud, place-cards with their name, school and county logo on it - plus for our lot a bit of travel makes it seem exotic, but not too far away for Mum and Dad.
I'd go as far as calling it an outright disaster for junior chess if it can't be saved/rebooted in some form.
The one thing thats central and I think UKCC is good at, is the Schools being able to run their own qualifier and act as a pathway for increasing participation - the prizes are a bit 'tatty' at the school qualifiers, but the kids love them.
I'd say that as an initial doubter of the UKCC, I was completely won over this year with the experience that I saw Scottish kids (including my own) having at the Gigafinal. Lots of nice touches to make the kids feel proud, place-cards with their name, school and county logo on it - plus for our lot a bit of travel makes it seem exotic, but not too far away for Mum and Dad.
I'd go as far as calling it an outright disaster for junior chess if it can't be saved/rebooted in some form.