Wiltshire Junior Chess

Welcome to the website of Wiltshire Junior Chess

New to Chess?

Wiltshire Junior Chess encourages and promotes chess for junior girls and boys of all ages and abilities.

School Chess

Many schools in Wiltshire have chess clubs at lunchtime or after school. If you want to start a school club WJC can help advise on sourcing equipment, resources for teaching & advice on running a club. Contact us for details.

Chess in Schools & Communities
Based in Chippenham, Paul Girdlestone is a Chess Tutor for the Chess in Schools & Communities Charity. Paul delivers a heavily subsidised 1 year Chess course (spanning the school year) which additionally contributes to 'School Curriculum' subjects.
It is provided to eligible State Primary Schools with further information available from Paul (who holds an enhanced DBS Certificate) on 07958000915

Chess Clubs

In addition to the many chess clubs operating in schools Wiltshire Junior Chess has its own junior chess club. Contact details can be found below:

Moonrakers Junior Chess Club, Swindon

Want to Improve Your Chess?

The best way to improve is to play regularly! Tournament chess is a very effective way to improve because you play against people with ideas new to you. Writing down your moves is also a great help to improving as you can go over (analyse) each game afterwards. If you can't yet write your moves down it's a good idea to learn!

If you're new to chess try one of the Wiltshire Junior Chess "Fun Days" held in the autumn term, or the 'Wilts & West of England Championships' in February, which has a beginner's section.

For those who are interested in Junior coaching on an individual or 'smaller group' basis further information is again available from Paul Girdlestone (typical ECF rating 190-200) on 07958000915

County Teams, England Squad & External Tournaments

Wiltshire Junior Chess run county teams at U9, U11, U11 girls, & older age groups. To be selected for a team, you need two good performances from our selection events held every year. Some of our players have gone on to play in the England Junior Chess squad. For more information on playing competitive chess look at the upcoming events section on this page.

Provisional Calendar of Events 2020

Sat 11 Jan 2020 West of England and South Wales Team Championships Chepstow Leisure Centre (by invitation)
Sat/Sun 22/23 Feb 2020 Wiltshire and West of England Junior Open Championships The Deanery CE Academy, Peglars Way, Swindon SN1 7DA Download Entry Form
Sat 7 March 2020 U11 EPSCA Team Zonal Berkshire (by invitation)
Sat 28 March 2020 U11 EPSCA Team Finals Grace Academy, Solihull (by invitation, subject to qualification)

Contact Details

Team Managers

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