THE START

1970
The competition started in Christchurch possibly by the NZ Chess Association, now called the NZ Chess Federation.

PRESS CHESS

Note:
The Press Chess competitions are unique in New Zealand. They are long-running, have sponsorship and are mostly run and organised by local schools. Elsewhere in New Zealand it is the local clubs that run the competitions as and when volunteers are able and this is patchy.

1971 (12 teams entered)
Alvin Hollander, President of the NZ Chess Association, approached The Press to take over and sponsor the competition. The Press agreed and Bob Schumacher of the sports section was appointed to organise it.

There was one grade made up of all the big high schools, Heaton Intermediate and St Margaret’s. The top four placings in the first year went to Shirley Boys’, Christchurch Boys’, St Bede’s then Cashmere.

Long standing high schools taking part since the competitions began have been Burnside, Christchurch Boys’, Christ’s College, Shirley Boys’ St Andrew’s and St Bede’s. Christchurch Boys’ has won the A-grade fourteen times and Shirley Boys’ twelve times.

late 1970s to early 80s (regularly about 40 teams entering)
With the increase in teams the A & B grades were introduced.

1979
The C grade made up of intermediates only was introduced. The first two placings went to Heaton and Cobham, with Cobham being the longest playing intermediate since.

1985 to 1988
The girls’ grade was introduced. In the inaugural year St Margaret’s had the top placing.

At least four schools were needed for a separate grade so girls’ schools entered in the B grade in subsquent years.

1999
After a twenty-eight year relationship, sponsorship of the competitions moved from Bob Schumacher, Sports to Press Newspapers in Education (NIE).

The Girls competition was re-introduced and open to schools at primary, intermediate and high school level. The top placing in the first year went to Burnside High with four teams entering.

2000
The Primary competition was introduced although some primary schools were able to compete in the intermediate competition in previous years. Twenty-four teams entered in this first year with Ilam taking the title.

2001
School Girls competition (16 teams entered)
The competition was separated into primary, intermediate and high school competitions with three shields for the winners and a cup for the overall champion. Kirkwood was overall champion and the intermediate winner, Ilam the primary winner and Burnside the high school winner.

Primary competition (24 teams entered)
Intermediate competition (24 teams entered)
Secondary competition (16 teams entered)

The primary and intermediate level saw entrants from all over Canterbury plus Nelson/Marlborough taking part. Interest was so high that most schools could only put in one team and schools that entered late missed out.

2002
Zones were introduced to the Primary, Intermediate & Secondary competitions with a full day zone event, half day zone semi final and then a full day final.

Primary competition (89 teams entered)
Intermediate competition (76 teams entered)
Girls Primary competition (18 teams entered)
Girls Intermediate competition (22 teams entered)
Girls Secondary competition (2 teams entered)

2003
The competitions names changed from Primary, Intermediate & Secondary to Years 1 to 6, Years 7 to 8 and Years 9 to 13. After a five year involvement, at the end of 2003, Jacinta Buist stood down from organising the Years 1 to 6, Years 7 to 8 and Girls’ Competitions.

2004
The Inter School Chess Charitable Trust took over the running of the competitions.

2005
The Press Chess Girls' Competition was discontinued. A separate girls' competition was run by Jacinta Buist during the NZ Chess Federation "Girls for Chess Week".

Years 1 to 6 competition (97 teams entered)
Years 7 to 8 competition (119 teams entered)

2006
Home schooled pupils entered the competition for the first time.
The competition size was contained at 8 zones per grade, with 8 competitive teams per zone and 8 social teams per zone.

NZ CHESS FEDERATION NATIONAL COMPETITIONS

These started in 2001. Chess clubs organise Primary, Intermediate and Secondary competitions in their districts to get regional champions who then play each other for the North and South Island titles. The North and South Island champions play each other for the NZ titles at primary and intermediate level.

As there were no other South Island inter school competitions, The Press Chess Competition winners represented the South Island at the NZ Championship.

2005
Year 7 to 8 inter school competitions were run in Otago. Cobham Intermediate beat Dunedin North Intermediate to win the South Island final.

2006
Separate North and South Island finals were discontinued. Regional teams traveled to Hamilton to compete for the NZ title. Our Cobham Intermediate School team won Gold in the Years 7-8 section and our Windsor Primary School team won Bronze in the Years 1-6 section.

2008
Due to the size of our local competitions, two Canterbury teams per section were invited to the 2008 National finals in Hastings. Our Burnside Primary School team won Silver in the Years 1-6 section.