2009 has been a milestone year for chess at VP. For the first time, Victoria Park High has been entered into the inter-school’s chess A league, as we have more than 2 EP players in the team. Coming from the C league we have been forced to up our game, and quickly.
New to the team: we have 2 new grade 8’s in the team: Camden Wilson (board 3), and Brian Costelho (board 7). It is essential for chess to grow, as this year we say goodbye to a key player who has served chess to the best of his ability since grade 8; I wish Travis van der Riet the best of luck with his studies.

In terms of actual results, we can proudly say that this has been a great learning experience for future years to come in the A league, and as captain, I think we did very well. Congratulations to: Greg, Ashika, and Tilden and Camden on making the EP team chess team.

Draws : 1    Wins: 2        Losses: 6
Remember: Victory doth lie in the battle not the prize. And chess is fun!

The past 4 years of V.P. chess that I have experienced has had its “ups” and “downs”, we have played in 3 leagues different leagues and experienced it all.

In 2006 we played in the EP high schools chess C league. We won the league having only conceded one match. The highlight of 2006 was our match against Kirkwood at Kirkwood. We experienced a flat tyre and got help from passing cars. The atmosphere was in true VP spirit – awesome. Our Captain and number 1, Drew vd. Riet, shared the Pringle Chess Trophy for player of the year with Adriaan Wildervanck – who made the EP U16 team. Drew really succeeded in putting chess on the map at VP.

In 2007 we were promoted to the B League. Having lost 3 matric players, we were thrown in the “deep-end”. Following in his brother’s footsteps, Travis vd. Riet was elected captain and Adriaan Wildervanck had a tough year on the board one struggling to clench a victory for the team. However the year provided important experience for the team. Unfortunately we were demoted to the C league again.

2008 was an important year as we obtained many good players in grade 8, namely Tilden Plaaitjies. Under Travis’s captaincy VP won the league unbeaten. And as two of our players (Adriaan Wildervanck and Tilden Plaaitjies) made the EP team we were put into the A league.

This year has been a monumental one for Victoria Park so far. We have 5 players in the Eastern Province team namely: Adriaan Wildervanck, Tilden Plaaitjies, Gregory Geldenshuys, Ashika Morar and Camden (a very strong grade 8 with great potential). Playing in the A league, we have won 2 games, lost one and drawn one so far. We wish to keep a strong record going for VP chess to be proud of. Our team is currently very strong and working hard.

Chess is not a game for the faint hearted. I have witnessed many bloody battles and as a team, VP has come out on top most of the time. Remember, Chess is fun!

Adriaan Wildervanck (current captain).

RESULTS: A – LEAGUE

VP VS ALEX            5 : 2
VP VS PEARSON        3½ : 3½
VP VS MUIR            2½ : 4
VP VS LINKSIDE        6 : 1
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The past 4 years of V.P. chess that I have experienced has had its “ups” and “downs”, we have played in 3 leagues different leagues and experienced it all.
In 2006 we played in the EP high schools chess C league. We won the league having only conceded one match. The highlight of 2006 was our match against Kirkwood at Kirkwood. We experienced a flat tyre and got help from passing cars. The atmosphere was in true VP spirit – awesome. Our Captain and number 1, Drew vd. Riet, shared the Pringle Chess Trophy for player of the year with Adriaan Wildervanck – who made the EP U16 team. Drew really succeeded in putting chess on the map at VP.

In 2007 we were promoted to the B League. Having lost 3 matric players, we were thrown in the “deep-end”. Following in his brother’s footsteps, Travis vd. Riet was elected captain and Adriaan Wildervanck had a tough year on the board one struggling to clench a victory for the team. However the year provided important experience for the team. Unfortunately we were demoted to the C league again.

2008 was an important year as we obtained many good players in grade 8, namely Tilden Plaaitjies. Under Travis’s captaincy VP won the league unbeaten. And as two of our players (Adriaan Wildervanck and Tilden Plaaitjies) made the EP team we were put into the A league.

This year has been a monumental one for Victoria Park so far. We have 5 players in the Eastern Province team namely: Adriaan Wildervanck, Tilden Plaaitjies, Gregory Geldenshuys, Ashika Morar and Camden (a very strong grade 8 with great potential). Playing in the A league, we have won 2 games, lost one and drawn one so far. We wish to keep a strong record going for VP chess to be proud of. Our team is currently very strong and working hard.

Chess is not a game for the faint hearted. I have witnessed many bloody battles and as a team, VP has come out on top most of the time. Remember, Chess is fun!
By Adriaan Wildervanck (current captain).

RESULTS: A – LEAGUE
VP VS ALEX 5 : 2
VP VS PEARSON 3½ : 3½
VP VS MUIR 2½ : 4½
VP VS LINKSIDE 6 : 1
05 JUNE VP VS GREY

This year has been one of great success for chess and has become more popular, with some new, skilled players joining our ranks. After our dismal performance last year we decided to return to our normal league, the C League, but as there were too many teams entered into the C league, some were moved down to the D league and we were one of them. If you compare the two leagues, they are of much the same standard and so we did not have an easy ride by any means!

This year has been great to be captain as we have had an unbeaten season, with a total of 63 games been played, and only 8 lost! We will be bringing home the second trophy in the past 3 years for chess and I am very proud of my team and look forward to another year of good results. We will most probably move to a higher league where our players can test their skill against stiffer opposition. I know my players have enjoyed another entertaining and enjoyable year of chess, where we have fought many ‘bloody battles’ and conquered all.

A special congratulations goes to Adriaan Wildervanck, Grade 10, who has yet again, made the EP team (U/20) and to a newcomer, Tilden Plaaitjies, Grade 8, who has made the EP U/16 team and Ashika Morar, we wish these three players the best of luck in their upcoming tournaments and know they will keep the VP flag flying high!

We sadly say goodbye to three matrics who have served chess throughout their school career, Jarryd Pow Chong (Vice-captain), Steven Mace and Donovan Eybers.

Once again, Mr Wynford, teacher in charge, has been a pillar of strength for chess, his support, enthusiasm and sense of humour is refreshing.

And remember, Chess is fun!

Travis van der Riet

This year was the beginning of my captaincy of the chess team. It has been a very challenging year as we were moved up a league (C – league to B – league), which proved to be very difficult. We were moved up a league because we had won the C – league the previous year. Unfortunately we lost three key players of our chess team, which was a great loss. The team had some hard matches, some were only narrowly lost, but we all got valuable experience playing at higher levels.

The year was, as usual, good fun and I thank my team for supporting me as the new chess captain. It was a challenging year for me as captain, as I followed my brother,
Drew van der Riet, the captain who put chess on the map. I hope I was able to keep the chess flag flying high and look forward to leading the team for the rest of my years at Victoria Park.

I thank Mr Wynford for his valuable support of the chess team and me, as the teacher in charge of chess.

Congratulations to Adriaan Wildervanck for making the Eastern Province Chess team for the fourth consecutive year. I hope chess may grow and flourish in the years to come.

Travis van der Riet