Hi everyone,
I hope you are bearing up all right in these trying times.
I am sorry to have to advise that the NZ Chess Federation has made the difficult decision to cancel this year's New Zealand Interschool Chess Championship Finals.
As you know, covid had already forced the rescheduling of this competition from its usual slot in September to the 18th and 19th of December, at Alexandra Park in Auckland.
As NZCF National Inter-school Co-ordinator, I was very keen to make the finals happen (against all odds we did manage this last year).
I was hoping for more certainty around the covid pandemic and government regulations by now.
But unfortunately five weeks out there are still too many unanswered questions, and it is not fair on many of you who have to make travel and accommodation arrangements to keep you hanging any longer.
This week the NZ Chess Federation Council reaffirmed its policy that no official over the board tournaments can be held except in level one or lower, or until the proposed "traffic light" system is implemented and an assessment made of its impact on chess.
The government is not due to make an announcement on this system until 29th November.
It is clear however that it will include a major emphasis on vaccination.
As far as the interschool finals are concerned, for me this is "the straw that broke the camel's back".
The format of the finals involves hundreds of children playing chess in close proximity - which would make it very hard to fulfil social distancing requirements.
All the children under 12 would be unvaccinated, as would quite a number of older students.
The new regulations are unlikely to allow so many unvaccinated people to gather together, while there is also the issue of families and schools who may not want their children mixing with unvaccinated players.
Taking everything into account, there seems to be no option but to cancel this year's finals.
I will refund the entry fees of all schools who have already paid to play; please advise me of your bank accounts for a direct deposit.
I am very sorry to be the bearer of such disappointing news; hopefully things will be more normal next year and the Federation will be able to hold a full programme of interschool events - including the finals.
In the meantime, congratulations to all those schools who can at least claim the status of regional winners this year.
Bob Smith
NZCF National Inter-school Co-ordinator
An official cancellation announcement will be posted on the NZCF website www.newzealandchess.co.nz in the next day or so.
The National Interschool Finals will now be held on 18th and 19th December.
The venue remains Alexandra Park in Auckland and all other details are the same.
With Auckland still in Level Four and very unlikely to reach the required Level One by the original dates of 2nd and 3rd October, NZCF's Interschool Committee and National Finals Organiser Bruce Pollard have decided that the change of dates will give participating schools more certainty and make it easier to plan travel and accommodation.
Schools now have until 1st October to confirm their entries and team lists, using the official entry form.
The deadline for payment of entry fees has been extended until 1st December.
Thank you to all the schools which have already confirmed their entries and paid the entry fee.
If the new dates change your decision please advise Bruce bruce.pollard@ymail.com and me caissa1530@gmail.com.
We look forward to another enjoyable and exciting Interschool Final.
Bob Smith
NZCF National Interschool Co-ordinator
7th September 2021
Bob Smith
NZCF National Interschool Co-ordinator
4th September 2021