Page 78 - The Gonzaga Record 1990
P. 78
when the smoke cleared, we had made see him again - in Moscow!
a mark for ourselves: 2nd in the On the domestic scene, we are pleased
Intermediate Section, (effectively 8th in to report that our Senior Team retained
the U.K. overall!) with several individual the Leinster Championship for the fifth
awards: Best U/14; Mark Quinn, 517: year in a row, conceding just 2 points,
1
Best Board 3: Shane Lee, 5 /z/7: 28/30. Our Junior Team, reigning
Reserves' Event: Winner: John Carroll; Leinster and All-Ireland Champions,
3rd: Kenneth Sheeran. These results went through the season without
were all the more noteworthy, given that conceding even Vz a point: 35/35! At
our average age was 15, and most of our CBC, Cork, on the 2nd/3rd May, they
opponents were 5th and 6th formers. We once again took on all-corners in defence
cannot close this account without saluting of their All-Ireland title: defeating Ulster
Alan Peart's tremendous performance on 6-0 and Munster 6-0, they left no doubt
1
Board 1, with 4 h/7 against opposition about their superiority.
averaging 2000 grading. We have been The year ended on a high note:
invited back this year, and wild horses international recognition came at last,
wouldn't stop us! when Alan Peart and Mark Quinn (that
A chance encounter early in December boy again!) were selected on the team to
led to one of the outstanding events in the represent Ireland in the Glorney Cup in
year - the visit of Grandmaster, David August 1990. Mark was furthermore
Bronstein, to the school. A defeated selected to represent Ireland in the World
finalist for the World Championship in U/14 championship in Wisconsin in July.
1951 , (he tied 12-12 with Botvinnik, Truly, the Gonzaga School Champion!
lo sing on tie-break) Bronstein remains a
player of formidable strength, a magnetic
and energetic populariser of the game, an
outstandingly great writer of chess books;
and, on the evidence of his visit to 1990
Gonzaga, a wonderful communicator
with young people. Hi s visit, scheduled Senior Team: Leinster Champions
to la st 25 minutes, ended after an hour 5/Row
and a quarter, only when he was dragged, David Carthy
most reluctantly, to fulfil another Philip Comerford
engagement. From a shy and uncertain Brian Kennedy
beginning, ('I don't know what to say to Jim O'Brien
these young people') he held 40 of our Ronan Keogan
students spell-bound, ranging far and Junior Team: Leinster Champions 1990
wide over the whole field of chess. His All-Ireland Champions 1990
central theme was clear: the search for
the best move, the correct strategy, Mark Quinn
coupled with respect for one's opponent. Alan Peart
'What is most important moment in Shane Lee
chess?' he asked his young listeners. 'The William Mulligan
opening', 'the last few minutes', they Francis Sweeney
hazarded. 'When you have just lost!' Eoin O'Brien
came the answer. 'For then you must take Glorney Cup, 1990
your opponent 's hand , smile, and say Alan Peart, Mark Quinn
''Thank you for th e game: you played
well." 'Grandmaster Bronstein 's kindly World Under-14 1990: Mark Quinn.
demeanour, forthright opinions, and School Champion 1990:
blazing integrity made a profound Mark Quinn (Senior)
impression on our players. We hope to Philip O'Kelly (Prep.)
76
a mark for ourselves: 2nd in the On the domestic scene, we are pleased
Intermediate Section, (effectively 8th in to report that our Senior Team retained
the U.K. overall!) with several individual the Leinster Championship for the fifth
awards: Best U/14; Mark Quinn, 517: year in a row, conceding just 2 points,
1
Best Board 3: Shane Lee, 5 /z/7: 28/30. Our Junior Team, reigning
Reserves' Event: Winner: John Carroll; Leinster and All-Ireland Champions,
3rd: Kenneth Sheeran. These results went through the season without
were all the more noteworthy, given that conceding even Vz a point: 35/35! At
our average age was 15, and most of our CBC, Cork, on the 2nd/3rd May, they
opponents were 5th and 6th formers. We once again took on all-corners in defence
cannot close this account without saluting of their All-Ireland title: defeating Ulster
Alan Peart's tremendous performance on 6-0 and Munster 6-0, they left no doubt
1
Board 1, with 4 h/7 against opposition about their superiority.
averaging 2000 grading. We have been The year ended on a high note:
invited back this year, and wild horses international recognition came at last,
wouldn't stop us! when Alan Peart and Mark Quinn (that
A chance encounter early in December boy again!) were selected on the team to
led to one of the outstanding events in the represent Ireland in the Glorney Cup in
year - the visit of Grandmaster, David August 1990. Mark was furthermore
Bronstein, to the school. A defeated selected to represent Ireland in the World
finalist for the World Championship in U/14 championship in Wisconsin in July.
1951 , (he tied 12-12 with Botvinnik, Truly, the Gonzaga School Champion!
lo sing on tie-break) Bronstein remains a
player of formidable strength, a magnetic
and energetic populariser of the game, an
outstandingly great writer of chess books;
and, on the evidence of his visit to 1990
Gonzaga, a wonderful communicator
with young people. Hi s visit, scheduled Senior Team: Leinster Champions
to la st 25 minutes, ended after an hour 5/Row
and a quarter, only when he was dragged, David Carthy
most reluctantly, to fulfil another Philip Comerford
engagement. From a shy and uncertain Brian Kennedy
beginning, ('I don't know what to say to Jim O'Brien
these young people') he held 40 of our Ronan Keogan
students spell-bound, ranging far and Junior Team: Leinster Champions 1990
wide over the whole field of chess. His All-Ireland Champions 1990
central theme was clear: the search for
the best move, the correct strategy, Mark Quinn
coupled with respect for one's opponent. Alan Peart
'What is most important moment in Shane Lee
chess?' he asked his young listeners. 'The William Mulligan
opening', 'the last few minutes', they Francis Sweeney
hazarded. 'When you have just lost!' Eoin O'Brien
came the answer. 'For then you must take Glorney Cup, 1990
your opponent 's hand , smile, and say Alan Peart, Mark Quinn
''Thank you for th e game: you played
well." 'Grandmaster Bronstein 's kindly World Under-14 1990: Mark Quinn.
demeanour, forthright opinions, and School Champion 1990:
blazing integrity made a profound Mark Quinn (Senior)
impression on our players. We hope to Philip O'Kelly (Prep.)
76
