Latest update April 18th, 2025 5:40 AM
Indigenous students make their mark at Sixth Berbice Inter-School Chess Championship
The un-fancied Skeldon High School team of the Upper Corentyne, whose four-member team comprised three Indigenous students, claimed first prize in the Sixth Edition of the Berbice Inter-School Chess Championship,
A proud and happy First Prize winning Team Skeldon High School and their coach Joseph Brijbilas.
which was held on November 20. The students, who hail from the Orealla, Siparuta area up the Corentyne River, helped their school edge out former champions Berbice High School Team A, who had to settle for the runner up spot. Vryman’s Erven Secondary placed third in the team category. The winning Skeldon team comprised Safraz Esau, Orsino Moses, Ravin Hendricks and Dujohn Singh.
Berbice High School had won the inaugural Championship in 2010.
Darwin London of Berbice Educational Institute reclaimed the Individual Category top prize, he won the year before. Another Indigenous student, Veral Felix, who represented Orealla Secondary, created a bit of history by taking home the second prize in the Individual Category. Third place went to Rayon Clifford of the J.C. Chandisingh Secondary.
Before the competition began Mr. Shon Leitch, Head-teacher of this year’s host school, Manchester Secondary, welcomed the players, teachers and officials. He expressed pleasure that Manchester Secondary was given the opportunity to host the competition. He noted that sport play an important role in the activities of a school which inspires students to do well. The teacher alluded to the fact that the improved performance of Manchester Secondary in this year’s CSEC Examination could be attributed, at least in part, to the Physical Education programme at the school.
Mr Krishnanand Organizer-Coordinator of the competition, in his remarks, said that
Darwin London receives his First Prize in the Individual Category trophy from Malesha Mackoon.
Mr Winston Profitt, Physical Education teacher at Manchester Secondary, was instrumental in having his school host the competition this year. He was also high in praise of the Department of Education, Region 6, for its vital support to the competition since the inaugural Championship in 2010.
Mr. Raghunandan had special words of commendation for Ms Sherryann Felix, mother of second place winner Veral, who escorted her son to and from Orealla to the Manchester Secondary School, to participate in the competition. Their journey began the night before, around 23:00 hrs from Orealla by boat.
Mr. Raghunandan was assisted in coordinating the competition by Steve Leung and teachers including Wayne de France, Dane Grimmond, Joseph Brijbilas, Winston Profitt, and Zahir Moakan.
A total of 47 students from 11 schools (10 Secondary and 1 Primary) participated in the competition which was played on a knockout basis.
Trophies for the competition were donated by the Regional Chairman, Region Six; V. Ganesh Service Station, Bush Lot, Corentyne; Tajpaul Ajodhea & Family; Malesha Mackoon of Rose Hall Town; Deonarine Balram of Balram Shane Store, Rose Hall Town; Bibi’s Travel Service of Rose Hall Town, Dr Walter Singh, Dr Sherlock Rawana and Anand Matadeen among others. (Samuel Whyte)
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