MEMBERS of South Tawton Primary School Chess Club acquitted themselves well at the Megafinal of the UK Chess Challenge.

The national challenge was held at Tiverton High School on June 13. Pupils Tristan Bol and Poppy Lawson from Year 6, Matthew Stoner, Sophie Williams and Eleanor Holmes from Year 5, and Geoffrey Wang from Year 3 competed.

Eleanor won the girls' under 10 section with four points out of a possible six and is now the Devon Girls' under 10 champion. Next month she will be playing in the UK Chess Challenge Southern semi-final at Wellington College, Berkshire.

Her chess tutors, school staff, local residents and pupils wished her every success.

In the school's own chess tournament last term Eleanor was the winner with 18 points out of 21, narrowly beating Beth Frangleton, and will receive the School Chess Champions Cup.

Thanks were expressed to John Smart and Peter Brotherton for the considerable work they had put into the school's chess club, to Andy Frankel for his coaching sessions and to all those young people who have attended the club, particularly this year's chess captains Poppy Lawson and Tristan Bol.