THREE girls from The Dell Primary School triumphed at the Welsh Girls Chess Championships, held last Sunday (11th January) at Haberdashers Monmouth School for Girls.

All three girls from The Dell won trophies; Fay Russell came first in the under 8s; Anna Boyle came joint first in the under 9s; and Madeleine Smith came second in the under 10s. 

Whilst Anna Boyle and Madeleine Smith are well known on the Welsh junior chess circuit, this is the first big win for Fay.

Tanya Sutton, Fay's mum said: "The story of the Dell's success in chess is almost entirely down to one parent's dedication and enthusiasm, coupled with the support of the Head.  That parent is Richard Stevenson.

"Fay learned to play chess at home a couple of years ago.  As she is still in the infants she is too young to be in the school's weekly chess club.  In spite of this she has benefited enormously from Richard's enthusiastic promotion of chess at The Dell, including the competitions that he organises at school and regular chess training days in the school holidays.

"Fay is really looking forward to being able to join the school's chess club when she enters the juniors next year