English Chess Federation Club of the Year ...
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While 3Cs have won the English Chess Federation's "Club of the Year" award on three occasions - 2006, 2014, 2024 - no other chess club throughout the country has ever won it more than once.
The annual award by the national governing body of chess in this country is presented not just to the club which has performed best over the board during the previous twelve months but is for the combined success of that element as well as the club's behind the scenes efforts to promote and develop chess for the benefit of both their own club but also regionally and nationally.
While 3Cs teams have gained plenty of success over many years, the main ethos of the club has always been to encourage more people to play, especially juniors. Therefore the club are pleased that their efforts have so often been recognised by the English Chess Federation with this award.
The photographs show (left) 3Cs founder Steve Rigby receiving the "Club of the Year" award in 2006 from ECF official Stan Goodall, and (top) again in 2014 in front of another generation of 3Cs young talent.
A report of 3Cs winning the 2014 ECF Club of the Year award can be seen by clicking this link ...
British Chess Educational Trust Award ...
3Cs Chess Club - 2023 Winners
3Cs have won the most prestigious national award available for schools or chess clubs who organise and promote the game of chess, specifically at junior level, and "have shown outstanding achievements or enthusiasm in chess".
The British Chess Educational Trust was set up from a sum of money left to the British Chess Federation by Sir George Thomas, who was the British chess champion in the 1930s and also a British badminton champion
As 2023 winners, 3Cs received an engraved chess board with a set of wooden pieces and a clock, while the club's name will forever be shown on the prestigious list showing previous winners of the award, which was first presented in 1911.
Further details of the British Chess Educational Trust award can be seen via this link ...
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ECF President's Award ...
Awarded annually by the President of the national governing body for outstanding services to chess
The founder of 3Cs Steve Rigby (pictured left) was the recipient of one of the English Chess Federation's most prestigious accolades in 2009 when he was honoured with the ECF President's Award for services to English chess.
A report on Steve's honour and his contribution to the game of chess was published in the ECF's regular "Chess Moves" magazine and can be seen on pages 2 & 3 via the following link
Phil Adams, the 3Cs' senior coach, was similarly honoured by the English Chess Federation in 2018 with the President's Award. The photo shows Phil literally flying the flag for England during a tournament in Spain.
The announcement of the award is on page 17 of the 2019 ECF Yearbook can be seen via the "ECF Awards" link below while the other link will provide a download giving a brief history of Phil's chess career
ECF "Contribution To Junior Chess" Award ...
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Dale James - 2022 English Chess Federation "Contribution to Junior Chess" Award
As with many people who work "behind the scenes", the importance of Dale James's contribution to the success of 3Cs should never be underestimated. However, while those within the club are fully aware of the importance of Dale's efforts, it is mostly performed without the accolades it deserves from others in the chess community when praising 3Cs for the number of talented young players to have come through its ranks.
Dale's contribution to 3Cs doesn't generally take place at the club itself but in local schools, of which he currently visits nine each week to give coaching lessons and then recommends any players with potential to visit 3Cs for more advanced tuition.
It was therefore only right that Dale's work should be honoured by the English Chess Federation - the national governing body of chess - with their 2022 "Contribution to Junior Chess" award so that his work can be appreciated by a wider audience.
The link below shows the full list of the ECF's 2022 awards. The citation for Dale can be seen on pages 13 and 14.
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