LOCAL youngsters are covering themselves in glory by picking up national titles, with Hampton School's chess team, and Twickenham golfer Farren Keenan leading the way.

The team from Hampton School, Hanworth Road, led by Ross Mooring, were the victors in the British Chess Federation Schools' competition in Nottingham.

They beat RGS Guildford in the final 41/2-1/2 after overcoming last year's winners Oakham School.

Oakham had two Russian players on the top two boards as part of their Kasparov chess scholarship scheme. Hampton's Nick Kingston-Smith gained a creditable draw, taking 1hr 52 mins and 18 moves as Hampton beat Oakham by a narrow 3 1/2-2 .

The victorious team included Nicholas Moon, who recently represented Great Britain in the Under 12 tour of Poland and Murugan Thiruchelvam, recent winner of the Under 20 Commonwealth chess championships.

Within the victorious team were Graham Hantmann , who recently represented Great Britain in the Under 12 tour of Poland and Murugan Thiruchelvam, recent winner of the Under 20 Commonwealth Chess Championships.

Dr Richard Harris, Master in Charge, said"This has been our most successful year for as long as I can remember. In addition to winning the British Chess Federation Schools Cup for the first time, Hampton also won the Surrey School's League."

Meanwhile, Twickenham's Farren Keenan, aged 17, from Royal Mid Surrey GC, was one the four members of England's Under 18 World Cup winning team in Japan.

The next England Under 18 event is the European Team Boys Championship in Iceland this month.

July 8, 2002 17:00