Sport

We turn our focus to the GPS Track and Field Championships at Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre this Friday. We anticipate a robust competition and look forward to competing against the other GPS schools.

Good luck to our team of boys representing Churchie in all track and field events.

Swimming

We welcome all new and returning families to the commencement of our season on Monday next week. Boys, it’s time to get your training gear ready and caps dusted off to dive in for our first pool session. Our new and returning coaches look forward to welcoming you back on deck. Training schedules and key dates for the season are available for download on myChurchie – Swimming.

All registered GPS swimming athletes are invited to join us at our annual January camps for fun training and team-based activities.  

2025 Junior GPS Swim Day Clinic  

Years 5, 6 and 7 boys – must be registered for GPS swimming
Wednesday 22 January 2025
Barry McCart Aquatic Centre, Churchie
Register here – closes 30 November 2024

2025 GPS Swim Camp

Years 8 to 12 – must be registered for GPS swimming
20 to 21 January 2025
Gold Coast Performance Centre, Southport
Register here – closes 30 November 2024

For camp details, the itinerary and the payment link, please visit myChurchie – Swimming.

Chess

2024 Queensland Schools Teams Chess Championships Summary

Churchie has emerged as the Queensland state champion in the senior and junior divisions at the Queensland Schools Teams Chess Championships 2024. These victories secure Churchie’s position as Queensland’s representative at the Australian Schools Teams Chess Championships, which will be held in Perth on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 December.

Senior division:

In a fiercely contested tournament, Churchie, Kings Christian College and Brisbane State High School (BSHS) were neck and neck on points heading into the final round. After the sixth round, Churchie clinched the title on a countback with 18 game wins, narrowly edging out Kings Christian College, who also had 18 game wins. BSHS finished third with 17.5 game wins. This has been the most thrilling result in a decade at the Queensland Interschool Chess competitions.

Senior results:

1. ACGS – 6 games, 5 match wins, 18 game wins – First
2. Kings Christian College – 6 games, 5 match wins, 18 game wins – Second
3. BSHS – 6 games, 5 match wins, 17.5 game wins – Third

Notable performances included Sraven Renjith from Churchie, who won the Board 1 award with five wins out of six matches. Jayden Ooi also placed third on Board 2 with 4.5 wins. Ryan Xing and Liaw were strategically interchanged depending on the opposition, a tactical move to match the opponents’ strengths with excellent results. Ryan Liaw narrowly missed the board prize with a tournament score of 4.5/5. Nicholas Bond, Churchie’s chess captain, gave a gracious victory speech, thanking the participants, organisers and Churchie’s chess programme directors and coaches for their dedication. Senior players were Sraven Renjith, IM Jayden Ooi, FM Zerui Xing, Ryan Liaw and Nicholas Bond.

Junior division:

Churchie’s first team dominated the competition in the junior division, winning the title with an outstanding 22-game win. All four players in the team—Zeqi Zing, Owen Shen, Yuwei Wang and Austin Li—won their respective boards, showcasing their exceptional skills. Somerville House secured second place with 16.5 game wins, and Churchie’s second team claimed third place on a countback with 15.5 game wins, narrowly edging out The Southport School (TSS) and Brisbane Grammar School (BGS).

Junior results:

1. ACGS (1) – 6 games, 6 match wins, 22 game wins – First
2. Sommerville House – 6 games, 5 match wins, 16.5 game wins – Second
3. ACGS (2) – 6 games, 5 match wins, 15.5 game wins – Third
4. TSS – 6 games, 5 match wins, 15.5 game wins – Fourth

Congratulations to Zining Jie (Matthew), Azaan Bansal, Chris Cong, Ethan Wu and Zhibin Yan of Churchie’s second team for their strong performance. This is especially pleasing as this team draws mainly from Years 2 and 3, all past or current participants in our Tuesday Chess Academy.

The two-day event required intense concentration, and all players demonstrated exemplary skill and focus as they undertook six two-hour examinations of their chess skill, patience and perseverance over a sultry Queensland weekend.

Churchie’s triumph in both divisions is a testament to the exceptional chess programme and the unwavering dedication of its students, coaches and directors. Their commitment and hard work have brought glory to the school and inspired the entire chess community.

We are now in the fundraising phase to send these two teams to Perth for the 2024 Australian Schools Teams Chess Championships, which will be held at Duncraig Senior High School on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 December.

If you can assist us, please contact our Chess Support Group president Derek Bond on 0439 762 951 or via email: derek.bond1591@gmail.com.

Max Condon
Director of Chess

Sporting achievements

Congratulations to Andrew Watene, who was recently selected for the Australian Men’s U15 basketball team. Andrew will be competing in the FIBA Oceania Championship in Canberra from 11 to 17 November.

Trent Goodrick
Head of Cocurricular