Ten Swindon girls were part of a Wiltshire team that narrowly missed out being crowned national chess champions.

The girls, who were aged between six and 11, won the second place spot in the England Primary Schools Chess Association finals in May. Of the 16-strong chess squad, 10 of the girls were from Swindon.

Fenella Headlong, 50, who coached the girls, said that Wiltshire had never made it so high up the national leaderboard before.

“A lot of the competition was absolutely astounded that we were doing so well,” she said. “People were coming up to us and saying: ‘what have you been feeding them?’”

Each girl had to play three games over the day, which saw teams from 15 counties descend on Twickenham in south-west London.

“All the girls played extremely well and it was often the Wiltshire girls who were the last to finish their games each round. They showed great focus, determination, skill and team spirit.”

Fenella, who has coached the team for the last five years but is now standing down, said that playing the game helped the girls cope with life away from the chessboard.

“I think it gives them confidence, helps the girls concentrate and be more focussed in the classroom. It’s lovely for them to be part of a team representing their county.”

The girls competing in London had already won a clutch of silverware – winning five out of the six available ‘mixed’ events at the Wiltshire and West of England Chess Competition, open to boys and girls in Wiltshire.

“Our girls are just as good as the boys.”

Later this year Fenella’s 11-year-old daughter Georgia will travel to London to play for her country against a crack chess team from Belgium. The Liden Primary School pupil qualified earlier this year.