Wiltshire Contract Bridge Associaiton is affliated to the EBU and is the umbrella organisation for clubs in Wiltshire, supporting, developing and promoting bridge in the County.

WILTSHIRE GREEN POINT CONGRESS 1ST AND 2ND MARCH 2025

Entries are open for the premier event in the Wiltshire calendar - the Green Point Congress at Bath University, taking place on 1st and 2nd March. For full details of the event, and to enter, please click here.

Nine High Corwen (a national pairs event): Wiltshire Qualifier

The English Bridge Union has set up a national pairs tournament, the Nine High Corwen, please visit the EBU website for more information: https://www.ebu.co.uk/competitions/nine-high-corwen

This is competition has the stipulation that each partner has an NGS grade of 9 or below on January 1^st 2025. Wiltshire is allowed to enter three pairs in the final, which will be online on May 31st 2025.  Our qualifier will take place on BBO on SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2^nd at 14.00. You will play 2 sessions of 14 or 15 boards each, with a 30 minute break between.  The entrance fee is £16 per pair. The top three pairs with Wiltshire affiliations will qualify for the final. To enter the Wiltshire qualifier, please click here

Please contact Martyn Tranter (martyntranter1956@gmail.com) for any further information you may need.

The 2024-2025 season of the Wiltshire league is now at half-way. In Division One, the Hogdson team are leading having won 4 out of 5 matches with a better score than the team in second place, Dunlop. There is still everything to play for in the final matches. In Division Two the Cooper team are in front, with the Phillips team in the runner-up slot, though things could change as every team in this division has won a match. In Division Three, it is close between the Hutchinson team currently in first place, with the Forsyth team in second. For the full tables and results, please click on the links on the right.

The next matches will take place on Monday 6th January, start time is 7pm.

Wiltshire C were the only winners in the Western League match against East Wales on Saturday 11th January. Wiltshire A lost 7-13, while Wiltshire B lost 3-17. Wiltshire C won 14-6, which leaves the C team in mid-table. Wiltshire A are still in 3rd place in the league table. In the x-imps, which shows how each pair did against all the pairs playing, the top Wiltshire players were Angela Gunning and Lynne Flavell in 11th place overall, with Graham Hodges and Dave Latchem in 14th place. For the full results and to see the hands, please click here.

The next match will be on Saturday 1st February 2025. If you are interested in taking part, please contact Stuart Bridge. 

There was a fantastic result for the Wiltshire pairing of Roger Harris and Paul Winstone in the 2024 EBU Year End Congress, they were the overall winners of the Improvers Pairs. This was held online by the EBU in conjunction with Kent Bridge Association. Well done to both of them, and a reminder that there are several EBU competitions coming up in 2025 for less experienced players. Look out for emails from the EBU about upcoming events or check the calendar on the EBU website.

A Wiltshire team, comprising Trevor Purches, Susie Gall, Stuart Bridge and Roger Karn, were the runners-up in the West of England Swiss Teams which took place on Sunday 13th October. It was quite close between first and second, and although the Wiltshire team won all their 6 six matches, the winning team won their 5 matches by a bigger margin. For the full results and to see the hands, please click here.

Many congratulations to Graham Hodges and Dave Latchem for their win in the first event of the 2024-2025 Wiltshire calendar - the Blue Point Swiss pairs, held on Sunday 22nd September. The runners-up were John Perry and Marianne Lewin. There were 18 pairs competing and every pair won some Blue Points, showing how a Swiss Pairs competition is a great introduction to County events. For the full results and the hands, please click here.

Congratulations to Di Bishop and David Brown who came top in the non-expert pairs played on Sunday 20th. There was success for some newcomers to county events, with 15 pairs taking part.  Full results and the hands may be seen in the results calendar. 

Wiltshire ran a Charity Bridge event on Sunday 1st December at Nursteed Centre, Devizes. This event was open to everyone, played in a friendly, social atmosphere. The winners on the day were Hugh Gross and Mark Sheppard with a great score of 70.17%, with Chris Jones and James Dunlop coming second with 65.85%. The event raised £500 for Wiltshire Air Ambulance who have thanked the Wiltshire bridge players for their fantastic effort. For full results and the hands, please click here.

There are many opportunities to learn bridge in Wiltshire, and many local teachers. To find out about opportunities to learn this fascinating and stimulating game, please click here.

Have you considered becoming a bridge teacher in Wiltshire? EBED, the education arm of the EBU, are re-starting face-to-face training in September and there are courses on offer In Aylesbury, Yeovil and Solihull. Each EBU affiliated cub may apply for one free place every two years, and anyone applying via an affiliated EBU club (who will be paying the invoice), will be entitled to a 20% discount. This discount is funded by the EBU.

For more information about the course and details on how to book, please click here.