Tony Aston has recently decide to stand down from the B&BCBA Committee.   

   We would like to acknowledge Tony's many years of service, particularly to youth bridge in the county.

   We will miss having him on the Committee and thank him for all his help over the past years.

The committee is saddened to learn of the death of Tom Garrett in a nursing home in Sonning Common where he continued to play bridge until recently. Tom worked hard in County bridge for over 40 years, serving on the main committee as membership secretary. He founded the Chiltern Bridge league in 1968, was involved in the administration of Chiltern Edge Bridge Club and taught bridge in schools and at an Adult Education Centre. For his services to grass roots bridge he received the Dimmie Fleming Award from the EBU in 2012.

It is with great sorrow that we announce the death of Anders Wallen on 5 March following a stroke.

Anders was a towering and much loved figure in the County bridge community. He was instrumental in setting up, and in the early years largely running, our June Green Point events and was delighted when the cup for the pairs event was named after him. He served periods as Chairman and Treasurer of our Association. He was a keen supporter of county competitions and perhaps his proudest playing achievement was winning our Flitch competition with his wife Eva in 2014.

Anders played regularly at several clubs in Bucks, especially at Austenwood where he was an inspiring captain of their first team. When the Wednesday afternoon Richards Bridge Club in Amersham folded, he took it over, renamed it ABC, Anders Bridge Club and successfully turned it into a thriving club. This was typical of the energy he brought to anything in which he was involved.

Our sympathy and thoughts go to Eva and his family.

The funeral will take place on Friday 20 March at 11am at Greenacres Chiltern Cemetery, Potkiln Lane, Beaconsfield HP9 2XB and the wake at Hicknaham Farm, Littleworth Road, Slough SL1 8PG (near Odds Farm).

After a lot of discussion and in line with the EBU notice yesterday it is with great regret that we have decided to cancel the following events:

Phil Thornton Trophy - 18th March 2020

Committee Cup Final - 5th April 2020

Directors' Cup - 15th April 2020

Waller Bowl Final - 26th April 2020

Chairman's Cup - 10th May 2020

Mixed Pair's and BBL Cups - 17th May 2020

Green Pointed Swiss Pairs and Teams - 20th and 21st June 2020

We know players will be disappointed, but know you will understand that the safety and health of everyone has to be the main priority during this time.

Your Committee

BERKS AND BUCKS CBA

Congratulations to David & Janet Barnes on winning the Chris Burley Trophy

at the County Pairs Plate held on the 2nd February 2020.

Congratulations to Joan Murphy and David Killick on winning the Rex Avery Trophy in the County Pairs Final held on the 2 February 2020.  

Well done to the next four pairs Dick Davey & Nigel Wolfendale, David Owen and Bob Holder, Barry Read & Ilan Sirkis and Dee & Peter Lindon who are also eligible to join Joan and David in representing the County in the Corwen Trophy later this year.  
 

B&BCBA players finishing in 2nd, 3rd and 4th places in the teams event at the EBU Autumn Seniors Congress on Sunday.

The teams were -

Paula Hopkinson, Dick Davey, Nigel Wolfendale, Phil Thornton
Pat Dowdeswell, Mike Ribbins, Bob Dowdeswell, Ian Mackinder
James Bond, Graham Marshall, Mike Wenble, David Barnes.

Congratulations to all.

Congratulations to the top B&BCBA pairs in the EBED Simultaneous Pairs which were held over 2 - 6 September.

Tuesday 3rd:    John & Dan Skipper coming 6th out of 672 with 66.1% playing at Ascot BC
Thursday 5th:   England U26 international Daisy Dillon and her father Oliver coming 5th out of 266 with 65.9% playing at Reading BC

In a good turnout of 11 tables.  First prize went to Norma and Paul Lord with second prize to Jerry and Carol Rudge. Congratulations to both pairs and thanks to all who played. We hope you enjoyed the day and look forward to seeing you at the next event.

We held our first meeting with the Captains of the Student League last week and we are delighted that we have a record entry of 9 teams, from 5 different teachers.  We have some clever team names with plays on the word bridge - such as 'Troubled Waters' and 'Arnhem' - but the prize we think has to go to the 'Acolholics' - a name came up with at a meeting in a pub!  

From left to right: Nigel Thompson (League Organiser), Alexandra Donaldson (Game for a Laugh), Dick Mander (Arnhem), Mary Bungard (Troubled Water), Barbara Stunell & Sue Mander (members of the Arnhem team), Steve Hollow (SUITS), Tim Davies (Lacking Finesse),  Mike Blackmore (Ruff & Ready), Guy Evans (Killer Queen)  David Smith (Rule of Four) and Vivien Benzie (The Acolholics),                                          

Congratulations to David & Janet Barnes and Mike Ribbins & Jonny Richard winners of the Carole Mueller Trophy in the Swiss Teams event held on the 15th December 2019.    Well done also to the runners-up Charles Chisnall & Bill Godenzie and David Owen & Evelyn Crossley.  10 teams took part.

Congratulations to Patricia and Richard Chantler winners of the friendly pairs event for the Tony Boothroyd Plate held on the 24th November 2019.  Well done also to the runners up Graham Cheetham and Valerie Daniel and Susan Brown and Nigel Thompson (joint 2nd Place). 14 pairs took part.

The annual Sim Pairs was held on four days last week with 19 clubs taking part and holding 24 sessions between them with a total of 500 pairs taking part.

The daily winners were :-

Monday - Marilyn Halton and Roselle Beard ( Tessa Templetons ) with 70.9%

Tuesday - John Kavangh and Michael Collyer  ( Caversham Park ) with 74.2%

Wednesday - Malcolm Oliver and Richard Graham ( South Bucks ) with 64.9%

Thursday - Tony hatch and Frances Sargent ( Five Aces ) with 68.2%

We are saddened to learn that Brian Best died on 18 June, aged 85.  Brian was the leading light at Slough Bridge club for many years and played at several other clubs in the area until quite recently. He was also active in the affairs of the county association, serving as chairman from 1994 to 1998. He was a real gentleman at the bridge table and will be sadly missed.
The funeral will take place at the Milton Chapel, Chilterns Crematorium near Amersham on Thursday 27 June at 4pm. His widow Barbara invites those wishing to attend to do so - the dress code is bright colours or black. Family flowers only.

Congratulations to Michael Green, Tony Parkinson, James Bond & Graham Davison - winners of the Richard Palmer Trophy in the Green Ponted Swiss Teams event.    The runners-up were Ed Scerri, Gary Jones, Barry Myers & Steve Eginton and in 3rd place were Robert Procter, Michael Robinson, Christopher Whitehouse & Matthew Covill - well done to both of those teams also.  34 teams took part.

Congratulations to Jette & Alan Bailey on winning the Anders Wallen Trophy in the Swiss Pairs event.    And to the runners-up (only 1 VP behind) Ed Scerri & Barry Myers.   In 3rd place were James Bond & Graham Davison, and in 4th equal places were Eddie Lucioni & John Dakin and Peter Clarke & Andrew Doye.   Well done.   103 pairs played.

This EBU event, featuring the teams-of-four champions from each county, took place at the weekend. Berks & Bucks were represented by the winners of the knock-out teams competition, Dick Davey, Richard Bowdery, Ed Scerri, Gary Jones, Sally Brock and Barry Myers. Congratulations on finishing 7th out of the 29 teams.

Our A team came second in the A flight, our B team fourth in the B flight and our C team won the C flight. Congratulations to all. Full results are available on the Middlesex Website www.bridgewebs.com/mcba.

Congratulations to Ed Scerri and Steve Eginton winners of the Denys Jenkins Cup in the Blue pointed Swiss pairs event held on the 6th October 2019.  Well done also to the runners up David Owen and Charles Chisnell (2nd Place) and Mike Wenble and John Coleman (3rd Place).   20 pairs took part.

Congratulations to the Killer Queen team - captain Guy Evans, team members Michelle Voss, Patricia Oswald , Lesley Sewart and Stuart Siddall on winning the Online Students League 2019/20, teacher Chrys Poole. Thank you to the other two teams, Acolholics (captain Vivien Benzie) and Game for a Laugh (captain Paul Ernest) for participating in BBCBA's first online league.  

34 teams of eight representing 19 clubs competed in the 4 divisions of our league over the 2019/20 season.  Scores for matches that had not taken place before lockdown were assigned according to the rules. 

The final results were:

Div 1 (10 teams): Burnham A won with 122 VP (out of possible 180); joint runners up were Reading A and New Amersham A on 115 VP

Div 2 (10 teams): Loddon Vale A won in style with 137 VP; runners up were Burnham B on 113 VP

Div 3 (9 teams): Amersham CC B won with 114 VP (out of possible 160); runners up were Tessa Templeton Bridge School A on 106 VP

Div 4 (5 teams playing each other twice): Austenwood B won with 98 VP (out of possible 160); close behind were Chalfont B on 96 VP. 

Well done to all those who played.