The latest in the new Bid72 video series, Pros and Cons, is now available to view. Episode nineteen, titled "It's all about the Diamonds" where Jan van Cleeff shows a method how to detect a diamond control on a fairly high level. The series of short videos looks at bidding dilemmas with championship players. You can subscribe to the free series on the Bid72 YouTube channel.

At the AGM yesterday (Wednesday, 27th November), the EBU recognised various members' contributions to bridge in England. The meeting was held live in London at the Royal National Hotel. For award winners who were unable to attend, their awards are presented locally.

Full details of all the award winners:

• Gold Award - given for outstanding contribution to the management/administration of the game at national and/or international level.
  • Ian Payn (picture)
• Silver Award - given in recognition of long service and an outstanding contribution to the administration of the game of bridge
  • Alan Shillitoe (Cambs & Hunts) (to be presented locally)
  • Michael Byrne ((Manchester) (to be presented at the Junior Channel Trophy in December)
  • Tony Russ (picture)
• Dimmie Fleming Award - recognising a long and valuable contribution to county bridge
  • Irene Davies (Manchester) (to be presented locally), Jeff Smith (Lancashire) (picture), Darren Evetts (Warwickshire) (received locally), Trevor Thrower (Northamptonshire) (picture)
• Young Pair Award - given in recognition of outstanding play by a young pair during the year (2022/23)
  • Thomas Bradkin (London) & Maks Blicharz (Surrey) (to be presented at The Surrey Schools Cup in February 2025)
• Young Player Award - given in recognition of outstanding play during the year (2022/23)
  • Jamie Fegarty (Cambs & Hunts) (to be presented locally)
• Alec Salisbury Award - is given in by EBED recognition of a schoolteacher who has made a significant contribution to Youth Bridge
  • Stuart Haring (Haberdashers Askes Boys School, Elstree, Hertfordshire) (presented locally)
• Tom Bradley Award for services to Education, this award from EBED recognizes those who have made a significant contribution to Youth Bridge
  • Sue Johnson (London) (presented locally)

Congratulations to all recipients, and we thank them for their contribution.

Previous award winners

The latest in the new Bid72 video series, Pros and Cons, is now available to view. Episode eighteen, titled "It's the Format, Stupid!" where Jan van Cleeff demonstrates that the difference between Matchpoints and Teams can be significant The series of short videos looks at bidding dilemmas with championship players. You can subscribe to the free series on the Bid72 YouTube channel.

The latest in the new Bid72 video series, Pros and Cons, is now available to view. Episode seventeen, titled Mike's Slam Try, features American Hall of Famer Mike Passell as he introduces an interesting slam try bypassing Roman Keycards. The series of short videos looks at bidding dilemmas with championship players. You can subscribe to the free series on the Bid72 YouTube channel.

The team of David Mossop, Justin Hackett, Jason Hackett, Gunnar Hallberg, Derek Patterson & Phil King are leading Division 1 of the Premier League after the first weekend. They currently lead by just 0.68 VPs ahead of the Knottenbelt team (Maggie Knottenbelt, Michael Byrne, Kieran Dyke, Ed Jones, Tom Townsend & Ben Handley-Pritchard). Team Black is currently in third place.

Division 2 is being led by the De Botton team (Janet de Botton, Thor Erik Hoftaniska, Espen Erichsen, Artur Malinowski, David Bakhshi & Tony Forrester), 18.3 VPs ahead of the Penfold team (Sandra Penfold, Brian Senior, John Holland, Alan Mould, Norman Selway, Kay Preddy), with the Harris team in third.

The Chow team (Athena Chow, Sara Moran, Margaret Nygren, Martin Nygren, Tom Copeland & David Willis) won Division 3A by just 5.37 VPs. The Scerri team (Ed Scerri, Gilly Cardiff, Louise Weiss-Selway & Florian Weiss-Selway) is second, and the Covert Operations team in third.

In Division 3B, the Lindfors team (Stefan Lindfors, Jim Grant, Rob Lawy, Dave Robinson, Tony Sowter) won by 16.55 VPs, ahead of the Cope team (Andy Cope, Giles Ip, Adam Hickman, Martin Jones), with the Bucknell team in third.

For the remaining two weekends, the leading teams in Division 3A and Division 3B will play in Division 3, and the remaining teams will play in Division 4.

The second of the three weekends of matches takes place from 28th – 29th September 2024. There will be coverage of Division 1 on BBO.

Results; list of competing teams

The 2023/2024 Seniors Knockout (Gerard Faulkner Salver) has now concluded. In the match, the team of Paul Hackett, John Holland, Alan Mould, Sandra Penfold, Norman Selway & Brian Senior beat the team of Kay Preddy, Gerald Soper, Jeremy Willans & Colin Wilson by 25 IMPs.

2023/24 results; Previous winners

As part of the Bridge - It's a Big Deal! festival, your club might be thinking about running taster sessions. A taster session is a great way of sharing our game to “hook” potential learners.

After ten years, it has been decided that the existing Player of the Year Championship will finish when this season is completed, after the Crockfords final in September. 

Instead, it will be replaced with a Pairs Player of the Year Award, which is intended to give a realistic chance of winning to a wider range of members, while still providing a strong ranking.

The award will include all EBU national face-to-face pairs events that have no entry restrictions – ie not NGS-limited, not county-representative, not master-point restricted, not events that require qualification via advance heats.

The main pairs events of the following congresses will be included for the first year:

• Easter Festival – Guardian Trophy
• Eastbourne Summer Meeting – Harold Poster pairs 
• Year End Congress
• Scarborough Congress
• Spring Bank Holiday – Two-Stars Pairs
• Jersey Congress
• Guernsey Congress
• Harrogate Spring Congress
• Great Northern Swiss Pairs
• Northern Midweek Congress
• Northern Easter Congress

Place points will be awarded to the top of the field, which will reward success in larger events more than smaller ones. The length of the event will also be taken into account by giving points to the top 20% of the field (rounded up) for one-day events, 30% for one-and-a-half-day events and 40% for two-day events. So, from last week’s championship pairs in Eastbourne, which will be the first event in the new series, the top 58 pairs will get place points with the winners getting 58 and the 58th place getting 1. For the Two-Stars Pairs, points will be based on the size of the original field before qualification. 

The winner of the Award will be given free entry for the next year to three events from the list, runner-up will get free entry for two events and the third place will get one. Prizes will be shared if any places are tied – eg winner and runner up tied will each get two free entries and one half-price.

Congratulations to Michi Ashikaga & Paul Nightingale who won the Kent 9-High Improvers Pairs with a total of 123.9. In second place were Marcia Scane & Robert Scane and in third place were David Parkinson & Patrick Gough. The event was held yesterday (10th August), online on BridgeBase Online (BBO). 

The first session was won by Jo Lormor & Daniel Benison and the second session was won by Jane Weight & Diana Syms.

Overall results

Session 1; Session 2

The National Teams League season 6 has now concluded. In Division 1, team "Selway" (John Atthey, Michael Hampton, Michael Prior, Anne Rosen, Neil Rosen, Norman Selway, & Jeremy Willans) finished top with a total of 166.09. In second place were "Winter" (Geoff Kenyon, Mike Leese, Tony McNiff, Liam Sanderson, Sarah Teshome, Daniel Winter, Richard Winter & Steve Wood) with a total of 160.89.

Division 2 was won by "Ward T" (Rob Cliffe, Malcolm Pryor, Dave Robinson, Ed Scerri, Tony Sowter & Trevor Ward), with "Shipping Norton" (Andy Cope, Adam Hickman, Giles Ip, Ben Norton & Jack Ronayne) in second place. 

In Division 3, the top spot was claimed by team "Edwards R" (Richard Edwards, Robert Ross, John Squibb, Bill Townsend & Andrew Wells), with team "Scottish Warriors" (Ted Black, Paul Maiolani, Jim McMenemy, Mark Menzies, Douglas Mitchell, Tam Penman & Ying Piper) in second.

The National Teams League Season 7 will start on 4th September 2024, entries are now open and close Wednesday 28th August. To enter a team please go to My EBU. Any queries please contact comps@ebu.co.uk.

National Teams League page

There are new Blue and White Books available – effective from 1st August. You can view the new versions online via the links below or order new paper copies from the Bridge Warehouse. The White Book changes include changes to the Regulating Authority powers delegated to club and counties.

• Updated Blue Book
• list of changes to the Blue Book
• The few changes to wording of announcements are updated in Announcement & Alert Summary
• Updated White Book
• list of changes to the White Book

The latest in the new Bid72 video series, Pros and Cons, is now available to view. Episode fifteen, titled How to Deal with a Monster Hand, features American bridge player Ralph Katz. The series of short videos looks at bidding dilemmas with championship players. You can subscribe to the free series on the Bid72 YouTube channel.

In the Bid72 EBU Bidding Contest, there are different ranked groups (A, B, C and New). The aim of the bidding contest is to bid with your own chosen partner and your preferred system, using the app bid72.

Following the July monthly score, the top partnership of group A are MarkB-Lawman with an average score of 9.05. In second place are StephenW-BillM with a score of 8.55 and just behind in third place are Gordonr-JonathanL with an average score of 8.50.

In group B, five partnerships will be promoted to group A, they are; StuartK-StephenT; JamesD-JOAND; GeoffO-HeatherM; Nigh-Billl and BrendaV-FransVas.

First time players compete in the New group. Each month there is a relegation or promotion of players, during this time new players are also placed into one of the three groups depending on their score. This service is completely free for EBU members and made available by bid72, the premium app on bridge bidding. For more information and to register see Bid72 EBU.

• Pros and Cons playlist

The Trustees of English Bridge Education & Development (EBED) have appointed Richard Croot as the CEO of EBED.

Richard will take up his duties on 1st September, replacing current CEO, Mark Humphris.

You can read a biography of Richard here.

EBED's chair of trustees, Ian Sidgwick, welcomes Richard, adding that “The board of EBED are delighted to appoint Richard, and look forward to working with him to implement our goal of growing the number of people of all ages who learn and access our game”

The EBU Selection Committee is looking to appoint a new Under-16 Squad Assistant.

The job description and person specification are available here.

Applicants should familiarise themselves with the EBU safeguarding policy and the Code of Conduct for those working with Junior squads.

Applications, with a brief summary of what you would bring to the role and how you meet the person specification, should be sent to sc.chair@ebu.co.uk 

If you wish to discuss the role further, this can be done with the chair of the Selection Committee who can be contacted via the same email address.

Applications close at noon on Friday 23rd August.

The EBU Selection Committee is looking to appoint a new Under-21 Squad Leader.

The job description and person specification are available here.

Applicants should familiarise themselves with the EBU safeguarding policy and the Code of Conduct for those working with Junior squads.

Applications, with a brief summary of what you would bring to the role and how you meet the person specification, should be sent to sc.chair@ebu.co.uk 

If you wish to discuss the role further, this can be done with the chair of the Selection Committee who can be contacted via the same email address.

Applications close at noon on Friday 23rd August.

The American Bridge Teachers' Association (ABTA) recently announced the winners in its 43rd annual Book of the Year contest, which, recognizes excellence in instructional resources for bridge players of all levels. 

There were two EBU members nominated for awards, Ben Norton and David Bird.

Ben Norton was runner-up in the Advanced category for his book Why I Lose at Bridge: A Collection of Cardplay Errors (Master Point Press).

David Bird was joint winner in the Intermediate category for his book Twelve Important Bridge Lessons on Defense (Master Point Press), along with The Magic of Defense (Baron Barclay) by Barbara Seagram.

The awards were presented at the ABTA national convention in Toronto Ontario, on 18th July.

The next Online Women's Training Session is on Wednesday 14th August and the expert is Christina Lund Madsen, from Denmark. This training programme is well into the second year, and is exceptionally popular. It is sponsored by the European Bridge League, and is exclusively for women players in Europe. Don’t miss the great opportunity to compete and improve your game.

Note that from September onwards the monthly sessions are held on Monday nights (instead of Wednesday nights). The first on in September is Monday 9th September.

Partnerships or teams preferred. Please contact England Co-ordinator, womensrep@ebu.co.uk.

The World Junior Transnational Championships were held this week (13-18th July), in Wrocław, Poland. 

Congratulations to Dido Coley & Lily Kearney (pictured, left) who finished 3rd in the final of the Under-26 Women's Pairs. Also to Thomas Bradkin & Maks Blicharz (pictured, right) who followed up their Euro U-16 teams bronze with a late charge to another 3rd place finish in the final of the Under-16 pairs. Playing in the Under-16 teams on a Polish-English side, they narrowly missed the final finishing 6th but then came joint 3rd in the consolation BAM final.

Congratulations also to EBU member Louise Weiss-Selway (picture) was competing in the Austria Under-31 team, who finished 3rd for the bronze medal in the Open BAM final.

Other England players at the event:
U21 Teams - Jamie Fegarty, Thomas Gardner, Tom Furness & Henry Rose
U21 Pairs - Tom Furness & Henry Rose

Full Results Bulletin Pairs
Full Results Bulletin Teams

Further details from last week's success at the European Youth Bridge Team Championships can be read via this link. 

If you are attending the Summer Meeting and would like some marketing materials for your clubs, we will have posters, postcards, leaflets and more readily available. Please speak to Sam on the EBU reception desk to collect a marketing pack.

We will also have a limited number of Bridge Warehouse items available. If you would like to order any additional items from the Bridge Warehouse for collection at Eastbourne to save on postage costs, please use code EASTBOURNE when ordering online or telephone us on 01296 397851 by midday on Tuesday 6th August.

There will be a stand with bridge gifts and books in Eastbourne but cards, stationery and bidding boxes will not be available to purchase there. The full range of stock can be seen on the Bridge Warehouse.

The European Youth Bridge Team Championships, run by the EBL, has now completed in Wrocław, Poland.

The Championships include five categories, and England are represented by teams in all five categories:

• U31 Team: Aaron Hutton, Oliver Powell, Kripa Panchagnula and Jonathan Clark
• U26W Team: Dido Coley, Lily Kearney, Liz Gahan, Imogen La Chapelle, NPC: Claire Robinson, Reserve Harriet Cork
• U26 Team: Daniel Winter, Liam Sanderson, Harry Madden, Oscar Selby, Liam Fegarty and Joseph Clark, NPC: Michael Byrne
• U21 Team: Charlotte Bedford, Lucy Norman, Tom Furness, Henry Rose, Jamie Fegarty and Thomas Gardner, NPC: Ewa Wieczorek
• U16 Team: Thomas Bradkin, Maks Blicharz, Holden Clark, Cecilia Birdsall, Sophie Morris NPC: Paul Barden (pictured)

Congratulations to the U21 team who won a Silver medal and to the U16 team who won a Bronze medal!

All 5 teams finished in the top 8 places in their respective categories and so qualify for the 2025 World Youth Championship, a great achievement, well done to all the teams!

Sophie Morris in the U16 team was the youngest player at the whole event and featured in the bulletin (top of page 2). It seems her medal makes her the youngest medal-winner ever in an EBL or WBF event.

More details

The European Championships, run by the European Bridge League, has now completed in Herning, Denmark.

Congratulations to all 4 teams who have all finished in the top 8 places in their respective categories and hence secured qualification to play in the next World Team Championships! 

Full details

We are sorry to hear of the death of Neil Beasley. In 2020, Neil was a recipient of the Dimmie Fleming Award, nominated for his volunteer work with Leicestershire CBA. Neil was a long time member of Blaby Bridge Club and was the LCBA's Tournament Secretary for many years.

Dimmie Fleming Award citation - 2020 (nomination from Leicestershire):

Neil joined the LCBA Executive in 1980-1 as a committee member. He was Vice Chairman between 1983-5 and Chairman 1985-7 and was past Chairman between 1987-9. After which he became a committee member again. He became Tournament Secretary in 1987 until 2008 and then from 2013 to date. Neil has been Master Point Secretary since 2004. The Tournament Secretary role is a demanding one as it involves sending the adverts for competitions to clubs, acting as competition controller or getting someone to do it, ensuring there is a TD, providing the relevant paperwork for him or her and keeping track of the results.

Former EBU Chair Ian Payn has been appointed as Honorary Secretary to the Executive Committee of the EBL.

Don’t miss our new edition of Discovery magazine – there's something for everyone!

The July 2024 issue of Discovery is now available, our publication for players of any standard, with a focus on what will be useful to novices and intermediate players as they seek to improve their game.

Link to the July 2024 issue

The articles in the issue are split into the following categories for ease of reading, Bidding, Fiction, Declarer Play, Defence, Alerting & Announcing, and "Did You Know?".

Highlights from this issue include:

Bidding 3NT In Pairs
Three contributors look at the vexed issue of whether to be in 3NT or four of a major. Amazingly - they all agree (more or less . . .), starting on page 17.

The Danger Hand
Paul Bowyer looks at how to keep certain defenders off play when you are declarer. There are also links that you can click and play through the hand yourself, starting on page 39.

Don't be lazy
Stephen Kennedy shows how important it is to bother! Bother to read partner’s lead, bother to think about what you know, bother to look for clues and mount the perfect defence. You’ll be surprised at how much you can do and practice makes perfect, starting on page 58.

… and much more! Don’t miss it.

The latest instalment of Updates from Aylesbury, the monthly newsletter for Club and County Officials is now available to read via the link below:

• Updates from Aylesbury - 2nd July 2024

All previous newsletters are available on the EBU Updates page.

If you are attending the Summer Meeting and would like us to take your order to Eastbourne to save on postage costs, please use code EASTBOURNE when ordering online or telephone us on 01296 397851 by midday on Tuesday 6th August.

There will be a stand with bridge gifts and books in Eastbourne but cards, stationery and bidding boxes will not be available to purchase there. The full range of stock can be seen on the Bridge Warehouse.

The EBU Board is delighted to announce that it has co-opted Mike Hornung to join its number. Mike is a member of Allendale Bridge Club in Dorset.

Mike's biography page

Gemma Kitching is the EBU Relationship Manager with Cancer Research UK, she would like to extend a big thank you to all the clubs currently planning to host events for the Bridge - It's a Big Deal! A Festival of Bridge:

We currently have 150 events planned for our Bridge - It’s a Big Deal! (BIABD) a Festival of Bridge, taking place in 101 unique clubs and counties. 

We would love it if all clubs and players can join in the fun. Please let us know if your club would like to take part by either dedicating an existing session, hosting a session of the National Handicap Championship Pairs, joining the EBED Sim Pairs in aid of the festival, or coming up with something new to help raise funds for Cancer Research UK.

You are invited to join us next week for our latest Festival planning meetings via Zoom. In these meetings we will discuss the specifics for advertising your events. The next sessions will be held on Wednesday 10th July at 9.30am and 7.30pm, to join please email festival@ebu.co.uk for the link.

The Festival of bridge is designed to attract players back to the club, bring in new players and celebrate all of the positive benefits of bridge.

The EBU have designed marketing materials, promotional bunting, signage and everything you need to make your event a success. Please email us at festival@ebu.co.uk for more information and click on the following link to visit the festival pages.

If you have Facebook, we invite you to join our Facebook festival page.

We will support any festival activity by promoting your club through our social media channels and on the website.

Please click on the picture of the map above to see more details of the events planned so far.

Supporting Cancer Research UK through BIABD adds an extra layer of significance to your event. Cancer touches many lives, and the efforts of bridge players across the country can contribute to ground-breaking research and support for those affected by the disease. Every game played, every event held, and every pound raised brings us one step closer to a world where cancer is defeated.

We look forward to welcoming your ideas and involvement in this very exciting event for a very worth cause.

The latest in the new Bid72 video series, Pros and Cons, is now available to view. Episode fourteen, titled A Match in Heaven, features Jason Hackett. The series of short videos looks at bidding dilemmas with championship players. You can subscribe to the free series on the Bid72 YouTube channel.

In the Bid72 EBU Bidding Contest, there are different ranked groups (A, B, C and New). The aim of the bidding contest is to bid with your own chosen partner and your preferred system, using the app bid72.

Following the June monthly score, the top partnership of group A are DavidS-LisS with an average score of 8.10. In second place are Kmg-Trish with a score of 7.65 and just behind in third place are RoyM-CarolI with an average score of 7.50.

In group B, five partnerships will be promoted to group A, they are; Bucket22-Bucket21; saraw-charlesw; WendyY-MirandaC; gmherbert-Stevestar and Zumba42-RedWine624.

First time players compete in the New group. Each month there is a relegation or promotion of players, during this time new players are also placed into one of the three groups depending on their score. This service is completely free for EBU members and made available by bid72, the premium app on bridge bidding. For more information and to register see Bid72 EBU.

• Pros and Cons playlist

In the 12-board ladder for June, Steve Gregson won the top prize of £30 with an average score of 71.36% over six games. Jaak Känd was second with an average score of 69.83%, and Tim Glover third with an average score of 69.48%. There were also prizes for fourth and fifth place.

June 12-board ladder

The next season of the National Teams League will begin on Wednesday 4th September and entries are now open. 

The National Teams League is for teams of up to 8 people, with matches played on Wednesday evenings. The forthcoming season 7 will run from 4th September until 11th December.

The entry fee is £52 per team, with the winning team for each division gaining free entry for the following season. The easiest way to enter is via My EBU, or please email comps@ebu.co.uk or call 01296 317203. Entries will close Wednesday 28th August.

If you would like to play in the league but are looking for teammates, please email comps@ebu.co.uk

• Further details

The next Online Women's Training Session is on Wednesday 10th July and the expert is Tim Verbeek, from the Netherlands. This training programme is well into the second year, and is exceptionally popular. It is sponsored by the European Bridge League, and is exclusively for women players in Europe. Don’t miss the great opportunity to compete and improve your game.

Partnerships or teams preferred. Please contact England Co-ordinator, womensrep@ebu.co.uk.

The Generation Game, is a casual bridge event run by EBED on RealBridge. The next sessions will be held on Sunday 14th July and Sunday 18th August. The start time is 6.30pm and lasts for approximately 1 hour.

This monthly game gives families the chance to play bridge together (event from across the country). There is no upper age limit, so if you know someone in your family that would like to learn to play in a more informal setting, this might be the game for you.

After each session you will have a chance to compare your bidding and results against others playing the same boards at the same time. Based on the first attempt that provided a lot of laughs.

If you are interested in joining, please contact Joan Bennett on 07548 782538 or by email to joan@ebedcio.org.uk, to receive a link to the game.

We currently have 117 events planned for our Bridge - It’s a Big Deal! (BIABD) a Festival of Bridge, taking place in 88 unique clubs and counties. 

We would love it if all clubs and players can join in the fun. Please let us know if your club would like to take part by either dedicating an existing session, hosting a session of the National Handicap Championship Pairs, joining the EBED Sim Pairs in aid of the festival, or coming up with something new to help raise funds for Cancer Research UK.

The Festival of bridge is designed to attract players back to the club, bring in new players and celebrate all of the positive benefits of bridge.

The EBU have designed marketing materials, promotional bunting, signage and everything you need to make your event a success. Please email us at festival@ebu.co.uk for more information and click on the following link to visit the festival pages.

If you have Facebook, we invite you to join our Facebook festival page.

We will support any festival activity by promoting your club through our social media channels and on the website.

We also run monthly Zoom sessions to help you organise and promote your event and share ideas with other clubs and counties. The next sessions will be held on Wednesday 10th July, to join please email festival@ebu.co.uk for the link.

Please click on the picture of the map above to see more details of the events planned so far.

Supporting Cancer Research UK through BIABD adds an extra layer of significance to your event. Cancer touches many lives, and the efforts of bridge players across the country can contribute to ground-breaking research and support for those affected by the disease. Every game played, every event held, and every pound raised brings us one step closer to a world where cancer is defeated.

We look forward to welcoming your ideas and involvement in this very exciting event for a very worth cause.

Applications for the 2024/25 Gerard Faulkner Salver have been extended until Friday 12th July, so there is still chance to enter. 

Introduced in 2002, the Seniors Knockout Teams for the Gerard Faulkner Salver has proved to be very popular event. It is open to teams consisting of four to six players, all of whom are EBU members born in 1960 or earlier (Seniors event eligibility criteria). Teams losing their first round match will then be paired with another losing team from round 1 and the winner of this tie will progress to round 2.

The event is played as a knockout throughout, with matches played privately.Matches in the early stages will be arranged so as to avoid long journeys wherever possible, and matches can also be played online at the agreement of both teams. If you would prefer to play online, please let us know following your entry and you will be drawn against other teams wishing to play online as much and for as long as possible. Matches that are played online will be governed by the Supplementary Regulations for Matches Played Online. 

More information about the competition is available on the Gerard Faulkner Salve competition page of the EBU website.

Entries are £90 per team. To enter please use the online booking system through My EBU, or contact the Competitions Department on 01296 317203 or comps@ebu.co.uk.

The closing date for entries has been extended to 12th July. We look forward to receiving your entry.

The European Championships, run by the European Bridge League, starts today (Monday 24th June), in Herning, Denmark.

Four teams were selected to represent England: 

• Open Team: David Gold, Andrew Robson, Ben Handley-Pritchard, Tom Townsend, Ben Norton and Stefano Tommasini (NPC: Paul Barden)
• Women's Team: Diana Nettleton, Sally Brock, Nevena Senior, Nicola Smith, Helen Erichsen and Fiona Brown (NPC: David Burn)
• Mixed Team: Sarah Bell, Mike Bell, Heather Dhondy, Kieran Dyke, Maggie Knottenbelt and Michael Byrne (NPC: Derek Patterson)
• Seniors Team: David Mossop, Gunnar Hallberg, Alan Mould, John Holland, Richard Chamberlain and Patrick Shields (NPC: Paul Hackett)

There is a Women's Pairs event taking place before the Women's Teams. There are six EBU members competing:

Susanna Gross & Catherine Draper; Claire Robinson & Ewa Wieczorek; Diana Nettleton & Sally Brock

• Find further details on the Event website

The Summer Meeting will take place in Eastbourne from 8th-11th August. If you book before 27th June you will qualify for the early-bird reduced entry fees.

Thursday - Mixed and Open Pairs (evening)
Friday - Swiss Teams and Serious Fast Pairs
Saturday - Swiss Pairs, Swiss Pairs Lite and Serious Fast Pairs
Sunday - Swiss Pairs and Swiss Pairs Lite

Lite events are shorter 4 x 8-board Swiss Pairs events, played in combination with the main Swiss Pairs event, which may appeal to less experienced players though anyone who wishes to have a shorter event is permitted to play in them.

The Swiss Pairs is part of the Championship Series, in which points will be earned towards the Player of the Year Championship.

More information can be found on the Summer Meeting page.

You can book online via My EBU. Alternatively please email comps@ebu.co.uk or call 01296 317203.

The video from the recent County Chairs meeting is now available to view on the EBU YouTube channel.

The minutes from the meeting, including the presentations are also available: County Chairs Meeting Minutes.

Minutes from all previous meetings can be found on the EBU minutes page.

The latest of the Online One-Day Green Pointed events of 2024 took place on Saturday 15th June. The Swiss Teams event was won by the team of Jackie Davies, Derek Maggs, Ryan Stephenson & Tony Verran (pictured), with a score of 92 VPs. In second place were     
Ken Rae, Grzegorz Blicharz, Maks Blicharz & Holden Clark with a score of 90 VPs and in third place were Ronan Valentine, Alex Adamson, Callum McKail & Martin Bateman who finished with a score of 87 VPs.

In the overall Online One-Day Green Pointed events ladder, Derek Maggs is now in fifth place, following this win.

In fourth place was the team of Ian Walsh, Rob Lawy, Miles Cowling & David Jones. Rob's fourth place position earned him 31 "Ladder points" and keeps him top of the overall Online One-Day Green Pointed events ladder with a total of 157 points. John Sansom is second on the overall ladder with 132 points.

• Full results
• The Online One-Day Green Pointed Events Leader Board

John Holland & Alan Mould (pictured), of Manchester, have won the Corwen Trophy which took place this past weekend, 15th - 16th June. After two days of play, they finished with a score of 60.95%.

The event is for the leading pairs in the most recent pairs championship of each County Association of the EBU.

In second place were Ed Scerri & Steve Eginton from Berks & Bucks with a score of 59.37%, and from Oxfordshire, Charles Bucknell & Jonathan Davis were third with a score of 58.88%.

Results
Previous winners

The EBU Board is delighted to announce that it has co-opted Debbie Sandford to join its number. Debbie is a member of the Young Chelsea Bridge Club and was part of the England team that won the 2023 Lady Milne Cup.

• Debbie's biography page

The schedule of the Gold Cup, Britain’s Premier Team event, has been changed to start in November 2024, the Finals being played in London on 13th & 14th December 2025.

Entry forms will be available at https://www.bridgewebs.com/bgb/ in early September 2024, or for further information please contact 
Sandra Claridge, sclaridge31@gmail.com

The relevant details are as follows:

• Entry fee £96 per team 
• Entry includes entry to the Silver Plate for EBU, WBU, NIBU and CBAI teams losing in the 1st or 2nd round of the Gold Cup, and the Marion Hill Trophy for SBU teams losing as above. Rounds 1-3 will be regionalised.
• The Closing date for entries is 16th November 2024

The schedule of the Gold Cup, Britain’s Premier Team event, has been changed to start in November 2024, the Finals being played in London on 13th & 14th December 2025.

Entry forms will be available at https://www.bridgewebs.com/bgb/ in early September 2024, or for further information please contact 
Sandra Claridge, sclaridge31@gmail.com

The relevant details are as follows:

• Entry fee £96 per team 
• Entry includes entry to the Silver Plate for EBU, WBU, NIBU and CBAI teams losing in the 1st or 2nd round of the Gold Cup, and the Marion Hill Trophy for SBU teams losing as above. Rounds 1-3 will be regionalised.
• The Closing date for entries is 16th November 2024

The inaugural EBL Online Women's Teams Championship took place last weekend (7th - 9th June) on RealBridge.

The transnational event had a total of 48 teams taking part. In the final stages the teams were divided into groups of 8. The top ranked 8 teams qualified for the final A bracket and played a round robin. There were three English teams competing:

The Valkyrie team of Sally Brock, Fiona Brown, Helen Erichsen, Diana Nettleton, Nevena Senior, Nicola Smith, David Burn (NPC) finished in 3rd place in the A Final, with a score of 82.00 VPs and won the Bronze medal. 

The remaining two English teams, The Noise Festival and Ali and the Dreamers, finished in 2nd and 3rd place respectively in the E final. 

The Noise Festival (2nd in E Final): Allison Green, India Natt, Bridget Rampton, Debbie Sandford, Kath Stynes, Hanna Tuus

Ali and the Dreamers (3rd in E Final): Valerie Constable, Lesley Harrison, Sue Millard, Alison Pritchard, Judith Sanis, Ros Wolfarth, Pat Emery.

Well done to EBU member Barbara Hackett who was part of the "German Ladies" team who won the A final and the Gold medal, with a score of 93.82 VPs. Her teammates were: Annaig Della Monta, Ingrid Gromann, Karin Wenning, Mieke Plath & Susanne Kriftner. The Silver medal for 2024 went to the "Istanbul" team from Türkiye, with a score of 88.59 VPs.

Links

• Facebook group for the event
• EBL Microsite
• Rusults via RealBridge

The Generation Game, is a casual bridge event run by EBED on RealBridge. The next session will be held Sunday 23rd June, with future games held on Sunday 14th July and Sunday 18th August. The start time is 6.30pm and lasts for approximately 1 hour.

This monthly game gives families the chance to play bridge together (event from across the country). There is no upper age limit, so if you know someone in your family that would like to learn to play in a more informal setting, this might be the game for you.

After each session you will have a chance to compare your bidding and results against others playing the same boards at the same time. Based on the first attempt that provided a lot of laughs.

If you are interested in joining, please contact Joan Bennett on 07548 782538 or by email to joan@ebedcio.org.uk, to receive a link to the game.

The Senior Teams Trial for the World Bridge Games took place from 8th-9th June at West Midlands Bridge Club.

Congratulations to the team of Malcolm Pryor, David Kendrick, Tony Sowter & Dave Robinson (pictured) who will represent England at the World Bridge Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina from 21st Oct - 3rd Nov 2024.

Full results

The Pachabo Cup took place over 8th - 9th June and was won by Hants & Isle of Wight who were represented by Jeremy Dhondy, Andy Hughes, Steve Preston, Dave Huggett & Jeremy Baker.

The event is for the winners of the county teams championship of each County Association of the EBU.

The event uses hybrid scoring and Hants & Isle of Wight's winning score was 202.5. Cambs & Hunts (Catherine Jagger, Jonathan Mestel, Jamie Fegarty, Paul Barden, Paul Fegarty & Catherine Curtis) were second with a score of 201.5 and Worcestershire (Mike Willoughby, John Sansom, Nick Forward, Steve Allerston & Stewart Fishburne) were third with a score of 197.

• Results
• Previous winners

The National Finals of the Inter-County Leagues took place online on Sunday 2nd June. Champions from each of the five regional Inter-County leagues were invited to compete alongside last year’s national champions.

After a final-round comeback against the reigning champions (Kent), Yorkshire leapfrogged both Kent and Sussex to secure their first 'A' division title. Hertfordshire 'B' and 'C' both won their respective divisions, the latter regaining the title which they have now won six times in eight years.

The winning Yorkshire team was: Dave Robinson & Tony Sowter; Frank Dixon & Paul Brereton; Alan Jarvis & Tom Copeland; Brian Senior & Sandra Penfold.

• Full results and details

The Board of Trustees are pleased to announce that Charlie Bucknell and BucknellBridge have been engaged to provide leadership and coordination to our drive to expand youth bridge.

Charlie has represented England in the under-26 squad and is a former junior world championship bronze medallist and now coaches the under-21 squad. He has been active in youth bridge for a few years, supporting our youth camps and teaching bridge to school children.

This will build on the wonderful foundation developed by existing Youth Officer Joan Bennett, who continues to work with us.

We have strong ambitions in this area, convinced of the life enhancement that it offers to children and it being an investment in the long term future of the game.

Ian Sidgwick

Chair EBED

We currently have nearly 80 events planned for our Bridge - It’s a Big Deal! (BIABD) a Festival of Bridge, taking place in 57 unique clubs and counties. 

The aim of the festival is to raise the profile of bridge nationally and locally and offers clubs the opportunity to not only enjoy a party but to invite others to the party in what could be the biggest open day ever. From 9th - 15th September 2024, clubs, counties, and players across the UK have a unique opportunity to showcase the fun and benefits of bridge by participating in Bridge - It’s a Big Deal! (BIABD) a Festival of Bridge. 

If your club is not yet listed, please email festival@ebu.co.uk with the name of your club, the name/type of event you are hosting and the date it is being held, we will then add your details to our lists.

Some clubs have already started their events and fundraising, thanks to Cross in Hand Bridge Club, Caterham Bridge Club and members of Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme Bridge Centre for supporting the EBU donations page for Cancer Research UK.

Bridge clubs, whether large or small, are invited to take part in this initiative. The variety of events that can be organized is vast, ensuring that there is something for everyone. An open day at your bridge club can attract new members and introduce the game to a broader audience. Consider a sponsored bridge marathon to challenge seasoned players and create a buzz in the community. Such events not only provide enjoyment but also foster a sense of unity and purpose.

To support your planning, keep an eye out for the resources and information that are available through the festival pages of the website. These materials will provide guidance on organizing successful events, promoting them within your community, and maximizing the impact of your efforts. From posters and flyers to social media templates, you’ll have everything you need to spread the word and generate excitement. Make sure you tell us about your event so we can add it to the list and also the map of events,

Supporting Cancer Research UK through BIABD adds an extra layer of significance to your event. Cancer touches many lives, and the efforts of bridge players across the country can contribute to ground-breaking research and support for those affected by the disease. Every game played, every event held, and every pound raised brings us one step closer to a world where cancer is defeated.

The latest instalment of Updates from Aylesbury, the monthly newsletter for Club and County Officials is now available to read via the link below:

• Updates from Aylesbury - 3rd June 2024

All previous newsletters are available on the EBU Updates page.

We are sorry to hear of the death of Philip Bennett. In 2019, Phil was a recipient of the Dimmie Fleming Award, nominated for his volunteer work with Wiltshire CBA as their Treasurer for over 15 years. 

He died 'at the table' playing on the BBO platform on Monday 20th May, he certainly went out with a bang, doing what he loved. His funeral service will be held on 20th June. 

From Wiltshire CBA website:

It is with great sadness that we report the death of Philip Bennett. Philip was a long-time member of many bridge clubs in Wiltshire and Hampshire and represented the county in many competitions over the years. He was a Tournament Director and was also a long time Committee member and Treasurer of both Devizes and Wiltshire County Bridge Clubs.

In 2019 he received the Dimmie Fleming Award from the EBU. An award made specifically to publicly recognise those who have worked hard promoting bridge locally and at County level. Throughout his bridge career, Phil will be fondly remembered for his sense of humour, support and advice in the running of club and county. He was a lovely man. We will advise funeral arrangements when known.

Following the announcement that Mark Humphris is to step down, we invite applicants for the vacant position of chief executive.

Details of the job can be found here

Please send your cv and a cover letter/email to Mark Humphris, mark@ebedcio.org.uk The closing date for applications is Wednesday 3rd July. Interviews will be held using Zoom. To discuss the role or your suitability please feel free to call Mark on 01296 317 218

Following changes in his private circumstances Mark Humphris has decided to bring forward by some months the date he had planned to step back from his role and will be leaving EBED later this summer.

Mark remains a friend of EBED and no doubt will continue to participate and contribute to the game.

We are grateful to him for his support over the transition to the new trustee team and all that he has contributed in both of his roles with us.

The search for a replacement has begun.

Ian Sidgwick 
Chairman EBED

Three English Teams will compete this weekend (7th - 9th June) at the EBL Online Women’s Teams.

Starting on Friday morning, the first European Online Women’s Teams Championship. This is a transnational event with a total of 49 teams taking part. You can Kibitz via the RealBridge server, from around 11.10am. 

Play starts each day at 9am BST, but there will be a delay on the kibitz feed, so please join from around 11:10 am onwards.

The three English teams to look out for are:

Ali and The Dreamers: Valerie Constable, Lesley Harrison, Sue Millard, Alison Pritchard, Judith Sanis, Ros Wolfarth, Pat Emery.

The Noise Festival: Allison Green, India Natt, Bridget Rampton, Debbie Sandford, Kath Stynes, Hanna Tuus

Valkyrie: Sally Brock, Fiona Brown, Helen Erichsen, Diana Nettleton, Nevena Senior, Nicola Smith, David Burn (NPC)

Links

• EBL Microsite
• Kibitz via the RealBridge server

The Mixed Team trials for the team to represent England at the World Bridge Games took place over the weekend at T.G.R's Bridge Club in London (Friday 31st May - Sunday 2nd June).

The Nettleton team of Diana Nettleton & Ben Norton, Frances Hinden & Graham Osborne, Marusa Gold & Stefano Tommasini finished in first place with a score of 40.73 VPs. They will represent England in the Mixed Teams at the World Bridge Games which will take place later this year in Buenos Aires, Argentina (21st Oct - 3rd Nov).

• Mixed Trials page
• Results

The Hubert Phillips Plate - the consolation event in the EBU's mixed pivot teams competition - has been won by the Rosen team of John Atthey, Ian Draper, Anne Rosen, Neil Rosen, Gerald Tredinnick & Jeremy Willans.

They beat the Edwards team of Richard Edwards, John Griffin, Roger Mallinson, David Marshall, Mary Marshall in the final.

The Hubert Phillips Bowl final is still to be played.

Plate results
Hubert Phillips Competition Page

The Cambridge Bridge Club team, from Cambs & Hunts, has won the Garden Cities Trophy, the competition for each county's 'teams-of-eight champions', for the second year running.

The final featured the eight teams which qualified from the Regional Finals which took place in May. The Cambridge team finished first with 104 VPs. Avenue Bridge Club (Sussex) finished in second place with 76 VPs and Coventry and North Warwickshire Bridge Club (Warwickshire) finished in third place with 69 VPs.

The winning Cambridge team was David Kendrick, Jon Cooke, Jonathan Mestel, Julian Wightwick, Catherine Curtis, Liam Fegarty, Victor Milman & Nadia Stelmashenko (pictured).

Results; Previous winners

In the 12-board ladder for May, Tim Glover won the top prize of £30 with an average score of 74.23% over six games. Amr El-Kashef was second with an average score of 69.35%, and Gordon Rainsford third with an average score of 69.00%. There were also prizes for fourth and fifth place.

May 12-board ladder

Due to recent illness, Tony Russ has resigned from the board of the EBU and all associated committee memberships. Abbey Smith has been appointed to take his position as Vice-Chair of the EBU until the AGM in November.

The Spring Bank Holiday Congress was held this weekend, in Reading. 

Steve Root & John Atthey (pictured) won the Two-Star Pairs. In joint second place were Sebastian Atisen & Stefano Tommasini and Andrew McIntosh & Sara Moran. The Two Star Pairs is part of the Player of the Year Championship. Andrew McIntosh's joint second place sees him move into 7th in the Player of the Year rankings.

The Swiss Teams was won by the team of Frederic Wrang, Gunnar Hallberg, Tracy Sherman & Stefan Lindfors (picture) with a final score of 101 VPs. In second place were Mike Huggins, Irene Robinson, Mike Eden & Carrie Eden with a score of 93 VPs.

The Swiss Pairs was won by Croz Croswell & Sharon Winton (picture), with a score of 108 VPs. In second place were Cathy Smith & Andrew Smith, with a total of 101 VPs.

In the Jack High Swiss Pairs, Hiroko Plant & Bob Plant (picture) finished in first place with a total of 89 VPs. In second place were Nick Howard & Tom Keith with 86 VPs.

Meanwhile, the online 9-High Improvers Pairs, was won by Daniel Benison & Jo Lormor, with Charles Scott & David Martin-Sperry taking second place.

A special mention to youth squad member Joseph Hedges, who attended the congress as a caddy to help with handing out the boards, he was exceptional all weekend.

The venue is already booked for next year, so it's not too early to start planning your next Spring Bank Holiday.

Full Results
Previous winners: Championship Pairs; Swiss Teams

We are sad to report the death of Sarah Matthews. In 2021 Sarah was the recipient of the Dimmie Fleming Award. Nominated for her work with bridge in Herefordshire for the last 25 years as a county player and director; a teacher of hundreds of new bridge players; founder of The Birches Bridge Club and as the organiser and administrator of many significant county events from the early 1990’s into the 2010’s.

We offer our condolences to her family and friends. 

Ian Sidgwick (EBED Chair) and his fellow trustees are delighted to announce two new appointees to serve on EBED’s board.
They are both great additions to the team bringing complimentary skills and experiences.

Tony Cherrett

Tony learned bridge at school and has played ever since. Tony has been teaching bridge in Surrey for 12 years. He organises bridge events and is currently working with EBED on planning a revamped Junior Autumn Camp. He is a member of the Surrey County Bridge Association committee. He also runs Caterham and By the Wey Bridge Clubs.

Tony had a career in IT and International Banking. This involved much international travel and addressing many interesting management and technical problems.

Tony believes we should encourage as many people as possible to play bridge at any level.

William Bourne - Treasurer

William started playing bridge at school and like so many others came back to it later in life. He now plays at Tunbridge Wells and Crowborough bridge clubs. He has been a member of EBED’s Youth Advisory Group since 2016 and ran the Autumn Bridge Camp on behalf of Sussex CCBA from 2018 to 2023. He was awarded the Tom Bradley award for services to Youth Bridge in 2022. Away from bridge he acted as independent chair of two public sector pension boards from 2015 to 2023 and currently provides independent investment and governance advice - on occasion including challenge - to public pensions and charities. He hopes to use the same skillset as an EBED Trustee, and as Treasurer to keep it on a sustainable financial path in the longer term.

Our thanks to Paul Gibbons who stepped in at zero notice to cover the role of Treasurer on a temporary basis.

Due to recent illness, Tony Russ has resigned from the board of the EBU and all associated committee memberships. Abbey Smith has been appointed to take his position as Vice-Chair of the EBU until the AGM in November.

From 9th September 2024, clubs, counties, and players across the UK have a unique opportunity to showcase the fun and benefits of bridge by participating in Bridge - It’s a Big Deal! (BIABD) a Festival of Bridge. This event aims to raise the profile of bridge nationally and locally and offers clubs the opportunity to not only enjoy a party but to invite others to the party in what could be the biggest open day ever.

Bridge clubs, whether large or small, are invited to take part in this initiative. The variety of events that can be organized is vast, ensuring that there is something for everyone. An open day at your bridge club can attract new members and introduce the game to a broader audience. Consider a sponsored bridge marathon to challenge seasoned players and create a buzz in the community. Such events not only provide enjoyment but also foster a sense of unity and purpose.

Golf clubs and University of the Third Age (U3A) groups, where bridge is already a popular pastime, are also encouraged to join in. Hosting a BIABD event at these venues can bring together different community segments, promoting inter-club camaraderie and the joys of bridge beyond traditional settings. This inclusive approach can help demystify the game and show that bridge is accessible and enjoyable for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Individual players can also make a significant impact by organizing bridge games at home. Whether it’s a friendly game of rubber bridge, an exciting Chicago session, or a competitive teams match, these private events can contribute to the larger goal of supporting Cancer Research UK. By inviting friends and family to participate, players can introduce new people to the game while making a meaningful contribution to a worthy cause.

Planning for BIABD doesn’t have to be daunting, even though September 2024 might seem far off. Early preparation is key to ensuring the success of your event. Begin by brainstorming with your club members or community group to come up with innovative ideas that will attract attention and participation. Consider themes, special guests, or unique formats that can make your event stand out.

To support your planning, keep an eye out for the resources and information that are available through the festival pages of the website. These materials will provide guidance on organizing successful events, promoting them within your community, and maximizing the impact of your efforts. From posters and flyers to social media templates, you’ll have everything you need to spread the word and generate excitement. Make sure you tell us about your event so we can add it to the list and also the map of events,

Supporting Cancer Research UK through BIABD adds an extra layer of significance to your event. Cancer touches many lives, and the efforts of bridge players across the country can contribute to ground-breaking research and support for those affected by the disease. Every game played, every event held, and every pound raised brings us one step closer to a world where cancer is defeated.

In conclusion, Bridge - It’s a Big Deal! is a call to action for all bridge enthusiasts to unite for a common cause. By participating, clubs and players can showcase their favourite game by having fun and inviting others to come along and see what it’s all about while making a tangible difference in the fight against cancer. Start planning now, get creative, and prepare to show that bridge truly is a big deal. Let’s make September 2024 a month to remember for bridge lovers.

All donations should be made via the dedicated EBU Supporting Cancer Research UK page.

The Spring Bank Holiday Congress was held this weekend, in Reading. 

Steve Root & John Atthey (pictured) won the Two-Star Pairs. In joint second place were Sebastian Atisen & Stefano Tommasini and Andrew McIntosh & Sara Moran. The Two Star Pairs is part of the Player of the Year Championship. Andrew McIntosh's joint second place sees him move into 7th in the Player of the Year rankings.

The Swiss Teams was won by the team of Frederic Wrang, Gunnar Hallberg, Tracy Sherman & Stefan Lindfors (picture) with a final score of 101 VPs. In second place were Mike Huggins, Irene Robinson, Mike Eden & Carrie Eden with a score of 93 VPs.

The Swiss Pairs was won by Croz Croswell & Sharon Winton (picture), with a score of 108 VPs. In second place were Cathy Smith & Andrew Smith, with a total of 101 VPs.

In the Jack High Swiss Pairs, Hiroko Plant & Bob Plant (picture) finished in first place with a total of 89 VPs. In second place were Nick Howard & Tom Keith with 86 VPs.

Meanwhile, the online 9-High Improvers Pairs, was won by Daniel Benison & Jo Lormor, with Charles Scott & David Martin-Sperry taking second place.

A special mention to youth squad member Joseph Hedges, who attended the congress as a caddy to help with handing out the boards, he was exceptional all weekend.

The venue is already booked for next year, so it's not too early to start planning your next Spring Bank Holiday.

Full Results
Previous winners: Championship Pairs; Swiss Teams

Club and county representatives have been contacted directly on behalf of the EBU Board about a number of emails that had been circulating, questioning recent decisions made by it.

From a data protection perspective, we would like to reassure those who have received emails or phone calls that their details have not come from us; we take data protection very seriously and have always refused (and will continue to refuse) to give anyone our list of shareholders’ contact details when anyone has asked for them.

These emails seem to have been sent as part of a campaign by David Parry to get himself co-opted to the Board of the EBU, having failed to be elected to it in November 2023. In sending these emails he has included incorrect financial information about the Bridge – It’s a Big Deal! festival

In addition to the above-mentioned, his account of the festival and its intentions are not the same as the advertised events, which you can see here on the festival webpage.

The EBU and the festival teams are happy to answer any questions any members may have.

We are determined that the festival will be a big success. There are currently 69 club events planned, 20 counties have appointed Festival Managers and there are a number of national events, some of which are spread over several days. We expect all of these numbers to increase as we get closer to the designated week – now less than four months away!

The Teltscher Trophy - the 'Senior Camrose' competition - took place this weekend (17th-19th May). This year the event was held  at the The University of Stirling, in Scotland.

The England team of Kay Preddy & Norman Selway, Trevor Ward & David Kendrick, Roger Bryant & Nick Smith, with NPC David Jones. were victorious, finishing with a total score of 65.46. Hosts Scotland finished a close 2nd with 64.66 and Wales finished in 3rd place with a score of 58.87.

The weekend culminated in a very exciting finish with England winning the Trophy on the last board. England Captain David Jones is pictured receiving the trophy from Alan Goodman. 

England have now won the event eight times, Scotland five times, Republic of Ireland three times and Wales once. 

Thanks to the hard working team of vugraph operators (picture), there were video commentators at every session.

Full results

The full list of teams were as follows:

England: Kay Preddy & Norman Selway, Trevor Ward & David Kendrick, Roger Bryant & Nick Smith, NPC David Jones

Northern Ireland: Ian Lindsay (PC) & Robin Burns, Ian Hamilton & Hastings Campbell, Anne Fitzpatrick & Harold Curran

Republic of Ireland: Peter Goodman & Terry Walsh, Pat Barry & David Terry, Gay Keaveney & Enda Glynn, NPC Derek O’Gorman

Scotland: Brian Short & Alan Goodman, Iain Sime & Derek Diamond, Barnet Shenkin & Brian Spears, NPC Robert Ferrari

SBU: David Shenkin & Martin Diamond, Harry Smith & Roy Bennett, Vi Outred & Charles Outred, NPC Tim McKay

Wales: Alan Stephenson & Peter Kaufmann, Tim Rees & John Salisbury, Paul Denning(PC) & Diane Kurbalija

Entries are now open for the 2024/25 Gerard Faulkner Salver and will close on Tuesday 25th June.

The competition is for teams of four (though you can have a squad of six), each of whom must be born in, or before, 1960. The event is played as a knockout throughout, with matches played privately. Matches in the early stages will be arranged so as to avoid long journeys wherever possible, and matches can also be played online at the agreement of both teams.

There is a repechage for unseeded teams which lose their first match, so every unseeded team is guaranteed at least two matches. Details on the competition are available on the Gerard Faulkner Salver webpage.

The easiest way to enter is via My EBU, or contact the Competitions Department on 01296 317203 or comps@ebu.co.uk. 

The Lambourne Jersey Congress concluded over the weekend. The Swiss Pairs was won by John Holland & Raymond Semp, finishing with a score of 135 VPs ahead of Nick Woodcock & Sue Woodcock with 124 VPs. The top two pairs (John Holland, Raymond Semp, Nick Woodcock, Sue Woodcock) joined forces in the Multiple teams to win with a score of 54 IMPs, ahead of the team of Carolyn Fisher, Pat Watson, Allan Sanis & Judith Sanis with 48 IMPs.

In the Swiss Teams the team of Helen Lawton-Smith & John Slater, Kathy Talbot & Denis Talbot (pictured) finished in first place with a score of 103 VPs, ahead of the team of Susan Parkins & Angela Treen, Rachel Bingham & Matt Bingham with 97 VPs.

The other winners at the congress were:
Championship Pairs: Matthew Bingham & Rachel Bingham
Senior Pairs: Sue Woodcock & Nick Woodcock
Mixed/Open Pairs: David Hole & Roz Bavin

Congress results; Swiss Pairs previous winners; Pictures

The Regional Finals of the Garden Cities trophy took place over the weekend at four different venues around the country. Eight teams in total qualified for the Garden Cities Final, which will take place on Saturday 1st June. 

Northern/Bradford

Qualifiers: 1st Sheffield Bridge Club (Yorkshire), 2nd= Bramhall & Cheadle Bridge Club (Manchester) – qualified on a split tie

Midlands/Stamford

Qualifiers: 1st= Coventry and North Warwickshire Bridge Club (Warwickshire), 1st= Cambridge Bridge Club (Cambs & Hunts)

South East/Richmond

Qualifiers: 1st Avenue Bridge Club (Sussex), 2nd Young Chelsea Bridge Club (London)

South West/Bristol

Qualifiers: 1st Allendale Bridge Club (Dorset), 2nd Cheltenham Bridge Club (Gloucestershire)

Full results

We are sad to report the death of Sarah Matthews. In 2021 Sarah was the recipient of the Dimmie Fleming Award. Nominated for her work with bridge in Herefordshire for the last 25 years as a county player and director; a teacher of hundreds of new bridge players; founder of The Birches Bridge Club and as the organiser and administrator of many significant county events from the early 1990’s into the 2010’s.

We offer our condolences to her family and friends. 

EBU Vice-Chair Tony Russ, gives an update and personal message about the upcoming Bridge - It's a Big Deal! Festival of bridge. 

Planning for the Bridge – It’s A Big Deal! Festival is progressing well. View our festival pages to search for events near you, either via our Map of Events or List of Events. If your club is not yet listed, please email festival@ebu.co.uk with the name of your club, the name/type of event you are hosting and the date it is being held, we will then add your details to our lists.

WHO CAN GET INVOLVED

You don’t have to be a seasoned bridge pro to get involved! Whether you’re a member of a bridge club, part of a golfing community, or a regular at your local U3A group, there’s a place for you at the Festival of Bridge. And yes, that includes all you bridge aficionados who enjoy hosting games at home – every rubber bridge, Chicago showdown, or "Barbie" themed bridge afternoon can make a difference!

Some clubs have already started their events and fundraising, thanks to Cross in Hand Bridge Club, Caterham Bridge Club and members of Bramhall & Cheadle Hulme Bridge Centre for supporting the EBU donations page for Cancer Research UK.

We hope that bridge players will come together to celebrate, to spread the word that bridge is a wonderful game and that by working together we can have fun as well as playing our part in helping to beat cancer.

We are inviting all clubs, counties and players to take part in this very special Festival. We hope to see as many clubs and bridge players at this first take on what we hope to be an annual event.

NEXT STEPS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PART

If you think you may like to take part please do one or all of the following:

• Visit the EBU Festival webpage for more information
• Follow us on Facebook and join our Facebook Group
• Email us at festival@ebu.co.uk to confirm the dates for your event
• If you are a club or county official, you will receive a follow up email with all the details and resources for planning and running an event 

The aim for the Bridge- It’s a Big Deal! (BIABD) festival to raise the profile of bridge in our communities while supporting one of the UK’s most important charities, Cancer Research UK. The festival is an opportunity for you to join the biggest bridge open day ever!

Entries are now open for the 2024/25 Gerard Faulkner Salver and will close on Tuesday 25th June.

The competition is for teams of four (though you can have a squad of six), each of whom must be born in, or before, 1960. The event is played as a knockout throughout, with matches played privately. Matches in the early stages will be arranged so as to avoid long journeys wherever possible, and matches can also be played online at the agreement of both teams.

There is a repechage for unseeded teams which lose their first match, so every unseeded team is guaranteed at least two matches. Details on the competition are available on the Gerard Faulkner Salver webpage.

The easiest way to enter is via My EBU, or contact the Competitions Department on 01296 317203 or comps@ebu.co.uk. 

The Senior Home Internationals for the Teltscher Trophy will take place this weekend, 17th - 19th May, 2024 at the The University of Stirling.

Play starts at 7pm on Friday, you can Kibitz via RealBridge. There will be video commentators at every session. England's first match will be against Northern Ireland. 

Representing England are Kay Preddy & Norman Selway, Trevor Ward & David Kendrick, Roger Bryant & Nick Smith, with NPC David Jones. Details of all teams are listed below.

The first Senior Home International was played in Oxford 30th May- 1st June 2008. The national teams of the five countries were joined by a Patron’s team led by Bernard Teltscher, who agreed to support the event for its first five-year cycle. The Patron’s team could win the event but not the trophy. The winning team was England (Paul Hackett & Ross Harper, Gunnar Hallberg & John Holland, Ian Panto & Tony Waterlow, NPC John Williams).

As of 2023 England have won seven times, Scotland five times, Republic of Ireland three times and Wales once.

• Programme link
• SBU Site link
• Kibitz link via RealBridge

Teams: 

England: Kay Preddy & Norman Selway, Trevor Ward & David Kendrick, Roger Bryant & Nick Smith, NPC David Jones

Northern Ireland: Ian Lindsay (PC) & Robin Burns, Ian Hamilton & Hastings Campbell, Anne Fitzpatrick & Harold Curran

Republic of Ireland: Peter Goodman & Terry Walsh, Pat Barry & David Terry, Gay Keaveney & Enda Glynn, NPC Derek O’Gorman

Scotland: Brian Short & Alan Goodman, Iain Sime & Derek Diamond, Barnet Shenkin & Brian Spears, NPC Robert Ferrari

SBU: David Shenkin & Martin Diamond, Harry Smith & Roy Bennett, Vi Outred & Charles Outred, NPC Tim McKay

Wales: Alan Stephenson & Peter Kaufmann, Tim Rees & John Salisbury, Paul Denning(PC) & Diane Kurbalija

The Generation Game, is a casual bridge event run by EBED on RealBridge. The next session will be held this Sunday 19th May, with the next game held on 23rd June. The start time is 6.30pm and lasts for approximately 1 hour.

This monthly game gives families the chance to play bridge together (event from across the country). There is no upper age limit, so if you know someone in your family that would like to learn to play in a more informal setting, this might be the game for you.

After each session you will have a chance to compare your bidding and results against others playing the same boards at the same time. Based on the first attempt that provided a lot of laughs.

If you are interested in joining, please contact Joan Bennett on 07548 782538 or by email to joan@ebedcio.org.uk, to receive a link to the game.

The Lambourne Jersey Congress concluded over the weekend. The Swiss Pairs was won by John Holland & Raymond Semp, finishing with a score of 135 VPs ahead of Nick Woodcock & Sue Woodcock with 124 VPs. The top two pairs (John Holland, Raymond Semp, Nick Woodcock, Sue Woodcock) joined forces in the Multiple teams to win with a score of 54 IMPs, ahead of the team of Carolyn Fisher, Pat Watson, Allan Sanis & Judith Sanis with 48 IMPs.

In the Swiss Teams the team of Helen Lawton-Smith & John Slater, Kathy Talbot & Denis Talbot (pictured) finished in first place with a score of 103 VPs, ahead of the team of Susan Parkins & Angela Treen, Rachel Bingham & Matt Bingham with 97 VPs.

The other winners at the congress were:
Championship Pairs: Matthew Bingham & Rachel Bingham
Senior Pairs: Sue Woodcock & Nick Woodcock
Mixed/Open Pairs: David Hole & Roz Bavin

Congress results; Swiss Pairs previous winners; Pictures

The Regional Finals of the Garden Cities trophy took place over the weekend at four different venues around the country. Eight teams in total qualified for the Garden Cities Final, which will take place on Saturday 1st June. 

Northern/Bradford

Qualifiers: 1st Sheffield Bridge Club (Yorkshire), 2nd= Bramwell & Cheadle Bridge Club (Manchester) – qualified on a split tie

Midlands/Stamford

Qualifiers: 1st= Coventry and North Warwickshire Bridge Club (Warwickshire), 1st= Cambridge Bridge Club (Cambs & Hunts)

South East/Richmond

Qualifiers: 1st Avenue Bridge Club (Sussex), 2nd Young Chelsea Bridge Club (London)

South West/Bristol

Qualifiers: 1st Allendale Bridge Club (Dorset), 2nd Cheltenham Bridge Club (Gloucestershire)

Full results

The latest of the Online One-Day Green Pointed events of 2024 took place on Sunday 12th May. It was won by     
Sam Anoyrkatis & Rob Lawy (pictured), with a score of 107 VPs. In second place were India Natt & Robert Miller with a score of 103 VPs and in third place were Anton Mauve & Kostadin Vasilev who finished with a score of 101 VPs. 

Rob Lawy won the previous Online One-Day Green Pointed Pairs playing with Harry Anoyrkatis, Sam's father. This second win puts him top of the Online One-Day Green Pointed events leaderboard with a total of 126 ladder points.

Full results

The Online One-Day Green Pointed Events Leader Board 

The next Online Women's Training Session is on Wednesday 12th June and the expert is Pierre Schmidt. Simply TOO GOOD TO MISS! Partnerships or teams preferred but, if interested, contact England Co-ordinator, roswolfarth4901@gmail.com. 

Planning for the Bridge - It's a Big Deal! Festival in September is progressing well. We now have a list of all clubs who are planning events, on our festival pages. If your club is planning an event, but is not listed, please email festival@ebu.co.uk with the name of your club, the name/type of event you are hosting and the date it is being held, we will then add your details to our lists.

Thank you to all who attended the festival planning meetings last week. If you were unable to attend, the next meetings will be held on Wednesday 5th June at 7.30pm and Thursday 6th June at 9.30am. The meetings are open to any, to join please email festival@ebu.co.uk.

If you would like help or ideas for planning an event, please email festival@ebu.co.uk or call Sam on 01296 317215. If you would like to order bunting or donations boxes for your event, please contact us using the above email.

• List of events
• Map of events
• Ideas for your events
• Resources for planning your events

We're pleased to announce the top clubs by number of player sessions for the year (2023/24). This is for sessions played up to the end of March.

1	Richmond Bridge Club	=
2	Stamford Bridge Club	2
3	Wimbledon Bridge Club	1
4	Cheltenham Bridge Club	1
5	Oliver Cowan Bridge Club Virtual	12
6	Tunbridge Wells Bridge Club	=
7	Bury Athenaeum Bridge Club	2
8	Oxford Bridge Club CIO	1
9	Wallingford Bridge Club	1
10	South Bucks Bridge Club	5
11	West Midlands Bridge Club Limited	3
12	Kenilworth Bridge Club	1
13	Olicana Bridge Club	3
14	Wetherby Bridge Club	4
15	Welwyn Garden City Bridge Club	4
16	Stratford-Upon-Avon Bridge Club	1
17	Patcham Bridge Club	1
18	St Annes Bridge Club (LAN)	New
19	Southend And Leigh Bridge Club	7
20	Eastbourne Bridge Club	8
21	Bristol Bridge Club	2
22	Brierfield Bridge Club	1
23	Mid Essex Bridge Club	1
24	York Bridge Club	3
25	Horsham Bridge Club	1
26	Bath Bridge Club	4
27	Whitley Bay and Tynemouth Bridge Club	8
28	Hitchin Bridge Club	7
29	Poulton Bridge Club	=
30	Manchester Bridge Club	10
31	Keighley Bridge Club	8
32	Ashton and District Bridge Club	6
33	Bolton Bridge Club	=
34	Darlington Bridge Club	28
35	Deva Bridge Club	3
36	Sheffield Bridge Club	16
37	Nottingham Bridge Club	1
38	Scunthorpe Bridge Club	4
39	Wakefield Bridge Club	5
40	Worthing Bridge Club	9
41	Harrogate Bridge Club	7
42	Bawburgh Bridge Club	4
43	Watford & Bushey Bridge Club	23
44	Caterham Bridge Club	19
45	Phyllis Court Bridge Club	2
46	Thorpe Bay Bridge Club	12
47	Halifax Bridge Club	6
48	Basingstoke Bridge Club	7
49=	Wearside Bridge Club	10
49=	Abbey Smith Bridge Club	9

The latest instalment of Updates from Aylesbury, the monthly newsletter for Club and County Officials is now available to read via the link below:

• Updates from Aylesbury - 7th May 2024

All previous newsletters are available on the EBU Updates page.

Team Orca of Alexander Allfrey, Simon Cope, Peter Crouch, Espen Erichsen, Richard Plackett & Andrew Robson, won the Spring Foursomes. The team are pictured receiving the trophy at the venue.

The Orca team faced the Hauge team (Stian Evenstad, Rune Hauge, Nicolai Heiberg-Evenstad & Dan McIntosh) in the final. The Hauge team were undefeated until the final. This is the second year in a row that the event has been won by Alexander Allfrey, Peter Crouch, Espen Erichsen, Richard Plackett & Andrew Robson.

The defeated semi-finalists were the Penfold and Mossop teams.

The Punchbowl, the secondary knockout event, was won by the team of Catherine Draper, Ian Pagan, Catherine Seale & Andrew Woodcock (picture). They beat the Duursma team in the final. 

The winners of the Hamilton Cup, the Swiss Teams on Monday, were the team of Paul Gruenke, Phil King, Matt Brown, Sarah Bell & Mike Bell (picture), finishing with a total score of 88 VPs 

The event is part of the Player of the Year Championships. The win for the Orca team puts them at the top of the table, with two of the team now in joint 1st, Simon Cope and Peter Crouch.

• Full results
• Previous winners: Spring Foursomes; Hamilton Cup
• Player of the Year
• Spring Foursomes webpage

The Spring Foursomes, one of the great events in the English calendar, takes place this weekend (3rd - 7th May) in Bristol. With so many teams competing it is shaping up to be another great event.

The principal event has become one of the toughest events in domestic bridge, played for the Provost Cup. It is run on double-elimination lines over nine sessions each of 32 boards. 

From Monday, you can watch the final matches on BBO VuGraph to keep up with all the action. Starting with Round 6, the match between the undefeated teams will be shown, followed in round 7, a quarter final match will be shown. On Tuesday morning both semi-finals matches be shown, and then the final match will be shown for the first 8 boards.

The Spring Foursomes is part of the Championship Series, in which points can be earned towards the Player of the Year Championship and also part of the new WBF World Bridge Tour.

The seeding and initial matches are now live.

Please note: For guests staying at the hotel, the overnight parking rate for EBU players/attendees is £10.00 per vehicle. All players must register their number plate with reception on arrival.

• Full BBO VuGraph schedule

The Open Trials for the World Bridge Games have now concluded. The trial was played as a round robin, with the top two teams competing in a 64-board final yesterday (Monday). 

In the final the Black team (Andrew Black, David Gold, Thomas Paske, Andrew McIntosh, Peter Crouch & Simon Cope) faced the Leslie team (Tim Leslie, Mike Bell, Sarah Bell, Ben Norton, Stefano Tommasini & Sebastian Atisen) and started with a 62 IMP carry forward from the round robin. Despite this the Leslie team came back and were leading the match for a while, but in the end the Black team won with a score of 189 to the Leslie team's, 161.

The winning team will represent England at the World Bridge Games later this year in Buenos Aires, Argentina from 22nd Oct - 5th Nov 2024.

Full Results

Further details, including teams and convention cards can be seen on the Open Trials page.

The latest in the new Bid72 video series, Pros and Cons, is now available to view. Episode twelve, features Mike Passell’s clinic on Lebensohl. The series of short videos looks at bidding dilemmas with championship players. You can subscribe to the free series on the Bid72 YouTube channel.

In the Bid72 EBU Bidding Contest, there are different ranked groups (A, B, C and New). The aim of the bidding contest is to bid with your own chosen partner and your preferred system, using the app bid72.

Following the April monthly score, the top partnership of group A are downagain-Freee with an average score of 8.45. In second place are AlanC-Tim Warren with a score of 8.05 and just behind in third place are three pairs, DaveA-JillA, FrancoisP-NicolasL and SarahM-Canaryboy1 with an average score of 8.00.

In group B, five partnerships will be promoted to group A, they are; Muzzi1-FrankDi; DavidS-LisS; Et1965-LucyN; MalcolmW-Susie and BrendaV-FransVas.

In group C, one partnership has been promoted to group B, they are; Aegis2024-Jim4049.

First time players compete in the New group. Each month there is a relegation or promotion of players, during this time new players are also placed into one of the three groups depending on their score. This service is completely free for EBU members and made available by bid72, the premium app on bridge bidding. For more information and to register see Bid72 EBU.

• Pros and Cons playlist

In the 12-board ladder for April, Amr El-Kashef won the top prize of £30 with an average score of 69.51% over six games. Gordon Rainsford was second with an average score of 69.12%, and Anton Mauve third with an average score of 69.06%. There were also prizes for fourth and fifth place.

April 12-board ladder

Our Bridge – It’s A Big Deal! Festival is gathering momentum, with lots of clubs and counties organising a range of events and activities, from which the UMS will go to Cancer Research UK. 

We are delighted to welcome Espen Gisvold to the organising committee while the Festival Co-ordinator Tony Russ steps back for a while due to health issues. Espen will be known to many in the Manchester area as a very active organiser and we are sure his energy and ideas will add to everything that is being planned.

At the same time, while Tony temporarily steps back from his board duties, Abbey Smith will be the board member with responsibility for clubs and she will be happy to offer any help she can to clubs, as will Jonathan Lillycrop our Club Liaison Officer, who continues to organise our programme of seminars for clubs, the latest of which on the topic of scoring programs attracted about 40 clubs. Jonathan will also be continuing with focus group meetings at which randomly selected groups of clubs are invited to meet to discuss how the EBU can better meet the needs of its member clubs.

We hope that bridge players will come together to celebrate, to spread the word that bridge is a wonderful game and that by working together we can have fun as well as playing our part in helping to beat cancer.

WHO CAN GET INVOLVED

We are inviting all clubs, counties and players to take part in this very special Festival. We hope to see as many clubs and bridge players at this first take on what we hope to be an annual event.

NEXT STEPS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PART

If you think you may like to take part please do one or all of the following:

• Visit the EBU Festival webpage for more information
• Follow us on Facebook and join our Facebook Group
• Email us at festival@ebu.co.uk to confirm the dates for your event
• If you are a club or county official, you will receive a follow up email with all the details and resources for planning and running an event 

You are welcome to make individual donations, the donation link is now live.

We look forward to this very exciting event and hope you will join us in celebrating the game of bridge by raising money for this important charity.

The latest of the Online One-Day Green Pointed events of 2024 took place on Saturday 27th April. It was won by Rob Lawy & Harry Anoyrkatis (pictured), with a score of 103 VPs, having overtaken their opponents in the last round who eventually came 2nd (Derek Maggs & Alan Sia) on the last board. In joint third place were Richard Illingworth & Glyn Meredith, Kay Preddy & Louise Weiss-Selway and Liz Commins & David Stevenson all three pairs finished with a score of 93 VPs. 

Full results

The Online One-Day Green Pointed Events Leader Board 

We are pleased to announce the 2025 EBU Spring Overseas Congress will be held in the Algarve, Portugal, from 3rd - 10th February.

The base for the congress will be the elegant Hotel Vila Galé Tavira, ideally located in the centre of the town. It is just 100m from the nearest shops, tapas bars and restaurants and close to the stunning Ria Formosa Natural Park. The highly rated hotel is built in traditional Portuguese style and offers excellent facilities including indoor and outdoor swimming pools and a spa, making it an ideal location for a winter bridge congress.

Tavira, a historic coastal town brimming in Portuguese culture and Algarvian charm. Offering pleasant average temperatures, Tavira is a perfect winter holiday destination! It is open all year round and has a great selection of shopping, including a food and a craft market and many attractive boutiques and shops. You can even visit Ilha de Tavira, a nearby tropical island accessible by water taxi. Here, you will find the town's island beaches and 7kms of golden sand.

Bookings are now being taken by First for Bridge and members are advised to book as soon as possible. 7, 8 and 9 night options are available with half-board accommodation.

There is one included guided tour to take you to the unspoilt Ria Formosa. Visit Olhao, the largest fishing port in the Algarve and built under Arabic influences. Spend time in the waterfront markets and explore the old quarter on our guided walking tour. The tour includes a private boat tour to the remote islands, a large network of barrier islands and inlets created by shifting sandbanks, and a breeding ground for oystercatchers, cranes, ibis and flamingoes. The Ria Formosa has traditionally been an area of oyster and salt farming, as well as fishing and shellfish harvesting. Continue to Faro, the capital of the Algarve and a city rich in historical heritage. The guided walking tour will take you under the Arco da Vila, the entrance to the old town, and we will see the beautiful 13th century cathedral with its stunning interior and Portuguese ceramic tiles. There will be free time to stop for some lunch in one of the many cafes in the old town on along the vibrant marina.

More details

Congratulations to the England women's team Nevena Senior, Anne Rosen, Sally Brock, Maggie Knottenbelt, Sally Anoyrkatis and Venetia Anoyrkatis (NPC: Heather Dhondy) who at the weekend won the Lady Milne Trophy, the annual women's international event for the home countries, in Gormanstown, Ireland, with a score of 64.89 VPs. Full results are available.

Event venue  CityNorth Hotel in Gormanstown

Programme link
https://www.cbai.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lady-Milne-Programme-2024.pdf 
In the programme, there is a “brief history” on page 3,

CBAI Site link
https://www.cbai.ie/lady-milne-trophy/ 

Kibitz via RealBridge
https://kibitz.realbridge.online/ 
There will be video commentators at every session.

Teams:  

Northern Ireland
Anne Fitzpatrick & Mary Kelly-Rogers
Clare Watson & Heather Hill
Sandie Millership & Anne Hassan
NPC Helen Hall

Ireland
Joan Kenny & Jeannie Fitzgerald
Teresa Rigney & Siobhan Part
Gilda Pender & Hilary Dowling-Long
McDonagh
NPC Paul Porteous

CBAI
Kathleen Vaughan & Noreen Pender
Anna Carr & Margaret Farren
Louise Mitchell & Lucy Phelan
NPC Huey Daly

Wales
Ceri Pierce & Mia Deschepper
Jo Copping & Joan Marray
Gilly Clench & Suzi Lawson
NPC Maggie Pierce

Scotland
Samantha Punch & Anne Symons
Liz McGowan & Fiona McQuaker
Sheila Adamson & Abi Milne
NPC Brian Short

England
Anne Rosen & Nevena Senior
Sally Brock & Maggie Knottenbelt
Sally Anoykatis & Venetia Anoyrkatis
NPC Heather Dhondy

In the most recent of our Jack High pairs events run on RealBridge by Cumbria on our behalf, the morning session of 31 tables was won by Ross Midgley & Matthew May as NS with 60.42% and Philip Barclay & Emma Robinson as EW with 62.75%.

The afternoon session of 35 tables was won by Rob Kyprianou & Len Williamson as NS with 66.47%, and Jane de la Tour & Nicki Cann as EW with 71.03%. Well done to all of them!

Congratulations to team Orca (Espen ERICHSEN, Richard PLACKETT, Mikael RIMSTEDT, Ola RIMSTEDT) who have won the BAM teams in Alpe d' Huez, France. 

Earlier two teams with English players reach the quarter-finals in this tough event - Team Black (Peter BERTHEAU, Andrew BLACK, Peter FREDIN, David GOLD, Simon HULT, Andrew McINTOSH) and Simon Gillis' team (Per Erik AUSTBERG, Christian BAKKE, Boye BROGELAND, Simon GILLIS, Arild RASMUSSEN,Erik SAELENSMINDE) - but were subsequently eliminated.

Results for all events in the Championships can be found on the EBL microsite.

At a recent meeting the Tournament Directors Development Group (TDDG) made some changes to the structure of the national TD Panel, by combining the Congress "A" and Congress "B" ranks into one "Congress" group. At the same time a number of promotions were made and three former trainees, Will Clennell, Megan Jones and Stephen Kennedy were welcomed onto the main panel as "Congress" TDs.

A website purporting to sell our products at half price has appeared in search engines under the address of Bridge-warehouse.shop. This is nothing to do with the EBU and members should avoid it, using the link above to log in to our correct website. Anyone who has purchased anything from the fake website should contact their card provider to ask for a refund. We are working to have the scam website taken down, but this may take some time.

The National Teams League season 5 has now concluded. In Division 1, team "Objectivity" (captain Roger Bryant) finished top with a total of 171.75. In second place were "The Seedgrowers" (captain Robert Plumley) with a total of 163.94.

Division 2 was won by "Sushi"  (captain Nick Sandqvist), with "Wild Bill's"  (captain Adrian Fontes) in second place. In division 3, the top spot was claimed by team "The French Connection" (captain Jill Armstrong), with team "The Muppets" (captain Roy Alexander) in second.

The National Teams League Season 6 will start on 1st May 2024, entries are now open and close Wednesday 24th April. To enter please go to My EBU. Any queries please contact comps@ebu.co.uk.

National Teams League page

Peter Lee and David Norman retained their National Pairs title from last year, this time with an overall score of 58.2%. For Peter this is his sixth time of winning the event, on the previous four occasions with Bob Rowlands.

Results are on the website results pages as well as more information about the event, including  a list of previous winners.

Entries are now open for season 6 of the National Teams League. The new season will begin on Wednesday 1st May. 

The National Teams League is for teams of up to 8 people, with matches played on Wednesday evenings. The forthcoming season 6 will run from 1st May until 31st July 2024.

The entry fee is £48 per team, with the winning team for each division gaining free entry for the following season. The easiest way to enter is via My EBU, or please email comps@ebu.co.uk or call 01296 317203. Entries will close Wednesday 24th April.

If you would like to play in the league but are looking for teammates, please email comps@ebu.co.uk.

• Further details

The second and final stage of the trial for the Seniors team to represent England at the 2024 European Championships took place over the weekend at T.G.R's Bridge Club in London (6th - 7th April).

The top pairs from stage one formed into the two teams who played stage two as a head-to-head final. The team of David Mossop, Gunnar Hallberg, Alan Mould & John Holland won the match 209-176. They qualify to represent England at the European Championships (24th June - 4th July, hosted by Denmark). 

A third pair from the pairs that finished in the top five of the Round Robin stage will be added by the Selection Committee (in consultation with the winning team) to join them in Denmark.

• Senior Trials page
• Specific Conditions of Contest for the European Seniors Trials 2024
• Results

Nevena Senior & Stephen Fordham have won the Portland Pairs. This Mixed Pairs competition took place this weekend and was played online via RealBridge.

Nevena & Stephen finished with a score of 61.39%. The competition was very close, as second placed pair Kay Preddy & Norman Selway (60.60%), were in first place at the end of session 1, but the eventual winners caught up in the very last round. In third place were members of the England Youth Squad, Venetia Anoyrkatis & Tom Furness, with 59.56%.

Results; Previous winners

Paul Barden & Claire Robinson (pictured) won the Guardian Trophy for the Championship Pairs of the Easter Festival in London after a very close-run event in which top place changed many times over the two days.  

The Swiss Teams on Sunday for the Rixi Markus Cup was won by Stephen Lee, Gad Chadha, Graham Orsmond & Francois Picard (picture).

The Swiss Pairs on Monday was won by Catherine Seale & Ian Pagan.

The NGS 9 high event run by Kent was won by Michael Wilson & Ulla Adilz with a combined score of 61.94 across the two sessions. The top pair in session 1 were Lyn Roseaman & Yong Choong and the top pair in session 2 were Karen Murphy & Kevin Thakar.

Full results
Previous Winners (Championship Pairs | Teams)

In the 12-board ladder for March, James Bond won the top prize of £30 with an average score of 70.26% over six games. Gordon Rainsford was second, and Steve Gregson third with an average score of 69.29%. There were also prizes for fourth and fifth place.

March 12-board ladder

April 4, 2024

Stage two of the trial for the Seniors team to represent England at the 2024 European Championships, Herning, Denmark will take place this weekend 6th - 7th April at T.G.Rs.

The top pairs from stage one have been formed into the two teams below who will play stage two as a head-to-head final:

David Mossop, Gunnar Hallberg, Alan Mould & John Holland 

vs 

Trevor Ward, Rob Cliffe, Patrick Shields & Richard Chamberlain 

The overall winners of the trial will qualify to represent England at the European Championships (24th June - 4th July, hosted by Denmark). 

• Results
• Senior Trials page
• Specific Conditions of Contest for the European Seniors Trials 2024

The latest in the new Bid72 video series, Pros and Cons, is now available to view. Episode eleven, features Jan van Cleeff. When 3NT is an option, bid it! We all know Bob Hamman's rule. This time however Bob's adage is overruled. The series of short videos looks at bidding dilemmas with championship players. You can subscribe to the free series on the Bid72 YouTube channel.