The TSC thanks all those who responded to the short survey regarding the preferred night for the Pairs League. Two years ago this moved from a Thursday evening to a Wednesday evening and it was felt prudent to check with members whether they were happy with the change or would prefer to move back to a Thursday evening. By far, the majority of those who responded preferred a Wednesday evening, so the Pairs League playing night will accordingly be scheduled for Wednesday evenings going forward.

The Tournament Sub Committee has revised the definition of non-expert for the purpose of identifying who is eligible to win non-expert prizes in LCBA competitions. In general, players who have represented the County in a Midland Counties League match within the previous three years, or who have an NGS rank of 9 or higher, will be considered ‘Expert’, and thus not be eligible to win a non-expert prize. The full definition is contained in this document here.

The Midlands Congress took place over the weekend of 3rd to 5th January. Leicestershire players placed well in a number of events.

Open Teams

Pat Watson partnering Carolyn Fisher, and teamed up with Penny Dawson and Sharon Smitten, were third in the Open Teams.

Ladies Pairs

Pat Watson, again partnering Carolyn Fisher, was runner-up in the Ladies Pairs.

Mixed Pairs

Mark Wiggins and Judith Simpson competed in the Open Teams and finished in the top half.

Swiss Pairs

In a large field of 68 pairs, Ben Norton and Adam Hickman finished 12th

Swiss Teams

Ben Norton and Adam Hickman had a better result when they teams up with Andy Cope and Giles Ip in the Swiss teams. They finished second, just 1 VP behind the winners, having had a draw with them in a head--to-head match.

Nick Stevens and Colin Dean teamed up with Rogr Bryant and Gareth Roberts to finish fourth.

Congratulations to Ben Norton, partnering Sarah Bell, and Teamed up with Francis Hinden and Graham Osborne, for winning the Swiss teams at the Year End Congress.

Ben and Sarah also posted very respectable scores in the Mixed Pairs, coming 8th, and in the Swiss Pairs, coming =9th.

The Hyman Crammer Trophy was run as a club qualifier heats, followed by an online final (BBO). The various LCBA affiliated clubs were invited to run one heat for each club session, whether face-to-face or online. Pairs who finished in the masterpoints automatically qualifed. There was also a relaxed policy for substitutes where one member of a partnership was either unavailable or qualified multiple times with different partners. In addition we there was a reserve list for any pair that finished above 50%, but outside of the masterpoints.

Full Results

I'd like to start with some Thank-yous: My thanks go to:

The teaching teams round the county. Thanks to their organisation and hard work, we are now seeing recent past students entering National competitions (and holding their own well) and helping with the teaching. We are also now, finally, no longer seeing a regular decline in our Leicestershire membership. My heartfelt thanks goes to ALL those involved in the County-wide teaching sessions

The Josephs Bowl is Leicestershire's Championship Teams of Four competition. It consists of a Multiple Teams round followed by a knockout phase for the top four teams. Teams that don't make it through to the knockout phase for the Josephs Bowl are entered into the plate competition for the Butterworth-Langley Trophy.

Non-expert teams can enter the Butterworth-Langley Trophy directly, bypassing the Multiple Teams round - but there were none this year who chose to do so.

Round 1 Full Results

Josephs Bowl Knockout Draw

Butterworth-Langley Trophy Knockout Draw

Monica Lucas has been awarded Honorary membership of Bradgate Bridge Club for being the inaugural member of their Centurion Club.

Please click on the image above to see the photo album for the AGM.

Thanks to Shelagh Rumbelow, our photographer.

We are sad to report that Charu Shah lost her battle with cancer and passed away on 8th October 2024, surrounded by her family.

Judy Hulland has written an obiturary.

We are sad to report that Simon Stokes has passed away.

Simon was a Grandmaster and a long time member of the County Bridge Club and Clarendon.

Several of his many friends have contributed to Simon's obituary .

Congratulations to Richard Rees and Phil Harrison, who came second in Nottinghamshire Green Point Swiss Pairs.

They won six out of seven matches, including one against the eventual winners.

Full Results