Sussex Candles at Henfield

Once again a great time was had by all at the Blue-Pointed Sussex Candles at Henfield on Sunday 16th June.  The winners were Liz Hoskins, Andrew Southwell, Richard Fedrick and Peter Clinch.  They were six Victory Points clear of second-placed Mike Keeping, David Benjamin, Matt Read and David Dickson.  Surprisingly, the top two teams never faced one another.  One more round....  The Queen-high trophy was captured by sixth-placed Duncan McSorland, Sue Peters, Graham and Rose Walker.

Lunch and cake were again splendidly-provided by Charlotte Setahul and team.  Many thanks are due to the excellent director Stephen Kennedy, Martin Pool and John Hardy (who dealt and transported the boards), to our webmaster Mervyn Wotton and to Peter Bates who coordinated logistics in the Hall.  Our next Henfield event will be the Blue-Pointed Midweek Swiss Pairs on Wednesday 21st August.

Peter Clinch, Tournament Organiser

Garden Cities Final

and

National Inter-County teams of 8 Final

Sussex had quite a good Teams of 8 weekend.  Unfortunately, the most memorable hand in the Garden Cities Final on Saturday June 1st was when Stephen Kennedy came back to the table having brought home a vulnerable 3NT with an overtrick (it should have gone down).  His joy was short-lived as his teammates had conceded 1960 in 1NT redoubled with three overtricks so that was 16 IMPs away!  The Avenue team was Julian Mitchell (capt) and Peter Clinch, Matt Read and Mike Allen, Stephen Kennedy and Oliver Powell, Gunnar Hallberg and Sally Clark.  We were, in truth, a distant second to Cambridge.

On the following day, the Sussex team came second to Yorkshire in the National Intercounty Teams of 8 (division A) Final by just 2 VPs. This was much closer than the previous day and, for a while (pre-appeal), it seemed that Sussex were the joint-winners with Kent. The Sussex team was Christine Jepson (capt) and Neil Watts, Oliver Powell and Stephen Kennedy, Alan and James Hobden and Peter Clinch and Julian Mitchell.

Peter Clinch

SCCBA Mixed Pairs Championship

Patcham Community Centre

Sunday 14^th July at 1pm

The annual SCCBA Mixed Pairs Championship for the Eddie Williams Trophy is to be held on Sunday 14^th July at the Patcham Community Centre, starting at 1 pm.  This event will be played over 2 sessions and approximately 40 boards, with sandwiches and cake at the half-way point.

See how to enter.

We are aware that the European Football Nations Cup Final is also being played on this day but does not start until 8pm, giving us all plenty of time to enjoy both events.

Gerry Stanford,
Organiser

Sussex Venture Pairs

Worthing Bridge Club

Sunday 21st July at 1pm

For less-experienced players (one player must have an NGS rating of 6 or below), the Sussex Venture Pairs event is being held at Worthing Bridge Club.  You can enter online now or print off an entry form for postal/email submission.

Eileen Perrigo, Organiser

SCCBA Spring Congress

Thank-you to everyone who participated in the Spring Congress over the weekend of April 20th and 21st.  I think everyone will agree that this is a Congress for all!

The Swiss Pairs was won by Julian Mitchell and Peter Clinch who finished 15 VPs clear of Sally Clark and Gunnar Hallberg in second place.  Will Adler and Mike Keeping were a little further back in third place.  The Jack-high prize was won by Sue Howley and Lynne Spooner.  Gunnar Hallberg won the bidding competition, despite failing to answer one of the questions!  All the prizewinners are pictured here.

On Sunday, the Swiss Teams was captured by David Benjamin, Matt Read, Mike Keeping and Matt Smith (pictured).  Second were Peter and Marit Langston, Will Adler and Robert Lowe.  The Jack-high winners were Keith and Maureen Norman, Sue Peters and Sylvia Clark.  Liz Bornecrantz scooped the bidding competition.

Many thanks to Stephen Kennedy for his excellent directing, Charlotte Setahul for her overstuffed Ploughman's lunches, Martin Pool and John Hardy for dealing the boards and Mervyn Wotton for helping with results uploads.

Our next Congress-style event is the Sussex Candles at Henfield on 16th June.  Once again, it's good fun for all and a buffet lunch, strawberries and cakes will be povided!  Why not enter now?

Peter Clinch,
Tournament Organiser

2023/24 Gladys Hakki Trophy Winner

Peter Langston

The Gladys Hakki Trophy is awarded annually to a Sussex member who has given outstanding service to county and/or club over a number of years.  This year's very deserving winner is Peter Langston who was presented with the award by SCCBA Chairman Peter Clinch at the SCCBA Spring Congress.  Peter L's nomination by Patcham Bridge Club was as follows :-

Peter has been a stalwart of Sussex bridge for well over 20 years, previously serving on the County committee.  He has directed many county events and is still doing a few now.

With many other clubs floundering during the pandemic, Peter worked tirelessly to ensure that Patcham not only survived as a club but thrived.  He set up many online sessions on BBO, often attracting over 30 tables and he has arranged and run many online matches against other clubs to ensure members maintained their interest and contact with other members.

His unstinting work has ensured that Patcham Bridge Club has not only survived but has come back stronger after the pandemic.  Among his many other roles, he serves on the Club Committee, maintains and improves the club website, is a regular director and is one of the club's IT experts.

Patcham BC is now, not only the busiest in the County, but it is also the 18th busiest club in the Country and this is in no small part due to Peter's unstinting and excellent work.

We believe Peter Langston would be a worthy winner of the Gladys Hakki award for 2023/24.  To the best of our knowledge, Patcham BC has never had a previous winner of the award.

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