The objectives of the WCBA are to promote and further the interests of bridge in the County and to organise Contract Bridge competitions. This Web Site will include details of future events, results of County competitions and other information concerning the organisation of bridge in the County.

We are very sad to report that Heather Westcott passed away on January the 1st 2025.  Her last County success was winning League Division 3 as part of the team Magpies and was playing in the 2019/20 season before it was curtailed because of Covid. Although we have not seen her locally because of the the pandemic and then her move to Buckinghamshire she continued to play through COVID in the Worcester Bridge Club online Pairs league until recently, when failing eyesight made even this impossible. Heather won many County competitions playing with her sister Jennifer, including the County Ladies' Pairs three times, the Seniors Pairs once, the Veterans Pairs 3 times, the County Mixed pairs with Steve Allerston in 2001/2, The Healey Cup once as well as being part of the team winning League Division 2 3 times and League Division 3 twice. The picture shows her receiving the trophy for the Magpies (Heather, Jennifer, Fred, Barclay) winning League Division 3 in 2013/4, at WCBA  AGM.

Our thoughts and sympathy go to her husband Richard, and their family, and especially to her dear sister Jennifer.

We are sad to report the passing of Ross Garratt who had a heart attack on the 9th December.  Our deepest sympathy is extended to Jan and family. Ross had success in many of the County competitions, including winning the Championship Teams twice, the Championship Pairs 3 times, the Healey Cup 4 times, the Men's Pairs twice, the Mixed Teams 5 times, League Division 1 8 times, the Garden Cities Qualifier 9 times, the Phillipps Pairs twice and the Phillipps Final 4 times. Ross will be remembered, and sorely missed, as a true gentleman, at the table and away from it. The picture is from 2012 when a team from the Worcester Bridge Club consisting of Mel Downing, David Thomas, Ross Garratt & Jimmy Ledger won the Healey Cup.

The funeral was held on Monday 30th December at 12 noon in Pershore Abbey. If you could not get to the funeral you can still watch it online at https://www.youtube.com/live/oDcNKZ4Kq_4.

Monday Evening Bridge is back!

Exciting news - The County is relaunching Monday Face to Face evening bridge:

On the 2nd Monday of each month there will be a ‘Matchpointed’ Pairs evening

On the 4th Monday of each month there will be a ‘IMP’ Pairs evening.

The first session was held on Monday 23rd September, and was very successful with 8 tables playing IMP Pairs.

On the 9th of December a Christmas Charity Teams Event was held with 10 teams taking part.

The next session will be an IMP Pairs event on the 27th of January.

It is intended that these will be friendly and social, but competitive.

The venue will be The British Legion Club, Cornmeadow Lane, Claines, Worcester, (where Worcester Bridge Club plays on Wednesday evenings).  Post code is WR3 7PL

Please arrive before 7pm, so bridge can start by 7pm if possible.

If you plan to play, please notify Dennis Loynes on 07773 365760 or by e-mail to: dennis.loynes.dl@gmail.com (But if you forget to book don’t worry – you'll still be welcome.) A list of players registered for the next event can be found here.

The charge will be £3 per player, which will include tea/coffee and biscuits in the interval.  The County Treasurer will invoice you periodically for the evenings that you play (i.e. cashless on the evening).

The bar will also be open for refreshments, particularly after play when interesting hands may be discussed!

From 5th to 12th September we threw ourselves into the nationwide "Festival of Bridge", in aid of Cancer Research UK. Clubs around the County ran special events to mark this "Bridge - It's a Big Deal" week, raising loads of money in the process.

CURRENT TOTAL raised: (updated 13th Oct): £3902!! (£4138 including Gift Aid!) (Not too late to donate!!)

Bewdley (3), Droitwich, Worcester (2), Bromsgrove, Malvern, Ridgeway and Lyppard Bridge Clubs ran events within their own usual schedule, with funds raised going to the cause; additionally, there were some special events, including three of the hugely popular Café Bridge events, and a "Bridge - Everywhere!" festival (click on the link to see pictures etc) all over Worcester City Centre on Saturday 7th  September, with something for everyone. 

If you would like to contribute to our Cancer Research UK fund-raising initiative, please use the link below to access our Cancer Research UK; we have established that the Just Giving page is secure, and money already paid will ultimately end up in the same pot.

 LINK FOR DONATIONS TO CANCER RESEARCH UK

Mike Vetch and Yvette Waide were on BBC Hereford and Worcester on 6th Sept talking about the Festival with Elliott Webb, though the BBC Sounds content has now expired

Special local events include:

Pershore Café Bridge 5th September (£650+ raised!)

Bridge - Everywhere!, Worcester 7th September

Worcester Café Bridge 11th September (£500+ TBC raised!)

Barnt Green Café Bridge 12th September (£1050+ TBC raised!!)

Huge thanks also to the various clubs who ran their weekly sessions in aid of Cancer Research UK:

Bewdley BC, (Thanks for £205 donation!)

Bromsgrove BC,

Droitwich BC, (Thanks for £150 donation!)

Lyppard BC, (Thanks for £100 donation!)

Malvern BC, (Thanks for £93 raised!)

Ridgeway BC, (Thanks for £125 raised!)

Worcester BC

The 5th County Match of the season against Derbyshire was played half online and half F2F at Spondon. The 1st Team lost 8-12, the 2nd Team won 11-9 & the 3rd team won 20-0. 

In the 4th County Match of the season against Leicestershire the 1st Team lost 4-16, the 2nd Team drew 10-10 & the 3rd team won 12-8. 

In the 3rd County Match of the season against Nottinghamshire the 1st Team won 11-9, the 2nd Team won 20-0 & the 3rd team won 18-2. 

In the 2nd County Match of the season against Warwickshire the 1st Team lost 0-20, the 2nd Team won 17-3 & the 3rd team won 15-5. 

In the 1st County Match of the season against Staffordshire the 1st Team won 20-0, the 2nd Team won 12-8 & the 3rd team won 18-2.

Mike Willoughby has a written an August 2024 Edition of the County Newsletter. Previous editions of the Newsletter can be found under the Information/Worcestershire Bridge News menu item.

Nick Forward & Geoffrey Herbert are now both qualified County TDs.

Chris & Joyce Taylor came 2nd in the Edgar Foster Cups.

John Sansom & Jason Hackett won the Swiss Pairs at Scarborough on a split tie.

The Worcestershire Team of Mike Willoughby, Stewart Fishburne, Chris & Joyce Taylor won the Midland Counties Bowl.

The Worcestershire team of Mike Willoughby, Stewart Fishburne, John Sansom, Nick Forward & Steve Allerston did very well to finish 3rd in the Pachabo.

At the Scottish Overseas Congress in Turkey Jimmy and Maureen Ledger came 3rd in the Swiss Pairs and were part of the team which won the Afternoon Teams. In the Swiss Teams Dick & Jane Rutter were part of the winning team with Chris & Joyce Taylor, Jimmy & Maureen Ledger coming second.

At the EBU Overseas Congress in Majorca Chris Taylor, David Wing, Kathy & Dennis Talbot won the Pivot Teams.

At the Ranked Masters Pairs John Sansom & Clive Owen came 2nd in the Premier Grand Master Pairs and Steve Allerston & Nick Forward came 5th in the Grand Masters Pairs.