Bulletin

The Friday evening duplicate is cancelled on 13 December but will be held at the club in the Main Hall as usual on the day before—on Thursday 12 December.

Please allow extra time travelling to or from the club from the Richmond direction if using public transport at the weekend, 5 & 6 September. There is no service on the District line between Turnham Green and Richmond at the weekend.

There’s still time to give yourself a chance of a £500 prize by signing up and playing in our Half Marathon on Saturday 27 July—details in the poster.

due to some very last‑minute dropouts which make the session unviable on this occasion.

Come along on Wednesday 21 August for a lighthearted evening duplicate with complimentary nibbles and no NGS. Everyone is welcome. Nibbles from 7.00pm; duplicate starts at 7.30pm.

Unfortuanetely, we have cancelled the Wednesday duplicate, scheduled this week for 21 August. due to too few registrations.

It is not too late to enter the Mixed Pairs this coming Sunday 19 May. And we are delighted to say that the leading pairs in this event will be eligible to win one of four fantastic prizes being offered by the organisers of the International Deauville Bridge Festival in July.

Any last‑minute entries to the 2024 YCKO accepted until Wednesday 31 January.

The club is closed as usual over Easter, so there are no Friday morning and no Friday evening duplicates on 29 March.

The regular Super Wednesday Duplicate is suspended on 20 March this week due to too few registrations.

New Friday morning games start this week.

The Friday evening duplicate this week on 17 January is upstairs in the Warwick Room.

The first scheduled date for our Spring 2025 Super League matches is 22 JanuaryWednesday this week.

Members are welcome to attend the club AGM to be held this year just before the regular duplicate on Friday 20 October.

From Thursday 26 to Sunday 29 October, there will be no District line service between Earl’s Court and Ealing Broadway/Kensington (Olympia)/Richmond. This means Ravenscourt Park, the closest station to the club, will not be in use. Hammersmith, a ten‑minute walk or short bus ride away, is the closest station served by other lines.

Current standings in the Women’s Swiss Teams held this year over the weekend 18 & 19 November.

Play your match
at the Young Chelsea in the London MindSports Centre.

at the London MindSports Centre.

As Monday 8 May is a bank holiday, the weekly evening supervised game will not take place that day.

Please would you register your pair for any Monday evening duplicate in which you plan to play.

Our March ladder is now under way. Play on at least one Monday during the month to maximize your chances!

Help Ukraine Emergency Appeal

The club has raised  £7,628.

For any information

Contact the Management Team

manager@ycbc.co.uk

07713 322420

Release 2.19r
 
 
  Goldhawks Seminars Spring 2022

Goldhawks bridge is now well established as the social bridge section of the Young Chelsea Bridge Club. Goldhawks currently meet every Tuesday at 11.00am for social bridge play which runs until around 3.00pm with a break for lunch.

To complement these play sessions, a programme of seminars is now being introduced. Starting on Thursday 20 January, and thereafter every alternate Thursday, there will be afternoon seminars on specific topics, aimed at helping social bridge players to improve their bridge. The seminars will be presented by Chris Duckworth (formerly EBU Education Manager and a very experienced teacher) and will comprise a short interactive period of tuition followed by plenty of practice play of selected hands to help consolidate learning.

Full details of these, including the schedule of dates and topics to be covered in the first six seminars, are in this poster. Whilst many YCBC members will find the seminars pitched at too basic a level, there may well be some who would find them of benefit. Alternatively, if you know someone who would enjoy attendance at either the play sessions or the seminars, do please tell them about the Goldhawks.

 

 

Item posted 9 January 2022

  New Year Pairs 2022—Report
 
New Year Pairs 2022 winners Rachel and Matt Bingham
New Year Pairs 2022 winners Rachel and Matt Bingham
 

Our first special event of 2022, the New Year Pairs, ran in the afternoon on Sunday 2 January as a face‑to‑face event and attracted eight tables. Thanks for a well planned and executed event to organiser Carrie Eden and director Gitte Hecht‑Johansen (Gitte was busy as she also stepped in as a player). Scoring was by IMPs and every pair played every other. The rounds were of three deals before the refreshment break and of two deals after (38 deals in total).

Congratulation to the winners on 37.15 IMPs Rachel and Matt Bingham.

 

 
New Year Pairs 2022 runners‑up Stefano Tommasini and Imogen La Chapelle
New Year Pairs 2022 runners‑up Stefano Tommasini and Imogen La Chapelle
 

And in a close second place on 34.00 IMPs were Stefano Tommasini and Imogen La Chapelle.

 

Item posted 3 January 2022

  Young Chelsea Super League—Spring 2022

Division One: current standings on the EBU website.

Division Two: current standings on the EBU website.

Division One: Google spreadsheet with more information.

Division Two: Google spreadsheet with more information.

The Spring 2022 season of the Young Chelsea Super League continues as a primarily face‑to‑face event. The club will consider requests to play online, at the face‑to‑face price. (Please note that the club has allowed team Hillman to play some of its matches online, so please check when you are due to face them if you should come to the club.) As the schedules for both Divisions One and Two have been provided with a little over a week's notice, the club will not strictly apply penalties for difficulties in playing on the Round One date.

Division Two matches move back to Wednesdays again to run alongside Division One matches. The season begins on Wednesday 19 January. Subsequent matches are at two‑weekly intervals. Division Two contains six teams. and will play a double round robin over ten rounds. Match dates are:

Round Division One Division Two
One 19 January 19 January
Two 2 February 2 February
Three 16 February 16 February
Four 2 March 2 March
Five 16 March 16 March
Six 30 March 30 March
Seven 13 April 13 April
Eight 27 April 27 April
Nine 11 May 11 May
Ten   25 May

 

Please check, before the start of the season, to see if your team can make all these dates. If you have a problem with a given date and let the club know now, we may be able rejig the schedule to marry you against another team in the same situation.

All matches consist of 24 deals played in two sets of 12 with a half‑time change of opponents. The IMP result for each match is converted to continuous Victory Points.

The price for matches is £12.50 per player and includes refreshments at half time.

Thank you for your participation and please enjoy the Spring 2022 season.

If you have not previously played or your team dropped out when we moved online for a few seasons, you can contact the club (before the season starts) to enter a team in Division Two. Watch this page for more information as entries are finalised.

Based on last season’s results, the teams in Division One are below, but please let the club know if you wish to withdraw.

Division One: match schedule

1 De Botton
2 Hinden
3 The Covert Operations
4 Martin
5 Lawrenzo
6 Huggins
7 Tommasini
8 Hillman
9 32BG
10 Saucepan

 

And the teams in Division Two, based on last season’s results, are below, but again please let the club know either if you wish to withdraw or if you wish to take part as a new team. There are six teams in the division this Spring, which means ten rounds (a double round robin). The division plays its last round on 25 May.

Division Two: match schedule

1 Bulgarian Rose Throwers
2 Lehto
3 McGuire
4 Dallingerers
5 Newman
6 The Greyhounds

 

 

Page last updated 29 March 2022

  Spring 2022 Super League to Start 19 January

Please check the Super League menu item for details on the Young Chelsea Spring 2022 season. In the absence of government regulations to the contrary, the season will be primarily played as a face‑to‑face event at the club. All rounds, including those in Division Two, take place on Wednesdays. You might like to verify that your team is entered when it should be and vice versa and what the schedule (still subject to last‑minute changes in Division Two, which has room for more teams) for the season is.

Item posted 11 January 2022

  2022 at the Young Chelsea Bridge Club

2022 at the Young Chelsea

We are very pleased to announce that, after fairly long‑drawn‑out negotiations, the YCBC has now signed a 30‑year lease on the club premises at the London MindSports Centre in Dalling Road. The signing of the lease and the agreement of a very favourable rent will provide the club with a permanent home for the foreseeable future.

David Ewart, as club Chairman, and John Dean, acting as solicitor for the club, having concluded these negotiations on behalf of the club, have now both decided to stand down from the Management Committee and as YCBC directors. We thank them both for their contributions to the club over many years. As we enter a new era in our new premises, the Management Committee very much hopes that other members will come forward to refresh their number and to provide fresh thinking and new ideas to help with running the club.

Members may well be aware of another recent change, in that Gad Chadha, a long‑term club member well known to most, has taken on the role of club manager. Gad is acting as manager at present on a temporary basis, but will be with us at least until the end of March. During this trial period, if all goes well, we will agree terms for him to continue on a more permanent basis. Gad can be contacted at manager@ycbc.co.uk or on 07713 322420.

Already this year there are several new initiatives under way or planned for the club:

  • The hybrid Friday evening game, currently held both face to face and online on the first Friday of each month, will cease. Friday evenings will be face to face only, but a new regular Thursday evening online game will be introduced, to meet the needs of our online members. The first of these will start on Thursday 17 February at 7.15pm.
  • Also every Thursday evening, starting on Thursday 17 February, there will be a new Supervised Duplicate at 7.00pm. Running under the Goldhawks banner, this will serve the needs of those players already enthusiastically supporting the Goldhawks sessions on Tuesdays and Thursday afternoons, and also those students completing our teaching courses.
  • Dates have been agreed for several weekend events. Please put these in your diaries now.
    • a Queen’s Jubilee Summer Party, to be held on Saturday 11 June
    • a revived 24‑hour Marathon, to be held on Saturday & Sunday 2 & 3 July
    • the LMBA London Congress, which will be held at the club over the weekend of 16 & 17 July
    • a prestigious August Bank Holiday Teams event, to be run on a double‑elimination format similar to the Spring Foursomes, over the weekend of 27–29 August

All in all, we are looking forward to an exciting time at the club, with a growing and re‑invigorated membership. We very much look forward to seeing all of you at the table very soon.

Item posted 8 February 2022

Open Day

Poster

You may use the form below to book your place.

  EBU March 2022 Promotions of YC Members

Congratulations to the YC members listed below who attained a promotion in EBU rank during March!

  • Paddy Murphy
District Master
  • Daniel Cardnell 
Premier Regional Master
  • Christopher Kemp
Premier Master
  • Richard Collins
Premier Regional Master
  • Rhonda Collins
Premier Regional Master
  • Louise Selway
Premier Regional Master
  • Ken Broadbent
Premier Master
  • Edward Battersby
District Master
  • Jirayus Jinapong
Club Master
  • Hugo Jee
Club Master

Item posted 10 April 2022

  EBU February 2022 Promotions of YC Members

Congratulations to the YC members listed below who attained a promotion in EBU rank during February!

  • Hilary Stewart
2 Star Regional Master
  • Paddy Murphy
Area Master
  • Simon Cope 
4 Star Grand Master
  • Barry Myers
2 Star Grand Master
  • David Newman
3 Star Premier Master
  • Sarah Bell
Premier Life Master
  • Paul Nicholas
1 Star Master
  • Peter Aughterson
4 Star Premier Master
  • Andy Cope
Premier National Master
  • Eduard Malhasyan
Premier Regional Master
  • David Millard
Club Master

Item posted 22 April 2022

  Monday Evening Duplicates

Please note that there will be no evening duplicate game this coming Monday 2 May, which is a Bank Holiday Monday, and with many of our members playing at the EBU Spring Foursomes.

Thank you to all those who responded to the recent survey regarding the Monday Evening Sessions. The summary of the results is that you’d like the Monday Evening Sessions to continue with some changes. The Management Committee has therefore decided that from Monday 9 May, the evening duplicates will continue with the following changes reflecting your wishes:

  • Start Time:
7.15pm
  • Free Refreshments:
Complimentary drink from the bar or a sandwich of your choice
  • Host:
Guaranteeing you a game even if you come along without a partner
  • Hand Analysis:
Improve your game by discussing some of the hands with expert(s) after the session

So, if all those who responded to the survey turn up on the Monday, we will probably fill the entire MindSports Centre and drink the bar dry—wouldn’t that be wonderful!

Hope to see you on Monday 9 May.

Item posted 27 April 2022

  Young Chelsea Super League Spring 2022 Division One—Report
 
Team De Botton—winners of the YC Super League 2022 Spring season—pictured: Thor Erik Hoftaniska, Janet de Botton, Tom Townsend, Artur Malinowski
Team De Botton—winners of the YC Super League 2022 Spring season—pictured: Thor Erik Hoftaniska, Janet de Botton, Tom Townsend, Artur Malinowski
 

Division One concluded on Wednesday 11 May.

In first place, repeating their win in the previous season and improving their performance by being unbeaten, was team De Botton (David Bakhshi, Janet de Botton, Thor Erik Hoftaniska, Artur Malinowski, Tom Townsend). They finished on 149.56 VPs (an average of 16.62 per match). This was the first Super League season played primarily face to face for a couple of years and accordingly we have a picture of four of the team at the post‑season celebrations in the bar on Wednesday evening. First place received a £600 prize.

And in second place on 120.78 VPs (an average of 13.42 per match) was team Tommasini (Mike Bell, Sarah Bell, Ollie Burgess, Ben Green, Tim Leslie, Ben Norton, Stefano Tommasini). Their prize was £200.

Division One dates for next season are in the calendar. The season starts on Wednesday 24 August and runs for nine rounds at fortnightly intervals to finish on 14 December.

 

The league finished with one match unplayed by the final date. With matches having frequently to be rescheduled due to team members having Covid, the committee decided that neither team was particularly at fault and ranked the teams by their average over the season. Commiserations to the two teams at the bottom of Division One which are relegated to Division Two next season.

Division One Final Standings

(Full details on the EBU website.)

Rank Team VPs Average
1 De Botton 149.56 16.62
2 Tommasini 120.78 13.42
3 Huggins 93.79 10.42
4 Hillman 93.30 10.37
5 Hinden 82.35 10.29
6 32BG 86.82 9.65
7 Saucepan 67.64 7.52
8 Martin 66.08 7.34
9 Lawrenzo 65.47 7.27
10 The Covert Operations 54.21 6.78

Item updated 18 July 2022

  Young Chelsea Super League Spring 2022 Division Two—Report

Division Two kept to schedule, playing a double round robin of ten matches to finish on Wednesday 25 May. Congratulation to the two top teams who have gained promotion to Division One for next season in the Autumn.

In first place finishing on 153.87 VPs (an average of 15.39 per match) was team McGuire (Ian Casselton, David Ewart, Hugh Mackie, Trevor Mathews, Brian McGuire, David Muller, Gordon Rainsford) getting a prize of £300.

And in second place on 130.17 VPs (an average of 13.02 per match) was team Bulgarian Rose Throwers (Alan Hayward, Phil King, Boris Nedev, Helen Rose, Henry Rose, Martin Stephens, James Thrower) getting £100.

Division Two Final Rankings

(Full details on the EBU website.)

1 McGuire 153.87 15.39
2 Bulgarian Rose Throwers 130.17 13.02
3 Boland 116.51 11.65
4 Dallingerers 72.12 7.21
5 Newman 70.11 7.01
6 The Greyhounds 57.22 5.72

Item posted 26 May 2022

  Summer Jubilee Party

SUMMER JUBILEE PARTY

4.00pm on Saturday 11 June

Party Food Picture
Party Time Picture

Keith Loveys Individual

Festive Buffet

Quiz

Prize for best crown!

 

£25 per person, includes 2 free drinks!

Please pre‑enter—we need to know numbers for catering

REGISTER NOW!

Item posted 1 June 2022

  Jubilee Party and Keith Loveys Individual 2022—Report
 
Rosie White seated at the registration desk and winner‑to‑be Ian Payn
Rosie White seated at the registration desk and winner‑to‑be Ian Payn
 

The Young Chelsea Individual is held in memory of the late Keith Loveys, a popular club member and expert bridge player who had no trouble partnering anyone. After an absence for a couple of years, the event returned as the centrepiece of this year’s Jubilee Party on Saturday 11 June.

Congratulations to the winner Ian Payn, pictured here preparing for the rigours of the tournament to come by consulting his horoscope beside the registration desk manned by Rosie White.

Meanwhile, hard on Ian’s heels were Ricci Hammond in second place and her husband Tim Gauld in third.

Results

 

 
Robin Hamilton, winner in the best crown category, presented with his prize by Chris Duckworth
Robin Hamilton, winner in the best crown category, presented with his prize by Chris Duckworth
 

This being a Jubilee Party, there was a prize for the best crown. From amongst several strong contenders the judging panel picked Robin Hamilton for his fetching pink number. Chris Duckworth presented him with his reward—a bouquet of chocalate roses.

 

 
Players studying the standard system in the bar beforehand—Alex Hannon in the foreground
Players studying the standard system in the bar beforehand—Alex Hannon in the foreground
 

The Individual attracted eleven tables, far more than the previous time, in 2019, that the event was held face to face. Each player partnered 22 others, one per deal, so there was no time for lengthy system discussion. The club provided its standard system as a recommended basis to which the competitors were allowed to refer.

 

 
Start of the Individual—Mike Eden, standing centre facing camera, assisting
Start of the Individual—Mike Eden, standing centre facing camera, assisting
 

The director was Gitte Hecht‑Johansen, with her glamorous assistant Mike Eden providing a reassuring backup.

 

 
Lorna Vestey waiting for a partner
Lorna Vestey waiting for a partner
 

 
Crown‑wearers Carrie Eden and Mireille Levy seated at the nearest table
Crown‑wearers Carrie Eden and Mireille Levy seated at the nearest table
 

The players responded with enthusiasm to the competition for best crown.

 

 
Players clustering around the buffet in the bar after the Individual
Players clustering around the buffet in the bar after the Individual
 

The club relies in a large part on the services of its volunteers. Thank you, to Chris Duckworth who prepared, over several days prior to the event, the well‑received food for the buffet. Of course, Coronation Chicken was one of the items.

 

 
Union Cake
Union Cake
 

And for dessert, the diners were able to do their patriotic duty by eating Union Cake—a special creation of the chef.

 

 
Ian Payn, centre, conducting the quiz
Ian Payn, centre, conducting the quiz
 

After the buffet Ian Payn, with musical assistance from The Brentford Sound Machine gave a general knowledge quiz. The winners were team Binkie who had won in 2019 too, but this time had to cope with the absence of their most valuable player, Rosie White, who had caught the last train for the coast. Fortunately, Kath Stynes was a worthy substitute and the music round was carefully chosen to match the players’ salad days.

With some of the attendees clamouring for more bridge, the evening concluded with a three‑team fun speedball tournament.

 

Item posted 12 June 2019

  YCBC Women’s Swiss Teams—November 2022

This year we are giving plenty of notice of the sixth edition of our successful YCBC Women’s Swiss Teams event, which will take place at the club over the weekend 19 & 20 November.

As in previous years, we hope to have many international teams attend, but would love for plenty of YC players to take part too. If you would like to play but don’t have a partner or teammates or are only available on one of the two days, let me know (email paula2012leslie@gmail.com) and we will try to find a team for you. You may register a team for the event via the website. The entry fee is £300 per team (but free for junior teams) and includes lunch on both days and a drinks reception at the end of play on the Sunday.

Poster

Item updated 21 August 2022, author Paula Leslie

  Civil Engineers’ Club Swiss Pairs 2022

On Saturday 30 July, the Civil Engineers’ Club is holding the James Jones Cup, named after the first Secretary of the Institution of Civil Engineers. The event is a two‑session Swiss Pairs at the Young Chelsea starting at 11.00am. If you are a member of the Civil Engineers’ Club, the event is free. However, anyone else can play, and for them the cost, inclusive of a buffet lunch, is £15.00 per person.

You can email peter.c.richardson@btinternet.com to register. (See the poster for details.)

Poster

 

Item posted 30 June 2022

  LMBA London Congress July 2022

The

LONDON CONGRESS 2022

 
London MindSports Centre at 21 Dalling Road—home of the Young Chelsea
 

is at the

Young Chelsea Bridge Club

21 Dalling Road

W6 0JD

on

Saturday & Sunday 16 & 17 July 2022

 

Brochure

 

Item posted 1 July 2022

  Bridge at the John Betts School Summer Fair 2022
 
Minibridge table at the John Betts School Summer Fair with Chris Duckworth presiding
Minibridge table at the John Betts School Summer Fair 2022 with Chris Duckworth presiding
 

The John Betts school, a short distance north of the club, held its Summer Fair on Saturday 2 July. Thanks to the good offices of committee member Sara Chiappara, the Young Chelsea had a stand at the fair. And a small detachment of club members took some equipment there to advertise the club’s wares.

The weather smiled upon the venture, which had taken the risk of setting up in the playground under the open sky. The stand attracted a fair number of prospective players, and in the picture, taken by Sara, Chris Duckworth is introducing minibridge to what may well become tomorrow’s clientele.

 

Item posted 4 July 2022

  Host System for Monday and Friday Games

Host System for Monday and Friday Games—Volunteers Needed

I am delighted to announce that fourteen members have already signed up to host games over the next couple of months, so if you turn up without a partner, you will get a game. Obviously volunteer hosts get a free game as well as helping to promote Young Chelsea as a welcoming bridge club. I am organising the rota and looking to be fill dates from Monday 12 September. Most Mondays and Fridays after that are up for grabs, so please let me know which dates you can do. If you like, you can email the club to volunteer. Just one date a year from each local member would fill the calendar. Thanks on behalf of YC Committee.

 

Item posted 6 July 2022, author Carrie Eden

  Young Chelsea Super League—Autumn 2022

Division One: current standings on the EBU website.

Division Two: current standings on the EBU website.

The Autumn 2022 season of the Young Chelsea Super League is a face‑to‑face event, ideally with matches over scheduled evenings on each of which the teams play the same deals. Given sufficient notice, the club will normally allow teams which have difficulty making a scheduled date to rearrange the match. This applies particularly to the first date in late August, when teams are likely to have members away on holiday. Matches which are rearranged for other days will not share the deals. The club will, exceptionally, consider requests to play online, charged to the teams organisers’ YC accounts at the face‑to‑face price. Any match held online, even if on the scheduled date is not guaranteed to share the deals.

Division Two matches continue on Wednesdays to run alongside Division One matches.

The season begins for Division One on Wednesday 24 August. and for Division Two on Wednesday 21 September. Subsequent matches are at two‑weekly intervals Division One consists of a full ten teams and will play nine rounds. Division Two has seven teams and will play six rounds with one sitout. Scheduled match dates are:

Div One Round Div Two Round Date
One   24 August
Two   7 September
Three One 21 September
Four Two 5 October
Five Three 19 October
Six Four 2 November
Seven Five 16 November
Eight Six 30 November
Nine Seven 14 December

Please check, before the start of the season, to see if your team can make all these dates. If you have a problem with a given date and let the club know now, we may be able rejig the schedule to marry you against another team in the same situation.

The start times for the divisions are staggered by 15 minutes in order to reduce pressure on the director(s) and the bar. Division Two starts at 7.15pm; Division One at 7.30pm.

Matches will consist of 24 deals played in two sets of 12 with a half‑time change of opponents. The IMP result for each match is converted to continuous Victory Points.

The price for matches is £12.50 per player and includes refreshments at half time.

Thank you for your participation and please enjoy the Autumn 2022 season.

If you have not previously played or your team dropped out when we moved online for a few seasons, you can contact the club (before the season starts) to enter a team in Division Two. Watch this page for more information as entries are finalised.

Based on last season’s results, the teams in Division One are below, but please let the club know if you wish to withdraw.

Division One: match schedule

1 De Botton
2 Leslie
3 Huggins
4 Hillman
5 Hinden
6 32BG
7 Saucepan
8 Martin
9 McGuire
10 Asturian Cider Junkies

And the teams in Division Two, based on last season’s results, are below, but again please let the club know either if you wish to withdraw or if you wish to take part as a new team.

Division Two: match schedule

1 Boland
2 The Greyhounds
3 Clery
4 Newman
5 Dallingerers
6 Jupiter
7 Lawrenzo
 

Page last updated 15 October 2022

  Extension of Club Premises

Agreement has been reached with the owners of the London MindSports Centre to extend the club premises into the whole of the upper floor. Initially, this will be for a one‑year period, on very favourable rental terms, but if this works out financially, it will become a longer‑term arrangement. This will provide two more playing rooms—a large open‑plan area above the ground floor main hall, to be known as the Warwick Room, and an adjoining small Match Room which will accommodate two or three tables. This will allow much more flexibility both for club events and matches and also for hiring out space for other activities within the building.

The rooms need to be furnished and equipped, but should be ready for use by the beginning of the match season this autumn. We are likely to need more card tables, so if any members have surplus tables at home, we would love to have them. Or if you know of any possible source of tables—perhaps from a closing‑down bridge club—please let us know.

 

Item posted 31 July 2022

  The ICE Man Returneth—Report
 
James Jones cup 2022—winners Szczepan Smoczyński and Gitte Hecht‑Johansen
James Jones cup 2022—winners Szczepan Smoczyński and Gitte Hecht‑Johansen
 

On Saturday 30 July Peter Richardson from the Institution of Civil Engineers organised their annual bridge club pairs event for the James Jones cup. Although intended as annual, this was the first time since 2019 that the event had been held, because of lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. As in 2019 the venue was the Young Chelsea (but this time in the new premises in Dalling Road).

Congratulation to the winners, YC club members Szczepan SmoczyńskiGitte Hecht‑Johansen. And let’s record a special word about Gitte, who must be the consummate player, able to cope with whichever partner sits himself before her. She successfully defended her title, having won in 2019 opposite Neeraj Tanna.

 

Final Ranking

Rank Pair Matchpoints
1 Gitte Hecht‑Johansen & Szczepan Smoczyński 122
2 Martin Baker & Alex Hannon 117
3 Ken Barnett & Roy Cooper 108
4 Ryan Tan & Peter Richardson 95
5 Nicole Cook & Robot 88
6 Chris Duckworth & Brian Callaghan 85
=7 Chris Gray & Sally Relton 81
=7 Andrew Clery & Eve Brenner 81
9 Paul Hickson & Ian Yates 75
10 Andrew Ward & Claus Werner 48

Detailed results are on the BriAn website.

Item updated 5 August 2022

  Autumn Classes 2022

A new season of courses is about to begin at the club. Courses are scheduled to start as follows:

Beginners

Wednesday evenings, 7.30–9.30pm, starting 21 September

 

Thursday afternoons, 1.30–3.30pm, starting 22 September

 

Sunday mornings, 11.00am–1.00pm, starting 16 October

Next Step

Thursday evenings, 7.30–9.30pm, starting 22 September

Improvers

Tuesday evenings, 7.30–9.30pm, starting 20 September

Places are still available on all the courses—please contact manager@ycbc.co.uk to book places, or use the booking form available from the Classes page.

Item last updated 14 September 2022

  NICKO—Urgent

The National Inter‑Club Knock‑Out is upon us. In fact entries close on Monday 10 October—next week—so many apologies for the late notice.

Last year, the club entered teams captained by the following: Claire Robinson, Brian Ransley, John Pemberton, Chris Brewin, James Thrower, Tim Leslie/Mike Bell, Steve Root, Graham Sadie and Richard Hillman. Hopefully you will all want to enter again, and other members are also welcome to enter teams—the more the merrier. It is about time the Young Chelsea BC won the NICKO again! So…

To all NICKO team captains: Please enter your team by emailing manager@ycbc.co.uk with the names of your team members as soon as possible and by Friday this week at the latest. We will then check your eligibility and forward the entries to the EBU. All team members must be bona fide club members as detailed in the eligibility requirements—see:

https://www.ebu.co.uk/competitions/national-inter-club-knock-out-nicko

Please also note that teams are asked to indicate willingness to play matches online in the early rounds of the competition. Later rounds will default to face‑to‑face, but early matches may be played online to reduce travel costs etc.

The NICKO entry fee is £84 per team which will be deducted from the team captain’s YC club account.

Looking forward to receiving your entries and to a successful season in the competition.

Item posted 5 October 2022

  Young Chelsea Half Marathon October 2022—Report
 
Brian Callaghan presents their first‑place prize to the winners of the YC Half Marathon October 2022, Brian Senior & Nigel Bird
Brian Callaghan presents their first‑place prize to the winners of the YC Half Marathon October 2022, Brian Senior & Nigel Bird
 

The Young Chelsea held a 12‑hour Half Marathon on Saturday 1 October, the previous such event having taken place in April 2019 before lockdown.  This time the scoring was by matchpoints over three sessions and a total of 91 deals. Thirteen pairs took part, which meant everyone played only 84 deals. In order to avoid long sitouts, all played all in each session with the first and last session having two‑deal rounds while the middle session had three‑deal rounds.

The winners established a clear lead in the first session and held on throughout. Congratulations to Brian Senior & Nigel Bird who finished on 60.21% and picked up the £500 first prize.

After much jockeying throughout the event for the runner‑up spot, Chris Duckworth & Brian Callaghan took second place and a more modest prize.

Smaller prizes also went to the highest-placed pair in each session which hadn’t received any other prize.

Detailed scores are available via the Young Chelsea BridgeWebs Results page.

Thanks to William Clennel for keeping the movement on schedule and running a well directed event.

 

Item posted 6 October 2022

  Young Chelsea Annual General Meeting—28 October 2022

The next Annual General Meeting of the Young Chelsea Bridge Club will be held at the club on Friday 28 October 2022 at 6.30pm, prior to the regular duplicate. Here are the Agenda for the meeting and a separate paper relating to the election of directors at the meeting.

You can also read the Chairman’s Report to the AGM.

All Full, Honorary, Life, Country, Student and Online Members over 16 years of age are eligible to attend and vote, and those unable to attend in person may appoint a proxy to attend and vote on their behalf.

All members able to attend are urged to do so. Remember that you, the members, own the club and have a vested interest in its future.

Members may put forward resolutions to be added to the Agenda by sending them to the club by 14 October 2022 at the latest. Resolutions must be signed and supported by at least five members.

It is important that the AGM is quorate, so if you are unable to attend in person, please ensure that you send your proxy. All that is required is to send an email to the club in the format shown below—note that you can, if you wish, change the name of the person to act as your proxy to that of any other member who will be attending in person.

          PROXY 
          I, ..................................., 
          hereby appoint Chris Duckworth 
          (YC Management Committee Chair) 
          to act as my proxy at the Annual General 
          Meeting of the Association to be held 
          on Friday 28 October 2022, giving her 
          full authority to vote on my behalf. 
          Signed:                    Date: 
 

Item updated 23 October 2022

  Young Chelsea AGM 2022 Minutes

The minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 28 October 2022 are available for viewing.

 

Item posted 31 October 2022

  Young Chelsea Christmas Party 2022

Please save the date of our Christmas Party which is on Saturday 17 December from 4.00pm. It starts with a Christmas Duplicate Pairs at 4.15pm, breaks for a Festive Buffet Supper at 7.30pm, and continues with a quiz at 8.30pm featuring rounds from different club members. Subject to demand, a late speedball will follow the quiz.

The entry fee is £25/30 per member/guest, which inludes a free drink voucher. You may register (individually—let us know if you are looking for a partner) for the event via the website.

Poster

Item posted 5 November 2022.

  Entries Are Open for the YCKO Teams 2023

This year’s YCKO is almost over with only the final, between Orca and Binkie, to be played.

Please would you register, if your team wants to take part, for next year’s YCKO event by mid‑January 2023 to enable us to make a draw. All paid‑up Young Chelsea members are welcome to play. This is one of the club’s traditional teams events which will be run along the same lines (same rules, same prizes) as this year’s.

 

Item posted 16 November 2022

  YC Knockout 2023

YCKO 2023

Sixteen teams have entered this year’s competition. After seeding the teams by NGS, the draw (updated regularly with match results) has been made. The competition is now under way and teams should contact their opponents to arrange a match date. Once the teams have a date agreed they should book the match in with the club at bookings@ycbc.co.uk. The semifinal match hase been completed. The play‑by date for the Final match was 17 December (moved a week later than originally planned), but as in previous seasons the schedule has slipped and the match will take place on Saturday 13 January.

The club made a draw on Monday 21 August to decide the Quarter‑final matches (from possibilities that prevent teams which have already met from facing each other again):

  • Brock v Phoenix
winner: Brock
  • Just Like That v Jupiter
winner: Jupiter
  • Entente Cordiale v Muller
winner: Muller

The one semifinal match is:

  • Jupiter v Muller
winner: Muller

The final match is:

  • Brock v Muller
winner: Brock

Once your match has been played, please notify the result to the club at manager@ycbc.co.uk, stating the names of the players in both teams as well as the outcome. Team captains will be notified of their opponents for their next match as soon as the team to be played is known.

The Young Chelsea Knockout (YCKO) is the club’s annual teams event that runs on “double elimination” lines—every team has to lose two matches before it is knocked out. Teams may consist of up to six players, all of whom must be YC members.

For 2023, the event will be played as a face‑to‑face competition with matches held at the club. Table money (inclusive of refreshments) per match will be £12.50 per player, all of whom must be paid‑up club members before taking part in a match. (Anyone who needs to may subscribe via the payments page.) Should the club exceptionally allow you to play a match online, the charge per match (debited from the captain’s/organizer’s YC account) will be the same as if played face to face. No other entry fee will be charged. Prize money will be £800 for the winning team, £300 for the runners‑up.

The winning team will hold the YCKO Trophy for the following year and will be eligible for a play‑off match against the team winning the LMBA London Championship Teams‑of‑four to decide which team will represent London in the 2024 Lederer invitation tournament.

Please enter by mid‑January on the registration page of the website. or by emailing the club manager at manager@ycbc.co.uk. (Entries are now closed.)

Team Rosters

Leslie Mike Bell, Tim Leslie, Sarah Bell, Ben Norton, Stefano Tommasini
Binkie Brian Callaghan, David Burn, Heather Dhondy, Joe Fawcett, Richard Granville, Ian Payn
Brock Sally Brock, Barry Myers, Frances Hinden, Graham Osborne, Mike Scoltock, Richard Fedrick
Just Like That Ollie Burgess, Diana Nettleton, Claire Robinson, Paul Barden, Jon Cooke, Cameron Small
Entente Cordiale François Picard, Nicolas Leprovost, Gad Chadha, Steve Lee, Graham Orsmond, Tony Verran
Muller David Muller, Trevor Mathews, Gordon Rainsford, Jonathan Lillycrop, Brian McGuire
Sushi Katharine Stynes, Debbie Sandford, Nathalie Shashou, Nick Sandqvist, Mark Lehto
Jupiter Boris Nedev, Phil King, Margaret Nygren, Martin Nygren, David Willis
Duckworth Chris Duckworth, Mike Graham, Graham Sadie, Ben Payne
Lawrenzo Patrick Lawrence, Oliver Lawrence, Charlie Bucknell, Christopher Kemp
Phoenix Liam Sanderson, Ali Ahmed, Croz Croswell, Jon Thoresen
Asturian Cider Junkies James Thrower, Helen Rose, Henry Rose, Sara Moran, Alan Hayward ,Richard Bowdery
Harris Steve Root, Jonathan Harris, Niall Igoe, Eduard Malhasyan
Boland Fergal Boland, John Dean, John Pemberton, Stephen Popham, Richard Creamer
Venerables David Newman, Dick Jordan, Ashwin Patel, Sue Grant, Clive Freedman, Denise Grimston
Mad Men Jonathan Davis, John Wilson, Jeremy Wray, Charles Eddis, James Black

Arranging matches

The play‑by dates below for completion of each round are below. Every effort should be made to adhere to play‑by dates. (Any match unplayed by these dates risks having its winner adjudicated.)

Round Play‑by date Length of match
One 5 March 24 deals
Two 16 April 24 deals
Three 4 June 24 deals
Four 30 July 24 deals
Quarter‑final 17 September 24 deals
Semifinal 29 October 32 deals
Final 17 December 48 or 56 deals

As soon as you know who you will be playing, each captain should offer at least four dates before the play‑by date to the opposing captain. Teams that have not agreed a date by the play‑by date may apply for an extension, but should be aware that the result may, if necessary, be awarded to one of the teams or be decided on the toss of a coin.

With 16 teams competing, after Round Four there will be one undefeated team and five once‑defeated teams. These six teams will play a quarter‑final, matches being decided by a random draw while minimizing (nearly always completely avoiding) the number of re‑matches. Then:

a) If the undefeated team wins there will be one undefeated team and two once‑defeated teams. The undefeated team will get a bye to the final and the other two teams will play a semifinal match, the winner of which will play the undefeated team in the final. The undefeated team may claim eight extra deals if behind after 48 deals.

b) If the undefeated team loses there will be four once‑defeated teams and there will be a straightforward semifinal and final, with no one claiming extra deals.

 

Page last updated 13 January 2024

  Spring Classes 2023

A new season of courses is about to begin at the club. Courses are scheduled to start as follows:

Beginners

Tuesday evenings, 7.30–9.30pm, starting 17 January

 

Thursday afternoons, 1.00–3.00pm, starting 19 January

Next Step

Wednesday evenings, 7.30–9.30pm, starting 18 January

 

Sunday mornings, 11.00am–1.00pm, starting 29 January

Improvers

Thursday evenings, 7.30–9.30pm, starting 19 January

See details on the Classes page. Places are still available on all the courses—please contact manager@ycbc.co.uk to book places.

Item last updated 15 Jamuary 2023

  LMBA Palmer Bayer Pairs 2022—Report
 
LMBA Palmer Bayer 2022 winners Shelley Shieff and Chantal Girardin
LMBA Palmer Bayer 2022 winners Shelley Shieff and Chantal Girardin
 

The club hosted the LMBA’s Palmer Bayer pairs, a “no fear” event with methods restricted to simple systems, on Sunday 4 December. Eight tables played 27 deals at a relaxed pace in the main hall. Afterwards the prizegiving took place in the bar, with complimentary drinks for the competitors and a hand discussion led by Brian Callaghan.

Congratulations to Young Chelsea members Shelly Shieff and Chantal Girardin who won by a clear margin.

 

 
LMBA Palmernbsp;Bayer 2022 second Ina and Christiannbsp;Geis
LMBA Palmer Bayer 2022 second Ina and Christian Geis
 

And well done also to the second placed pair, Ina and Christian Geis.

See the LMBA website for full results.

 

 

Item posted 5 December 2022

  Goldhawks Christmas Party 2022—Report
 
Chris Duckworth presents the Goldhawks Trophy to 2022 winner, Joy Latif
Chris Duckworth presents the Goldhawks Trophy to 2022 winner, Joy Latif
 

The Goldhawks celebrated Christmas with members bringing a cornucopia of home‑cooked treats for lunch during their Tuesday meeting on 12 December.

Meanwhile, Chris Duckworth directed the bridge, running the event as a sixteen‑player individual movement for a change. Congratulations to the winner, by a narraw margin, Joy Latif on 38.67 IMPs who keeps the Goldhawks Trophy for a year. Commiserations to second‑placed Diana Hardie on 37.67 and third‑placed Mala Bamford on 35.33.

 

Item posted 12 December 2022

  Christmas Opening Schedule 2022
 
Xmas Tree
 

The last duplicate of the year will be on Friday 23 December.

The club will then be closed until Tuesday 3 January, when the Goldhawks daytime duplicate will be the first event of the new year to take place.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our members and visitors!

 

Item posted 22 December 2022