Anne Wright and bridge partner paid a visit to the Ashby Club Wednesday Duplicate. Philip Price, the chair and members, gave them a warm welcome. Here Anne had the chance to experience the newly purchased Bridgemate Three in operation. It was a busy duplicate session on 5th August with some 14 tables in use. Ann was known by several members particularly following the County Bridge holiday when several Ashby members attended. Ashby is the first club in Leicestershire to have the Bridgemate 3.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the recent death of Dorothy Pennington. Dorothy was a long-standing member and very able bridge player at the County Club. Dorothy’s health restricted her play to online only via BridgeBase Online and RealBridge in recent times but despite her 91 years she managed the technology very well both at duplicate sessions and in the many social online bridge sessions organised by friends from the County. Other recent obituary notices are already on the LCBA web site including, Margaret Glover, who played at Glenfield Club along with husband, Tim, the LCBA fixtures secretary.

Leicestershire pairs entered the Kent blue pointed 9 high pairs event on August 8th There were 72 pairs with Belinda Chantler and Shelagh Rumbelow coming 9th and Jane Chilvers and Michael Darling coming 17th. Jane and Michael are relatively new players taking their first steps into County competitions. Well done all.

The Bagworth bridge group held their annual charity swiss teams event in July raising money for LOROS. The Saturday afternoon event was well attended with some 12 teams playing and well organised by George Strang and his helpers. Players enjoyed a splendid afternoon tea and much prosecco. There was friendly competition and joint winners which included members from the County, Ashby, Market Bosworth and Bagworth, please see the website Bagworth Whistlestop Bridge Group, UK for photos.

• All Teaching groups can register all our lessons (beginner to Advanced) on www.enjoybridge.co.uk (so that the EBU can signpost students to us).
• Spread the word about bridge lessons to friends, neighbours, relatives via every means that you can (posters, Facebook, Nextdoor, Twitter, Clubs and society groups that you are in, Ask a Neighbour, etc).
• Encourage more members to become bridge teachers and assistant bridge teachers. Philip Price, the Ashby Bridge Club Chair, has organised some training for teachers with EBED. Every affiliated club is entitled to a free place once every 2 years. There is also a two-for-one offer. If you are interested in a place, please contact me (Anne). It is on Mon 17th Aug 2026, starting at 9.30 a.m., and Mon 24th Aug 2026 at 9.30 a.m., at Packington Memorial Hall, High St, LE65 1WJ. For more information: https://www.ebedcio.org.uk/club-teacher-training-essentials
• There are opportunities to teach bridge to Secondary school children. Lucy Pathan and I have started teaching mini bridge at Rushey Mead Secondary. Castle Mead Academy (LE3 5QT) and Brook Mead Academy (LE3 9BN) have also expressed an interest in bridge teaching for their pupils. In order for this to happen we need some volunteers please (to be teachers and helpers). It would be fantastic if we could teach some youngsters bridge and have them joining in club duplicate sessions.

Other updates:

• The Midland Counties League this coming year will be running with one less team (Derby have pulled out) so every County will have a month off.
• We still have vacancies on the LCBA Committee. If you haven't taken a turn yet, please volunteer. Possible Vacancies are: Vice Chair, Chair, General Secretary, Winter League Controller. From my experience, the most successful Committees have a regular update of Officers to keep fresh ideas and input coming in.
• Tim Glover, as MCL Secretary, instigated some County development sessions with Ben Norton which have proved popular. Please look out for more of these. Tim was also instrumental in getting a 9 high team incorporated with our Leicestershire Dawes, Porter and Markham leagues and this has proved successful.
• The following clubs (according to EBU stats) have increased table attendance from April three years ago to April this year as follows:
  • Ashby 416 to 482
  • Blaby 68 to 100
  • Glenfield 24 to 64
  • Grantham 200 to 294
  • Hoby 36 to 48
  • Loughborough 118 to 176
  • Market Harborough 138 to 204
  • Thurnby 0 to 68

Bradgate has shown a decrease but they have experienced severe premises problems this year. County also haven't increased, but students that they have taught are feeding into other local clubs, as well as their own, to boost table attendance, and they run additional sessions such as Chicago bridge that don't count in the session stats. Rutland and Oakham haven't increased, but there is no fall either and they are now teaching more students.

I definitely see the above stats as positive, and let's keep the teaching initiatives going around the County to promote yet more growth (most clubs are still below pre-Covid levels).

If you have any 'newsy items' to publish on the LCBA website, Shelagh Rumbelow will co-ordinate this, so please send information to her.

I hope 2026:2027 proves to be a successful year for Leicestershire bridge. Do encourage your club members to enter the winter league, the pairs league, the MCL and other LCBA competitions; there is something for every member.