| Betts Bowl Result |
Congratulations to the Webb team (Gill, Bill Simpson, Jane Reeve, Brian Churchill) who won the Betts Bowl beating the Prior team (John, Claire Winfrey, Paul Double, Bob Wakerley) in the final by the narrow margin of 5 IMPs.
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| Broke Cup Result |
Congratulations to the Chadwick team (Bill, Don McFarlane, Tim Durdin, Trevor Thrower) who beat the Schnalke team (Ruby, Nick Hunter, Mark Tilley, Kieran Tilley) to retain the Broke Cup. The match swung on one board.
What do you bid holding ♠6 ♥AKQJ63 ♦KQJ7 ♣AT , vulnerable, after partner opens 3S and RHO passes? Kieran Tilley, aware that his partner Mark would have a decent suit for his vulnerable pre-empt, thought long and hard before deciding to try for a slam and bidding 4N. This got 5H from Mark showing ♠AK without ♠Q and Kieran bid 6N. Don McFarlane found the best lead for the defence of ♣K and the dummy went down with ♠AKJT872. Kieran won the CA and, needing the spades to come in, closed his eyes and took the percentage line of finessing the ♠J. No luck, the ♠Q was offside so the defence won this trick, the ♦A and four clubs for +500. To make matters worse, the ♠Q was doubleton and would have fallen under the AK. At the other table the auction was less exciting 3S - 4H , 4S which made +2 for +680 and 15 IMPs to Chadwick. Had 6NT made, the Schnalke team would have gained 13 IMPs on the board, a swing of 28 IMPs on one finesse. The final margin of victory was 28 IMPs! The bridge gods can be very cruel.
The full hand is below. Note that 6NT makes on a D lead to the A without needing the spade finesse and 6H drifts one off.
Many thanks to David Banks for directing. He was kept busy but that's another story!
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Congratulations to the Chadwick team (Bill, Don McFarlane, Tim Durdin, Trevor Thrower) who beat the Schnalke team (Ruby, Nick Hunter, Mark Tilley, Kieran Tilley) to retain the Broke Cup. The match swung on one board. ..........
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| Inter Club League |
With one match still to play the Division 2 champions are Stamford C (John Prior, Claire Winfrey, Brian Churchill, Jane Reeve) who pipped Towcester by just 6 VPs. Towcester had a great opportunity to go top but lost their final match to Stamford E.
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| One Day Green Pointed Swiss Pairs |
Entries are now open for our One Day Green Pointed Swiss Pairs on Saturday May 18th.
For details and to enter, click here: Northants Swiss Pairs
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| Kettering victorious in first Lakeland |
As well as winning the latest Lakeland, Kettering also won the trophy the first two times it took place. I am indebted to Brian Barrett, who played in that first competition, for this clipping from 1968. Note the family connection. Geoff Walshaw captained the Kettering team in these early competitions. His son, John, was in the team that won this year.
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| ECL V Suffolk |
We played our final ECL match of the season against Suffolk on Sunday 17th March. The highlight was a 14-6 win for the A team. Trevor Thrower and Mark Tilley led the way with an excellent cross IMPs score. The B and C teams both slipped to narrow defeats. The full results can be seen here and the final tables here.
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| Latest newsletter |
To read the Mar 2024 Newsletter, click here
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| Kettering win Lakeland |
The county teams of 8 championship, the Lakeland, was held on 18 February 2024 at Northampton bridge club. It was great to have 6 teams taking part for the first time in quite a few years.
Congratulations to Kettering who won the competition and qualify for the Garden Cities regional final. The winning team was Tim Durdin, Chris Wormleighton, Mark Hodgson, John Walshaw, Simon Few, Graham Dolby, Dan Baines and Rob Miller. The full result was:
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KE |
SA |
SB |
NA |
SC |
NB |
Total |
| Kettering |
- |
12 |
18 |
20 |
18 |
20 |
88 |
| Stamford A |
8 |
- |
16 |
9 |
20 |
20 |
73 |
| Stamford B |
2 |
4 |
- |
9 |
20 |
20 |
55 |
| Northampton A |
0 |
11 |
11 |
- |
16 |
12 |
50 |
| Stamford C |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
- |
16 |
20 |
| Northampton B |
2 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
4 |
- |
14 |
Hand records: Session 1 Session 2
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| Broke Cup latest |
The Broke Cup is the county's knock out cup for teams of 4. The semi finals have now been played and so just the final remains.
Ruby Schnalke's team (Ruby, Nick Hunter, Mark Tilley, Kieran Tilley) will take on the holders, Bill Chadwick's team (Bill, Don McFarlane, Trevor Thrower, Tim Durdin) over 32 boards on April 3rd.
Should be a good match!
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| Northampton pair win the Eden Cup |
Congratulations to the 2024 County Pairs champions and winers of the Eden Cup, John Blakesley and Malcolm Orr-Ewing.
Click Eden Cup 2024.pdf for a report on the action.
Full results are in the Results section.
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| ECL v Cambridgeshire |
On Sunday 14th Jan Northants played Cambs in the ECL. The A and B teams both lost but the C team continued their recent good form with a resounding 17-3 victory. Well done and congratulations to the team of Bob Parker, Steve Mossey, Richard Tickle, Andy Heslop, Robin Griffiths, Andrew Bisson, Frank Isack and Gerry Kingston.
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| Marcus in the Mercury |
Stamford BC stalwart and bridge sage, Marcus Witt, writes a monthly column in the Stamford Mercury. Marcus reports on club news but he also includes his analysis of an interesting hand that has been played at the club. The Mercury have kindly given permission for these articles to be shared through this website. To read Marcus's musings, click on 'Marcus in the Mercury' on the left.
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| ECL v Essex |
Our latest Eastern Counties League match v Essex was played on Sunday Dec 10th.
Both the A and B teams suffered heavy defeats. The C team provided the only highlight winning for the first time this season. Well done to them and, in particular, to Andrew Bisson and Robin Griffiths who topped the cross IMPs table.
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| Bourne BC celebrates 35th birthday |
Back in September, Bourne Bridge Club held a party to mark and celebrate their 35th anniversary. A special Saturday afternoon bridge session was laid on with a superb tea of sandwiches and cakes washed down by prosecco (or tea if you preferred). Founder member Bob Leyland made a short speech with a brief history of the club and with a warm welcome for special guest Kathy Newbould. Kathy is also a founder member and was instrumental in setting up the club.
All those present were presented with a commemorative pack of cards.
Congratulations to Bourne, a club that boasts growing numbers, a friendly welcome and excellent playing conditions.
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Back in September, Bourne Bridge Club held a party to mark and celebrate their 35th anniversary. A special Saturday afternoon bridge session was laid on with a superb tea of sandwiches and cakes washed down by prosecco (or tea if you preferred). ..........
..... see more |
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| Tollemache Highlights |
Click to read a report on the Tollemache qualifying weekend.
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| Premier League - Fine Margins |
Northants pair Rob Miller and Ufuk Cotuk teamed up with a Hertfordshire pair to do battle in the Premier League. Click to read Rob's account of the climactic last boards of their 320 board marathon.
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| Herts breakers |
The county A team narrowly beat Hertfordshire on Sunday 29th.
One pair stood out.
Click to see their account.
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| Broke Cup Draw |
Matches are to be played face to face unless both teams agree to play online. There is no home team, please share room hire costs.
Round 1 (please play asap)
M1. Gill Webb v Marlene Jones
Everyone else has a bye
Round 2 (please play by end of November)
M2. Bill Chadwick v Gerry Kingston
M3. Doreen Simpson v Robin Griffiths
M4. Winner M1 v John Prior
M5. Ruby Schalke v Rob Miller
Semi-Finals (play by end of February)
M6. Winner M2 v Winner M3
M7. Winner M4 v Winner M5
Final (9 March 2024 at Stamford BC)
Winner M6 v Winner M7
Betts Bowl
Scenario 1: If winner M1 wins M4
then there will be a 1st round match:
Loser M4 v Loser M3 (play by end of January)
then semi-finals are: (play by end of February)
Loser M1 v Loser M2
Winner of (Loser M4 v Loser M3) v Loser M5
Scenario 2: If winner M1 loses M4
semi-finals are: (play by end of February)
Loser M1 v Loser M2
Loser M3 v Loser M5
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| C Team wins National Inter County League Final |
Sun 18 June: Congratulations to the County C team who won the National Inter League Final.
The team was Steve Mossey & Robin Griffiths, Andrew Bisson & Graham Dolby, Gerry Kingston & Frank Isack, Graham Flew & Alan Bamford.
Full results here.
See below for an article about the C team's victorious 2022-23 season
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| C Team sweep all before them |
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| Northamptonshire Contract Bridge Association |
 NCBA’s aim is to improve bridge for all Northamptonshire players. NCBA committee welcomes suggestions to improve bridge in Northamptonshire for all players.
NCBA is run by members of the county’s 10 EBU affiliated clubs.
NCBA runs county events. NCBA enters county players in national events
NCBA is funded by its own events plus a club players P2P levy collected by the EBU.
To find out more about NCBA: sign up for the newsletter; check this web site regularly or ask your club NCBA representative.
Click window to find local club
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