There had been some questioning of the decision to stage the Summer Cup on an ad hoc basis when suitable numbers were present on a Thursday evening in recent years. After discussion at a recent committee meeting, it was decided to continue with the ad hoc basis. The Summer Cup was eventually played on Thursday 8th September there being exactly seven tables. Teams were selected by lot. The winners were David & Janet playing with Geoff & Graham, second David A & Margaret playing with Glyn & Derrick and third Anne & John Seymour playing with Liz & Michael S. A most enjoyable evening and congratulations to the winners.

Six clubs, Basford, Chasetown, Newcastle, Oswestry, Stafford and Wolverhampton took part in the S&SCBA sim pairs on Monday 15th August, making a total of 37 tables. The winners were Penny Grocott & Albert Pankhurst playing at Basford, second Paul Leese & Harold Godwin playing at Newcastle and third Nat White & Mary Bound playing at Oswestry Congratulations to you all. Best placed Stafford members were Geoff Davies & John Seymour, playing at Newcastle, coming 4th overall. Best placed of those that played at Stafford were Malcolm Roberts & Janet Woodward coming 8th.

Mixed Pairs

The mixed pairs were played on Thursday 24th March with 11 pairs including a visiting pair.  The results were first Michael and Deirdre, second Robin and Ann and third Pat and Ivor. The visitors actually had the second highest score but, as visitors, were not placed in the event.

President's Cup

The annual match between the President's team and the Captain's team was played Sunday 20th March. Despite some nasty 'flu about there were 16 players in each team. The winners were Captain's team, Mike Sherriff, Pam Allen, Michael Metcalf, David Alderson, Janet Woodward Shirley Elphick, Rachael & Alan Ashmore, Leila Paull, Tony Ashley, Helen & Phil Thompson, Sheila & Jim Palmer, Sandra & Ernie Houghton.  A most enjoyable tea to complete the afternoon was organised by Pat.

The results were:

1. David & Janet and Ivor & Pat
2. Paul & Linda and Glyn & Derrick
3. Peter & Dave and David & Margaret

County Sim Pairs

The County Sim Pairs were played on Tuesday 26th January at 6 clubs including Stafford, a total of 37½ tables, 6½ from Stafford.  The winners were Ruth Timmins & Ron Stevenson playing at Eccleshall. Runners up were Geoff Davies & Paul Cutler playing at Stafford.  Second placed in Stafford were Adrienne & Harry, they came 9th overall after the scoring was completed and verified.

Dash Trophy - Played Thursday 21st January

Handicapped pairs competition. First Micheal Seavers & Pat Martin, second Ivor & Liz, third Rachael & Pam Allen, fourth Rose & Ann and fifth Dave & Peter. Sixteen pairs took part this year. Apologies to all for the delay in  publishing the result, a slight technical hitch!  Many congratulations to Michael and Pat, they are not a regular partnership.  Pat on great form, she went on to win EW on Friday too with a player she has never partnered before!

Final Round of the Shelley, Winners Paul, Linda, Derrick and Glyn

After the seventh and eventful final round of the Shelley handicapped teams competition played on 12th April the first three positions are:

1. Paul, Linda, Derrick and Glyn
2. Beryl, Michael, Roy and Tony
3. John, Ann, Clare and Liz

Full details (round 7 raw result and combined figures) are 1st Laughlin (+45, +108), 2nd Metcalf (47, +95),  3rd Whiteman (-71, +83),   4th Ullmer (-11, +42), 5th Drinkwater (-6, -24),   6th Eaves (-14, -39),  7th Pitt (-82, -48),  8th Clarke (+41, -59),  9th Sleightholme (-48, -64), 10th Davies (+99, -143) . The handicap totals -7 so the results will be "out" each month by -7.

Shelley - Round 6

After the sixth round of the Shelley handicapped teams competition played on 10th March the positions are, (round 6 raw result and combined figures) are 1st Whiteman (-57, +120),  2nd Laughlin (+67, +78),  3rd Metcalf (-13, +42),  4th Ullmer (-39, +25), 5th Drinkwater (+44, +9),   6th  Pitt (-50, -11), 7th Eaves (-4, -23),  8th Sleightholme (-18, -37), 9th Clarke (+26, -65), 10th Davies (+44, -180) . The handicap totals -7 so the results will be "out" each month by -7.

Shelley - Round 5

After the fifth round of the Shelley handicapped teams competition played on 11th February  the positions are, (round 5 raw result and combined figures) are 1st Whiteman (-17, +143), 2nd Metcalf (+30, +49),  3rd Ullmer (-56, +36),  4th Laughlin (+43, +26),  5th  Pitt (-47, -6), 6th Drinkwater (-23, -8),  7th Eaves (+34, -17),  8th Sleightholme (-27, -40), 9th Clarke (+43, -56), 10th Davies (+20, -162) . The handicap totals -7 so the results will be "out" each month by -7.  Next round to be played on March 10th.

Shelley - Round 4

After the fourth round of the Shelley handicapped teams competition played on 14th January  the positions are, (round 4 raw result and combined figures) are 1st Whiteman (-16, +126), 2nd Ullmer (+28, +64),    3rd Drinkwater (-2, +42), 4th Metcalf (-8, +13), 5th Laughlin (+40, -2),  6th Pitt (-52, -4),  7th Sleightholme (-52, -34), 8th Eaves (+39, -49), 9th Clarke (+38, -64), 10th Davies (+13, -120) . The handicap totals -7 so the results will will be "out" each month by -7. 

Shelley - Round 3

After the third round of the Shelley handicapped teams competition  played on 10th December the positions are, (round 3 raw result and combined figures) are 1st Whiteman (-19, +108),  2nd Drinkwater (+59, +71), 3rd Ullmer (-48, +36),   4th Metcalf (24, +15), 5th Pitt (-33, +3),  6th Sleightholme (-9, -3), 7th Laughlin (-16, -27),   8th Clarke (-5, -67), 9th Davies (+53, -71), 10th Eaves (-6, -86). The handicap totals -7 so the results will will be "out" each month by -7. 

Bryan Baker - Played on Sunday 29th November

Result for the Bryan Baker. After the handicap adjustments the placings were:

1st Ann Stevenson & Ernie Houghton (Ernie retained his title from last year!)
2nd Adrienne & Harry Jones
3rd Janet & David Drinkwater

Well done everyone, and, thank you to those that made the lovely tea. This time the scorers gave a bit more of a headache, they still remembered which table they were at on Thursday causing David a few extra grey hairs!

Ladies' and Men's Pairs - played Thursday 26^th November 2015

Despite early reluctance to enter by some there was a very good attendance on the day, the results were:

Many congratulations to you all. Courtesy of Mr Google and an Edinburgh Club, who put instructions on the "net", SBC's first time for scoring two simultaneous events with our "newish" BridgeTabs went more or less hitch free too! An enjoyable night all round.

Shelley - Round 2 Thursday 12th November

After the second round of the Shelley handicapped teams competition the positions are, (round 2 raw result, handicap and combined figures) are 1st Whiteman (0, 34, 93),  2nd Ullmer (23, +28, +56),  3rd Drinkwater (46, -27, 39),  4th Laughlin (-21, -15, 4), 5th Pitt (-43, +45, -9), =6th Sleightholme (-10, +21, -15), =6th,Metcalf (-15, 6, -15),  8th Clarke (14, -35, -27), 9th Davies (43, -62, -62), 10th Eaves (-37, -2, -78), The handicap totals -7 so the results will will be "out" each month by -7.

Children in Need Sim Pairs - November 10th

Stafford entered in the Children in Need Sim Pairs on Tuesday 10th November. Nationally the best pairs at Stafford were both EW pairs, Mike Sherrff & Ivor Clarke and Deirdre Newsome & Michael Seavers: sadly not "Top of the leader board", at the time of writing 18:41, 15/11/2015, overall 32nd and 44th respectively out of 2069 pairs, results probably final.  £139.80 was raised on the night at the club for Children in Need

Arthur Bloxham Trophy - November 11th Congratulations to Sylvia Hilton & Pauline Goggin, winners of The Arthur Bloxham Trophy with 2nd Anne Smith & Sam Holden and 3rd Joyce & Tony Brew. Bill Chester & Alan Westwood, not being regular Wednesday afternoon players were not eligible to be placed in this competition.

The event was played on Thursday 22nd October 2015. 18 pairs took part with Deidre Newsome & Michael Seavers winning, Mike Sherriff & Pam Ewan second and Harry & Adrienne Jones third. Congratulations all.

The first round of the Shelley handicapped teams competition got off to an excellent start on 8th October with 10 teams this year.  Ten teams gave David something of a director's nightmare but with some careful planning all went very smoothly (movements for 9 or 11 teams are much easier!).  Round 1 results, raw, handicap and combined figures are 1st Whiteman (25, 34, 59), 2nd Laughlin (55, -15, 40), 3rd Drinkwater (47, -27, 20), 4th Ullmer (-23, +28, +5), 5th Clarke (29, -35, -6), 6th,Metcalf (-12, 6, -6), 7th Pitt (-56, +45, -11), 8th Sleightholme (-47, +21, -26), 9th Eaves (-37, -2, -39), 10th Davies (19, -62, -43).  The handicap totals -7 so the results will will be "out" each month by -7.

The match was well supported with 8 pairs from each Club, it was a most enjoyable event with a delicious buffet. The result was a clear victory for Stone!!!

As for the last two years the summer cup was played spontaneously when a suitable quorum was assembled.  The results were:

Congratulations, Pat, Geoff, David and Ernie