Congratulations to Jane Stirton and Celia Day who won the Phoenix Trophy on a tie-break from Dom Wilson and Jeff Jones.

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.

Wolverhampton Bridge Club's 10th Anniversary at the Shaw Rd Business Park Premises was celebrated on Sunday August 28th.  Ron Stevenson welcomed Rob Marris, the MP For Wolverhampton South West, who recalled opening the current premises ten years ago when Dave Clarke was the chairman and Albert Tipton, was club captain. He congratulated members on their achievements and hard work in ensuring the ongoing success of the bridge club. Congratulations go to Ron Stevenson and Martyn Watkinson, overall winners, and Judi Stevenson & Jane Stirton, winners of the handicapped competition

Staffordshire & Shropshire County players came first and second in the first Midlands Regional Improvers Pairs competition, played on Sunday 3 July 2016.  Steve Smith & Jason Webb (Newcastle) won with an impressive score of 73% and Anna Lis & John Higgs (Wolverhampton) were runners–up. The competition was played simultaneously by 17 pairs at Solihull and 18 pairs at Spondon bridge clubs, Staffs & Shops were represented by players at both venues. The prizes were on July 20th presented to Steve and Jason at Newcastle Bridge Club by Darren Evetts from the English Bridge Union’s Board of Directors with SSCBA chairman Linda Curtis.

This first competition was much enjoyed by all. Anna Lis writes that it was a pleasure to meet players from clubs from all corners of the Midlands region. The competition was well directed by a good team who ensured that all players were able to complete all 24 boards in a timely manner.

The competition will be played annually and all clubs are encouraged to ensure that their less experienced players have the opportunity to take part.

Hackett (Paul, Justin, Jason & Dan Crofts) beat the Keane team (Roger Keane, David Beavan, Paul Cutler & Geoff Davies) in the Staffs Cup Final.  The Hackett team represented the County in the Pachabo Cup at The Holiday Inn, Birmingham Airport, 11th – 12th June 2016, coming third overall.

Justin and Jason Hackett were selected to represent England in the European Championships that took place in Budapest from 16th to 26th June coming 10th.  Jason and Justin were in the winning England team for the Home Nations  Camrose Trophy, playing during the second weekend, 4th to 6th March, held in Llandrindod Wells.  The England Ladies' Team won their event in Budapest and are now European Champions!!

Barbara Hackett won the German ladies trials and represented Germany in the European championship, Barbara's team came 11th.

Some Staffs and Shrops players took part in the John Armstrong trophy green pointed Swiss Pairs event at the Merseyside club on 22nd May 2016.  Click here for the results.

Division 1

Division 2

Wolverhampton bridge club’s clubhouse was packed on Sunday, 15 May, 2016, when 72 local, county, national and international players came together to celebrate the outstanding contribution made by the late Roy Edwards to the game of bridge and to compete in a Teams of Four competition, Roy’s favourite game.
 

The Open event for members of S&SCBA took place at Newcastle Bridge Club. Dawes team players were well represented, the winners were Keith Shuttleworth & Lawrence Haynes, second Geoff Davies & County Captain Paul Cutler with Ed Levy & Adrian Kenworthy third. Newcastle Bridge Club made the County very welcome and laid on excellent refreshments.

Holders: Brian Nicholls & Keith Shuttleworth

This blue pointed event, licensed by the E.B.U. and offering a Superb Afternoon Tea, takes place on Saturday, 5th March 2016 starting at 2 p.m. Held at the Radbrook Community Centre, Calverton Way,Bank Farm Road, Radbrook Green, Shrewsbury, SY3 6DZ. Entry Fee: £30 per pair. Enquiries from & entry form to Mrs. Judy Mitchell, 6 Hexham Way, Shrewsbury, SY2 6QX. 01743 235374; mitchellmj@btinternet.com.  Please note it is on a Saturday this time.

A correction to the results for this event - apologies everyone.  37½ tables from six clubs, Eccleshall, Newport, Shrewsbury, Stafford, Tettenhall and Wolverhampton played in this event.  The winners were Ruth Timmins & Rob Stevenson playing at Eccleshall with 64.36%, second Paul Cutler & Geoff Davies playing at Stafford with 61.59% and third Arnold Copeland & Judy Midwinter also at  Eccleshall with 61.13%.

Shrewsbury Bridge Club is sad to announce the death of Roger Bowles, following a fall at home in Worcestershire over the Christmas weekend. Roger will be a huge loss to bridge generally - being a Grand Master and one of the top 100 players in the country according to the latest National Grading System. He was a greatly respected member of SCBC for several years, and he was probably the best player we have ever had, as well as being a perfect gentleman. While highly competitive, with a tremendous capacity for thinking through the deepest of bridge puzzles, he was always a gentleman at, and away from, the bridge table. As a resident in Wales in recent years he played on a number of occasions in Welsh events, including the Perry, and represented Mid-Wales with either John Waller or Keith Shuttleworth in a number of Welsh National events.

A Personal Tribute from Mike Amos:
I think Roger was the nicest man I’ve ever played bridge with (and that over more than fifty years). One common feature of bridge players is that they think they are much better than they really are. Roger was truly modest. He didn’t bully weaker players, but was generous in his time and pleased to help those who asked him for advice. He was a great team-mate. I’ve missed playing with him since his move back to Worcestershire and am deeply saddened that I will not see him again to talk of hands, squeezes and advanced plays.
31.12.15.

Two teams represent each of the 6 counties, Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Staffs & Shrops, Warwickshire and Worcestershire in this competition.  The winners this year, played on June 21st, were Worcestershire but Staffs & Shrops teams did very well this year coming 2nd (Paul Hackett/Dan Crofts with Jason Hackett/Ed Levy) and 3rd (Robin Adey/Geoff Davies with John Day/Geoff Feltbower).  Congratulations all.

This event between teams representing Derbyshire, Gloustershire, Hereford, Staffs & Shrops, Warwickshire and Worcestershire, was played in Cheltenham on 20th September 2015. The overall result was a team win for the Staffs and Shrops team.  In 2nd place overall were Keith Shuttleworth & Lawrence Haynes, with Annette & Mike Cornes (last year's winning pair) in 4th place and Helen & Peter Lees coming 7th, so Staffs & Shrops won the 2015 Team trophy.  Congratulations to you all.  The pairs that represent the County are chosen from those that do well in the Bearn final so make sure you enter the Bearn which is next taking place at Newcastle on 24th April 2016.

On 24th September England Junior coach Michael Byrne came to Wolverhampton Bridge Club to hold a training workshop. Twenty-nine people who play in our first, second and third teams-of-eight in the Dawes league attended. A talk on teams scoring and tactics reinforced the well-known principles of stretching to bid thin games, especially when vulnerable, making certain of making your contract at the expense of possible overtricks, or of beating the opponents' contract if you are defending, making whatever assumptions are necessary to do so. He also advised us to try to play as many contracts as possible, as the defending side are more prone to make mistakes, and we will score well on the subset of boards where we are declaring (test this theory next time you play a match).

Of the eight practice hands we played, I thought this one exemplified the difference in approach at teams compared to pairs:

♠ A754       ♠ 9862
♥ 6            ♥ A843
♦ KJ1072    ♦ AQ4
♣ AK7        ♣ 93

After an uncontested auction you reach 4♠ by West. The lead is the ♥ K. How would you play the hand, and why?

The County is very sad to hear that Wolverhampton member, Roy Edwards, aged 75 years, died on Friday 23 October 2015, in Compton Hospice, after a long and difficult battle against cancer.

Ron Stevenson, Chairman of Wolverhampton Bridge Club, said that the club had lost its “best and most prolific player”.

Roy’s passion for bridge dominated most of his adult life. After growing up in West Bromwich, he taught himself to play bridge in his thirties and became a very enthusiastic player initially in North Birmingham and then at Wolverhampton Bridge Club.

He was an excellent player, achieving the national rank of Grand Master and successfully competing at club, county and national levels. He won numerous club and Congress events. One of his fondest memories was of being presented the Torquay Congress Trophy in 1988 by the late Julia Chadwick, life member of the EBU, who was then 100 years old.

Roy made an outstanding contribution to the game of bridge, both within the club and outside. He played on most days in Wolverhampton and certainly had a strong table presence, encouraging –or berating – his partners.

Regardless of his tone, his role in teaching, coaching and directing helped and inspired players at all levels. Very many club members are grateful to him for helping them to improve their play.

Many players across the country have happy memories of enjoying bridge weekends in the Cotswolds in the eighties and Hilton Hotel holidays in the nineties that Roy organised along with David and Marilyn Jones, national tournament directors. Later, Roy used these experiences to shape and run the popular Yuletide Pairs competition in Wolverhampton.

Roy will be sadly missed. It may be quieter at the bridge table but members agree that his contribution to the club will be difficult to replicate.

Wolverhampton Bridge Club will shortly announce details of a bridge event to celebrate Roy’s contribution to bridge. All players, nationally and locally will be welcome.

Pat Poxon has hung up her hat as secretary of S&SCBA after 23 years loyal service,  Pat has seen many a club chairman come and go in those 23 years.  Many thanks to Pat for so many years hard work for the County.  We welcome Kate Eccleston from Tettenhall Bridge Club who has stepped into Pat's shoes and hope that she enjoys her new role. Otherwise no change on the County committee.

All clubs should be visited by a committee member over the year for an exchange of ideas, what would each club like to indicate that the County and EBU should be providing and for the County committee member to show what is being provided at the moment.

A couple of dates to write down, The Shropshire Congress is taking place at the Park Inn, Telford on 16th/17th April.  This conflicts with the date shown in the EBU diary.  The Bearn, 24th April, is now open to all S&SCBA members and does not involve club quailfying competitions.  The Bearn is a one day green point event taking place over two sessions, afternoon and evening, at Newcastle Bridge Club in 2016. The leading pairs at the end of the day go forward to the national Corwen pairs event

Andrew Robson is not available to give the County a masterclass in 2016, his time is at a premium, but maybe in 2017....................  Meanwhile Andrew is coming to a fund raising function in Crewe for St Luke’s Hospice.

Following their success last year the Hackett family, Jason, Justin and Paul, went to Chennai to represent England in the Bermuda Bowl and D'Orsi Bowl at the end of September.  Sadly not the winners this year, see EBU reports http://www.ebu.co.uk/node/2169 (Open) and http://www.ebu.co.uk/node/2163 (Seniors).

All six S&SCBA clubs that play on Wednesdays took part in this event making a total of 40 tables.  Congratulations to the winning pair, playing at Wolverhampton, David Clarke & Gillian Allsop, to the runners up Marion Jordan & Kevin Sullivan playing at Newcastle and the third placed pair, Paul and Linda Laughlin playing at Stafford.

A No Fear Pairs event took place at Wolverhampton on Thursday 9th July.  The winners were Sean Clarke & Ann Sleightholme from Stafford, with Eileen Pinches & Joan Butler from Tettenhall second and Joan & Guy Kershaw from Newport third. Sean is a recent convert to bridge and Ann a new recruit to teaching! Yet again a lovely lunch laid on by Linda and her team.

Mixed/Flitch Championship Pairs - Wednesday 10th June 2015

The winners were Dan Crofts & Celia Day, with John & Anne Seymour second (Flitch Pair Winners) and last year's winners, James Vickers & Monica Scott, in third place.

Ladies' and Men's Championship Pairs - Played on Thursday 14th May 2015

The ladies' pairs were won by Pam Booth-Jones & Sue Yardley, with Terry May and Kath Adams second just ahead of Celia Day & Alma Richards.  The Men's pairs were won by Robin Adey & Geoff Davies with Keith Shuttleworth & Brian Nicholls second and Nicholas Thorne & John Seymour third.

CONGRATULATIONS to the winners of the Swiss Pairs on Saturday: John Currie & Rodney Lighton from Manchester;  Brian Nicholls and Keith Shuttleworth from Shrewsbury Bridge Club came a close second, with Dan Crofts and Gary Hyett coming third.

CONGRATULATIONS to the winners of the Swiss Teams on Sunday:  Ed Levy, Ollie Burgess, Dan Crofts and Gary Hyett, mainly from Manchester.   Second were Richad Horsley, Malcolm Young, Jeff Calladine and Janusz Adamowicz  from Derbyshire.   Third were Mike Cornes, Annette Lucas, Linda Curtis and Alma Richards from Wolverhampton Bridge Club.

CONGRATULATIONS to the winners of the No Fear Pairs Pat Embrey and John Higgs, from Wolverhampton Bridge Club, and to the runners up Judith Griffiths and Shirley Redford from Shrewsbury.

This popular event was held at Radbrook Community Centre on Sunday 8th March directed by Sarah Amos.  Going into the last match the leaders were all very close so it was all to play for.  The winners were Keith Shuttleworth & Brian Nicholls (84 VPs), second Roy Edwards & Norman Jones (81VPs) with Pamela Booth-Jones & Tony Leech in third place (79 VPs).  A very enjoyable afternoon with a wonderful tea!

Staffs & Shrops member Dan Crofts playing with Jason Hackett won the Premier Grand Masters Pairs played on 28th Feb/1st March (picture).  They finished on 53.13 IMPs with Patrick Shields (Gloucs) & Filip Kurbalija (Avon) second on 49.49. A terrific achievement.

Another national success for Dan Crofts, his team won the Silver Pate event (as reported on 9th March 2015).  Playing in the final with Dan were Graeme Robertson (Beds), Gary Hyett (Manchester) and Andrew Thompson (Norfolk).  Staffs & Shrops players Celia Day and Sandra Fenton were also members of the winning team playing in earlier rounds. 

This year the County Simultaneous Pairs event took place at the following clubs: Eccleshall, Shrewsbury, Stafford, Tettenhall and Wolverhampton.  A total of 79 pairs took part.  The results are now complete and the winners were Ann Berrisford & Geoffrey Neal, playing at Eccleshall, second Pat Davis & Jane Randall with third Mark Story & Colin Stewart (all four playing in the ground floor group at Wolverhampton).  Congratulations to you all.  Apologies - some of the commentary booklets were incorrect.

Another success for Paul Hackett, this time a bronze medal in the seniors team event at the World Bridge Series in Sanya, China.  Paul's team members were John Holland, John Sansom, and Christian Mari of France.  Congratulations All.

The AGM took place on Sunday 31st August at Wolverhampton.  The resolution to increase the subscription to £3 was carried by a large majority. Clubs were asked to volunteer to host No Fear events at other locations around the County.  Such had been the success of the events so far put on that a newcomers team had entered the Telford mid week Congress Swiss Teams event.

The Phoenix Trophy was won by Kath Adams and Mike Beach.

Over 1000 pairs from around 60 clubs took part in the Kidney Research Simultaneous Pairs Competition on Thursday 10th July including two clubs within the County area. The two clubs were Tettenhall Bridge Club,an affiliated club, and Stone BridgeClub, a non-affliated club. The winners of the event overall, Anne Jones and John Seymour, were playing at Stone. Congratulations to you both.

Paul Hackett's team, representing England in the seniors event, won the gold medal at the European Championships in Opatija, Croatia.  The ladies' team won a silver medal and  Jason and Justin Hackett came away with a bronze medal in the Open Team event at the European Championships.  A very successful Championship for the England teams. (Sorry, some of the EBU links may give a problem, hopefully temporary, don't miss this one though http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjmYz2gQhCw&feature=youtu.be&t=4m30s -  forget the football disappointment!!!!)

More locally Dan Crofts, Ed Levy, Mike Goldsmith & Andrew Thompson won the Midland Counties Challenge Bowl held in Herefordshire on June 22nd.  12 teams took part in this event, 2 from each of the six Counties.  Placed 4th was Staffs & Shrops other team in the competition, Roy Edwards, Norman Jones, Mike Cornes & Annette Lucas.

Many, many congratulations to you all.

Congratulations to Annette Lucas and Mike Cornes, winners with 62.5%. Second were Roger Keane and David Beavon (57.6%), third John Sheard and Dan Crofts (57.4%). The scores are now confirmed, and have been uploaded in the results folder. The leading players in this event were eligible to represent the County in the Corwen Trophy which took place on 31st May - 1st June at the Park Inn Hotel, Northampton.

Success for Stafford member, Robin Adey, in the Xmas Quiz set by Andrew Robson in the December edition of "English Bridge".  Result published on page 10 of the February edition.

Dan Croft's team reached the quarter finals of the Gold Cup but were beaten by Brian Senior's team at that stage.

This event took place at clubs around the County. John Withers has collated the results of the 78 pairs playing at six locations.  The overall winners are Marianne Alexander & Ian Carless (playing at Wolverhampton), second  Margaret Atkins & Jenny James (playing at Eccleshall) and third Peter Cartwright & Cliff Tayar (also playing at Eccleshall).

Did you catch Mike and Sarah Amos, who regularly direct the Shropshire Congress and other events,  on the BBC Pointless programme 15th January?   Mike and Sarah reached the final round but were unable to score a pointless answer to carry off the monetary prize.