WBF Women's Ranking 

The MUTTON CUP 2024

Trevor's ultimate challenge

The challenge of preparing a Spanish team for the country´s first appearance in the under 16 category at the European Youth Championships is one thing. Taking on World champions face to face in an individual competition in Madrid in August is another matter. But both exciting ambitions are on my agenda. My swansong after 7 decades playing the wonderful game.

As far as TEAM SPAIN is concerned, much has already been achieved. Not only can we confidently look forward to Spain possibly competing for the first time at the next Euros, but the country's team will probably be the youngest in the competition with an average age no higher than 13. Qualification is not an unreasonable expectation given that a ten year old appeared with great success in a major competition on Spanish territory for the first time last December as reported on the Home Page of this website.

For me personally, partnering and opposing several world champions in the Mutton Cup at the Vergara club is an equaly exciting prospect. It is no exagerration to say I look forward to that with as much enthusiasm as the young kiddies I teach. Not least because both Paul Hackett and his son Jason will be partnering me and / or playing against me for one round. You can read his CV here:

https://bridgewiththehacketts.com/

Althugh the Hacketts are considered the most famous and most decorated bridge family in the world of bridge, my participation might not be the David v Goliath mismatch one might expect. For the simple reason that I hold the world record for the highest number of different partners in competitions this century. In fact computer records of the French, UK, Spanish and Thai national federations will show that I have partnered no less than 1500 different people. My experience in successfullty adapting to multiple different bidding systems is a big advantage in an individual competition such as the Mutton Cup.

Trevor. Updated  16/8/24

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Another person I am looking forward to partnering in 2024 is the younger gentleman pictured here. Daniel is also world renowned. Famous for his singing and not, as yet, for his bridge skills. Which is why he popped in for a lesson and afternoon tea at my apartment earlier this year. Who is he? Here are a few clues:

In 2012, he became the first artist to have a different album in the British charts every year for 25 consecutive years. By the time he took up bridge, that record had been extended to over 30 years. He has sold over ten million records and is widely considered a cultural icon in Ireland, He is a prominent ambassador for his home county of Donegal.

And I ♥love♥  Donegal. Trevor 15/11/23

When a bridge "FOUR"  = FIVE

Our modus operandi at the Academy  - with prepared boards where each one has a middle score for either pair to beat - has two significant advantages over traditional comps. It not only allows just one table of four to have a competitive game, but it allows five people to likewise compete against each other via a very fair individual competition where you chop and change partners.

There is always one sitting out, of course, but the players can change partners as often as they want. Moreover, the planned changeovers can be revised at any time during the session. Perhaps to allow an individual to have a longer break to rest their brains or have a cuppa on the terrace. 

It matters not if some players want a longer or shorter break. Irrespective of the number of boards played, all scores quickly translate to a percentage at the end. As long as everyone has partnered at least two of the other four players, there will always be an outright winner. And someone who deserves the wooden spoon as well.

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Footnote

INDIVIDUAL COMPETITIONS

are the ultimate test of whether your bridge club is a friendly place to play

If you`ve never played one, come and try ours to discover why I say that. We will be playing them frequently.

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