News Update:    Congratulations to Ian Reissmann's team - Ian, Andrew Murphy, Steve Eginton, Tim Rees, Mike Perkins & Chris Cooper (Chris not pictured) on winning the Crockfords Plate final.     Sally Brock's team were 5th in the final of the Crockfords Cup, and Ed Scerri & Gary Jones playing in Jerry Harouni's team were 3rd in the Plate final.    Well done.

Good Luck to B&BCBA members playing in the finals of the Crockford Cup and Plate which are being held in Solihull this weekend.  This is England's premier teams-of-four championship.  Knock-out matches are played in the early stages with eight teams winning through to contest an all-play-all final.  Sally Brock & Barry Myers are in the final of the Cup.   And in the final of the Plate, we  have Ian Reissmann's team - Ian, Chris Cooper, Mike Perkins, Tim Rees, Steve Eginton as well as Ed Scerri & Gary Jones playing in Jerry Harouni's team. 
You can watch these finals live - see http://www.ebu.co.uk/node/2847 for further details.

Players who play regularly in Berks and Bucks clubs and county events did well at the Seniors Eastbourne Congress.  In the Championship Pairs A final David Patterson & Paula Hopkinson were second, Charles Chisnall & Bob James were third and Dick Davey & Nigel Wolfendale were seventh. Matthew and Heather Tan came ninth in the B final.   In the Swiss Pairs Peter & Dee Lindon were fourth and Pat Dowdeswell & Mike Ribbins were sixth.   Peter & Dee then won the Swiss Teams playing with Derek & Celia Oram ahead of Phil Thornton, Bob Holder, Dick Davey & Bill Charlwood in fifth place.

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Graduate League:   Congratulations to the winners The Four Suits - Bill Astles, John Gover, Malcolm Butwick (captain) and Mark Bannister (L-to-R in photo) - from The Bridge School at Gerrards Cross, only 3 VPs ahead of the Frantic Ruffers, captained by John Young.

Student League:  Well done to the Bidding Useless team - Pauline Robb, Anna Assaf, Alan Robb (captain), Jim Morrison, Andrea Morrison - taught by Marilyn Murtagh of SBBC, who won the 5 VPs ahead of Chris Allen’s Top Marks team in second place.

The End of Season Competition was won by Anna Assaf, a member of the Bidding Useless team which won the Student League.

And thanks to Nigel Thompson for running these leagues. 

We are sad to announce that Chiltern Edge Bridge Club will close as from 27th June.    Since it's affiliation, many Chiltern Edge players have taken active roles in support of B&BCBA.   The club has always entered a team in the League-of-Eight - and in recent years has maintained it's position in the 2nd Division despite the club's falling numbers.   We hope that the club's members will continue at other clubs, and we look forward to seeing them at B&BCBA events.

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On the 2nd day of B&BCBA's Green Point Weekend, the winners of the Richard Palmer Memorial Trophy in the Swiss Teams event in a field of 45 teams were Eric Cummings, Ceri Pierce, Jette & Alan Bailey.    Runners-up - only 1VP behind the winners - were Rob Wilkinson, Colin Johns, Steve Lynch & Paul Dolphin.  The 3rd place was tied between Pat Dowdeswell, Mike Ribbins, Jonny Richards & James Chapman, and Steve Mai, Lewis Pirnie, Anil Bhandari & Graham Cunningham.   Well done. 

Congratulations to Steve Eginton & Peter Comber on winning the Anders Wallen Cup in the Green Pointed Swiss Pairs event in which 104 pairs competed.   Steve & Peter were clear winners, but only 3 points separated the next 4 places.    The runners-up were Jacqui Tobias & Frank Wharton followed by John Fairhurst & Philip Brown in 3rd, Camilla Blackburn & Mark Mortimer in 4th and Eva Wallen & David Beever in 5th.  Well done to all.

As members of the winning team in our 2016-17 County Teams Championship, Ed Scerri, Gary Jones, Dick Davey & Richard Bowdery, represented Berks & Bucks in the EBU Pachabo Cup which was held in Daventry over 10/11th June, and came a very creditable 5th out of 29 teams.   Well done.

Berks & Bucks players featured in 6 of the top 10 places in the Green Pointed Swiss Teams event held by Oxfordshire CBA.    Dee & Peter Lindon (with Liz Cummins & David Stevenson) won the event, with Chrys Poole, Steve Lee, Liz Hayton & Kevin Colling - the highest placed all-B&BCBA team in 4th place closely followed by Joyce Baldock, Tony Parkinson, Pat Dowdeswell & Mike Ribbins and Tara & Stan Harding (with Naomi Gibbs & Michael Rawlins) tying for 5th place and Jane Davies, Charles King-Farlow, Ed Brennan & Bruce Leslie in 7th place.    Click for the full Swiss Teams ranking.   In the Swiss Pairs, James Bond & Christopher Seddon were the highest place B&BCBA pair in 14th place with Callum McKail & Nigel Wolfendale in 18th place.

Berks & Bucks players featured prominently in the EBU's Congress played in Stratford over the Spring Bank Holiday.   Tim Rees (playing with Alan kay - Herts) gained 2nd place in the Championship Pairs A Final    In the Pairs Qualifier, Pat Dowdeswell & Mike Ribbins (4th) and Heather & Matthew Tan (18th) qualified through to A Final.   Heather & Matthew Tan then gained 12th place in the A Final in very strong field, and followed that with 15th place in the Swiss Teams.   Marilyn Murtagh & John Coleman were 9th in the Swiss Pairs and, together with Liz Hayton & Angela Flintoff, were the highest ranked all-B&BCBA team in the Swiss Teams.   Well done. 

Congratulations to Dick Davey on winning the John Pares Cup in the 2016-17 Victor Ludorum competition.  This is awarded to the player who achieve the greatest success in the County's qualifying events over the course of a season.  Going into the Mixed Pairs event only one point separated Dick from Nigel Wolfendale in second place, but Dick's win in the Mixed Pairs ensured the award.    Dick previously won the cup in the 2014-15 season. 

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Well done to Sue Brown & Dick Davey on winning the Mixed Pairs Cup and to Carole & Herb Mueller on winning the BBL Cup in the Flitch competition.    Runners up in the Mixed event were Liz Hayton & Kevin Colling with Joyce Baldock & Tony Parkinson in 3rd place.     20 pairs took part.

At the EBU shareholders' meeting in London on 11 May, Colin Simpson was given the Diamond Award in recognition of excellence and success over a long period for England's international team. Unfortunately, Colin, who is in a nursing home, was unable to be present, but we send our congratulations and best wishes.

Out of the 314 pairs who competed in 23 heats held in affiliated B&BCBA clubs, 58 pairs qualified to play in the Final of the 2016-17 Club Pairs Competition.    Winners of the Waller Bowl were Steve Moss & John Bamberg from South Bucks BC.  Runners up were Paul Dolphin & Steve Lynch (Lane End), followed by Marilyn Murtagh & John Coleman (Lane End) in 3rd place and Pat Dowdeswell & Mike Ribbins (Reading) in 4th.  Section winner prizes also went to Alan Burley & John Foster (Newbury) and to Madeline Lawson & Keith Terrell (Newbury) for the 1st & 2nd sessions respectively.    Well done to all.

Dick Davey & Nigel Wolfendale were the clear winners (with an impressive 69%) of the Reg Capewell Cup in the Men's Pairs event played on 23rd April.    Runners-up were David Owen & Nigel Marlow, with Anthony Collins & Barry Read in 3rd place.    Well done.

31 pairs competed for the Directors Cup in the Senior Pairs event held at SBBC on Wednesday 5th April.    Well done to Jennie Corfield & Bruce Franklin on winning the Cup; to runners-up Nigel Lancaster & Nigel Marlow; and to John Spiers & Ed Brennan taking the "Veterans" prize.  

Well done Dick Davey, Richard Bowdery, Ed Scerri, Gary Jones and Andrew Murphy - winners of the 2016-17 County Teams Knock-out Championship (the Crowhurst Quaich), and commiserations to the runners-up team (for the 2nd year running) Bob Holder, David Beever, Callum McKail, Nigel Wolfendale, Kevin Elstow and Phil Thornton.   Dick Davey's team will be invited to represent the County in the Pachabo Cup (the EBU's inter-counties teams of four competition).

Over the season, 87 teams had competed in Heats of the Club Teams Championship played in 12 affiliated clubs throughout Berks & Bucks.  Of these, 24 teams qualified and played in the Final. The Committee Cup winners were Jenny & Keith Sheppard and Sue & John Moor representing Bracknell Forest BC.  Runners up were Ilan Sirkis & Chris Shambrook and Stuart Townsend & Simon Roberts from Loddon Vale BC, with tie for 3rd place between Robert Wilkinson & Colin Johns and Paul Dolphin & Steve Lynch of Bourne End BC and Anders Wallen & Neil Drapkin and Ian Griffiths & Grant Masom of Austenwood BC.   Well done to these teams in particular, and to all who had won through to the Final.

Berks won the annual Berks v Bucks "Teams-of-16" match played on Wednesday 22nd March, and thus retained the Phil Thornton Shield - seen here held by the victorious Berks captains Joyce Baldock (A-Team) and Dave Green (B/C teams).    Bucks were winners of the A-Team match (by 46 IMPs), but Berks won the B-Team Match (by 41 IMPs) and the C-Team match (by 34 IMPs).    Berks thus had an overall 2-1 win.
For Cross-IMP Rankings, Scorecards, Travellers & Hands - see Results column to Right.

Congratulations to Gisela Martin & Dale Thomas on winning the Finchampstead Plate in the Friendly Pairs event played on Sunday 12 March at SBBC.  Also to the runners-up Jane Tozer & Mike Miller and 3rd placed Jackie & Mike Tennant.  29 pairs took part in the event.

B&BCBA players featured prominently in the EBU Ranked Masters Pairs event held in Birmingham over 25-26th February.   Pat Dowdeswell & Mike Ribbins were 3rd in the Grand Masters; Nigel Wolfendale & Callum McKail were1st in the Premier Life Masters Pairs (see picture); Angela Flintoft & Liz Hayton were 6th in the Life Masters Pairs; and Rita Evans & Bridget Hughes were 5th in the Regional Masters Pairs.    Well done.

The Perkins Cup was won by James Chapman, Mike Wenble, Pat Dowdeswell & Mike Ribbins.   Runners-up were David Perkins, Chris Mooney, Herb Mueller, Carole Mueller with Ed Scerri, Gary Jones, Nigel Wolfendale & Dick Davey in 3rd place.   Well done.    16 teams competed - the highest entry for a number of years.

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Barry Read & Anthony Collins won the Rex Avery Trophy to become the County Pairs Champions for 2016-17.   Runners up were Paul Dolphin & Steve Lynch with Dee & Peter Lindon in 3rd place.

In the Plate competition, the Chris Burley Trophy was won by Evelyn Crossley & Eva Wallen, with Rob Wilkinson & Colin Johns in a close 2nd place and Andy & Michelle Margetts in 3rd place.

Well done to all.

With a score of 95 VPs out of a possible 120, Pat & Richard Chantler were the clear winners of the Pat Husband Trophy.    Runners-up (with 81VP) were Avril Catto & Keith Goswell with a tie for 3rd place (76 VP) between Janet Allan & Colin Dale and Heather Perry & Ruth Marshall.     Session prizes were won by Brenda & Frans Vas Nunes (1st session) and by Beata Felmer & Will Gee (2nd session).    Well done to all.   32 pairs competed.

33 pairs competed in the Qualifiying event for the County Pairs Final and the County Pairs Plate.    The top ranked pair were Callum McKail & Nigel Wolfendale with David Owen & Mary Hughes in 2nd place, Jonny Richards & Mike Ribbins in 3rd place and Heather & Matthew Tan in 4th.     Well done.   The top 16 pairs qualify for the Final and the next 16 pairs qualify for the Plate.    Both of these events will be held on Sunday 5th February starting at 1:30pm.   Click the header of this item for list of qualifiers for the Final & Plate (or click on the Final & Plate event on the right).
Any qualified pairs who are unable to play in the Final or Plate should click on >> this link << as soon as possible. .

Addis Page was presented with an engraved silver tankard by Dick Davey the Chairman and Sue Brown the County Secretary to mark the award of Life Membership of the Association in recognition of his exceptional services to bridge in Berks and Bucks over many years.   A well deserved award.

Well done to Joan Murphy, Bob Holder, Ed Scerri & Dick Davey - winners of the Carole Mueller Trophy (presented here by Carole) in the Mixed Swiss Teams event.    And to runners-up, Mary Hughes, Evelyn Crossley, David Owen & Charles Chisnell; and 3rd placed Eva Wallen, David Beever, Sue & Graham Dickens.   14 teams competed in this pre-Christmas event in which wine replaced the normal refreshments, and bottles were awarded to the overall winners and the winners of each round.

Berks & Bucks made an excellent start in the Tollemache qualifier.    At the end of the first day, the Berks & Bucks team was leading its group, having won its two completed matches 17-3 against Northants and 11-9 against Manchester and was winning in each of the six incomplete matches. On the second day, the team continued in good form, losing only narrowly to Norfolk, winning their other seven matches, and finished a comfortable top of their qualifying group - thus qualifying for the Final which will be played on 11-12 Feb 2017.    Congratulations to the team of Tim Rees, Steve Eginton, Ed Scerri, Gary Jones, Richard Bowdery, Andrew Murphy, Mike Perkins and Ian Reissman.    We wish the team good luck in the Final.

Congratulations to Pat & Richard Chantler on winning the Tony Boothroyd Plate in the Friendly Pairs event held on 20th November.    Runners up were Gillian Smith & Christine Cook, with Janet Allan & Colin Dale in 3rd place.    Well done.

Congratulations to Dee & Peter Lindon on winning the Jarret Cup in the Butler Pairs event.  And well done to Paula Hopkinson & Geoff Nicholas and to Simon Gass & Alan Scott in 2nd and 3rd places respectively. 24 pairs competed.  

Congratulations to Bob Holder (Captain), Dick Davey, Phil Thornton, Nigel Wolfendale all from B&BCBA and Bill Charlwood from Kent on winning the 2016 Gerard Faulkner Salver - the EBU Seniors Knock-out competition.

Well done to Dee & Peter Lindon (playing with Liz Commins & David Stevenson) on coming 2nd in the Teams A-Final (the Eastbourne Bowl), and to Heather & Matthew Tan who were 7th (with Brian Geary & David Patterson) in the Teams A-Final and 6th in the Swiss Pairs.

Two teams from B&BCBA - representing Reading and New Amersham - were successful in reaching the semi-finals of this year's Nicko competition.   Unfortunately Reading lost their match, but New Amersham won and now play a team representing TGR's in the final.    We wish them (Dick Davey, Ed Scerri, Sally Brock and Barry Myers) good luck!

26 pairs competed in the first of this season's events - the Swiss Pairs for the Denys Jenkins Cup.   The winners were David Owen & Charles Chisnall - seen here being presented with the Cup by Mick Green.   Runners up were Mike O'Neill & Roger Donato with Tony Aston & Christopher Tucker in 3rd place.     Well done to all.

Well done to Sally Brock & Barry Myers who, with Neil Rosen & Martin Jones (both Middlesex) and Robert Sheehan (London), were runners up in the prestigeous 2016 Gold Cup.

Congratulations to Colin Simpson on coming 6th equal in the EBU 2015-16 Player of the Year Competition.   In the competition players gain points based on finishing in the top places of the most prestigious events on the EBU calendar.   (The EBU version of our Victor Ludorum.)   Colin was part of the winning team in both the the Premier League and the Crockfords Cup.    Well done.

B&BCBA Successes:

Well done to Gary Jones (playing with Jerry Harouni) - fifth (out of 269 pairs) in the Swiss Pairs Championship played over the 1st weekend.

And to Sally Brock & Barry Myers (playing with Ben Green & John Holland) who were second in the Four Stars A Final.

Dick Davey & Nigel Wolfendale were the winners of the main Championship Pairs at the Summer Seniors Congress which took place in Eastbourne over 8-10 July.  Having won the qualifying session, they continued their good form to comfortably win the A Final.     Pat Dowdeswell & Mike Ribbins were 3rd in the A Final.

In the Swiss Teams. Phil Thornton & Bob Holder playing with Robert Procter and Michael Robinson won their first five matches, but stumbled in the penultimate match against the Hackett team. Their last match was against the then 2nd placed team of Joan Murphy, Sue Brown, Heather & Matthew Tan.   The Thornton team won that match comfortably to take the trophy - but in so doing pushed the Murphy team down to 7th place.     The Dee & Peter Lindon with Celia & Derek Oram were in 6th place.       Well done to all.

Click for all results.