Bridge Calendar

Please find the bridge calendar for Aug-23 to Jul-24 under the Calendar heading 

Published 30/07/2023

Latner Trophy Result

Congratulations to David Thompson and John Gray for winning the Latner Trophy, after handicap adjustment, on 29 June 2023.
Final positions after the handicap adjustment were (actual scores in brackets):

1. Dave Thompson & John Gray 67.00 (59.03)
2. Alison Young & Alan Armstrong 60.63 (50.00)
3. John Portwood and Denise Barham-Hall 59.72 (59.72)
4. Keith Richardson & Barbara Stott 54.79 (43.75)
5. Audrey Bainbridge & Brian Myers 54.60 (53.47)
6. Frank Bouweraerts & Irina Hendrickx 53.48 (50.69)
7. Jane Hattersley & David Hall 50.84 (49.31)
8. Malcolm Dawson & Peter Whitton 45.94 (40.00)

Published 30/06/2023

NEBA Summer Pairs Success

Congratulations to members Frank Bouweraerts and Irina Hendrickx on winning the NEBA Summer Pairs at Hexham

Published 19/06/2023

Paul Beard & Jean Milne

The club is sorry to hear the sad news of the death of two of our former members, Paul Beard and Jean Milne. They were both long standing members of the club and supported us over many years. They will be much missed. 

Published 18/06/2023

Chairman’s Christmas Message, 2023.

Dear All,

We are still up and running – just! I am glad that camaraderie and friendship has continued to flourish. Meeting friends, old and new, catching up, reminiscing and exploring the intricacies of bridge are always a pleasure. Thank you to all our members for continuing to support the club – without you we would not function. PLEASE continue to play when you can. If your regular partner cannot play then contact Malcolm to see if we can pair you up. Your support is essential if the club is to maintain its existence.

Our social events were able to go ahead and were well attended and appreciated by everyone. We were particularly pleased to welcome our Club President, John Little, to our Annual Dinner and Presentation. Thank you John, for all your help and support over the years.

Many thanks to the Club Secretary, Treasurer, Team Captain, Webmaster, Scorers, Committee Members and all those who have helped to ensure the smooth running of the club. We are so dependent on willing volunteers. John Gray has recently stepped down as Secretary after seven years of dedicated service. I really appreciate all the work he has done on behalf of the club as secretary, director and scorer. I have relied on him constantly - he has kept me on track with what needs to be done and has always ensured the smooth running of the club. His hard work, dedication and efficiency cannot be over estimated. I am grateful that Malcolm has taken over as Secretary.

Finally, after four years as Chairman I intend to stand down at the next A.G.M. It has been a challenging few years and it is time for someone else to take over the reins.

I wish all members and their families a very happy Christmas and a successful and healthy New Year.

We’ll meet again on the 4^th January.

Brian

Success for Brian and Denise

Congratulations to Brian Myers and Denise Barham-Hall, who absolutely starred by finishing 3rd in the Swiss Pairs in Northern Easter Congess at Harrogate on 8th April. That was out of 28 pairs!

Published 11/04/2023

Chairman’s Christmas Message, 2022

Dear All,
We have now been able to enjoy a full year’s bridge without the threat of any lockdowns. It has been a real pleasure to continue to meet friends and experience the joys of face to face bridge. It has been reassuring that members have continued to support the club and ensure that we remain viable when other clubs have had to close due to lack of players. Our social events were able to go ahead and were very well attended and appreciated by everyone. This social interaction is so
very important after the trials and tribulations of the last three years.
Many thanks to the Club Secretary, Treasurer, Team Captain, Webmaster, Scorers, Committee Members and all those who have helped to ensure the smooth running of the club. We are so dependent on willing volunteers.
I wish all members and their families a very happy Christmas and a successful and healthy New Year. We’ll meet again on the 29 th December.

Brian Myers, Chairman

Published 21/12/2022

EBU Master Point Promotions

Congratulations to Denise Barham-Hall who was recently promoted to the rank of National Master.

Published 21/12/2022

EBU Sim Pairs Prize Draw

At the recent EBU AGM the usual annual prize draw was made for all the clubs who have entered Sim Pairs events.
Bishop Auckland Bridge Club were one of the lucky recipients and we have won £200! This should certainly help club funds!

Published 08/12/2022

Annual Dinner Presentations

On 10 November 2022, at the annual dinner, prizes and trophees were presented to the winners of the 2022 competitions.

Anniversary Trophy
Mr Frank Bouweraerts & Ms Irina Hendrickx

Walker Bowl
Mrs Denise Barham-Hall & Mr John Portwood

Latner Trophy
Mr Frank Bouweraerts & Ms Irina Hendrickx

Carpenter Trophy
Mrs Audrey Bainbridge & Mr Brian Myers

Master Points Trophy
Mr Brian Myers

Godfrey Award
Mr Keith Richardson

Winners on the evening of the annual dinner
Mrs Audrey Bainbridge & Mr Brian Myers

Published 12/11/2022

NEBA Congress Result - Swiss Teams

On Sunday 6th November 2022, a Bishop Auckland team consisting of Denise Barham-Hall, Audrey Bainbridge, John Dobson and Brian Myers, played in the Swiss Teams event part of the NEBA Congress.
In an excellent performance they finished second overall.

Also a big thank you to David Thompson for the event organisation and to John Portwood for acting as one of the directors on all days of the congress. 

Published 06/11/2022

EBU Master Points Promotions

Congratulations to John Dobson who has recently achieved the rank of Premier National Master. Well done John!

Published 17/10/2022

The Winners of Club events for the year 2022/23 were presented with their trophies at the Annual Dinner on 9th November.

Winners:

Latner Trophy - David Thompson & John Gray

Carpenter Cup & Anniversary Trophy - Denise Barham Hall & John Bernard Portwood

Walker Bowl - Ann Squires & Alison Young (in absence)

Master Points Trophy - Audrey Bainbridge

Godfrey Award - Frank Bouweraerts & Irina Hendrickx

CHAIRMAN AND CAPTAIN ACHIEVE OUTSTANDING RESULT
On Sunday 25th September and against a field of 72 top regional and national pairs, Club Chairman Brian Myers partnered by Club Captain Denise Barham-Hall finished in fourth position in the Cumberland and Westmorland Green Point Swiss Pairs Congress. 
Their very creditable score of 93 victory points represented 66.5% of the maximum available. 
Congratulations go to them both on an outstanding performance.

Published 26/09/2022

Walker Bowl, 2022

Many congratulations to John Portwood and Denise Barham-Hall who won the Walker Bowl with a score of 62.70%.

Published 23/09/2022

Audrey and John win NEBA Swiss Pairs

Congratulations to Audrey Bainbridge and John Dobson upon winning the NEBA Swiss Pairs held at Durham Bridge Club on the 15th September 2022.

An excellent result - well done!

Published 19/09/2022

TABLE MONEY INCREASE

We have regrettably had to increase the table money to £4 per session for members

(£4.50 for non-members), applicable from Thu 7th July 2022.

Published 02/07/2022

An urgent message to all our members.

For many years now our weekly rent for the Golf Club has been a very reasonable £30. However, understandably, the Golf Club has incurred rising costs in electricity, heating and staff wages. As a result they have raised our rent to £50 per week, which will severely impinge on our finances. Peter has had a productive meeting with Ian Forster at the Golf Club and explained our financial situation and our reduced membership after Covid. They appreciate our problem and have agreed to £40 per week, to be reviewed after 6 months. This is a reasonable compromise and we can continue to meet for the foreseeable future. However, if we are to survive as a club in the long run we need to ensure that our weekly turnout can cover our costs. I appreciate that members have a variety of other commitments but please try and attend if you possibly can – we need numbers at the table if we are to continue as a club. If your partner can’t make it then rather than not come at all please contact our Secretary, John Gray, who will circulate your need for a partner. At the same time encourage relatives, friends, acquaintances and past members to come and enjoy this wonderful game. New and returning members will be more than welcome.

It would be a great shame if our club cannot survive. We have existed now for 47 years and all of us have made so many friends over the years and enjoyed the conviviality of each other’s company, experiencing the satisfaction of playing the game we love.

PLEASE HELP! Rally round and contrive to keep the Club viable. Your support is vital!

Brian

LATNER TROPHY 2022
Congratulations to Frank Bouweraerts and Irina Hendrickx who comfortably won the LATNER TROPHY 2022 by a 7% margin.

Congratulations to Dave Thompson who has recently been promoted to the rank of Premier National Master.

AUDREY & BRIAN SUCCESSFUL

The CARPENTER TROPHY 2022 has been won by Audrey Bainbridge and Brian Myers with an average score of 56.92%, counting the 4 best results out of 6. 
The full listing of final places may be accesssed from the main menu  'Competitions/Current'  -  'Carpenter Trophy 2022'.

FRANK & IRINA SUCCESSFUL
Congratulations go to Frank Bouweraerts and Irina Hendrickx who in a closely fought competition for the first three places won the ANNIVERSARY TROPHY 2022.

(See Results Page for details)

MEMBERS' MASTERPOINT RANKS
to 31st December 2021 Now Published