AVON League 1 was won by Graham Hartley’s team (Tim Brierley, Trevor Ward, Rob Lawy, Mike Elliott & Suzy Lawson).

League 2 was won by Marguerite Lihou’s team following a dramatic last match victory (Oli Espitalier-Noel, Vanessa O’Callaghan, John Brandon-Joyce, Deborah Ogilvie & Carol Gregg).

The Bristol team of Tim Brierley, Graham Hartley, Chris Dixon & David Jones has reached the semi-final of the National Inter-Club Knock Out teams.

Bristol Bridge Club came 3rd in the Garden Cities National Final. The team comprised Trevor Ward & Peter Shelley, Robert Covill & Steve Turner, Graham Hartley & Rob Lawy, Andrew Urbanski & David Jones.

Tim Brierley & Graham Hartley came 4th in the Corwen Trophy (English Inter-County Pairs).

Rob Lawy (in partnership with Andrew Thompson) came 3rd in the Swiss Pairs and Mike Short & Gareth Evans were 2nd in the Swiss Teams at the Torquay summer event held at the Riviera Centre.

Avon has selected its team for the Tollemache Cup which is as follows: Tim Brierley & Graham Hartley; Trevor Ward & Peter Shelley; Chris Dixon & David Jones; Robert Covill & Steve Turner; Mike Huggins & Rob Lawy with Mike Letts as non-playing captain.

Website: www.avoncba.org.uk

AFTER a long absence, Cambs and Hunts has won the ‘A’ final of the National Inter-County League. The team had an overwhelming victory dropping only 6 VPs in three matches.

Across the ocean, Paul and Isaac Barden had outstanding results in the ACBL Summer Congress.

Website: www.cambsbridge.org

THE annual Charity Pairs, played simultaneously at six clubs in the county, was won by Ken Keast & Bill Adams (Penventon). Runners-up were Mary Hopwood & Fiona Hargreaves (Bude) with Rod Bell & Richard Draycott (Helston) third. Some £737 was raised and donated to Cornwall Air Ambulance.

Playing in the finals of the Inter-County League, the C team finished third beating Yorkshire 13-7 and Hertfordshire 11-9, but losing heavily to Gloucestershire. It was an excellent overall performance against opposition with much higher rankings.

With the average age of county committee members being nearer 80 than 70, we desperately need some new young blood (fifties or sixties!) to come forward at the AGM in early October.

Diary dates: 8 Oct, Clarke Winmill Mixed Pairs/AGM, Ladock. 22 Oct, Mixed Teams of Four, Ladock. 5 Nov, County Swiss Teams, Queen’s Hotel, Penzance. 19 Nov, Bodmin Swiss Pairs, Lanhydrock Golf Club.

Website: www.bridgewebs.com/cornwall

WINNERS of the DCBA Smedley Salver were Mary & David Marshall; 2nd were Amanda & John Sowter, 3rd were Ron McEwan & Stephen Lally.

The Midland Improvers will take place on 25th November. The event is for players with less than five years continual experience, less than 5,000 masterpoints and an NGS grade below 9.

Details of all events scheduled by our county association can be found at https://www.bridgewebs.com/derbyshire. This website also contains links to websites for all affiliated clubs, so if you are looking to play bridge in Derbyshire please visit our website You can also contact the DCBA secretary if you are interested in participating in any of our events – jimparker@totalise.co.uk.

Website: www.bridgewebs.com/derbyshire

AT the AGM Geoff Clements was elected as Chairman and Ruth Edmondson as Treasurer. No Vice-Chairman was elected. Terence Treeby stood down as Secretary after 14 years and a replacement has not yet been found. The teams event following the AGM was won by Terence Treeby, Geoff Clements, Dave Strawbridge and Mike Walsh.

The Palace Hotel Torquay is closing at the end of July 2017. As a consequence the Devon Congress in April 2018 will be transferring to the TLH Toorak Hotel. The Torquay Congress in November 2017, run by Torquay Bridge Club, will be transferring to the Grand Hotel.

Recent achievements by Devon players:

• Harry, Sally, Theo and Sam Anoyrkatis won the Swiss Teams at the EBU Riviera Congress;
• Alex Maddocks and Warner Solomon finished second in the Swiss Pairs at the EBU Riviera Congress;
• Ann Slee, Alison Pollok, Richard Lingham and Viv Mably came second in the Mid-Wales Swiss Teams Congress;
• Ann Slee, Richard Lingham, Robert Mabley & Viv Mably – 3rd in the Gloucestershire & Herefordshire Swiss Teams;
• Theo Anoyrkatis played for the U16 England team for the European Youth Teams Championships in Slovakia in July (the team qualified for the next World Championships);
• Mike Orriel & Peter Bowles came 4th in the Dorset Swiss Pairs.

Diary dates: Entries close for Devon Teams on 8 Oct – two matches guaranteed at dates to suit the teams. Winter Pairs season starts at Newton Abbot on 3 Oct. Leagues start as usual in September or October. 8 Oct, South Hams charity Swiss teams. 21 Oct, Exeter BC Swiss pairs. 5 Nov, Swiss teams, Filleigh. 19 Nov, Heart Foundation Swiss teams. Full details of all events and results are on the website.

Website: www.devonbridge.co.uk

Congratulations to David Gill, Eugene Sheehan, Claire Hillyard & Richard Vessey on winning the inaugural Dorset KO Plate, defeating Kelly Courtney’s team in the final.

Congratulations to Miles Cowling, Mike Pownall, Rod Marks & Mark Hooper on finishing 4th in the Pachabo.

The Allendale team of Miles Cowling, Jeremy Dhondy, Janet Smith, Alan Wilson, Daphne Philipps, Phil Norman, Krzysztof Ginda & Mark Hooper, representing Dorset, finished 5th in the national final. Krzysztof & Mark topped the cross-imp rankings.

EBU Torquay Congress:

Congratulations to Rod Marks, Alan Wilson and Janet Smith with team mate Stephen Turner who finished 4th in the Teams and to Rod Marks with partner Stephen Turner who finished 7th and Miles Cowling with partner David Jones who finished 9th in the Pairs.

Diary dates: 29 Oct, Flemmich Cup (Blue-Pointed Swiss Teams), Allendale Bridge Club, Wimborne. 7 Dec, Weymouth & Hardwick Cups (Multiple Teams), Dorchester Bridge Club.

Website: www.bridgewebs.com/dorset

ESSEX Competitions

Congratulations to:

George Curtis

1st, Winnie Godber, Anne Catchpole, Rick Hanley, Graham Beeton; 2nd, Richard Register, Robert Elliott, Ian Moss, Peter Oake.

Warboys

Heat 1 – 1st, Alaric Cundy & John Sutcliffe; 2nd, Ted Cockle & John Williams.

Heat 2 – 1st, Peter Franklin & Frank Morrison; 2nd, Dennis Valtisiaris & John Sutcliffe.

Summer Seniors

1st, Marc Chawner & Paul Spencer; 2nd, David Piper & Ray Clarke.

Congresses and National Events

Beds & Bucks Swiss Teams

5th, John Sutcliffe, Sandy Smith, Martin Smith, Sandy Riach.

London Congress Swiss Teams

6th, Pat Johnson, Peter Scotting, Albert Kitchin, Theo Todman.

Herts & Essex Swiss Pairs

1st, Tony Verran & Brian Gladman (Surrey)

Swiss Teams

4th, Richard Register, Robert Elliott, Peter Franklin & Frank Morrison.

EBED Spring Pairs SIMs

3rd, Marc Chawner & Paul Spencer.

British Summer Pairs SIMs

7th, Bernie Hunt & Sheena Millins.

Eastern Counties League

v Cambs & Hunts: A team lost 4-16, B team lost 9-11, C
team lost 0-20.

v Northants: A team lost 8-12, B team won 16-4, C team
lost 7-13.

Diary dates: 25 Oct, Autumn Seniors. 29 Oct, Fletcher & Cup for Clubs. 12 Nov, Sue Taylor Memorial Teams. 10 Dec, Mixed Pairs.

Website: www.essexbridge.co.uk

OUR county first and third teams won their respective divisions in the Midlands County League, and so went forward to the National Inter-County League Final in July, where our third did us proud by coming first equal, deprived of the trophy only by a split tie.

Our annual green point weekend, held jointly with Herefordshire, was a great success, and the committee is to be congratulated – we received several compliments on the smooth organisation. Of course this is also partly down to our TD, the wonderful Sarah Amos, and her assistants. Unusually, we had more tables of pairs than teams this year. The pairs was won by Paul Smith & George Richardson from Herefordshire, whilst the teams was won by Rob Cliffe (London) & Trevor Ward, Colin Juneman & Roger Sweet, from Somerset and Avon.

We are expanding our inter-county bridge with a friendly match against Avon, a neighbouring county who we don’t see in our Midlands Counties League.

We are working towards creating some regular bridge for schoolchildren, based initially at Cheltenham Bridge Club. It will be focus on Minibridge and our intention is to build up to a County Youth Bridge team. Challenges from other counties will be welcomed in due course. If you would like to find out more about bridge opportunities for your children or grandchildren, email youth@gcba.org.uk.

Our chief tournament director has invited all the county’s clubs to sessions across the county on the new laws.

Website: www.bridgewebs.com/gloucestershire

EASTBOURNE Summer Seniors Swiss Teams: 2nd, Helen & Chris Kinloch; 4th, Sula Turpin & Ann McMahon.

Oxford GP Swiss Pairs

3rd= Adrian Fontes & Michael Gwilliam.

Diary dates: 15 Oct, Mixed/Married Pairs. 12 Nov, Jubilee Cup Teams of Eight. 3 Dec, Wessex/Bloxham BP Swiss Teams. 17 Dec, Yuletide Swiss Teams. All above events at Romsey starting at 2pm. Entries via HIOW website. 21 Oct, Petersfield BP Swiss Teams. Entries via Petersfield Bridge Club website. 30 Oct-3 Nov, Simple System Sim Pairs at local clubs. 4-8 Dec, Chidwick Cup Sim Pairs at local clubs.

Website: www.bridgewebs.com/hiwcba

THE Sussex one day green-pointed Swiss Teams in July was won by Konrad Mau playing with Neeraj Tanna (Middx), Richard Creamer and Mike Bull (London).

Kent players had some success at the EBU’s Summer Congress in Eastbourne. Jeremy Willans & Jill Skinner won the Mixed Pivot Teams midweek playing with Chris Jepson & Neil Watts( Sussex). Norman Selway & Kay Preddy were second in the ‘B’ final of the Swiss Teams playing with John Cox (Surrey) & Peter Taylor (London). Friday night’s Speedball pairs was won by Bob Lewis & Ricky Turrell, Sue Parkins & Mark Wiggins were third.

Diary Dates: 28-29 Oct, KCBA Blue-Pointed Congress – Saturday Swiss pairs, Sunday Swiss teams, TWBC 11am both days; 14 Jan, Fleming Femina/Hunter Homines (ladies and men’s pairs), TWBC 11am. Please see www.kcba.org.uk for up to date results, news of events and entry forms.

Website: www.kcba.org.uk

LANCASHIRE finished third out of six teams in the President’s Cup behind Manchester and Yorkshire.

In Round 1 of the Northern Bridge League, Lancashire A finished third out of six teams, Lancashire B fourth out of eight teams and Lancashire C second out of seven teams.

Congratulations go to Marianne Farr & John Morrell on winning the Michelle Brunner Pivot Teams at Manchester Bridge Club with Peter Jones & Jim Luck.

At the Eastbourne Summer Seniors Congress, Nick & Sue Woodcock were runners-up in the Swiss Pairs playing with Chris & Helen Kinloch.

The LCBA teams of Four Plate has been won by Andrew Petrie’s team (Andy Holborn, Andrew Lum & David Costich) which beat Mike Tomlinson’s team by 23 IMPs.

Jeff & Ann Wilkins, Mike Tomlinson & Linda Smith were third in the Open Teams at Scarborough and Stuart Clark, Sue Woodcock, Susan Fjortoft & Nick Woodcock were fourth.

Diary dates: 7 Oct, Northern Bridge League, Round 4; 15 Oct, Chester Bowl, Deva Bridge Club; 20-22 Oct, EBU Autumn Congress, Reading; 28 Oct, LCBA Congress Pairs, Brierfield Bridge Club; 29 Oct, LCBA Congress Teams, Bolton Bridge Club; 3-5 Nov, EBU Seniors Congress, Reading; 12 Nov, Pendle Witch Pairs, Brierfield Bridge Club; 18-19 Nov, Tollemache Qualifier, Solihull; 19 Nov, Foundation Cup Swiss Teams, Blackburn Bridge Club; 3 Dec, Lytham Rose Bowl, Lytham Bridge Club.

Website: www.bridgewebs.com/lancs

CONGRATULATIONS to Ben Norton who was a member of the English Under 21 team which finished in 3rd place in the European Youth Championships.

The Samani Salver (the summer knockout – aggregate scored handicap teams of four competition)

- The semi-finals will be Golf v Bradgate A and Westcotes A v Glenfield A

In the Samani Plate (for 1st round losers)

- The semi-finals will be Grantham B1 v County A and Bradgate C (Red) v Bradgate B2

Diary dates: 8 Oct, Midland League vs Gloucestershire (Away). 11 Oct, Otto & Edith Mixed Pairs (County Club). 25 Oct, Stanley Trophy Round 2 (Glenfield|). 8 Nov, Leicestershire Cup Round 1 (Glenfield). 12 Nov, Midland League vs Nottinghamshire (Away). 18-19 Nov, Tollemache Qualifier. 22 Nov, Stanley Trophy Round 3 (Glenfield). 6 Dec, Josephs Bowl Round 1 (Rothley). 10 Dec, Midland League vs Staffs & Shropshire (Greenfields)

Website: www.bridgewebs.com/leicestershire

AT the recent AGM, the Waitrose Trophy for the highest percentage score achieved in any affiliated club during the year was won by Andy Lewis & Phil Harland with a score of 77.34% achieved at Scunthorpe Bridge Club. They are shown receiving the Trophy from Jane Adams, the Manager of Waitrose Lincoln.

The 2016-17 season was completed with the League title being won by the team of Mo Parsons, Maurice Ladlow, Debbie Burton, John Gaunt and Dennis Mellor. The top three teams were separated by just 3 VPs. The Lincoln Gold knockout was won by Brian Smith, Ron Wall, Al Brown and Andy King.

The 2017-18 season calendar is now on the county website and all members are encouraged to schedule these in the diaries and support where they can.

Finally, Horncastle Grammar School came 5th in the recent Harry Scully Schools Bridge Swiss Teams event, out of 23 competing teams.

Website: www.lincsbridge.org.uk

MANY congratulations to the team including Alexander Hydes, Maruša Baša and Sarah Bell who won the Mixed BAM Teams at the ACBL Summer Nationals in Toronto. Also to David Gold & Mike Bell who made it all the way to the semi-finals of the Spingold in Toronto, where they lost narrowly to the Lavazza team.

Other successes came at the Riviera Congress in Torquay where Shahzaad Natt & Stefano Tommasini won the Swiss Pairs. Shahzaad was also third in the Swiss Teams along with Niall Igoe. At the Scarborough Summer Congress it was the women who shone – Rowena Clow & Claire Robinson won the Pre-Congress Pairs, Claire was also second in the Main teams final, and Rowena, Kath Stynes and Hannah Cornfield were third in the Open Teams.

The last ever London Trophy Finals were held in early June. The Trophy was won by CMS Alumni (Mark Nichols (captain), Pamela Reiss, Arthur Dyson, Roy Griggs, David
Reuben), the runners-up being MCC (Russell Tenzer (captain), Gary Diamond, Harvey Laurance, Nigel Clayton).

The Della-Porta Plate was won by Sunningdale GC (Peter Comber (captain), Tom Boardman, Robert Buxton and Mark Davies) with runners-up Coolhurst 2 (Sandie Grant (captain), Ian Kaye, Jeff Lewis, Ken Kentea).

The Duckworth team (Chris Duckworth, Brian Callaghan, Ian Payn, Frank To) won the London Teams of Four Play-off for the Ian Gardiner Trophy against the Pemberton team (John Pemberton, Steve Popham, Trevor Mathews, Richard Creamer), clocking up a fourth consecutive win in this event.

At the London Congress in July the leading positions in the Swiss Pairs were 1st, David Arundel & Andrew Bannock; 2nd, Mike Bell & Sarah Bell; 3rd, Derek Oram & Celia Oram.

In the Swiss Teams at the Congress the leading three teams were 1st, Claire Robinson, Martin W Jones, Kiril Delev, Nick Boss; 2nd, David Kendrick, Paul Lamford, Andy Bowles, Shireen Mohandes; and 3rd, Simon Cope, Allison Green, Peter Crouch, Jeremy Crouch.

Diary dates: 15 Oct, The Men’s and Women’s IMP Pairs, YCBC, at 2pm. 3 Dec, The Palmer Bayer No Fear Pairs, YCBC, 2pm. All enquiries and entries to lmbaentries@gmail.com.

Website: www.metrobridge.weebly.com

PACHABO

Manchester finished runners up to Kent in this event held between champion teams from 29 counties. Kent finished just ahead of the Manchester team of Andrew Woodcock, Catherine Draper, John Hassett & Jeff Morris, with the result hinging on the last board. In the last four years Manchester have finished 2nd, 1st, 2nd and 2nd.

President’s Cup

The Inter County teams of eight weekend took place at Manchester Bridge Club in mid-July. Manchester (David Barton, John Holland, Robert Myers, Alec Smalley, Tom Slater, Royce Alexander, Jeff Morris, John Hassett, Leslie Klein, Kath and Alan Nelson) won ahead of Yorkshire.

National League Final

Congratulations to the B team of Eve Lighthill & Ken Hassell, Robert & Joyce Jones, Gillian McMullan & Neil Thomas, Peter Foster & John Roberts who won the B division. In the A division Alan Mould & Michael Newman, Alec Smalley & Tom Slater, Kath & Alan Nelson, Bernard & Rhona Goldenfield were second to an unstoppable Cambridge team that scored 54 out of a possible 60 victory points.

Gold Cup

Three teams containing Manchester players have reached the last eight – Edward Levy, David Debbage, Jeff Morris and John Hassett now play the Allfrey team containing top players Tony Forrester, Andrew,Robson and Mike Bell for a place in the semi-final. Paul, Jason and Justin Hackett have also qualified as part of the Mossop team and Michael Byrne and Alan Mould are part of the Kieran Dyke team.

Michelle Brunner Memorial Event

The annual charity Mixed Pivot Teams event was held at Manchester Bridge Club on 21 July. Over £2,000 was raised for Christies Hospital and St Ann’s Hospice. Some 21 teams took part with John Morrell, Jim Luck, Peter Jones and Marianne Farr winning ahead of Kevin and Celia Comrie, Bernard and Rhona Goldenfield. The intermediate winners were Graham Winn, Susan Triggs, Diana Calvert and Hazel Powell.

Manchester One Day Green Point Teams

The Green Point Swiss Teams was held at Altrincham on 23 July. Winners were John Holland, Gillian Whyte, Pat Burrows and Pauline Lang. Second were Alan Mould, Michael Newman, Toby Nonnenmacher and Raymond Semp.

Summer Intermediate Pairs

Well done to Andrea Mills and David Welsh who won this 26 pair event in mid-June by over four per cent.

Castle Swiss Pairs

Congratulations to Neil Thomas and Gillian McMullan who won this mid-June event for the second time in three years.

MCBA Green Point Swiss Teams

Congratulations to Kath Nelson & Jeff Morris,Alan Nelson & Jeff Smith who won this July event by the huge margin of 22 VPs which is especially notable as Kath & Jeff are not a regular partnership.

Three Manchester University students, Henry Bissell, Rocky Bullin and Joshua Clarke successfully completed the EBU Club Tournament Directors Course – two obtaining distinctions.

Diary dates: 5 Nov, Manchester Intermediate Pairs, St Peters Assembly Rooms, Hale, 1.30pm. Entries to Barbara Lewis babsandalec@dsl.pipex.com. 3 Dec, Ben Franks Pairs, Manchester Bridge Club, 1.30pm. 17 Dec, Santa Claus Pairs, Manchester Bridge Club, 2pm.

Website: www.manchesterbridge.org.uk

A FANTASTIC recent result from Tracy Capal and her partner David Sherman who finished runners-up in the EBL Cup at the EuropeanOpen Championships.

The team of Liz Commins, David Stevenson, Paddy Murphy and Chris Pope, plus Barry Jones who was unavailable for the final, won the Welsh Bridge Union Mixed teams event – the Cambria Cup. A great win, well done.

The Jim Davies Swiss teams was won by Barry Jones, Stuart Matthews, Geoff Toon and Mark Weeks.

The County Ladies pairs for the Preece Rosebowl was won by Margaret Barnes and Sheila Shea.

Congratulations to Liz Commins and David Stevenson who were one half of the team that won the teams event at the Oxford Congress.

In the Liverpool BC open teams, Paddy Murphy, Tracy Capal, Liz Commins and David Stevenson won on a spilt tie from Peter Hall, Barry Jones, Danny Miller and Bob Pitts

This year the Bill Hughes Simultaneous Pairs, which is organised by David Stevenson, reached the impressive total of 1,013 pairs competing at 66 clubs in 16 different countries.

Diary dates: 8 Oct, North Wales Pairs (Northop). 15 Oct, Chester Bowl (charity pairs) Deva BC. 5 Nov, Merseyside Cup. 25-26 Nov, Llangollen Swiss teams. 3 Dec, Waterworth Cup (county pairs). 27-28 Jan, Chester Congress, Deva BC.

Website: www.mcba.org.uk

THE 2017 NEBA Congress is again to be held in the splendid bridge facility at the Marriott Metro-Centre Hotel from 3-5 November 2017.

Events on all three days will be green pointed (Friday Open Pairs, Saturday Swiss Pairs and Sunday Swiss Teams).

Darlington Bridge Club has appointed Christine Simmons as the Club’s new Secretary.

In an exciting encounter, the Summer Pairs Final held in June was won by the South Shields pairing of Jacqui Taylor & Geoff Parker, with John Gladders & Liz Muir coming 2nd, and Jenny Grist & David Rossiter third.

The Northern Open Pairs held in July proved to be a close contest with success for the Bishop Auckland pairing of Audrey Bainbridge & Denise Barham-Hall. Second place went to Charlie Singh & Pauline Boardman just ahead of Marion Curran & Margaret McCabe.

The Annual Match v East of Scotland saw NEBA lose the ‘A Team’ match but come through comfortably in the ‘B Team’ contest. Congratulations go to all successful players.

Website: www.neba.co.uk

NORTHANTS finished the Pachabo Cup in seventh place. The team comprised Trevor Thrower, Marcus Witt, Tony Hough and Tim Durdin.

Diary dates: 17 Oct, Nationwide Trophy (pairs), Kettering bridge club. 29 Oct, Lakeland and Kettering Teams Trophy.

Website: www.bridgewebs.com/northants

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE players have a lot to celebrate.

Congratulations to Notts member Hanna Tuus, from Nottingham University Bridge Club (recently resurrected in the past year with support from NCBA & NBC) who was selected to play for the England Under 26 Women’s team which came third in the European Youth Championships. Fantastic news.

Nottingham Bridge Club were runners up out of eight finalists, in the Garden Cities final at Solihull in June. Nottingham was represented by Nottingham Gambit (Geoff Topol & Robin Fisher, Irene & John Auld, David Hodge & Mark Goddard, Rob Sharpe & Graham Kirby). This is the EBU event open to the club teams of eight champions from every county and the result is Nottinghamshire’s best ever.

The Leicestershire Green Point event in June was comfortably won by William Crook & Ankush Khandelwal. They scored 111 VPs and won all seven matches. Other Notts pairs to do well were Ant Pettengell & Toni Smith (tie 12) despite turning up an hour late and missing the first match! Also Gordon Fullerton & Graham Brindley (17th)

The Nottinghamshire Green Point Weekend pairs event was won by Graham Kirby & Ankush Khandelwal (pictured below). The teams event was won by John & Irene Auld, Keith Rodgers and Lloyd Eagling. Winners of the Swiss Teams were the Notts team of Keith Rodgers, Lloyd Eagling, Irene & John Auld who scored a fantastic 99 VPs from seven matches.

Other Notts teams to do well were Gordon Fullerton, Shirley Ashtari, Ian Dovey & Dick Milne who came 5th, and Dave Cobley, John Black, Mike Nailard & Ian Nicholson, who were 6th, and were playing in their first EBU competition. Well done guys.

The Midlands Improvers Pairs will take place on 25 Nov. It is a competition for people with an NGS of 8 or below who have been playing bridge at club level for less than five years. There are two venues – Solihull West Midlands and Spondon in Derbyshire. This is actually very close to Nottingham, just off the A52, and is an excellent venue with good parking. This is a good event to try out your competitive skills in a friendly event without fear of being crucified. Do come along. Contact details are: warwickshirebridge.co.uk/MiP, MiP@warwickshirebridge.co.uk

Website: www.bridgewebs.com/nottinghamshire

THE Oxfordshire Congress was another great success. Winners of the Swiss Pairs were Andrew Whittome & Graham Pollack. The Swiss Teams was won by Liz Commins, David Stevenson and Dee & Peter Lindon. Mo & Andy Hill won the Sandra Landy Trophy.

At the EBU Summer Seniors Congress, Paula Hopkinson & David Patterson were 2nd in the Championship Pairs A Final.

Chris Cooper’s team were 2nd in the Swiss Teams at the EBU English Riviera Congress.

Well done to Henry Rose, who was selected to play in the England Under 16s team at the European Youth Team Championships. The team did well to finish 4th in their category for the second time running.

Website: www.oxfordshirebridge.co.uk

The SCBA AGM was held in mid-June followed by a Swiss teams event of 16 teams. The winning team members were Rachel Panting, Cyndi Harris, Michael Toft and Ray Walder. Minutes of the AGM are available on the SCBA website.

In the National League Finals at Coventry in July, Somerset won the Western League A Division and were represented in the final by Eric Cummings, Gillian Toogood, Colin Flood, Sheila Coda, Richard Feetenby, Julian Brown, Steve Tomlinson and Ralph Smith. Somerset won two of their three matches beating Gloucester and Manchester.

Congratulations also to the following Somerset teams:

• Roger Sweet & Colin Juneman together with Rob Cliffe & Trevor Ward won the GCBA & HBA Swiss teams in July.
• Alan & Jette Bailey, Ceri Pierce & Eric Cummings won the Berks & Bucks Swiss Teams in June.
• Andy Ridgers, Sheena Lanham, Glyn Meredith & Wendy Miller finished 2nd in the Dorset Swiss Teams in June.
• The winners of the Barometer pairs held at the end of July were Roger Sweet & Ian Walsh. The runners up were Sheena Lanham & Andy Ridgers.

Diary dates: 6 Dec, Andrew Robson seminar, Webbington Hotel. Full details of the event can be found on the SCBA website.

Website: www.bridgewebs.com/somerset

Eight clubs took part in the SSCBA sim pairs in mid-August with a total of 94 pairs. Winners were Geoff Davies & Graham Link playing at Stafford, 2nd, Deirdre Newsome & Michael Seavers also playing at Stafford and third Mike Cornes & Annette Lucas playing at Newport.

County Chairman, Linda Curtis, together with Jeff Jones, Val Lupton and Jayne Ball visited Adams’ Grammar school in Newport at the end of the summer term for a bridge activity day. Sixty students took part, forty of whom had not played bridge before. Students were divided into three classrooms and the experience was noisy, exhausting but very worthwhile. The school runs lunch time and after school bridge clubs.

Diary dates: 23 Nov, Andrew Robson seminar, The Stone House Hotel, ST15 0BQ. The afternoon session will be suit establishment in trump contracts, take-out doubles and showing your share. The evening session will be: after 1NT opener, bidding big hands, cheat seat. Contact Kath Adams 01785 748941 / kathadams28@hotmail.co.uk.

Website: www.staffsandshrops.org.uk

IT WAS déjà vu at the Mixed Pairs event in June. Jane & Andrew Moore were the overall winners and retained the Ringer Cup and John Gan & May Li won the Lang Cup which goes to the top married pair who are not overall winners. A carbon copy of 2016. Eric Newman & Basia Malinowska came second and Michael O’Reilly & Patsi Barnes came third.

Suffolk Senior Pairs

Congratulations to Dinesh Gudka and Cathy Rowland who won Senior pairs in mid-July, putting new names on the trophy. Fifth-placed Paul and Christine Rickard took the Veterans’ prize. Barry McLoughlin & Trish McLoughlin came second, with Andrew Moore & Jane Moore in third place.

Eastern Counties League

The 2017-18 Eastern Counties League season – under new captain Rick Hanley – began away to Bedfordshire. Suffolk improved on last year’s encounter, winning two of the three matches: the ‘A’ team were defeated but both the ‘B’ and the ‘C’ teams won. The second match of the new season was v Hertfordshire. Suffolk emerged with a ‘half point’ from the encounter; the ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams lost, but the C team drew.

Diary dates: 15 Oct, Club Teams of Four, Colchester, 2pm. 12 Nov, Club Teams-of-Eight Championship, Colchester, 2pm. 3 Dec, Suffolk Championship Teams, Nayland Village Hall, 2pm.

Website: www.suffolkbridge.co.uk

ANNE & Nick Woosnam continued their successful county season by following their victory in the County Mixed pairs by emerging triumphant in the recent Senior Pairs Championship – well done.

Congratulations to our rising stars Liz Gahan and Andy Cope for their part in taking England’s U16s to 4th place in the Junior European Championships in Slovakia, thus qualifying for next year’s World Junior Championships in China.

The Shakespeare Swiss teams was won by Michael Gammon, Barbara Roberts, David and Valerie Ivens.

Diary dates: 25 Nov, Midland Improvers Pairs at West Midlands BC. Entries to Judith Currie at MiP@warwickshirebridge.co.uk. More information at www.warwickshirebridge.co.uk/MiP

Website: www.warwickshirebridge.co.uk

WILD Wiltshire.

Greetings from our currently rather soggy county. Our bridge ticked over during the summer with the county knockout in full flow and success at Eastbourne where the Webb team (which included Gayle & Colin Webb) came third in the Seniors Teams. Well done.

Website: www.wcba.co.uk

OCTOBER is an exciting month for Worcestershire because we hold the Malvern Congress, sponsored by Wall James Chappell Solicitors, over the weekend of the 28-29 October. The No Fear section proved so popular last year that we are running two No Fear events this year – Pairs on the Saturday afternoon and Teams on the Saturday evening. Full details of the Congress can be found on the County website.

Also in October we have the Irene Allen Non-Expert Swiss Pairs on the 22nd and November sees the County Inter-Club Teams event, the Healey Cup, on the 19th. Worcester and Droitwich Bridge Clubs have now joined the Evesham, Ridgeway and Stourbridge clubs in running increasingly popular daytime sessions. Details are on their
websites.

Stewart Fishburne, Mike Willoughby, Ian Thompson and Simon Harrison finished joint leaders in the Midland Counties Bowl. Well done to Herefordshire, though, for winning on a split tie and thanks to Staffordshire and Shropshire for hosting a very enjoyable and well-run event.

In the main County competitions, Nick Forward and Steve Allerston are leading in the Phillipps Pairs Heats and Joyce Skelton and Ross Garratt are leaders in the Pairs Ladder. There are still a lot of heats to go and it’s not too late for members to join either or both of these competitions.

Website: www.bridgewebs.com/worcestershire

LEEDS-BASED Scotland international player Phil Morrison has been appointed the county’s Youth Officer.

YCBA organised a successful seminar featuring international player Michael Byrne, held at Leeds Bridge Club in mid-September targeted at improving club players, with an emphasis on card play.

The first round of the Yorkshire League 2017-18 will take place on 29 Oct. This season 85 teams have entered, four more than last year, and there will be ten divisions.

Congratulations to the following on their successes in recent international, national and county events:

• Daniel Winter (Bradford) was a member of the England Under 21 team that finished in third place at the European Youth Team Championships in Samorin, Slovakia.
• EBU Summer Seniors Congress: Heather Hobson & Roy Garthwaite won the Swiss Pairs.
• Yorkshire finished in second place in the President’s Cup competition. The Yorkshire team was Sandy Davies (captain), Dave Robinson, Tony McNiff, Bill Townsend, Phil Morrison, Nick Woolven, Alan Brosgill & Robin Jepson.
• John Gerrard Simultaneous Pairs: 1st, Roy Garthwaite & Heather Hobson (Huddersfield); 2nd, Ron Muse & Wendy Pye-Smith (Beauchief); 3rd, Martin Ott & Terry Read (Leeds); 4th, Sylvia Baty & David Oglesby (Olicana).
• Malton Cup: 1st, Richard Hilton, Pauline Cooper, David Lewis & Peter Franks; 2nd, David Waxman, Keith Cornish, Richard Pike & Tom Copeland.
• Peter Littlewood Trophy: 1st, Ian Johns & Geoff Newman;2nd, Roy Garthwaite & Heather Hobson; 3rd, Frank Littlewood & David Fletcher; 4th, Ian Martin & Gill Copeland.
• Waddington Cup final: 1st, Sheffield (Graham Jepson, David Fletcher, Mike Pomfrey & David Waxman); 2nd, Keighley (Stuart Davies, Carole Kelly, Mark Armitage & George Bak).
• Flitch: 1st, Shona & Jim Tate; 2nd, Mark & Louise Armitage; 3rd, Richard & Jennifer Ellis; 4th, Brian & Jenny Graham.
• Play without the Experts Swiss Pairs: 1st, Alan Harte & Alan Barnett; 2nd, Anne Rowan & Kathie Gill; 3rd equal, David Ambler & Leslie Winters and Iain Crockatt & Jason Levesley.
• EBU Scarborough Congress: Sarah Teshome & Richard Winter won the Swiss Pairs. Sandy Davies & Dave Robinson were fourth and Alan Hayward & Alan Jarvis were sixth. In the Championship Teams final, Tim Prior & Paul Brereton were in the second-placed team, and Phil Morrison, Alan Jarvis & Alan Hayward in the fifth-placed team.

Diary dates: 5 Nov, Ryedale Pairs (York). 26 Nov, YCBA Mixed Pivot Teams (Bradford) preceded by YCBA Members Meeting.

Website: www.ycba.co.uk