Essex bridge
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News from the Counties

 

 

Berks & Bucks

Swiss Pairs & Swiss Teams

Swiss Pairs: Saturday 31 October 2026 at 11am

Swiss Teams: Sunday 1 November 2026 at 11am

Follow the link for all the information & details of events

Berks and Bucks Contract Bridge Association, Berks & Bucks County

 

 

 

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Pages viewed in 2026
Welcome to Essex Contract Bridge Association
Next International Pairs Wednesday 11th November @ 7pm

  • The Champions: Patrick Murray & Chris Chorley set the benchmark, storming the field with a commanding 122.60 (58.38%) to take the top spot.

  • The Podium Finishers: Stuart Rance & Paul Hickson (119.60) and Steve Abbott & Gemma Fewster (118.00) kept the pressure on right to the end, rounding out a tight top three.

  • The Rest of the Pack: Solid mid-table sparring kept the room on its toes, while George & Maureen Vede fought valiantly at the opposite end of the room on 77.80.

A sharp, well-fought session all around!

 

The action returns on Wednesday,  11th November at 7:00 PM.

Congratulations to all participants! The next session is scheduled for Wednesday, 11th November 2026 at 7:00 PM on RealBridge. If you would like to join the action, please contact Marc Chawner at marc.chawner@aol.com to confirm eligibility and receive entry details.

Well done Everybody

If you would like to participate in some of the excitement - all you need do is contact ......

Marc Chawner at marc.chawner@aol.com

Marc will send you details for the next event on the 11th November 2026

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Tollemache Cup Qualifying Round 2026

Essex Squad Announced for the Tollemache Cup Qualifier

We are delighted to announce the talented squad representing Essex in the upcoming English Bridge Union (EBU) Tollemache Cup qualifier.

Our county will be fielding a strong and experienced lineup across the pairs:

  • Marc Chawner & Paul Spencer

  • Mark Josephs & Tony Verran

  • Ian Moss & Mike Graham

  • Bernie Hunt & Petra Bromfield

  • Brian Sharkey & Peter Richardson

  • Pat Johnson & Frances Foster

If you want to witness top-tier strategy, brilliant bidding, and world-class play at its finest, you won't want to miss a single trick. Grab a front-row seat to the action and cheer on our finest pairs as they represent Essex

The ECBA have made arrangements for you to be able to kibitz the Tollemache Cup qualifying matches - which According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the primary definition of the verb for kibitzing (kibitz) is: "To watch a card game or card player"

We'll be putting the link up here, there will be a 15 minute delay process because the games are live but that won't affect your viewing you will be able to view top class play, bidding & card play.

The Qualifying matches will take place over the weekend 7th/8th November - starting at 11am., and then advance to the finals in January 2027

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Essex Leagues 26/27

Shuffle Up and Deal: Essex Leagues 2026/27!

Hello Bridge Champions!

The three divisions are officially locked in and set, and Captains will be hearing from Gemma very soon! It’s time to rally your teams, clear those calendars, and get ready for a brilliant season of sharp strategy, great sportsmanship, and fantastic company at the tables.

  • Need a substitute? No problem at all! You can bring in a sub at any time - just as long as they haven't already suited up for another team.  Not quite sure? Gemma has your back, so feel free to check with her!

  • Relive the glory: Take a look back at the triumphs of the 25/27 season here.

💳 Match Fee Reminder

If you haven't settled your entry fee yet, the details are right here:

  • Fee: £20

  • Sort Code: 20-72-89

  • A/c No: 63373487

Let's make this our best season yet. Good luck to all teams!

 

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AGM Minutes 12th July 2026

For those of you who took part in the Essex Leagues - you'll be interested to read Gemma's final report - a much more exciting finish than we expected

ECBA AGM 120726 FINAL PDF.pdf

 

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Uppsala Series On-line

A Clean Sweep for Essex in the Uppsala Online League Opener! 

The new season kicked off in style on 22nd October, with Essex teams delivering an absolute masterclass across the board:

  • Division 2: Essex Saxons secured a hard-fought victory, edging past their opponents 10.75 – 9.25 VP.

  • Division 4: Essex Vikings dominated with a brilliant 14.08 – 5.92 VP win.

  • Division 5: Essex Celts put on a sensational clinic, storming to a phenomenal 20 – 0 VP whitewash!

To top it all off, every single Essex pair finished with a positive X-IMP score. Particular praise goes to Paddy Murray & Alan Cohen (Celts), who sensationalised the entire league by topping the overall X-IMP table with an incredible 2.68 X-IMP per board.

Special mention also goes to our other standout scorers:

  • Peter Oake & Colin Scott (Vikings) — 0.94 X-IMP per board

  • Gary Howchen & Paul Mollison (Celts) — 0.52 X-IMP per board

A massive well done to all our teams on a stellar start to the season!

 

Swedish Uppsala Availability Spreadsheet can be found here:     Swedish Spreadsheet Availability

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Essex County Matches

Essex County Matches Availability 2026-2027

 

 

 

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Essex County matches - end of year results
Congratulations to the Essex teams. The final table shows:

Division 1 Essex were clear winners having won every match with an average of 76%.

Division 2 Essex were 2nd behind Herts who won by more than a match.

Division 3 Essex were 4th, but showed considerable resilience after a poor start.

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Margaret Curtis International

The Essex Bridge Academy organises the fortnightly Essex International Pairs as part of its training and coaching portfolio.  The Academy was able to set-up these sessions without charging players because of a generous bequest from the late Margaret Curtis. Our International Pairs has proven to be a popular and challenging event and continues to be free to players who meet the admission criteria. Consequently, invitations to join our Wednesday evenings, and the session links, can only be issued by the organisers in Essex.

All current players continue to be welcomed. If you wish to invite other players, please email Marc (marc.chawner@aol.com) first to confirm eligibility. 

 

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Results
Essex International Pairs
RealBridge
Essex International Pairs
RealBridge
Essex International Pairs
RealBridge
ECL v. Herts (Away)
RealBridge
Calendar
Wed 11th Nov 2026
Essex International Pairs
RealBridge 7pm
Sun 22nd Nov 2026
J high Hub final
Barleylands 13,00
Sun 29th Nov 2026
ECL v. Suffolk (Home)
RealBridge 2pm
Sun 13th Dec 2026
ECL v. Bedfordshire (Away)
RealBridge 1pm