I am pleased to let you know about the 1^st ever Play Without the Experts Festival that will be run by Oliver Cowan Bridge Events as a part of the EBU's "Bridge - It's a big deal" program of events raising funds for Cancer Research UK. All bridge fees after expenses have been paid will be going to Cancer Research UK. This is event is open to all players with an NGS of 10 or below - if you don't know what that means then you can assume you are eligible! It is designed to be a relaxed break with a mix of seminars and duplicate bridge all while raising money for a great cause! 

We will be joined by England Ladies international Catherine Draper who will be leading a hand discussion on one of the days and professional players Jake Milne and Adam Hickman who will be leading seminars.

Click the title of this box for details how the Festival will run and prices. There is the option to be a part of the whole event or just drop in for individual sessions. The price for the hotel is per night and includes dinner, bed and breakfast, but there are other hotels in the area. 

On the Tuesday evening, the winners of the duplicate session will be awarded the David Page Trophy in memory of one of the regulars in the Tuesday night Oliver Cowan PWTE game. The Des King Trophy will also be awarded in the same game to the highest placed novice pairing (exact criteria to be confirmed).

I will be running zoom calls on Thursday 4th April at 10am and Thursday 11th April at 10am if you would like additional information on any part of the event and this is the link to join that zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86258032446?pwd=VEdHL0o2RHFoYzFxYmxDNjVtYmV4Zz09

Oliver

Please use this link for any FOBC Zoom seminar.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86258032446?pwd=VEdHL0o2RHFoYzFxYmxDNjVtYmV4Zz09

We are now taking entries for the FOBC Teams League & Pairs League which we will be aiming to start and play our 1st round of matches in early February.

If you are interested in playing in any/both of the above then please send a message giving your partners name (and who is the designated captain for the Teams and/or Pairs) to Oliver @ ocbridgecomps@gmail.com

If you need help finding a partner or team mates then please send a message to Carol McCue at: lcarolmc@gmail.com 

These Leagues are for MEMBERS ONLY OF FOBC and more details of the event and past results can be seen by selecting the FOBC FREE LEAGUE EVENTS tab, located on the the L/H side of the website

There are now SEVEN REGULAR DUPLICATE PAIRS EVENTS OPEN TO FOBC MEMBERS taking place on BBO every week as follows:

Sunday at 7.15pm - Friendly Online BC & LOP Pairs

Monday at 7.15pm - Friendly Online BC & Huddersfield Pairs

Tuesday at 7.15pm - Oliver Cowan PWTE (Play without experts)

Wednesday at 10.15am - Friendly Online BC Pairs with hand review & discussion afterwards on Zoom

Wednesday at 7.15pm - Oliver Cowan Pairs

Thursday at 7.15pm - Oliver Cowan Pairs

Friday at 7.15pm - Oliver Cowan Pairs

IF YOU SHOW AS BLOCKED FROM REGISTERING FOR ANY OF THESE GAMES, CALL OLIVER ON 07946 393033 AND HE WILL FIX IT

Guests & visitors are very welcome to compete. All we need is your BBO username, and EBU No. if you have one, in advance. Which should be emailed to; ocbridgecomps@gmail.com

There is an FOBC standby/Host System at all of our Duplicates, therefore you do not need a partner

You can refer to the FOBC Duplicate Section on this website for further details by following this link.... FOBC (DPS)

Congratulations go to the following FOBC members who have been promoted to a higher rank through the EBU master points scheme:

Kathleen Bishop, Ceri Bradley Jones, Peter Coombes, Peter Lithgo, Paul Tolley & Chris Tett, - have all been promoted to the rank of Local Master

Hilda Lowe, Lynne Hempstead & Phillip Webb - has been promoted to the rank of Club Master

Lynn Higgins - has been promoted to the rank of County Master

Steve Fanning - has been promoted to the rank of 1* Master

EBU master points can be earned by competing in any of the weekly FOBC duplicate events (except when these events are being used with themed pre-dealt hands for teaching purposes).

FOBC Duplicates are currently held every Sunday, Monday & Wednesday at 7.15pm and Wednesday at 10.45am

If you would like to become a member of the EBU through the FOBC (it is all free of charge), then please contact Elsie Hay via email: LCA_1_6_20@yahoo.com

To learn more about playing in the clubs duplicate events then follow the link below....

HOW TO ENTER FOBC DUPLICATE EVENTS

FOBC IS HERE TO STAY

Formed by a group of like-minded bridge enthusiasts located in the North West of England during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent 'lockdown', our members have continued to learn, play and enjoy their bridge every day since.

Now with the FOBC membership you too can continue to learn and play bridge whenever and wherever in the world you choose.

FOBC is definitely here to stay as it continues to grow at a much faster rate than the virus ever can and just like the virus itself: The FOBC bridge bug is very contageous: there are mutant formats and: it keeps on spreading and growing!!

So sit back in the comfort of your own surroundings, 'log on' and enjoy the experience.

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