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SPECIAL EVENTS

On the 21st April, Stroud BC is running a Cafe bridge event , a charity event in support of Stroud Grace Network.  Details here.

On the 20th & 21st July, we have th enext Gloucestershire-Herefordshire Green Point weekend : details and entry forms can be found by clicking here.

LATEST NEWS/CHANGES

28 Mar 24 : latest newsletter (by Garry Watson) - Mar 2024.

14 Mar 2024 : draft minutes of the 4th March committee meeting (back to face-to-face)

21 jan 2024 : draft minutes of the 8th January committee meeting (back to face-to-face)

03 Oct 23 : draft of the AGM minutes are available

01 Aug 23 : programme for the new season is now published.   And an updated set of rules.

THE 2023 AGM : PRESIDENT'S REPORT - click here.      TREASURER'S REPORT - click here.     AGENDA FOR THE AGM - click here.

Click on this box to see the draw and the current status of the matches played.

Results from 2023 Results from 2022 results from 2021

County Leagues

2023-2024 LEAGUES

2022-2023 LEAGUES

 

Representation Management
The Representative Events Committee

Membership: Paul Denning (Chairman), Richard Butland, Val Constable & Roger Schofield.

 

                                                                                                                                   GCBA Selection Guideline

Purpose of GCBA Selection Guideline

This document sets out the competition results and other factors that are considered in selecting pairs and teams to represent the county, mainly in the Midland Counties League (MCL). It is intended to be a means of enabling county members to understand the selection process and their own suitability for selection.

Introduction

a) MCL results

The single best predictor of performance in a particular league i.e. the Dawes, Porter or Markham in a forthcoming MCL match is the performance of that pair over the previous 12 months within that league; this is because in each match you have played the same 32 boards against a particular set of 4 opposition pairs. Comparison with pairs in the other 2 leagues lacks this advantage but has the strength of increasing the number of scores and thus should reduce random variation. Historically, results in the Markham league may be more variable than in the Porter or Dawes divisions.

b) Other county team events and Cheltenham Club Pairs league (based on teams scoring)

The weakness of producing Butler imps for the county league, knockout and Swiss teams and the Cheltenham Club Pairs League is that the figures are not comparable as the opposition is different.  Nevertheless, the ranking and scores at the end of the season is useful. 

c)The National Grading System.

There are 3 advantages of the NGS:

  1. Its big advantage is that is based on a more substantial body of data than any other available.
  2. It provides data on all EBU recognised competitions nationally.
  3. It provides information on pairs from the whole of Gloucestershire, not just Cheltenham or county nights
  4.  NGS performance takes into account the (NGS) strength of the opposition.

The major disadvantage is that it is mainly match points rather than IMPs.

Some pairs perform better in local events where they know the opposition who are playing a familiar system than against pairs from outside the county who may be playing unfamiliar systems. Thus, the selection committee gives greater weight to good results outside the county than within the county. Pairs are welcome to report their successes to the Chairman of the Representative Events Committee (paul.denning@gcba.org.uk) and for posting on the GCBA website (results@GCBA.org.uk).

Objectives: Following discussion in both the Representative Events Committee and the GCBA Executive Committee, it is agreed that the primary aim is to select teams most likely to win the Dawes, Porter and Markham leagues.   

The REC may select a pair in which it sees potential in order to assist their long term development by providing experience of the level of competition involved. In practice, this latter situation does not commonly arise.

Tollemache Cup: Select the team most likely to qualify and to win the Final.

Selection Guideline

The selection committee takes into account:

  1. MCL – comparison within teams over the past 12 months (and also comparisons across teams).
  2. Past record.
  3. The selection of regular partnerships.
  4. Results in national events
  5. The National Grading System.
  6. Results in: a) County league

                        b) County K.O.

                        c) Cheltenham Club Pairs League

g) Squad Training and Practice

Historically, in the Midland Counties League, teams have been selected a month at a time to allow assessment to include performance in the previous match.  The committee does not consider it appropriate to reassess the ability of a pair based on a single performance in preference to large quantities of other available data.  It was decided to pick teams for the first three matches of the season and then to select the team for December after September`s match.  Selection for matches 2-3 months beforehand seems to have increased availability of players.

Appendix

The REC uses the relative scores within a team. The relative score derives the match score in a league by adding together the 4 Gloucestershire pairs` Butler IMP scores. A pair`s score is compared with 25% of this derived match score i.e. with the average score of our team in a particular division eg if you play well in a tough match but end up scoring -10 IMPs because teammates are not performing to their usual high standard (their match scores are: - 15, -35 and -40), then the teams total Butler IMPs is -100 IMPS, giving an average of -25 IMPs per pair. As you were only -10 IMPS, your relative score is + 15 IMPs (& your teammates are +10, -10 & -15 IMPs). Occasionally Butler Imps are not available. Half the X-IMP score is used.

The relative scores for a particular match are displayed on the GCBA website as “Rel scores for REC”. On the GCBA home page, find the “Results” column towards the right hand side and click on the match in which you are interested. 

Cumulative relative scores are also displayed. On the left hand side of the GCBA Home Page, left click on the Representative Events tab, then Midland Leagues followed by “Statistics” for the longer term average relative scores of each player.

Drafted by The Representative Events Committee   17 Oct. 2019  Approved by the GCBA EC 4.11.19

The REC Terms of Reference

                                                          

                                           Terms of Reference of the Representative Events Committee (REC)

Status: The REC is a committee established by the Gloucestershire County Bridge Association executive committee (GCBA EC). 

Structure: The Chairman is elected by the GCBA. The Chairman nominates 4-6 GCBA members for approval by the GCBA EC to sit on the REC. The Chairman shall have a casting as well as a deliberative vote. A minimum of 3 selectors is needed to form a quorum for any particular decision. For effective communication and functioning between the GCBA committee and the REC, the chair of the REC is an ex-officio member of the GCBA committee.

Authority: The REC is responsible for forming initiatives and policies on selection and training for representative events on behalf of the GCBA. Issues of concern to the GCBA executive committee that are within the REC`s remit will be referred to the REC for discussion. The REC will usually pass back those decisions/policies to the GCBA committee for approval or a request to reconsider.

Role and Responsibilities:

  1. to formulate policies on the principles of selection of county teams and to select teams/pairs based on those principles.

  1. to determine the criteria by which players will be selected and to publish those criteria

  1. the REC is responsible for the training of players that represent GCBA

  1. representing GCBA in the planning, organisation and successful management of inter-county events

Current Selection Policies

Tollemache Cup: Select the team most likely to qualify and to win the Final

Midland Counties League: The primary aim is to select teams most likely to win the Dawes, Porter and Markham leagues.   

The REC may select a pair in which it sees potential in order to assist their long-term development by providing experience of the level of competition involved. In practice, this situation does not commonly arise. Similar criteria apply to the Midland Counties Online League.

Midland Counties Bowl: To invite entries and select the 2 teams most likely to win the Bowl.

Edgar Foster Cups: To invite entries and select the 4 pairs most likely to win the Cups.

Friendly Inter-county Matches eg NGS 8-9: The aim is to provide inter-county experience to players with a wide range of abilities and experience in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere so that it is fun for all. We will agree with the opposing county in advance the standard expected of each team so that opposing players are likely to be of a similar ability which should therefore not be intimidating for less experienced players. These roles and selection policies will be reviewed as required.

Drafted by the REC 30.7.18                                           Amended by the GCBA EC   6.8.18

Amended by the REC 14.10.19                                     Approved by the GCBA EC 4.11.19

Amended by the REC 17.12.20                                      Amended by the GCBA EC 14.1.21