Ted Latham
Premier Grand Master

We are very sad to announce that Ted Latham died yesterday, Tuesday 18th August.

Ted had been a member of Harrogate Bridge Club since the early 1970s and has served in many different capacities.  He has been a Club Director and also had a spell as Chairman of the Management Committee.  He taught bridge and started and ran the Wednesday evening sessions which were originally peopled entirely by members of his and Janet's classes.
Ted was club TD in the long-ago eras when there was no computer scoring or bridgemates and everything was taken home and hand scored.  He was also 1st team captain for many years.

He will be sadly missed.

Funeral details will be announced when available.

Upcoming Events

There's so much happening in the next couple of months and we don't want you to miss out.  Details can be found by scrolling down this page.

National Handicap Pairs Championship Sunday 6th September

We are running a heat of the National Handicapped Pairs Championship on Sunday 6th September. This is a follow on to the successful event last September and once again we intend to make it a social as well as a bridge event.

Play will commence at 1:30pm, so please arrive in advance at 1pm for a welcome tea or coffee.  We will have a mid-way refreshment break then play another session in the afternoon finishing at about 6pm.

The handicaps are based on NGS grades and are automatically administered by the EBU when we submit the results. It's entirely possible for an inexperienced pair to win nationally because of the handicap system, so people of every level are encouraged to enter and will be allowed plenty of time to complete each round.  Blue masterpoints are awarded for this event!

The entry fee is £8.  Entry is limited to 26 pairs. 

We look forward to seeing lots of you for what promises to be a sociable and enjoyable event!

Please complete a booking form for EACH person wishing to attend.

The Northern Midweek Congress 25th to 27th August 2026 @ The Cairn Hotel, Harrogate

Oliver Cowan is running the very popular and fun Great Northern Midweek Congress at the Cairn and is again looking for standby pairs for the Jack High Swiss Pairs on Tuesday the 25th in the afternoon and the Open Pairs in the evening. Also for the Swiss Pairs on Wednesday and Swiss Teams on the Thursday. If you don't get to play you will get a small payment for your time. If you want to be considered please get in touch with Rob Cave. Free blue and green points available!

The Northern Midweek Congress 25th to 27th August 2026 @ The Cairn Hotel, Harrogate

Run by Oliver Cowan in partnership with the EBU. Both Tuesday events are Blue Pointed. Wednesday and Thursday events are Green Pointed.

Tues 25th
13:30 to 18:00 - JACK-HIGH SWISS PAIRS 2 sessions with an afternoon tea break
19:30 to 22:30 - OPEN PAIRS
Weds 26th
12:30 to 15:30 - SWISS PAIRS (matches 1-3)
15:30 to 16:30 - Break
16:30 to 19:30 - SWISS PAIRS (matches 4-6)
Thurs 29th
11:00 to 13:00 - SWISS TEAMS (matches 1-2)
13:00 to 14:00 - Lunch Break
14:00 to 18:30 - SWISS TEAMS (matches 3-6) coffee break after match 4

For more details and entry fees click here.  Closing date for entries is Friday 22nd August 2025.

The EBU Great Northern Swiss Pairs 3rd & 4th October 2026 @ Village Hotel, Leeds North

Organised by the YCBA on behalf of the English Bridge Union. This is a national green point event.

The venue will be the Village Hotel, Headingley LS16 5PR.

For the main event flyer click here.

There will also be a Nine High Swiss Pairs on the Saturday, starting at 12.00 noon. Playing 25 boards, afternoon tea included.

For the flyer for the Nine High event click here. If after entering your NGS grade rises to 10 or higher it's OK.

Friday 9th October

VENUE : Oakdale Golf Club, Oakdale, Harrogate.  HG1 2LN

DATE : Friday 9th October

PROGRAMME :
10:00 - 10:30 Arrival & Tea/Coffee
10:30 - 12:30 Tuition play session led by Andrew
12:30 - 13:30 Lunch followed by Tea/Coffee
13:30 - 15:30 Tuition play session led by Andrew

COST : £42 to include lunch

To book the Harrogate session, priority will be given to Harrogate members, click here.

Andrew is also delivering seminars on COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TOPICS on Thursday 8th October for Wetherby Bridge Club (to be held at The Bridge Hotel, Walshford) and at York Bridge Club on Saturday 10th October.

Further details and to book Wetherby click here and for York click here.

Congratulations to the following members who have recently earned Master Point promotions.

* Denotes first time promotion

We would like to invite members to express their interest in playing for Harrogate in the forthcoming Yorkshire League season.  There are 7 divisions which cover all standards from beginners to the very experienced and we need players of all levels to play in our teams.

This year the club will be paying travel expenses to away matches so this will  provide a completely free day of bridge with refreshments included. The cost of playing in home matches will remain at £5 to cover the cost of the teas.

Dates for the Yorkshire League 2026-2027:
25th October
8th November
22nd November
6th December
WINTER BREAK 
14th February
28th February
14th March

The teams will consist of 8 players, playing against other Yorkshire teams, with home and away fixtures and the matches are played on a Sunday afternoon against players of roughly the same standard.

It would be very helpful if we could have an indication of how many members would like to participate in the Yorkshire League this season by 20th July.

Please email me: catherine.harrogate@gmail.com saying if you wish to play and who would be your partner.  If you would like to play but have no partner please let me know and we will try and match you up with another player.

Catherine Thomson
Match Secretary

Upcoming Events

YCBA
For details on all YCBA events click here.

For EBU events click here.

Schedule

From 7th August 2023

The EBU has introduced some new alerting, announcing and bidding rules.
 

• *** New Announcing and Alerting Summary 2023***
• Reasons for and details of the Blue Book changes
• Blue Book list of changes
• White Book list of changes
• Blue Book Aug 2023 (with change marks)
• White Book Aug 2023
• Announcements and Alerting Table 2022

The content of these books applies to all events held on or after 7th August 2023. Please be tolerant of players who don’t get all the updated procedures exactly right straight away – it’s meant to be an exercise in informing your opponents of your methods, not an excuse for trying to get one over on them!

The committee would like to take this opportunity to remind players that 'Best Behaviour at Bridge' must be adhered to at all times.  This is essential to ensure that all our members enjoy their games of bridge.  Please take the time to read the new 'Best Behaviour at Bridge' statement from the EBU.  Click here to go to the tab.

Rob Cave
Chairman

 The club uses air purifiers with HEPA filters to provide clean air in playing rooms.