Congratulations to Dorset raiders Ray Mardon & Tim Dunsby (Tim pictured above in Real Romsey - Ray elsewhere), winners of virtual Romsey 18 on 13th September - full results here.  Congratulations also to the successfull HIWCBA raiders at the Dorset Chope Salver competition the previous weekend (Fred Hotchen & Andy Hughes overall winners with Margaret & Bud Abbott winning the B Stratification) - full results here. Next weekend the 20th September sees Virtual Romsey replaced with the Candover Swiss Teams which needs a little more advance organisation so has a closing date of midnight 18th September - enter here now.

Congratulations to John Gardner & Janet Smith (pictured above in real dorset) on winning Virtual Romsey 17 on 30th August - full results here. They are now well ahead in the virtual romsey victor ludorum (see here) as we enter a period where there are fewer Virtual Romsey events. No virtual romsey on 6th Spetmber - please enter the Dorset Chope Salver event instead (entries via this link). Then Virtual Romsey 18 on 13th September (enter via this link). Then the HIWCBA candover teams starts the new HIWCBA season on 20th September (enter via this link) before Virtual Romsey returns for the next few weeks.

Congratulations to Clare & Ian Fearon  (pictured above in Real Romsey) winners of Virtual Romsey 16 on Sunday 24th August - full results here.
With face to face bridge competitions remaining only a remote possibility, county bridge associations, including HIWCBA and Dorset are gearing up to hold their regular annual county events online. For HIWCBA and Dorset this means starting with the Dorset Chope Salver on Sunday 6th September (enter here) and the HIWCBA Candover Swiss Teams (Enter here)  on Sunday 20th September. Entries in advance from NOW please. And also please continue to enter Virtual Dorset and Virtual Romsey on the weekends in between.

Congratulations to camera-shy Judi Coady & Ian Lewis on winning Virtual Romsey 14 - full results here.

Then also congratulations to Karen Dewar & Adrian Fontes (pictured above in Real Romsey) on winning Virtual Romsey 15 - full results here.
Please be sure to enter virtual Romsey and virtual Dorset next saturady and Sunday. Also watch out for some changes in the set of weekend HIWCBA & Dorset weekend events as the new season approaches. It looks like both counties will be looking to maintain a calendar of longer virtual matches for real trophies that will replace the virtual romsey and virtual dorset events on those weekends - full details to follow.
Plus, between Virtual Romsey 14 & Virtual Romsey 15, your hard working county Tournament Director Mike Kinsey has found it necessary to remind people of the self alerting procedure on BBO:
Self alerting is still causing some issues.
The principles are outlined in the EBU Sky-Blue Book, shown below. I have added a few extra notes and highlighted some sections.

What to alert
A player should alert any call that would be alerted or announced (by partner), as defined in BB 4 – so that includes NT opening ranges, transfers, Stayman and opening two-bids, as well as more obviously conventional calls. Opening bids which are unexpected are alerted – including (potential) canapé and ‘always unbalanced’.  Players must alert even if the pair have a system card uploaded.  If you don’t have a convention card it is a good idea to type a brief description of your system and copy to your clipboard. Then you can paste at each new table.

 How to alert/explain
Players should provide an explanation with the alert – they should type the explanation before making the call, and then when the call is made the explanation will be visible to the opponents. The partner does not see the alert, so there is no harm in alerting too much.

 Asking questions
Whether or not a call was alerted, and whether or not an explanation was provided, an opponent can request a (fuller) explanation by clicking on the call. The opponents can also ask (further) questions by chatting to the player making the call – when answering a question, a player should send the answer to both opponents (using ‘chat’ to ‘Opponents’); and not send a message to the ‘Table’, which partner would be able to see.   Provide meaningful explanations ie not just Halmic but say what it means. If you want to see good examples play with a robot!

Asking questions of both players
It should not be necessary to ask the partner of the player making a call to explain the call. The opponents are not allowed to try and establish if the other side are having a misunderstanding. If the opponents ask such a question, in the first instance, the partner should (politely) point out that the original player should answer the question. If the opponents insist that the partner answer questions, then the TD should be called. If there is no TD (e.g. in a match ‘played privately’), the players will have to achieve a resolution that allows the hand to continue, by open discussion (via ‘Table’ chat), and reserve their rights 

Congratulations to Alan Wilson & Jeremy Baker (pictured in real Hampshire) winners of virtual Romsey 13 on Sunday 2nd August (full results here). Join HIWCBA in Virtual Romsey again next Sunday and/or Dorset next Saturday.

Congratulations to John Gardner & Janet Smith (pictured in real Dorset)  winners of Virtual Romsey 12 on sunday 26th July and 3rd time winners of Virtual Romsey (Full results here).  Congratulations also to Adrian Fontes & Karen Dewar on their successful raid on virtual Dorset on Saturday 25th July. HIWCBA hope all flock to join Virtual Romsey  & Virtual Dorset again this weekend.

Congratulations to Mike Fithyan & Mike Kinsey, Andrew Doye & Steve Preston (all genuinely pictured in Real Romsey), winners of Virtual Romsey 11 on 19th July - full results here. Especially well done to Mike F since HIWCBA members Mike Fithyan & Judi Coady successfully raided virtual Dorset on Saturday 18th. HIWCBA hope all join Virtual Romsey again next Sunday (or virtual Dorset next Saturday).

Congratulations to Petersfield (Stuart Burnett,James Clark,Andrew Doye,Lilias Lamont,Stephen Lee,Tony Truluck) and Basingstoke K (Tracey Adams, Andrew Bennett,Martin Bevan, Helen Kinloch,Graham Ledger,Lindsay McDougall) winners of the second season of the HIWCBA online leagues. Having been unbeaten in season 1, Badger Farm(Jeremy Baker,Nick Craik,Jeremy Dhondy, Fred Hotchen,Dave Huggett, Andy Hughes and Steve Preston) lost 2 of their first three matches in Division 1 and ended up a remote second to Petersfield.  In Division 2 Basingstoke K won by less than the margin of their head to head victory over second place Titchfield J (Mike Gwilliam,Dick Heasman,Roger Johnson,Michael Kempster and John Wilson). Entries are now being taken for season 3 which will be just one 16 board match a week.

Congratulations to Liz Senior & BBO Bot A (pictured above neither in the real Romsey), winners of the one winner Virtual Romsey 10 on 12 July. Full results here. Hope to see you with us again next Sunday  (or Dorset next Saturday).

Congratulations to Stuart Burnett & Tony Truluck and Alan Wilson & Jeremy Baker (pictured above the latter three in real Romsey) winners of Virtual Romsey 9 on 5th July (Full results here). This was the second week in a row that Alan & Jeremy triumphed but it is regular Dorset raiders Janet Smith & John Gardner (One of the 2nd placed pairs on the 5th July) who have now wrested 1st place in the Virtual Romsey Victor Ludorum (see here) from Lilias Lamont and Andrew Doye who did not have a good day. Join us all again next Sunday or Dorset next Saturday.

Congratulations to Alan Wilson & Jeremy Baker (pictured in real romsey for Virtual Romsey 9 above) and Sally Miller & Charles Nixon winners of Virtual Romsey 8 (full results here) on 28th June. 

The Dorset raids continue. Virtual Romsey 7 was a one winner movement (full results here) and congratulations go to Mark Hooper & Robin Wright (Mark pictured in Real Romsey - Robin not). Join us again next Sunday or Dorset next Saturday.

Virtual Romsey 6 (full results here) saw Dorset players crossing the virtual border into virtual Romsey and winning. Congratulations to  John Gardner & Janet Smith  and David Berwitz & Robin Wright (pictured above - none in real Romsey). Join us again next Sunday (or Dorset next Saturday) and see who wins next time.

Congratulations to Fran Alexander & Lesley Lewis and Lilias Lamont & Andrew Doye  (All pictured above - Latter 3 in Real Romsey) winners of Virtual Romsey 5 on Sunday 7th June.This keeps Liliias & Andrew well ahead in the Virtual Romsey Victor Ludorum. Join us again next sunday and be one of the increasing number of pairs attending Virtual Romsey, and/or join Dorset next saturday. Enter via the links above. Well done to Mike Kinsey for doing a stirling job as HIWCBA online tournament director.  

Congratulations to Karen Dewar & Adrain Fontes and Dorset raiders John Gardner & Janet Smith (Pictured above in real Romsey and real Dorset respectively) winning Virtual Romsey 4 on 31st May - full results here.. Congratulations also to Stephen Martin & Gill Weeks for for a succesful raid (in their direction) on virtual Dorset on  the previous day. Both counties look forward to seeing you and more again next weekend (click above to enter)

Congratulations to Badger Farm (Jeremy Baker, Nick Craik, Jeremy Dhondy, Fred Hotchen, Dave Huggett, Andy Hughes) and Island M (Chris Brayford, Peter Marchant, David McCulloch, Christine Naughton) winners of the first season of the HIWCBA Online league competition. Badger Farm won all 7 of their league 1 matches and finished well ahead of second place Chichester (Peter Burns, Philip Hunt, Yves Lebrec & David Telfer).  Division 2 had more teams and was much closer with Island M finishing just 3 VPs ahead of Petersfield N (Dennis Adams, Jenny Ashby, Richard Assad & Nicholas Silk) in second place. Entries are now being taken for season 2 in June. Also dont forget to enter the regular sunday online virtual romsey event - next on on BBO on Sunday 31st May at 2pm - enter here.. 

Congratulations to Andrew Doye & Lilias Lamont (Pictured above in the real Romsey) and Gill Weeks & Stephen Martin (just stars in the real Romsey's eyes) winners of virtual Romsey 3 on 24th May - full results here. This puts Lilias & Andrew well ahead in the virtual romsey victor ludorum (see here). And virtual bridge must go on. Enter for virtual Romsey 4 next sunday 31st May here.

Congratulations to Phil Norman & Derek Maggs plus Karen Dewar & Adrian Fontes (3 of them pictured above in the real Romsey winning the 2019 & 2018 Yuletide events. Derek, native turned overseas raider, at least now knows the time this side of the world but he hasn’t visited Romsey anytime recently.). They were winners of their sections of the Virtual Romsey pairs on BBO on Sunday 17th May (results here). The director, Mike Kinsey again said it went so well that there will be another virtual Romsey (3) next Sunday -same time same place - enter here.
Note: There are still gremlins affecting the display of master points on this site for BBO events. They are shown in the virtual "Virtual Romsey Victor Ludorum" event here, which shows that Lilias Lamont & Andrew Doye (2^nd both times) currently have the most Virtual Romsey master points.

Congratulations to Ian & Clare Fearon & Fred Hotchen & Jeremy Baker (pictured above in the real Romsey!) winners of their sections of the virtual romsey pairs on BBO on Sunday 10th May (results here). The director, Mike Kinsey said it went so well that there will be a virtual Romsey 2 next sunday - same time same place - enter here. Hopefully all will try again and maybe next time it will be a harder search for archive photos of the winners.
Note: There are gremlins affecting the display of master points on this site for BBO events. They are shown in the virtual "Virtual Romsey Victor Ludorum" event here. Note (eg Chairman & Webmaster) that the motto of this virtual victor ludorum is "Its only for fun. If at first you dont succeed try, try again."

In reality Romsey hasn't been anywhere, but now you can enjoy most of the thrill of an afternoon in the Crosfield Hall from the comfort of your own home. HIWCBA have successfully trialled running a Pairs Tournament on BBO.  Now we are setting up a regular event. And when better than the traditional 14:00 on Sunday. The first event will be on May 10th. Please enter here The entry form requires your BBO aliases. The page with the entry form on it also provides general  instructions  on playing on BBO and instructions about playing in HIWCBA OnLine Pairs. We said 'most'? Unfortunately we have not found a way of providing Ann's plated teas on-line. Also for now the event will be a little shorter (18 boards).

The Pottage Cup (HIWCBA Pairs championship) concluded on Sunday 15th March with 16 pairs competing in the final at Romsey. Congratulations to the winners : James Clark & Owen Leigh.(pictured above). With over 4.5% between 1st and 2nd (Jeremy Dhondy & Andy Hughes), over 2 percent between 2nd and 3rd (Tim Smith & Gabriel Hearst), and almost 7 percent between 3rd and 4th (Lilias Lamont & Andrew Doye), an event that one would expect to be close somehow seemed not to be - although 5th place (Stuart Strachen & Eleanor Rice) were looking to sneak into 4th right up to the end. If national events were being held, the top four pairs would qualify for the Corwen Trophy national event for the top pairs in county pairs championships.

Sunday 16th February saw a select few brave the weather conditions and enter the HIWCBA Valentine Teams in Romsey. Congratulations to the winners Mike Fithyan, Mike Kinsey, Richard Ray & Christine Ray who led throughout and finished 21 vps ahead of the second place team of Steve Preston, Fred Hotchen, Nick Craik & Dave Huggett in an event that was well directed by Tim Anderson.

This continues Mike Fithyans fine run of form. He has just returned from the EBU Overseas Congress in Rome where Mike Fithyan & Adian Fontes were part of the team that won that congress's swiss teams. Well done to them.

Also, the IBM cup HIWCBA simultaeneous took place during the week beginning 10th february and with all the results in (here) it looks like lots of money will have been raised for Hampshire Air Ambulance (The field was larger than last years) and that the HIWCBA committee are in good bridge form with HIWCBA committee members in each of the top three pairs. Congratulations to Andy Hughes & Fred Hotchen for winning the event.

All who have qualified should not forget to turn up to the Pottage Cup semi final in Romsey at 2pm on Sunday 23rd February and those of you interested in improving their bridge should look to attend the next Dave Huggett Seminar on 1st March.

The candlestick 'swiss' pairs on 2nd february became an unusual event when the director (Mike Kinsey) left the bridgemates at home. Well done to the director for not panicing and enabling the event to complete albeit with some manual post event checking and some less than perfect round assignments on the way - final results and explanation/apologies from the director here , 
Congratulations to everyone for helping the event to complete successfully - you will all receive a £10 credit for a future HIWCBA event for this.
And congratulations also to the winners Steve Preston and Andy Hughes with Mike Fithyan and Stuart Burnett second. Unusually, these pairs played 12 different pairs between them (noone in common) and did not play each other. These leaves Steve well ahead in the Derek Gibbins victor ludorum and Andy second with several people just behind him.
The next HIWCBA event in romsey is the Valentine teams on the 16th february. There is still time to enter this event - free for those with credit from the candlesticks!

Congratulations to Steve Preston, Dave Huggett, Christine Ray & Richard Ray (pictured above),  winners of the Mid Winter Teams in Romsey on the 12th January. No late entries meant that the 11 team event was run as a 4 board per match multiple teams, with Team Preston running out winners 24 imps ahead of the second place team of Bob McRobert & Fred Hotchen, Geoff Oldfield & Peter Crouch - helped by an 11 imp gain in their head to head match where underbidding allowed Richard to successfully declare 2D on board 42 and  misdefending allowed Christine to successfully make 4S on  board 44. This gives Steve Preston a healthy lead in the Derek Gibbins Victor Ludorum. The event was enjoyed by all so please now enter the next Romsey event - the Blue Pointed Candlestick Pairs on the 2nd February.

Happy New year, and time to enter those anagramed competitions as follows:

PEACE TO GUT :  Pottage cup. Many heats have been held but there is still time to enter here.
EAT DIMMER TWINS : Mid winter teams - enter here.
CAKE RIP CLASS DINT : Candlestick Pairs - enter here. 
HO ARRESTING PREENING CHOP MESS : Green Point Hampshire Congress - enter here.
WIC HAM BAG : HIWCBA AGM. Thats some time in the future and cant be 'entered yet'
HARMED VAGUE SETTINGS : Dave Huggett Seminars - enter here.
DIM PANDA, EXAM MISS (LADDER RISEN), IRE : Pairs (Mixed, Married, Mens and Ladies) - enter here.
LATEST NAÏVE MEN : Valentine teams - enter here.

Also, the final standing for the december HIWCBA simultaeneous - the chidwick cup - are confirmed (here) - and congratulations to the winners Marian Grasso & Carol Parkes of the Island Bridge club and also to all who entered for supporting the HIWCBA charity of the year (Hampshire Air Ambulance). The next HIWCBA simultaeneous is the IBM cup in february (details here): Clubs and pairs please make it one of your new years resolutions to  take part in that.

Merriment, mince pies, raffle (in aid of Hampshire Air Ambulance), spot prizes and the Yuletide Mini Swiss Teams (results here) were the order of the day at Romsey on 15th December. Congratulations to the victors Karen Dewar, Adrian Fontes, Julian Sykes & Phil Downham (pictured above) who won despite only tieing their last round match against the second place team of Robin Khan, Nick Craik, Steve Preston & Dave Huggett. Board 31, where the winning strategy for the vulnerable NS pairs was to keep as low as possible rather than go for game (Karen & Adrian stopped in 3S off 1) and the winning strategy for EW was to get the contract off as much as possible (Julian & Phil took 4S off 4), gave the Dewar team its share of the spoils and a 13vp victory in the final table.
We hope to see you puzzling at the anagrams above and, perhaps as a result, entering more HIWCBA events in the new year.
Its now almost half way through the season and so our eyes turn to the Derek Gibbins Victor Ludorum standings where Steve Preston's second place at the Yuletide has given him a slender lead over Tim Smith. 

The start of Advent saw a late entry for the Bloxsom Teams (results here) that meant that there were 12 teams and the event could be run in the director's favorite Australian Swiss Danish format. At the start of the last round when the Danish (ie potential repeat match) element kicked in, Team Clark (James Clark, Owen Leigh, Tony Truluck, Tim Smith) and Team Hughes (Andy Hughes, Fred Hotchen, Dave Huggett, Steve Preston) knew they were going to be first and second, with Team Clark taking a 2vp lead into the final match. Tim & Tony started with a failing 6D (two top spades missing) and also played in 5C which didnt have a hope, so expected to be second. But Dave & Steve also bid the 6D and Andy & Fred got it wrong in the slam region on another board (6H-1) and also missed a game that was bid by James & Owen. So in the end Team Clark were convincing 16-4 winners and Bloxsom champions (pictured above). As is now the norm, the event was well directed by Mike Kinsey and enjoyed by all.  HIWCBA hope to see you and others again in HIWCBA events later in the season - eg. the Yule Tide Mini Swiss teams on the 15th December (where mulled wine, mince pies and a raffle will be available)  and the Mid Winter Teams in January.

Sunday 10th November was a well attended (10 teams) Teams of 8 day in Romsey - too many people to corral for a  photograh and difficult to judge how one is doing but at the end Petersfield United - The Reds (Steve Preston & Mike Fithyan, Owen Leigh & James Clark, Lilias Lamont & Tony Truluck, Tim Smith & Gabriel Hearst) triumphed to win the Solent Trophy and qualify to represent HIWCBA in the Garden Cities Trophy next april. 2nd were Badger Farm (Jeremy Dhondy & Andy Hughes, Fred Hotchen & Jeremy Baker, John Folkes & Tony Page, Clare & Ian Fearon) who therefore retain the Jubilee cup that they    won last year. Full results here or here.

Rather simpler(!) was the simple systems simultaeneous held in clubs between the 28th october and the 1st November. Congratulations to the winners Georgina Boase & Jennifer Privett from Meon Bridge Club and to all who took part (full results here)- the event (especially meon bridge club - well done!) raised lots of money for Hampshire Air Ambulance.

In recent national events congratulations to Jeremy Dhondy for winning both the pairs event and the teams event at the Seniors Congress, and also to Team Lamont (Lilias Lamont, Andrew Doye, Liz Senior & Stephen Scott) for almost making the 2018-2019 Nicko Plate final - initially tying their semi-final but losing the extra boards.

With such a large turn out for the teams of 8 lets hope all are encouraged to enter the next HIWCBA events - the Bloxsom Teams and YuleTide during december. 

Sunday 13th October saw the inaugural running of the Wessex Swiss Pairs. 11 tables of pairs enjoyed 6 rounds of 7 boards well directed by Mike Kinsey. At tea, with catering as excellent as ever, Andy Hughes and Steve Preston had only dropped 3 vps and this proved enough to win - even though they lost the fourth round to the eventual 2nd place pair of Bob McRobert & Chris Kinloch and followed this with only a draw against Tim Smith & Tony Truluck.  Although Lelsey Lewis & Tim Dunsby (potential Dorset raiders) started well in the final round, they only finished 3rd when Andy & Steve recovered to 17-3, which was plenty. Congratulations to all.

The Tollemache Cup is the EBU's inter-county championship for teams of eight. The following team has been selected to represent HIWCBA at the Tollemache qualifier in Daventry on the 16th/17th November: Andy Hughes/Jeremy Dhondy, Peter Crouch/Geoff Oldfield, Dave Huggett/Steve Preston, Bob McRobert/Chris Kinloch, Sonia Zakrzewski/Gareth Birdsall. No reserve pair has been selected. Well done on your selection and good luck in the qualifier.

Congratulations to Lilias Lamont, Tim Smith, Philip Mitchell & Mike Kinsey (pictured above) winners of the first event of the HIWCBA 2019-2020 season - the Candover Swiss Teams. The event attracted 15 teams (2 more than the previous year) and was well directed by Tim Anderson. With one round to go only 1 vp separated the top three teams and, in Danish style, top played 2nd, and 3rd played 4th etc in the final round. That saw Team Ray, who were 4th at the end of round 5 beating Team McRobert 16-4 to rise to second place meaning that Team Lamont's 13-7 victory over Team Dhondy was enough to secure them victory.

The candover teams was enjoyed by all; We hope to see all (and more) back for later HIWCBA events - starting with the Wessex swiss pairs on the 13th October. Also, if by chance you found it hard to decide if bids were forcing or not or penalty or take out then you may choose to attend the popular Dave Huggett seminar on 6th October

At tea, those 2018-2109 season trophies that had not previously been presented were presented (pictured below): View the County Competitions page to see what they won. 
Also, the Dorset 2019-2020 season started earlier than the HIWCBA one and saw a successful raid by HIWCBA members John Jones and Celia Parsons winning the Chope Salver (final picture below)
Congratulations to all.