Alan Wilson has announced that he is stepping down as captain of the Oxfordshire County Bridge Team. Alan has captained the team for seven seasons, starting at the beginning of the 2014-15 season. During Alan's tenure Oxfordshire won the Dawes League once (2014-15), the Porter Cup three times, and the Markham Trophy twice. The team qualified for the Tollemache final in November 2016 for the first time in a long time, and repeated the feat over the next two years.

Alan has done a great deal of work, often behind the scenes, and both the County Management Committee and the Selection Committee have expressed unreserved thanks for his enormous contribution. Alan has been persuaded to continue his contribution as a member of the Selection Committee representing the Menagerie Bridge Club.

The Selection Committee is very pleased to announce that Diana Nettleton will take over as County Captain with immediate effect. This decision has been ratified by the Management Committee and is for three years in the first instance. Diana will be well known to many bridge players throughout Oxfordshire. In the most recent season Diana has captained the Oxford Bridge Club A team in winning the Wessex League, and then qualified through the Regional heats to play in the finals of the Garden Cities Competition. She won the Claridge Cup, a league teams of four competition run by the Menagerie Bridge Club, and has had similar success playing in neighbouring Gloucestershire. Diana has had success playing on the national stage winning the Gold Medal in the Lady Milne 2021 playing with Nevena Senior, and previously winning the Bronze Medal in the 2019 European Ladies Teams Championships partnering Marusa Gold.

Diana's organisational skills have also been evident on the Oxfordshire bridge scene. She led the small team who saw the expansion of the Oxford Bridge Club through to delivery. She has also invited a number of experienced international bridge players to play in Oxfordshire to help in the County's development. On being appointed as County Captain, Diana said "I would like to share some of the fun I have had over the last few years and be there for support those players who want to improve their bidding skills - teams play is all about winning the board, and if you win each board you will probably win the match! Just one board at a time!"

Oxfordshire is very lucky to have the support of both Alan and Diana and I am delighted to make this announcement.

Matthew Covill, Chairman of Selectors