Please note that subs for 2024/25 are due by 1st September. A mail went out to all players on the database last week advising that fees are £10 per player for everyone. Please email Oliver at ocbridgecomps@gmail.com when you have paid. Account details are: sort 204895 acct 43186903 acct name Oliver Cowan Bridge Club Virtual Limited.
Membership of the of the Oliver Cowan Bridge Club also gives membership of the Friendly Online Bridge Club meaning players have an option of an online game on BBO 6 nights (7:15pm) and 1 morning each week. The membership fees go towards admin support and also allow for congress venues to be checked out prior to being booked so both online and F2F players will benefit.
Oliver
| Christmas Charity Handicap Pairs (BBO OR REALBRIDGE!) |
Our annual Christmas Charity game is running on Saturday 14th December and this year is a Handicap Pairs.
Full details on the flyer which you can see by clicking the title of this box but the game will run from 1-5:30pm and be 2 sessions of 16 boards.
Please add your names to the entry form below and click which platform you wish to play on.
Entry Fee only £20 per pair and the event is suitable for all players. Handicaps will be based on each pairing’s average NGS and all proceeds raised after platform, UMS and TD charges will be going to the Homeless Street Angels and The Zone (supporting teens with mental health issues) BACS details for entry: sort code 20-48-95 account 43186903 account name Oliver Cowan Bridge Ltd.
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| Oliver Cowan New Year Congress Featuring The Richard Bowdery Pairs |
The 2025 renewal will take place on the weekend of 11th and 12th January at the usual venue of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Nottingham.
The full flyer can be found by clicking on the link on the menu but it is Championship Pairs on Saturday and Swiss Team on Sunday - team mates can be found for any pairs who need.
There are a range of packages available including staying on the Friday night and the option to eat at the fabulous Marco Pierre White Steakhouse.
Dinner on the Saturday night has been moved to accomodate extra tables in the playing room so we can now take up to 50 tables.
Get in touch with Oliver if you want more information!
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| Upcoming Congresses |
Upcoming Congresses being run by Oliver Cowan Bridge
Oliver Cowan New Year Congress 2025 Nottingham 11-12 January
Sunday 18th May Leeds Swiss Pairs - Leeds Bridge Club
Spring Bank Holiday Congress 24-26 May - Venue TBC (EBU)
(Llan)Brighton 13-15 June - Leonardo Royal Hotel Brighton Seafront (LlanBrighton Bridge Union)
28-29 June Yorkshire Congress - Cairn Hotel, Harrogate (YCBA)
17-20 July EBU Summer Festival - Crown Spa Hotel Scarborough (EBU)
1-3 August Llandudno Congress - Craig-y-Don Leisure Centre (North Wales Bridge Association)
26-28 August Northern Midweek Congress - Cairn Hotel, Harrogate (EBU)
12-14 September Isle Of Man Congress - Venue TBC
15-16 November Lancashire Congress - Barton Manor Hotel & Spa, Preston (LCBA)
There are also going to be a number of 1 day events in clubs that will appear here when confirmed!
All details and booking information for the EBU congresses are on the EBU website under 'forthcoming events' and flyers for each will appear in the menu tab once bookings open.
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| Online League Supporting Junior Bridge |
Season 7 of the Online Teams League is starting on 7th October 2025 which will be used to fund a program of helping develop junior bridge.
The event is not designed to compete with any clubs as the 5:45 start time will allow players to get to their clubs to play Face to Face or to play online in their club duplicate sessions.
Teams will play 2 x 8 board matches each week, ideally on a Monday and Friday but captains can agree to play at a different time. Teams of 4 and £36 entry per team to cover a full cycle which will run for 7-10 weeks depending on the number of entries. Email Oliver for more information.
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| North Wales GP Swiss Pairs |
On Saturday 7th December will be a Swiss Pairs on BBO for the North Wales Bridge Association. Please see the info and entry form on www.bridgewebs.com/nwba
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| Adam Hickman Seminar |
Adam Hickman will be doing an online seminar on splinter bidding on Sunday 26th January at both 11am & 2pm. Registration list and further details are on the Friendly Online Bridge Club website www.bridgewebs.com/friendlyonline and spaces are limited so please sign up early to avoid disappointment!
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| LlanBrighton 2025 Congress |
Bridge returns to (Llan)Brighton in 2025 - full details on the LlanBrighton Bridge Union page https://www.bridgewebs.com/llanbrightonbridgeunion/
Book early as places are limited! If you enter but qualify for the EBU Pachabo and choose to play in that then your bridge fee will be refunded in full.
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| New Sponsor |
Delighted to announce that the exciting Socially Spirited, a forward thinking producer of small-batch craft spirits has agreed to some sponsorship for Scarborough and the Northern Midweek Congresses. Check out their website on this link https://www.socially-spirited.com/ocbridge and use code BRIDGE10 at the checkout for a 10% discount. Please remember to always drink responsibly.
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| Membership Area and Find a Partner |
I have finally got the Membership Area on the website set up!
To access this for the 1st time, you will need to click on the “membership” tab from the menu on the website then click on “member area”.
If you are using it for the 1st time, when it asks for your username and password, just click “set/reset password” and follow the instructions from there.
I am hoping players will use this area to advertise or look for partners for sessions so do please try this out and see if it works!
You will need to opt in if you wish for your contact number and email address to be displayed.
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| New Games Aimed At Non-Expert Players |
In addition to the existing Tuesday evening Oliver Cowan PWTE game on a Tuesday night at 7.15pm, there is now an additional games solely for non-expert players.
Wednesday Morning at 10:15am - Friendly Online BC Pairs - this is a relaxed 15 board duplicate session on BBO played with the video function in use so you can chat with your opponents. The game is followed by a hand discussion on zoom where you can ask any questions about boards that gave you difficulty.
Both these new sessions are $4 in BBO dollars and are open to members and guests - get in touch with Oliver if you want to play but don't use dollars.
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| Weekly Games |
All games start at 7:15pm, are 20/21 boards and have a $4 BBO dollar entry fee - visitors welcome
Sunday @ 7:15pm Friendly Online BC & LOP Pairs
Monday @ 7:15pm Friendly Online BC & Huddersfield Pairs
Tuesday @ 7:15pm - Oliver Cowan Play Without the Experts (for players no higher than NGS Jack)
Wednesday @ 10:15am - Friendly Online BC Pairs (15 boards followed by hand discussion)
Wednesday @ 7:15pm Oliver Cowan BC Pairs
Thursday @ 7:15pm - Oliver Cowan BC Pairs
Friday @ 7.15pm - Oliver Cowan BC & LOP Pairs
Membership of the club is only £10 per year so please get in touch if you would like to join!
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| Looking To Learn To Play Bridge? |
If you are interested in learning to play bridge, please follow this link https://learnbridgeonline.com/jack-stocken-beginners/ which will take you to Jack Stocken's page. Jack is a very experienced teacher with an excellent reputation in Yorkshire and beyond and is currently offering learners their 1st 2 lessons free of charge.
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Results
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| 4th December 2024 |
| Oliver Cowan BC Pairs |
Director: Oc
Scorer: Oliver Cowan |
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| 3rd December 2024 |
| Play Without the Experts |
Director: OC
Scorer: Oliver Cowan |
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| 2nd December 2024 |
| Friendly Online Bridge Club (FOBC) & Huddersfield BC Online Pairs |
Director: OC
Scorer: Oliver Cowan |
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| 1st December 2024 |
| Friendly Online Bridge Club (FOBC) & Lancashire Online Pairs |
Director: OC
Scorer: Oliver Cowan |
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| 30th November 2024 |
| Midlands Counties 9 High Swiss Pairs |
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