CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

As Chairman of the S.C.B A. I have tried to visit most of the Bridge Clubs in the County. If you feel I've neglected your Club, please drop me a line or 'phone and I'll arrange to come in the near future.

We Bridge players are indeed a funny (peculiar) lot - ask my wife. I see that Omar Sharif is recently quoted as saying that if a young man is offered the chance of heroin or bridge, he should choose heroin as it's less addictive.

Recently I attended the "Club Player of the Year" final at Oxford (Please note E.B.U., I'm still waiting for my travelling expenses). I say attended as my partner and I did not really play Bridge but nevertheless enjoyed our adventures.

I was struck by the banter of the various players across the table. Remember most of the players were of County Master Rank or below. One very intense pair in their middle twenties had a little dig at each other after every hand. After the second hand at their table North said rather crossly, "Why didn't you switch to a spade". South to North "You should have led a heart". North to South "Just because I make a mistake that's no excuse for you to make one".

My partner and I smiled but our opponents couldn't see the funny side. Two tables later a similar situation arose. After a few recriminations North retorted "You always criticise me, I don't know why you didn't criticise the mistake you didn't notice that I made earlier". There's no answer to that one.

Seriously, listen to the chatter at your table; it maybe more interesting than the Bridge.

It's amazing how a few bad results can cause one's common sense to dis­appear. Typical were my reactions after having two bottoms through no fault of our own. A stone cold seven, bid and made against us. The only pair to bid it. Next board opponents misbid and stayed in a part score and got another top.

Then this beauty arose. One no trump on my left, two clubs from partner, I held:
♠ QJxxxx
♥ x
♦ x
♣ K10xxx.

R.H. opponent bids 2D. What do you bid? 3C seemed reasonable to me. No bid from L.H. opponent. 3 Hearts from partner. Double on my right. Has the penny dropped yet? 3 Spades from me. Double on my left. Partner a much wiser man than I passed. A Diamond led from my left and partner puts down:
♠ x
♥ A109xxx
♦ KJxxx
♣ x

The penny drops with me. My partner is p1aying ASTRO denoting hearts and a minor and I aint!!! We'd agreed to play ASTRO a couple of weeks previously and it had not arisen before. Fortunately partner is very understanding and had a good laugh. Thanks Harry.

Back to County matters. The County Captain seems to have upset one or two people with his comments on the results of the first few league matches. Do you want the basic facts or a brief resume? Let us know. The County Secretary feels that the room becomes overcrowded at league events. Could you let me have your comments. All your elected officers on the County Association work very hard. I'm amazed by the time and effort they spend working on your behalf. Of course we all make mistakes but it is only too easy to sit back and do nothing and make no mistakes. Please help us to help you.

Enough from me. May I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a successful Bridge Season.

Jim Riley

EDITORIAL COMMENT

I would like to endorse our Chairman's comments that you make him aware of your criticisms. Unless they are brought to the Committees attention, the Committee is unable to do anything to put matters right.

Concerning the County Captain's remarks with the league tables, this merely proves the old adage that you can't please everyone all the time. I personally found the anecdotes - which were factual, after all - interesting and am a little bemused that people should take offence. But, as our County Chairman says, "We bridge players are a funny lot".

SECRETARY'S REPORT

On Squadron in 1940 we had a Scots W/O Rear Gunner - a true regular (not a rookie V.R. like the majority of us), an earthy fellow of enormous size and strength and a solid granite-like personality. He gave you a real sense of confidence - with "Killer Mills" in the tail, you felt safe. He was allowed the special privilege of wearing his kilt with his RAF uniform at mess dances, at one of which he is alleged to have come out with this classic - Dancing with a trim, young American visitor to the mess he was asked pertly, "Now come on W/O, tell me what is worn under your kilt?"

"There's nothing worren under m'kilt, young lassie, its all in first class worken order!"

What has this to do with bridge? Nothing. I started this letter originally with the statement - Our playing room is now in FIRST CLASS WORKING ORDER, and the remark turned my mind back with a chuckle to days gone by, that seems like another century. I was playing bridge in those days as well - fortunate to have a crew of four who all played in a sort of fashion, so that the waiting hours before take-off were less nerve racking. but that is quite enough of that - OUR ROOMS ARE IN FIRST CLASS WORKING ORDER and I am proud of the handful of solid workers who have stood by me when really it looked as if I had made a huge gaff persuading Stafford B.C. to join us in the venture of establishing a playing venue at the Show Ground. If we had more dedicated County members like Geoff Davies, David Downs, Des & Margaret Kennedy, Basil Cooke, Joe Cowley and Ron Copley, then we should indeed have a virile Association. Obviously I have not included all who have helped - for a start, work has been done by people I hardly know - but I must publically thank these people for their support. When the going was grim, what about Les Broomfield? Well, what about him? We should have got nowhere without Les and that's that.

County bridge generally is having a lean time. In fact, I personally feel that players have got to answer the question, "Do we want County bridge at all?" It takes an awful lot of effort to keep it going. I obviously believe that in the long term County bridge is essential to the well being of the National game. I am therefore distressed and angry that the paid professional staff at the EBU Headquarters appear to hold the view that County bridge is at best a nuisance and at worst a downright waste of time. As your EBU representative I rigorously oppose all programmes devised by the central administration which appear directly detrimental to County programmes. In this respect I ask you to read relative articles in Popular Bridge (Hopefully the relative copies will be in your club rooms with the articles marked) and earnestly invite your comments. I want to know how players feel. I don't want to continue the sort of effort needed to keep county bridge alive in Staffordshire if what players really want is a proliferation of "Green Pointed" Events. I will give one warning, however, another County Secretary who holds my views on what is a desirable National structure for Bridge (Clubs, Counties and National Events) and meets with me the total indifference of the Council to our pleas for the EBU to assist County Bridge. he said to me after one Council meeting in which "A further National Competition with easy to win "Greens" on offer to attract entries" had been suggested, "Never mind, John in 5 years time "Greens" will be so common that they will be valueless and meaningless as "Yellows; players will then wonder why they spend so much money in travelling and entrance fees to acquire them and will want local County Competitions again". To which I remarked, "If they can again find anyone daft enough to expend the time and energy that will be needed to reconstruct the County scene - and, anyway, what a cynical approach- surely it is better to give it a shot in the arm now and my suggestions would not be difficult to implement".

If you agree with my suggestions in my letter to Popular Bridge magazine, PLEASE DON'T just wag your head in approval. Put pen to paper - write to "TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE", THE ENGLISH BRIDGE UNION, 15b, HIGH STREET, THAME and ask that consideration be given to the proposals of the Secretary of the SCBA contained in the letter published in the October issue of Popular Bridge magazine.

John Hudson, Hon. County Secretary

To see the letter John Hudson sent see the end of the Bulletin.

EDITORIAL COMMENT

If any members have not yet read our County Secretary's article in the October issue of Popular Bridge magazine, I would recommend that you read a copy.

TREASURER'S REPORT

The County Finances are now becoming clearer, after the confusion of the previous two years. Committee members are cooperating with me and I shall, therefore, be able to keep this years accounts in good order.

The Summer Pairs and Swiss Team Event proved very popular and were a good new source of income. The League Teams of Four are again very well supportd. However, more entrants are needed at other County events, if we are to keep the table money down to a minimum. I have so far this year received £162.50 from the EBU for subscriptions. Our Secretary is keeping a close watch on this quarter.

Our present state of affairs is;    Credit balance at the bank £295.55,     Britannia Building Society £560.46

Sheila Green, Hon. County Treasurer

CAPTAIN'S REPORT

The Dawes programme for the current year has now been completed by Staffordshire, with the first team obtaining 56 VP's from its 7 matches. Other teams in the league have not yet completed their programme, but it seems likely we will finish second in the league, as runners up to the old enemy, Warwickshire. The second team obtained 41 VP's from its 7 matches, and will finish in a mid-table position.

The following team has been chosen to represent Staffordshire for the Midlands heat of the Tollemache, at Stratford on 9th and 10th December:

Phil Topley/Peter Tottenham, Bob Beech/ David Beavon, Geoff Davies/ Dave Downs, Graham Link/Richard Harris

Phil Topley will captain the squad. I am sure we all hope that they can repeat our triumph of three years ago, when we won the Midland's Heat and went on to win the National Final.

In invitational events, Peter Burton's team represented the County in Worcestershires healey Cup, and my own team in the Derbyshire MacFarlane Cup. I am afraid that I am unable to report any victory for either team.

A. H. Bloxham

Harold Pickering has submitted the following interesting article on his week-end experience in the Club Player of the Year Award.

I am always pleased to receive articles containing bridge hands for publication in the Bulletin. Any contributors are invited to send their articles to G.C. Davies at 5, Fernwood, Nursery Gardens, Stafford. I hope that the next Bulletin will include a report on the Tollemache, with each selected pair being asked to give details of their most interesting hand of the week-end.

CLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

The first problem I encountered with this award of a week-end in Oxford hotel playing bridge was to convince my non-bridge playing wife that it was (a) genuine and (b) worthwhile. it seemed that the only meal included was breakfast so I had to agree not to claw back any house keeping money. The partner of my choice was not difficult (see (a) above) as Jim, in less than a year, had succeeded in learning to read my mind to add to his considerable accomplishments at the game. Incidentally, my first partner eventually became a County bridge captain because of those qualities which are demanded to survive prolonged contact with my mediocrity. The fact that Jim was due to return from holidaying in Spain on the Friday night before the Saturday morning in question was a problem which he dealt with in his usual expert way. We would miss our Monday evening Club bridge (probably to ensure he had some laundry done) and he insisted that I drew a map showing the location of my new abode thus revealing his opinion of the clarity of my bidding.

Now I was looking forward to my week-end of Bridge much as I had anticipated my first two-day cricket match. Being very young in bridge years, which can only number five all told and containing a gap of twenty years after my first two years playing with the budding County Captain, this was an "event" for me. Then I was told I was expected to write this article!

We duly reported for our first session of bridge at 2.00pm. Jim had Spanish tummy and I had butterflies. During the first few hands I failed to remember that declarer could get of the table and he turned out to be the only one to make his contract. I did not bid a four card spade suit which caused us to miss game and I then careered from disaster to disaster so that I effectively ensured that we would have a carefree week-end. We finished a miserable 22nd out of 27. The hand-cards had "Club Player of the Year" printed on them and were an ever present thorn in the flesh. During the session we were informed that we should claim our travelling expenses there and then but that we would receive then through the post.

A buffet meal had been arranged for us at 7.00pm at the cost of £1.50. We turned up at five to seven to find only a few sandwiches left. These were curled up at the ends with embarrassment under the hot lights of the bar. We dashed off to the nearest pub for bangers, beans and chips.

We did have a good board on the following hand when I was declarer sitting East in four spades after I had made another bidding error. An elementary (of course) precaution brought home the contract. See what you make of it after the Ace then King of Hearts were led and the third Heart ruffed high in dummy and two top spades had cleared the trumps.

My only chance seemed to be to find KQx of diamonds in one hand. Thus a diamond given up. Then the Ace on the inevitable club return. Ace diamonds, ruff a diamond leaves the J as master to enjoy - provided you had remembered to retain your four of spades as an entry to dummy. If you think that was lucky I recently played a hand which depended on one hand holding Q10 only in clubs and the three others with his partner - they were!

The week-end was an experience that I would not have missed. The surroundings were pleasant, the organisation was excellent and the local pub grub good if not very varied. I hope that these jottings will be of some interest to you and will provide some food for thought for future claimants.

H. F. Pickering

Have you entered Sunday, 21st January in your diary? No? Well hurry up and do so, as you won't wish to clash with the Men's and Ladies Pairs County Event at Stafford, starting at 2.30pm. Enter your name on the County Notice Board at Stafford, or see your County rep. Entries close on Wednesday, 17th January 1979, immediately after the League Teams of Four event that night. Already, some players have tasted success in the earlier Championship events in the County Calendar.

SWISS TEAMS

COUNTY INDIVIDUAL

COUNTY FLITCH

This is the letter that John Hudson sent (it was added to the Bulletin in 2009)

From John Hudson,
Secretary, Staffordshire C.B.A.

WHAT IS OUR BRIDGE FUTURE?

I found your editorial and your article on the Rothmans regional pairs event of great interest to me personally. The editorial because it caused me to examine my reasons for volunteering to be a county secretary; and it exhorted me as an extrovert to rush into print. The article on the Rothmans regional pairs event because it dares to put in print a fact that the administrators of the game of duplicate bridge either will not face honestly or are too unobservant to realise; the fact that counties are having a thin time and that the proliferation of "Green Pointed" events together with the prostitution of green points as a means of attracting entries to such are directly to blame.

However I was horrified at your approval of a charity hand out to the counties. Artificially propping up ailing concerns with charitable handouts (be it to persons - companies - or sporting bodies) is a disastrous policy; if you want them to continue you must adopt a positive policy to make them viable, self reliant, useful and strong; if you don't really want them, let them go; don't throw good money after bad.

I have been strongly rebuked for being too extrovert, having too much to say on this point in too impassioned a way. The anger is generated by the refusal of the administration to debate the issue in an open manner; I personally can't believe that the professional staff at Thame cannot see the damage that is being caused to county bridge. If they cannot, then they must be very unobservant. What we should be debating in Council is a motion of this sort:

"Are counties any longer of any importance in the structure of the sport of Duplicate Bridge."

In other words do we go for a two-tier system, National Bridge and Club bridge, or do we retain the three-tier system of National bridge, County bridge and Club bridge. I could debate this motion without anger because it faces honestly the situation as it really is. I quite obviously believe in the three-tier system, but I am not so conceited that I believe my views must of necessity be correct.

I have only taken an active interest in the national structure of the sport of Duplicate bridge during the past four years, but in all other sports in which I have taken an active part I have always enjoyed the keen inter-county rivalry, and I believe this to be the best foundation on which to build any national game. I became secretary of Staffordshire three years ago because it was suggested that the county association ought to be wound up. After only 12 months in this office I realised just why. Everything that the central administration plans is directly detrimental to the function of county associations, and they appear to have no interest in promoting any competi­tion designed to assist counties.

Before outlining my reasons for believing in a three-tier system I would like to express an opinion as to how bridge got into this situation. The miserable financial contributions made by counties to their central body made it impossible to provide the sport with a paid professional staff; a paid professional staff became a must, and they (the paid staff) had to find a way to pay themselves. Hence a prolifera­tion of national events that raise large sums of money for central funds; as long as you can buy entries with "green points" which we are conned into believing forms a sensible ranking system.

Now I can return to the reasons I believe in a three tier system in which counties would play an important role.

1. I believe that in the long term people like to belong to and be identified with smaller groups.
2. I believe that given a sensible inter-counties championship event along the lines of the R.U.F. county championships (regional county leagues with a knock-out semi-final and final) we would have a natural training ground for developing pairs playing team bridge and an on-going way of discovering pairs for our national teams.
3. I believe it much easier to get local press coverage for inter-county matches that are part of a recognisable national county championship. I also believe that these matches would be really enjoyable, and I believe bridge could get good publicity through them especially if they were sponsored.
4. I believe that large profits made from national events are in the long term the wrong way to finance our central administration; they could if they grow fatter lead to a "Packer" like take over from the amateur game. What then for your Green Points -They would find like county "Yellows" they don't rate against "Green 'Uns".

As a county secretary who believes in the retention of counties as a vital part of the sport what would I want the central administration to do.

1. I would want them to set up a county championship event along the lines of the R.U.F.A. Regional leagues with a semi-final and final.
2. Allocate the Rothmans regional pairs heats to the long-established county congresses; thus saving valu­able weekends and actively bringing E.B.U. support to county activities.
3. I assume that all counties have men's, ladies' and mixed pairs championship events. Make these qualifying heats of national men's, ladies', mixed pairs, championship events. The numbers to qualify for the finals to be pro rata to the membership of the county. (Green points to the finalists only, please).
4. Stop debasing and prostituting "Green Points" in order to attract entries.

But above all, let's first debate honestly the situation as it is; do we want to retain counties or not. If a large majority of players see no reason to preserve counties, see them as an anachronism, let's be knowing, then persons like myself can retire gracefully from the bridge administrative scene and stop knocking our heads against a brick wall. I would, of course, go muttering to myself: "I think they may regret killing off the counties."

Comment by the magazine's editor.

We cannot agree that contributions from the Rothman's heat to the host county is necessarily charity - that will depend on the relative involvement of the County Associations concerned - however, we lend our wholehearted support to your proposal for a proper inter-county competition and to the ideas of more national finals dependent on qualifying competitions within the counties.

Are there any other supporters in the House?