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Welcome to the web-site of the
Sussex County Contract Bridge Association (SCCBA)
which supports all aspects of bridge in Sussex.
New to Bridge? Forthcoming Events
For the latest news, please see below. If there's anything else that you'd like to know about, please try our :-
Full List of Contacts
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2025 Spring Congress
At the Sussex Spring Congress on May 30th/31st, the heat was fierce and the competition was strong. The winners of the Swiss Pairs were Paul King and Colin Holehouse of Hertfordshire who ended twelve points clear of the top Sussex pair, David W Green and John Hazard. The top 10-high pair was Lawrence Goldberg and Clive Hardebeck. The bidding competition was won by Gary Hyett; the highest non-expert was Dev Jaffe.
The teams trophy was retained by Matt Smith, Giles Faulkner, David Benjamin and Matt Read, who held off Andy Briggs, Milli Fawssett, John Williams and Dudley Edwards. Congratulations to all the winners!
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Many thanks to Stephen Kennedy for directing on a weekend that produced quite a few scoring anomalies and to Charlotte Setahul for producing a delicious lunch despite the heat. Also thanks to Martin Pool for dealing the hands and to John Hardy and Mervyn Wotton for managing the entries.
Our next big event is the Sussex Candles at Henfield on Sunday June 28th. Make a date in your diary and enter now!
Peter Clinch.
Tournament Manager.
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Sussex League 2025/26
The Sussex League competition is now complete for another season. 25 teams have participated this season in 4 Divisions and congratulations are due to the winning teams in each Division, captained by Julian Mitchell, Alan Gillespie, Thea Sydenham, and Mark Elliott. This popular competition will start again in September, running through the autumn and winter months, and entries for the new season will be invited in early August. New teams, of whatever level of experience and ability, are always welcome to join the competition, please contact the organiser, David Galpin, if you would like more information.
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Youth Bridge and Youth Bridge Festival!
There's some great activity already happening across Sussex in youth bridge – from Chichester to Lewes to Brighton and Hove (and others!). And to build on this, we’re excited to announce our upcoming YOUTH BRIDGE FESTIVAL on Sunday 21 June at Patcham Community Centre.
For those who already know the basics, there will be a masterclass with Ollie Powell (some of you will know that Ollie started playing at school and now travels the world, playing for England as an U31).
We’ll also have Le Petit Bridge (a fun intro version similar to minibridge) for any younger participants/siblings etc. Then we’ll run a short duplicate, with a cake break at half time and prizes.
Adults of bridge playing children are also welcome to stay and play/join a bridge taster session.
To enter, please go to the usual entry forms page. If you've any questions, please email Katie Duncanson or ring her on 07973 399242.
For more information on Youth Bridge, please see the new Youth Bridge page.
Bridge is a mindsport equal (or better 😊) than chess and we would love to support any schools/parents who’d like to start a bridge club. Please just get in touch if you would like to find out more.
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Norman Hardy
It is with great sadness that we inform you that Norman Hardy passed away on 27th April. Norman was a great supporter of Sussex bridge and was Chairman of the Tournament Committee from 2006 until 2011, a very successful period for competitions and tournaments in Sussex. Norman had the foresight to support many competitions for newcomers and novices, opening up Sussex bridge to many less experienced players. He was also a qualified county tournament director for numerous Sussex competitions.
Norman loved to play bridge, especially at West Sussex Bridge Club, of which he was a founding member. He was a kind and affable presence at the bridge table and often played a system called Blue Club, developed and played by the famous Italian Blue Team in the 1960s with which he had some success. He played with many partners and teams over the decades including Heather Barker, Tim Greenhill, Joy Mayall and Carol Watson. Norman’s contribution to the SCCBA was extensive and transformative. He was held in great affection and will be missed by many, especially by those of us who counted him as a friend. His family are in our thoughts.
Norman's funeral will take place at 12.45pm on Wednesday 3rd June at All Saints Church, High Street, Lindfield RH16 2HS. For further information and details of donations to the Salvation Army and the National Trust, please see Masters & Son.
Sally Bugden
Chair
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2026 SCCBA AGM - Appointments and Thanks
I just wanted to let you know of the organisational changes approved at the county AGM on Sunday April 26th and the special thanks earned by :-
- Dick Wheeler, retiring from various roles (including Honorary Secretary) and being appointed Vice President of SCCBA in recognition of his sterling efforts over many years, and
- Peter Clinch, stepping down after 5 years of immeasurable contributions as Chairman, but remaining as Tournament Manager.
See attached for details.
Sally Bugden,
Chair
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2025/26 Gladys Hakki Trophy Winner - Thea Sydenham
The Gladys Hakki Trophy is awarded annually to a Sussex member who has given outstanding service to county and/or club over a number of years.
Hearty congratulations are due to this year's winner, Thea Sydenham. Thea's outstanding service as Secretary, Teacher, Director and Dealer over more than ten years illustrates the huge contribution she has made not only to the success of Chichester BC but also more widely, including her support for a flourishing Minibridge club at a local junior school, regular card sessions at a local nursing home and a cafe bridge event highlighting the social benefits of bridge.
SCCBA Management Committee
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2026 SCCBA Teams of Eight
aka EBU Garden Cities Trophy Heat
Seven SCCBA clubs played in this year's Inter-Club Teams of 8 at Patcham Community Centre on 28th March in their attempts to qualify for the Garden Cities Regional Final on 9th May with West Sussex BC and Eastbourne BC joining the five clubs who played last year.
Congratulations to the winners who were the Avenue Bridge Club - Julian Mitchell & Peter Clinch, Andy Ryder & Mike Allen, Gunnar Hallberg & Sally Clark, Matthew Read & David Dickson. There were joint runners-up in Patcham and Horsham.
Thank-you to our playing Directors, Peter Clinch, Andy Osborn and Julian Mitchell.
I also have to thank our President Martin Pool for preparing the boards and the hand copies and also Mervyn Wotton for dealing with the website and technical issues.
Gerry Stanford (Organiser)
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2025/26 Sussex Pairs Final
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 Congratulations to this year's winners of the Sussex Pairs on Sunday March 15th, Peter Clinch and Julian Mitchell (pictured).
Mike Allen and Andy Ryder finished second with Katie Duncanson and Tom Eckersley-Waites completing the podium in third place.
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Up to five pairs have now qualified to represent Sussex in the Corwen Trophy in Telford on the weekend of 30th-31st May. Good luck to those who go forward.
Many thanks to Stephen Kennedy who directed and scored*, Charlotte Setahul who catered and to Mervyn Wotton and Martin Pool who provided extra technical assistance and additional dealing as we had a couple of withdrawals on the day.
Peter Clinch (Organiser)
* Note to competitors: Because the results were uploaded to the EBU with the final session percentages on both sessions, we have had some queries. Having consulted with the EBU, we can confirm that the NGS adjustments are correct.
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