2025 Spring Congress - Swiss Pairs

The Sussex Spring Congress was condensed to a single Swiss Pairs this year but we all had a good time at Patcham BC on Saturday April 5th. 

A particularly fine time was had by the winners (Will Adler and Mike Keeping) and ....

..... second-placed Millie Fawssett and Andy Briggs.

In third place were Liz Hoskins and Peter Clinch.

The Jack-high trophy was won (following some investigations) by Bruce Carrison and Sally Clark, though Rose and Graham Walker ran them close.  In the bidding competition, Matt Read posted the best score. 

Congratulations to all the winners and many thanks to Stephen Kennedy for directing, Charlotte Setahul for catering, Martin Pool for dealing the boards, and John Hardy and Mervyn Wotton for managing the entries.

Peter Clinch (Organiser)

2025 SCCBA Teams of Eight

aka EBU Garden Cities Trophy Heat

Five SCCBA clubs played in this year's Inter-Club Teams of Eight at Patcham Community Centre on 29th March in their attempts to qualify for the Garden Cities Regional Final on 10th May.

Congratulations to the winners who were the Avenue Bridge Club - Stephen Kennedy & Oliver Powell, Andy Ryder & Mike Allen, Gunnar Hallberg & Sally Clark, Matthew Read & David Dickson.  The runners-up were Horsham.

Thank-you to our event Director, Frances Wallace.

Gerry Stanford (Organiser)

Sussex League

The 2024 Sussex League competition is now complete for another season and congratulations to the teams captained by these players on winning their respective Divisions - Division 1 Ian Lancaster, Division 2 Martin Greeley, Division 3 Bruce Carrison and Division 4 Ed Barter.

The new season will start in May, running through to March next year.  See how to enter.  New teams, of whatever level of experience, will be most welcome to join the competition.  Please contact organiser David Galpin if you would like any further information.

2024/25 Gladys Hakki Trophy Winner - Irene Gannon

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.  Congratulations to Irene Gannon who has been awarded the trophy for 2024/2025.  Irene has been a tower of strength in Lewes Bridge Club for many years by attracting new players at local societies fairs, teaching them the basics, providing further training/mentoring to improve their performance and encouraging and partnering them to gain confidence in duplicate sessions.

Recognising the importance of attracting younger players, Irene has also been active in teaching Minibridge in local primary and secondary schools.  She now plans to introduce the secondary students to face-to-face matches against other schools.

She has also contributed much to club management including directing sessions, training scorers and dealers, providing advice on technical issue arising from the use of scoring software and developing/managing the club website.  All of this often requires enthusiasm and commitment well beyond the call of duty but she approaches every task with good humour and modesty.  The multiplicity of contributions to the smooth running of the club are greatly appreciated by all concerned.

NEW! - Sussex Nine-High Championship

on BBO on Sunday April 27th!

I wanted to let you know of a great new competition aimed at players with a primary affiliation to Sussex and an NGS of 9 or below, leading to a National final where you and your partner could represent Sussex and maybe be crowned the Nine-High champions of England!

But I'm getting ahead of myself.  The first step to National glory is the Sussex 9-High Championship, which will be held on BBO at 1 p.m. on Sunday 27th April - playing 24 boards against your peers.  The winners will be awarded the Newton Nine-High trophy, kindly donated to the County by Lord Richard Newton.  The top 4 qualifying pairs will be invited to represent Sussex in the EBU National final which will be held online (a choice of BBO and RealBridge) on Saturday 31st May.

If you are unsure whether you are eligible or if you have any other questions, please email me or ring me on at 0751 533 3539.

Register for the Sussex Nine-High Championship here (£4 per player) - by Saturday 26th April.

I hope you'll take up this opportunity and I look forward to seeing you on BBO in April!

Peter Clinch (Organiser)

2024/25 Sussex Pairs Final

Again, a big thank-you to the Sussex clubs Chichester, The Avenue, Worthing, Eastbourne, Horsham, Patcham and West Sussex for running heats for this competition.  22 pairs qualified for the final on Sunday 16^th March, playing at the Patcham Community Centre.  Leading pairs from this final qualify to play in the EBU’s Corwen Trophy which is to be held online on Realbridge on Sat/Sun 31st May/1st June.

Congratulations to the winners David Park and Gerry Stanford.  The runners-up were Marit and Peter Langston and in third place were Andy Ryder and Mike Allen.

Finally, a thank-you to the  County Chief Tournament Stephen Kennedy, your County President, Martin Pool for preparing the hands and to Mervyn Wotton for technical assistance.

Please join us again next year.

Gerry Stanford (Organiser)

Train to be a Bridge Teacher 

Have you ever thought about becoming a bridge teacher?  If so, why not join one of the upcoming Club Teacher Training courses run by English Bridge Education & Development (EBED)?  For 2025, the course dates are:-

Eastbourne - 1st & 2nd March,
Horsham - 26th & 27th April.

The 2-day courses give aspiring bridge teachers the skills to teach bridge effectively.  EBU-affiliated clubs are eligible for discounts or concessionary places.  If you're interested, please contact Lisa Miller on 01296 317 217 (lisa@ebedcio.org.uk ) or Clive Turner on 01296 317 212 (clive@ebedcio.org.uk).

If you've any questions, please email Douglas Wright or ring him on 07801 989630.

Other County News