Championship Teams 2023/24

The prestigious Championship Teams competition for 2023/2024 has recently been completed.  Congratulations to the winning team captained by Christine Jepson (Neil Watts, Andrew Southwell, Ian Lancaster, David Clifton) who defeated Dave Franklin's team in the Final played in mid-June.  The Plate Final, for first-match losers in the main competition, was held recently and the Plate was retained by the current holders, Peter Rowell's team (Francis Kelly, Terry Fishlock, David Cairns), who defeated Peter Langston's team in a very close match.

The  competition will start again in a few weeks time and the entry form will be on the County Website in early October.  New teams are always welcome to join the competition and if you require any more information please contact the organiser, David Galpin.

EBU Festival – Bridge – It’s a Big Deal

The SCCBA has been working with affiliated clubs to develop plans for the Sussex contributions to the festival.  Currently, we have a total of 19 activities and events with 2 taking place centrally and 17 in clubs or elsewhere.  Details of those activities and events which are open to all are now included in the SCCBA Calendar.

I am referring you to this information for two reasons.  First, it is to make you aware of the opportunities for you to participate in one or more events to play your part in making the festival a great success, particularly in terms of the sums collected in support of Cancer Research UK.

The second reason relates to the other primary objective of the festival, i.e. to spread awareness of the enjoyment we all get from playing bridge and the opportunities there are for newcomers to join our community.  In that context, I seek your help in encouraging any of your family and friends who might be interested in finding out about our wonderful game to consider attending one of the Open Day/Taster Session events being organised by the clubs at Crawley, Patcham and Seaford.

I recognise that the locations of those events will not be convenient for many and I would encourage them to pursue their interest through one of the bridge teachers listed on the Teachers in Sussex page. They will be delighted to tell you about the learning opportunities available.

Many thanks.

Dick Wheeler
SCCBA Hon Sec (tel. 07786 187297)

Bridge - it's a Big Deal!
County Involvement

I hope that, like me, you are looking forward to Bridge - it's a Big Deal! in September, the EBU-led initiative to promote the playing of bridge across the country in aid of Cancer Research UK.  All of the events in Sussex of which we are aware are in the County Calendar (click on 'More Info' to see full details of an event).  I wanted to let everyone know of two events that can be entered via this website :-

• The Blue-Pointed SCCBA Autumn Congress will take place at Patcham BC over the weekend of 21st and 22nd September - Swiss Pairs on the Saturday and Swiss Teams on the Sunday.  Although this is outside the "official" BiaBD week, we are including it in our list of initiatives and all proceeds will go to Cancer Research UK.  Patcham BC have very kindly agreed to waive the hiring charge and the County will cover the cost of Blue Points so that our donation will be maximised.
• A "Famous Hands from Famous Matches" duplicate pairs will be run by Avenue BC on BBO on September 11th.  It is not necessary to be a member of the Avenue to enter - all entries will be welcome. This will be a 24-board duplicate pairs with hands selected from international matches of the past.  A commentary will be provided to all emails supplied by entrants and there will be a prize for the winning pair.

For each of these events, you may also top up your entry with a donation to Cancer Research UK, should you so choose.

Peter Clinch.
SCCBA Chairman

Update on 'Teaching Bridge in Schools' Initiative

I would like to thank all those who replied to my email on 'Rekindling Bridge in Schools' sent last month.  We have identified a number of potential schools and interested bridge teachers and our next step is to invite those who are interested to be educated in How to Teach Bridge in Schools.

There will be three sessions (subject to demand), each starting at 9.30 for 10 a.m.  They will be led by Douglas Wright of 3 Counties Bridge and will be at :-

• Eastbourne Bridge Club (18th August),
• Rottingdean Whiteway Centre (17th September),
• Chichester Bridge Club (21st September).

To register for these events, please contact Douglas Wright or go directly to the registration area.

There is more to come here so watch this space!

Peter Clinch.
SCCBA Chairman

Green Point Swiss Pairs

This year's Sussex Green-Pointed Swiss Pairs on Sunday July 28th at Patcham was very close at the top and was won in sweltering conditions by David Norman and David Dawson of Surrey.  Congratulations and commiserations go to John Austin and Roger Bill who finished second after originally being declared winners - a last-minute scoring alteration reversed the standings . David Benjamin and Mike Keeping finished third.

Many thanks to the director Stephen Kennedy who had to overcome some unwelcome Bridgemate difficulties and did so calmly and with cool.  Thanks are also due to Martin Pool and John Hardy for dealing the boards, to Charlotte Setahul for providing refreshments and to Mervyn Wotton for assisting in diagnosis of some technical issues.  Finally, many thanks to Joy Mayall and Gerry Stanford for their unselfish support to enable the event to run smoothly.

Peter Clinch,
Tournament Organiser

Book Your Summer/Autumn Bridge Now!

Astonishingly, it is summer and you can beat the weather by playing a bit of fun bridge.  For the following remaining events in July-October, you can enter here.

SCCBA Midweek Blue-Pointed Swiss Pairs at Henfield: Please note that this event has been rescheduled to 4th September.

SCCBA Welcome Pairs at Worthing on 29th September: For those who have learnt to play in the last 5 years with an NGS of 5 or less.

SCCBA Ladies Pairs at Patcham on 20th October.

And that's not all!

We are pleased to announce that the next Kent/Sussex Green-pointed venture will be on the weekend of 26th-27th October - Swiss Pairs on the Saturday and Swiss Teams on the Sunday.  We hope this will again be a friendly affair and attract players of all standards (green points are a bonus!).  It will again be held at Tunbridge Wells Bridge Club - a lovely facility and just next door to a Premier Inn if you want to make a weekend of it.  You can enter here.

Peter Clinch.
Tournament Manager

SCCBA Venture Pairs

Worthing BC held the 2024 SCCBA Venture Pairs on Sunday 21st July.  We had nine full tables and it produced a competitive session. My thanks go to Alexa Baxter for directing which involved an unusual movement to generate a single winner.

Also, thanks to Eileen Perrigo for organising and to Eileen and helpers for excellent food platters at the half-way break.

Ernie Rivett

Congratulations to winners Chris Robbins and David McLenahan and ..........

...... well done to runners-up Paul Wilson and Richard Earl.

Other County News