SCCBA Spring Congress

Thank-you to everyone who participated in the Spring Congress over the weekend of April 20th and 21st.  I think everyone will agree that this is a Congress for all!

The Swiss Pairs was won by Julian Mitchell and Peter Clinch who finished 15 VPs clear of Sally Clark and Gunnar Hallberg in second place.  Will Adler and Mike Keeping were a little further back in third place.  The Jack-high prize was won by Sue Howley and Lynne Spooner.  Gunnar Hallberg won the bidding competition, despite failing to answer one of the questions!  All the prizewinners are pictured here.

On Sunday, the Swiss Teams was captured by David Benjamin, Matt Read, Mike Keeping and Matt Smith (pictured).  Second were Peter and Marit Langston, Will Adler and Robert Lowe.  The Jack-high winners were Keith and Maureen Norman, Sue Peters and Sylvia Clark.  Liz Bornecrantz scooped the bidding competition.

Many thanks to Stephen Kennedy for his excellent directing, Charlotte Setahul for her overstuffed Ploughman's lunches, Martin Pool and John Hardy for dealing the boards and Mervyn Wotton for helping with results uploads.

Our next Congress-style event is the Sussex Candles at Henfield on 16th June.  Once again, it's good fun for all and a buffet lunch, strawberries and cakes will be povided!  Why not enter now?

Peter Clinch,
Tournament Organiser

2023/24 Gladys Hakki Trophy Winner

Peter Langston

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.  This year's very deserving winner is Peter Langston who was presented with the award by SCCBA Chairman Peter Clinch at the SCCBA Spring Congress.  Peter L's nomination by Patcham Bridge Club was as follows :-

Peter has been a stalwart of Sussex bridge for well over 20 years, previously serving on the County committee.  He has directed many county events and is still doing a few now.

With many other clubs floundering during the pandemic, Peter worked tirelessly to ensure that Patcham not only survived as a club but thrived.  He set up many online sessions on BBO, often attracting over 30 tables and he has arranged and run many online matches against other clubs to ensure members maintained their interest and contact with other members.

His unstinting work has ensured that Patcham Bridge Club has not only survived but has come back stronger after the pandemic.  Among his many other roles, he serves on the Club Committee, maintains and improves the club website, is a regular director and is one of the club's IT experts.

Patcham BC is now, not only the busiest in the County, but it is also the 18th busiest club in the Country and this is in no small part due to Peter's unstinting and excellent work.

We believe Peter Langston would be a worthy winner of the Gladys Hakki award for 2023/24.  To the best of our knowledge, Patcham BC has never had a previous winner of the award.

SCCBA Invitation Pairs on BBO

from April to November

SCCBA is pleased to announce that the 2024 Competition will be starting on the 30th April.  Invitations have been issued to players who have played in the past and we would like to encourage other experienced partnerships to apply.  The competition takes place from April to November (all dates shown in the SCCBA Calendar).  The entry fee is £50 per partnership covering all eight sessions on BBO.  Anyone interested in playing should contact me for further information.

Last year's competition was won by Dave Franklin and Gerry Stanford with Peter Clinch and Julian Mitchell in second place.

Andrea Galpin (Event Organiser)

SCCBA Teams of Eight

aka EBU Garden Cities Trophy Heat

Seven SCCBA clubs played in this year's Inter-Club Teams of Eight at Patcham Community Centre on 23rd March in their attempts to qualify for the Garden Cities Regional Final on 11th May.

Congratulations to the winners who were the Avenue Bridge Club - Stephen Kennedy & Peter Clinch, Andy Ryder & Mike Allen, Gunnar Hallberg & Sally Clark and Matthew Read & David Dickson.  The home club, Patcham, were the runners up.

Thank-you to our event Director, Keith Norman.

Gerry Stanford (Organiser)

Sussex Pairs Final

First, a big thank-you to the Sussex clubs Chichester, The Avenue, Thakeham, Worthing, Eastbourne and Horsham for running heats for this competition.  22 pairs qualified for the final on Sunday 17^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 at Stone, Staffordshire on the 15th/16^th June.

Congratulations to the winners Alan and James Hobden  (pictured).  The runners-up were Roger Poulter and Mark Denny and in third place were David Nastaszczuk and Phil Roxburgh.

Finally, a thank-you to the Director, your County Chairman, Peter Clinch, your County President, Martin Pool, for preparing the hands and to Mervyn Wotton for setting up the web-site files for the event.

Please join us again next year.

Gerry Stanford (Organiser)

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