The Swiss Pairs at the Sussex Autumn Congress (September 23rd and 24th) at Patcham was won by a decent margin by the brother-and-sister pair of Brenda Linfield and Brian Gould, pictured trying to hold the impressive Noel Mobbs trophy.

Brenda and Brian were eight VPs clear of two pairs in second place - Jill Hassan & Ken Ford and Mike Keeping & David Benjamin (all pictured).

Kevin McGrath and Nic Misoulis won the 10-high prize and Giles Faulkner scored an impressive 54 out of 60 in the bidding competition.

We have no photos of the Sunday Swiss teams but the shy and retiring winners were David Dickson & Matt Read, Christine Jepson & Peter Clinch.  They headed the second-placed team of Nick Goddard & Millie Fawssett, Ollie Powell & Charlie Bucknell by seven VPs.  Two players (Christine Jepson and Matt Read) managed to score full marks on the bidding competition which may help explain their overall win.

Many thanks to Charlotte Setahul for the catering, Eddie Williams for directing on Sunday, Martin Pool for dealing the boards, Peter Langston and Andy Osborn for helping with the venue logistics and Mervyn Wotton and John Hardy for managing the finances and the website uploads.

I hope to see you back at Patcham next year for the Spring Congress!

Peter Clinch.
Tournament Organiser

This year's Midweek Swiss Pairs on Wednesday August 23rd was a close-fought affair, ending in a tie!

After six matches, the leading pairs (Roger & Margaret Chaplin, Stephen Scott & Liz Senior) could not be separated.

John Austin and Roger Bill made a late run to finish third, three VPs behind the joint-winners.

All are pictured with their prize booty.

It was another excellent day at Henfield, and thanks are due to all who made it possible.  Martin Pool dealt the boards,  Peter Bates arranged the Henfield logistics,  Andrew Southwell helped with the board distribution, and Charlotte Setahul prepared the ploughman's lunches.  Our thanks to them all, as well as to Mervyn Wotton and John Hardy, who managed the entries and the website in the background.  We hope to see everyone (and more!) again next year.

Peter Clinch.
Organiser

We held our first solo-County Green-pointed Swiss Pairs at Patcham on Sunday July 30th, attended by 28 pairs.

Mike Allen and Andy Ryder emerged victorious, beating ......

...... their nearest rivals Norman Selway and Kay Preddy in their final match.  Norman and Kay were second.

The Jack-high prize was won by Frances Wallace and Mike O'Brien and a good time was had by all.

Thanks to Eddie Williams for directing, to Martin Pool and John Hardy for dealing the boards, to Charlotte Setahul for providing refreshments and to Andy Osborn and Peter Langston for assisting with logistics.

Our next Green-pointed event will be a joint-weekend with Kent at Tunbridge Wells on the last weekend of October.  Bookings for this event are open now! 

The SCCBA Venture Pairs was held at Worthing BC on Sunday July 30th.  Thanks go to Alexa Baxter for directing and to Eileen Perrigo for organising the event.  Thanks also to Eileen and her catering team for an excellent tea at halfway.  Apart from Worthing pairs, pairs also came from Bognor and West Worthing clubs.

The bridge was conducted in a friendly but competitive manner which made for a very enjoyable afternoon for everyone, especially the less experienced players.

Congratulations to winners Chris Constable and Dawn Sullings and ......

...... well done to runners-up Michael Percik and Alice Louis.

The 2023 Sussex Mixed Pairs Championship was held at the Patcham Community Centre on Sunday 16^th July.  Congratulations to the winners who were :-

Julian Mitchell and Liz Cheveley.

Well done also to the runners-up who were Peter Harbott and Sue Peters.

Many thanks to director Stephen Kennedy and organiser Gerry Stanford.

Twenty teams battled it out for the Sussex Candles on Sunday 18th June at Henfield with ......

...... Alan Setchell's Horsham-based squad (Jane Handley, Guy Davies, Terry Fishlock) emerging victorious.

Second placed was shared by the teams of Peter Harbott (Jeremy Harris, Roger and Jo Waddingham) and Valerie Benson (Mike Percik, John Austin and Roger Bill), the former team (pictured) taking the Non-Expert shield.

Congratulations to them all.

Many thanks to the director, David Galpin, and to Peter Bates and family for setting up and taking down the bridge furniture in the room.  Charlotte Setahul and team once again provided splendid food.  In the back office, thank-you to Martin Pool and John Hardy for dealing the boards and to Mervyn Wotton for consolidating and uploading the results.

See you all next year!

Peter Clinch
Organiser.

We were saddened to learn of the death of Philip Poulter in June.  Philip was one of the most distinguished players in the county for over half a century, during which time he and his partner, Duncan Quibell, won the Championship teams a record twenty times.  Despite his success, Phil was the most modest and genial of players and he will be sorely missed.

The final of the 2023 Championship Teams competition, the County's premier teams competition for teams of 4-6 players, has recently been played.  The winners were Julian Mitchell's team, comprising himself, Peter Clinch, Mike Allen, Andy Ryder, David Dickson, and Matt Read.  They defeated Dave Franklin's team by 90 imps, after being slightly behind at the end of the first of the 2 days over which the 64-board final was played.

Julian's team now goes on to play in the Pachabo Cup this weekend (10/11 June), the EBU's inter county competition for winning teams from similar events held in other counties.  We wish them all the best in this prestigious event.

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 Richard Jameson who is pictured receiving the trophy from SCCBA President Martin Pool at the Crawley BC AGM on May 5th.

Richard has been a key contributor to the success of Crawley Bridge Club for many years.  As well as being Secretary for twelve years, he has spent many hours each week in preparing and teaching beginner and improver classes, directing club duplicate sessions and publicising club and county competitions.  His contributions to the success of bridge in the County have also included organising teams for the West Sussex Inter Club League, the Sussex League and the Mid-Sussex Inter Club Challenge.

Richard's efforts in introducing Crawley to online Bridge helped the club to survive and even thrive during the Covid lockdown period.  His communication and diplomatic skills have enabled the club to establish and maintain their reputation as a friendly club and to double their membership in the last seven years.  Richard has also liaised on countless occasions with the indoor bowling club in whose premises Crawley play.  He even finds time to play bridge, often partnering the club's less experienced members.

Well done to Julian Mitchell and Peter Clinch who finished 6th in the National Pairs Final played on April 15th/16th - see results.

First, a big thank-you to the Sussex clubs Chichester, Avenue, Bexhill, Eastbourne and Horsham for running heats for this competition.  The original pairs were reduced via two semi-finals to 17 pairs who played in a 39-board final on Sunday 19^th March on BBO.  Leading pairs from this final qualify to play in the EBU’s Corwen Trophy which is to be held on Realbridge on the 3^rd / 4^th June.

Congratulations to the winners Peter Clinch & Julian Mitchell (pictured with myself).  The runners up were David Nastaszczuk and Phil Roxburgh and in third place were Mary Lawrenson and David Park.

Finally, a thank-you to the Director, Stephen Kennedy and to Mervyn Wotton for setting up the website files for the event.

Please join us again next year.

Gerry Stanford (Organiser)

Seven SCCBA clubs played in this year's Inter-Club Teams of Eight, which acts as a qualifier for the Garden Cities Trophy, at Eastbourne Bridge Club on Sunday March 12th.

Congratulations to the winners who were Avenue Bridge Club, with last year's winners Horsham coming second.

Thank-you to the Eastbourne Bridge Club, particularly the catering team, for hosting the event.  Also thank-you to our director Stephen Kennedy.

Gerry Stanford (Organiser)

123 pairs took part in this year's Charity Simultaneous Pairs which was played on Wednesday February 22nd in support of the St James Trust, Seaford for which it is expected that approximately £1,000 has been raised.

Congratulations to Valerie Benson and Michael Percik who played in the Worthing heat and are the confirmed winners.  The runners-up are Roger Poulter and David Benjamin who played in the Eastbourne heat and in 3rd place are David Dickson and Martin Greeley who played in the Avenue/Lewes/West Sussex online heat.

Congratulations also to Roger Poulter and David Benjamin who are the winners of the Eric Seldon Salver for being the top pair, both of whom are at least 70 years old.

Many thanks to all the clubs who took part in this event.  Many thanks also to Neil Watts who selected the hands and wrote the commentary and to organiser Peter Clinch.

16 teams competed in the first New Year Swiss Teams for three years at Henfield on Sunday February 12th.

Congratulations to winners Gary Hyett, Ros Wolfarth, Katie and Stephen Kennedy.  The runners-up were .....

..... Andy Ryder, Mike Allen, Neil Watts and Philip Hunt and in 3rd place were .....

..... Matt Smith, Mike Keeping, David Benjamin and, absent from the photograph, Yves Lebrec.

Many thanks to David Galpin, assisted by Peter Bates, for the smooth directing, to scorer Peter Clinch and to organiser Joy Mayall, especially for her efforts in boosting attendance.

And a special thank-you to Charlotte Setahul and her team for providing a delicious hot buffet.

The final of the 2022-23 David Pavey Trophy was held at Worthing Bridge Club on Sunday January 22nd and was greatly enjoyed by everyone.  There was a lovely friendly atmosphere and all enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea, especially the lemon drizzle cake!

Congratulations to winners Gloria Parks and Doris Edwards (pictured) from Patcham Bridge Club.  In second position were Pam Alexander and Anne Goldson from Worthing Bridge Club.

Many thanks to Alexa Baxter for directing and Eileen Perrigo for organising.

The popular Sussex League competition has now been completed for 2022.  The final match was played on 5 December where the teams captained by Ian Lancaster and Yves Lebrec played each other to decide the winners of the top division.  Ian Lancaster's team (Andrew Southwell together with Kent-based players Ian Draper and Joe Sivayogan) defeated Yves Lebrec's team by 18 imps to win Division 1 of the competition.  With one change in the team, this was great reward for Ian's team as they have come second in the last 2 seasons, having last won the competition in 2017/18.

Congratulations also to the other Divisional winners - the teams captained by Alan Gillesoie (Division 2), Josie Allen (Division 3), and Peter Harbott (Division 4).

The new season will start in February 2023 and the organiser, David Galpin, will be inviting entries for the new season's competition during January.  New teams are always welcome to join the competition, which is largely played online and, if you are interested in joining the competition, please email David.

Worthing BC held a very successful Hill’s Trophy at the Angmering Community Centre on Sunday 27^th November.  This was the first time since 2019 and 16 teams took part and enjoyed the F2F in a well ventilated venue.  It is Worthing’s oldest event, first played for in the early 1930’s.  Congratulations to the winners Linda Turley, Christine Constable, Malcolm Wright and Ann Button who came from behind by beating the eventual runners-up 19-1 on the last session to win by 8 VPs.

My thanks go to Eddie Williams and Kathy for directing the event, the caterer’s (The Fish Factory) for an excellent lunch, the U3A who allowed use of their tables and members of the Worthing BC who helped make the day a success.

The runners up were Roger Bill, John Austin, Valerie Benson and Paul Wilson.

See full results on the Worthing BC web-site

Ernie Rivett

Photographed are winners of the overall event Tim Hewson and Sean Cufley, runners-up John Cobbett and Gloria Flint, non-expert runners-up Steve and Sue Smith and non-expert winners Mark and Karen Darby.

Helen Kent, Organiser

On behalf of the Sussex Officers and Management Committee, I would like to offer hearty congratulations to William Bourne for his 2022 Tom Bradley Award for contributions to youth bridge.  I cannot imagine that there has ever been a more deserving recipient.  William's efforts in keeping the Bowles Rocks Junior Bridge Camp alive and thriving through the recent challenging years has been prodigious and enviable in its energy.

Tom Bradley himself was a long-time Chairman of SCCBA and I am sure he would have been enormously proud of William's achievements.  I know William now lives in Kent (just), but we still consider him as "one of our own".

Peter Clinch
(SCCBA Chairman)

Congratulations to Crawley BC who celebrated their 50th Anniversary recently with a enjoyable evening of bridge, cakes and Prosecco!  One of the North/South winners was founder member Tad Jasco (pictured) who still plays every week.

Crawley were one of the first Sussex clubs to restart face-to-face bridge after the pandemic.  Numbers are now above pre-pandemic levels but Crawley still have room to welcome new members and guests.

Sussex will again be entering a team in this inter-County A-team event, hosted by Merseyside & Cheshire on RealBridge. The selectors have announced the following squad:-

• Andy Ryder & Mike Allen
• David Dickson & Matt Read
• Andy Morris & Duncan Curtis
• Alan & James Hobden
• Julian Mitchell & Peter Clinch
• Dave Nastaszczuk & Philip Roxburgh

Good luck team!

Many congratulations to the Sussex team of Peter Clinch, Julian Mitchell, Ian Lancaster, Andrew Southwell, Christine Jepson & Neil Watts who have won the 2021-22 Silver Plate!  And even the runners-up team included two more Sussex players - Oliver Powell & Stephen Kennedy!  The Silver Plate is Bridge Great Britain’s consolation event for the Gold Cup.

APRIL 2ND, 2022, EVENTS - UKRAINE HUMANITARIAN APPEAL

On April 2nd, Sussex, Surrey and Kent combined to hold :-

• a Green-Pointed Swiss Pairs on RealBridge (see results), and 
• a 9(NGS)-High Pairs on BBO for less-experienced players ( see results).

The proceeds of approximately £11,000 have been donated to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal at the Disasters Emergency Committee.

Twenty pairs who learned to play in the last 6 years competed for the SCCBA Stepping Stones which was directed by Oliver Cowan.  Entries came from as far afield as Manchester, Hampshire and Kent.  Tim Lane and John Prior from Crawley BC were the overall winners with ......

..... June Carr and Kris Noble, also from CBC, taking the trophy for having been playing for more than 2 years but less than 4.

The 3rd category for those who started less than 2 years ago was won by another Sussex pair, Christine and Philip Nash.

Jane Handley (Organiser)

24 teams competed for the Sussex Green-Pointed Swiss Teams on December 12th.  The event was won by a combined Sussex / Surrey quartet of Richard Illingworth, Mike Keeping, Andrew Bannock and John Dagnall.  The same county mix featured in the runners-up, who were Alan Setchell, Jane Handley, Graham E. Osborne and Terry Fishlock.  The third-placed team were from considerably further north: Catherine Draper,, Kate Webb, Andrew Woodcock and Paul Murray.

Many thanks to Eddie and Kathy Williams for directing, and to Mervyn Wotton and John Hardy for handling the back-office event administration.

Peter Clinch,
Tournament Organiser.

I am sad to announce that Tom Brogan died unexpectedly on 12^th August.  He enjoyed his 70^th birthday celebrations with his sister and nephew, went to bed and passed during the night.

Tom was a very likeable, polite, friendly and generous man with whom I enjoyed over 30 years of friendship. Those lucky enough to enjoy one of his buffets during a match will have appreciated his generosity!  He represented Sussex many times, in the Metropolitan Cup and also in the Tollemache.  He won numerous Sussex competitions, including the Autumn Congress pairs in 2016 and 2017.

He will be greatly missed at Eastbourne Bridge Club where he was the TD Duty Officer and a friend to many.

Matt Smith, Eastbourne Bridge Club.

This competition, which is for more experienced players, was held online in the early part of the summer with 18 partnerships playing in eight rounds.  Competition was keen and the overall competition was won by Andrew Southwell and Richard Fedrick.  Close behind were Christine Jepson and Neil Watts in 2nd place, just ahead of David Dickson and David Ould who were in 3rd place.  Congratulations to them.

Thanks to Mervyn Wotton for his help with website entries, and to Eddie Williams who directed and scored all eight sessions.

Andrea Galpin
Competition Organiser