On Tuesday 24 September we'll be holding our Teams Championship for the year.

This is an enjoyable event that is suitable for Wednesday and Tuesday night players. Just turn up by 6.30pm with your partner, and you'll be allocated team-mates on a random basis drawn from the hat. Or you can arrange your own team-mates if you prefer.

Last year, the Teams Championship was run on a swiss format, with 10 teams battling for the grand old Silver Trophy which dates back to the 1970s. In the end, the trophy was lifted by the team led by Carol Roylance, with Ralph Sellick, Bernard Sellick and David Jones - the only team to remain undefeated, winning all their matches.

The winners are pictured below, with their trophy. Well done to all teams who competed and better luck this year!.

We are a friendly club and guests are very welcome - our modern, spacious venue has parking on-site. We play on Tuesday and Wednesday at 6.45pm - please arrive by 6.35pm to be seated for play.  Please note: the Director may start play 5 minutes early, so any arrivals after 6.35pm may be too late if play has already commenced. You can however phone the Director (or your partner) on the night if you are running a little late.

Wednesday evening is a relaxed game for beginners and intermediates but all members are welcome (please support learning). You can turn up alone on Wednesday evening and be guaranteed a game, as we run a host system.  Tuesday is aimed at intermediate and advanced players - if you need a partner on Tuesday please use "CONTACT US" (2nd tab on left) and we'll find you one.

Our Clubhouse is the Precinct Centre, Church Rd, St Marychurch TQ1 4QY - a modern, spacious venue in the grounds of St Mary’s Church at the top of the shopping precinct. Parking is on-site, behind the church.  

Directions:  Driving out of Torquay through Babbacombe, go through the traffic lights at St Marychurch. After the shops, the road bends to the right towards Teignmouth. At the next roundabout (by golf club), turn LEFT into PETITOR Road then after 200m turn RIGHT then immediately LEFT into TRUMLANDS Road. At the T junction, go LEFT into CHURCH Road, and next LEFT into the Car Park. The Precinct Centre is at the top-end of the Car Park. 

LESSONS

Our BEGINNER classes cost only £60 for an 8 week course. Attend the first lesson at no obligation, and when the course finishes you can join us for supervised beginner bridge sessions.

• The next BEGINNER class will start on Weds 25 September at 6.30pm - this will run for 8 weeks at £60
• The next IMPROVER evening is on Tues 8 October at 6.30pm, costing £6. The subject is "Slam Bidding".

If you're interested in classes, please let us know via the "CONTACT US" tab at the top left corner of your screen.

PROMOTIONS

Congratulations to the following members, who have been promoted in rank by the English Bridge Union:

County Master: Bernard Sellick

District Master: Ralph Sellick

Local Master:  Carole Hooper, Neil Downie, Mike Baker, Cathy Woodward, Liz Green, Monique Shephard

Club Master:  Mark Sugden, Richard Back, Roger Gough, Pippa Reynolds, Gill Murphy, Joy Praill, Howard Bradshaw

Key Dates

We're running six TROPHY EVENTS in 2024 - an event every alternate month!  Be sure not to miss out, and make a note of these dates in your diary:

Feb 13:   Mixed Pairs  *Winners*:  Norah Western & Billy Lambert

March 27:  Handicap Pairs Trophy  *Winners*:  Ralph & Bernard Sellick

May 14 and 21: Pairs Championship *Winners*:  Sheila Ferguson & Tony Allsworth

July 17: Margaret Pierce Trophy  *Winners*:  Monique Shephard & Jeff Cain

September 24:  Championship Teams 

December 10 :  Individual Championship (to be held at the Xmas Party)

During July, we held the Margaret Pierce Trophy for our Beginners and Intermediates, specifically those with an NGS grade of 8 or below.

Margaret was a former member who taught beginners and brought many new members into the Club. She made a fine proposal that we should play an event dedicated to such members, who were perhaps less likely to win other events due to their relative inexperience.  Margaret donated the trophy to the Club for this purpose, and we have been contesting it for over 30 years since.

Margaret's trophy, which dates back to the 1990s, was lifted by Monique Shephard and Jeff Cain, pictured here receiving the trophy from Director Steve Rimmer. This pair have forged a strong partnership since Monique joined the Club only 3 months ago - well done to you both! 

The runners-up - for the second year running - were Howard Bradshaw and Phil Giorgetti. Maybe it'll be third time lucky next year for Howard and Phil?

February 2024 saw the return - after a 3 year break - of the Mixed Pairs Championship.  It was held the evening before Valentines Day, just to add a bit of extra spice! 

Ten mixed pairs fought for the honour of lifting the silver trophy and they were joined by a further six pairs in an overall field of sixteen pairs. Director Alan Nicholl ensured that fair play and good etiquette prevailed.

The clear winners with a score of 61% were Norah Western and Billy Lambert, who added the trophy to their ever expanding silverware cabinet having won the Championship Pairs back in September.

Well done Norah and Billy, and also to Margaret and Ian Mundy who finished in second place on 56%.

The HANDICAP PAIRS trophy was held in March 2024, making a return to our list of annual events for the first time since 2019.  A whopping field of 19 pairs turned out to compete in what is clearly a hugely popular event.

The unique feature of the Handicap Pairs is that the the EBU's national grading scheme is used to equalise the field so that everyone starts with an equal chance of winning the event. All you have to do is play better than your expected percentage based on the EBU grading scheme.

We are delighted to report that Ralph and Bernard Sellick lifted the trophy after holding off a close challenge from second placed pair Bobbie and Paul Ainsworth. In third place were Alison Hill and Kim Hinds who put in a great performance to show that our new members were very much in the mix at this event. 

Earlier that evening, the AGM took place and if you'd like to read the AGM minutes you'll find them on the "Member Area" of our website.

The Club Pairs Championship was contested over two weeks in May 2024, with the two scores aggregated to arrive at an overall winner.  An average field of 16 pairs competed over the two weeks.

Congratulations to Sheila Ferguson and Tony Allsworth who are our champions with a combined score over both weeks of 66.6% - this is a record high score in recent times.

Sheila and Tony are pictured here receiving their trophy from last year's winner Norah Western, who won in 2023 playing with Billy Lambert.

The leading pair fought off a close challenge by Margaret and Ian Mundy who finished in second place with a score of 65.2%.  Normally this would have been enough to lift the trophy, so better luck next time to Margaret and Ian!

In December 2023, our Christmas Party was followed by the Individual Championship, where everyone played with a different partner on each round.  The added effect of wine, beer and spirits increased the light-hearted nature of the event!

A total of 36 members battled it out for the honour of lifting the famous old trophy, which is engraved with club champions dating back to 1960.

In the end it was a close run affair, with the winner Alan Nicholl narrowly edging out Josephine White and Sara Marshall. Alan is pictured left receiving the trophy from Christine Piper.

Devon Bridge Association are holding a friendly, all-day Bridge event aimed at players who:

• Have recently (in the last year or so) started playing bridge in a club, or are thinking of doing so soon
• Have the basics of duplicate Bridge under their belt and play a simple bidding system, and
• Can play without constantly needing to refer to their notes

Date, Time & Location:

• Sunday, October 20, 2024
• 11am start, finishing by 5pm
• Victoria Park Club, Lyndhurst Rd, Exeter, EX2 4NX

More information and an entry form is here: https: ://devonbridge.co.uk/no-fear-bridge-pairs.html

The EBU are running events for NGS payers rated up to 9 or Jack:

Nine-High Corwen is a new county-representative event to which counties can submit entries for pairs where both players have an NGS grade Two to Nine inclusive on 1st January 2025. 

Play Without the Experts Festival (Preston) For all members of NGS 10 or below. This relaxed event will take place from 8th - 11th Sept as part of the Bridge - It's a Big Deal! Festival of Bridge

Kent CBA run two weekly Saturday afternoon games on BBO. The first is a beginners 12-board duplicate for players with an NGS 7 and below. The second is an NGS 2-9 game of 18-boards.

Additional online events for players of NGS grades up to 9 or Jack are held regularly.

Newton Abbot play on Thursday at 6.45pm at the Recreational Trust on Marsh Road TQ12 2AR. There is free parking on site and table money is £2-50 (£3-50 for visitors). If the car park is full in the evening then Cricketfield Road car park is nearby (5 minute walk) where parking is free after 6-00pm.   Also relaxed bridge meetings on Tuesday afternoons at 1.30pm. 

Further details and a map showing the venue is on Newton Abbot Bridge Club, Devon (bridgewebs.com)