| New Year Party |
Our annual New Year Party will be held on Saturday 6th January 2024. As usual, it includes our super buffet and dessert with wine or soft drinks and features a quiz organised this year by Jane Lawrence (no bridge). The price is an all-inclusive £16 and we have reserved the Tudor Hall at The Old School, Cuckfield, for this event. Doors open at 6.30 pm and dinner will be served at 7.00 pm. Each member may bring one non-member guest. Click here to make your booking, or email secretary@westsussexbc.co.uk.
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| Bournemouth Mini Break 2024 |
**Last chance to book**
We have to give final numbers to the Miramar hotel at the end of December so this is the last call for anyone else wishing to go to this break in Bournemouth from 11th to 14th February. We currently have 26 WSBC members going and 23 from Horsham and Patcham so you will be amongst friends at a really nice hotel which is almost exclusively booked for us. Full details are here or contact Chris Jago via secretary@westsussexbc.co.uk.
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| November Winners |
At the end of each month, winners are awarded prizes for handicapped results based on their best three Tuesday evening sessions played during the month. Please join us in congratulating our November champions, John Rix and Richard Haynes.
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John Rix and Richard Haynes |
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Peter Berry and David Young |
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Carol Watson |
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Winners of free plays for any games played during December are Margaret Wearing and Bill Nicolle. Their names were drawn in our monthly prize drawing based on attendance which took place at our evening game on Tuesday, 5th December.
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| No Game on Boxing Day |
Although there will be no bridge at the Club on Tuesday, 26th December, all other face-to-face games around Christmas and the New Year will go ahead as scheduled. We wish all our members and visitors a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
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In Memoriam: Dilys Jones
It is with sadness that we report the death of Dilys, aged 79, on Monday 13th November. She had been a member of West Sussex Bridge Club for about 40 years and despite being rather frail had still managed to come to the club from time to time, most recently at the end of August. She was on a bridge break at Eastboune over the weekend with her long time friend, Margaret Drake, when she was taken ill.
We understand there will be no formal funeral as she held a “wake’ with all her friends last year.
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| Children in Need Donation |
Thanks to everyone who played in our recent Children in Need charity simultaneous pairs game. Your donations allowed us to contribute £200 to this worthy cause. If you did not attend last Thursday's session but would like to make a donation, you may do so at https://www.ecatsbridge.com/sims/donations.asp.
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| October Winners |
At the end of each month, winners are awarded prizes for handicapped results based on their best three Tuesday evening sessions played during the month. Please join us in congratulating our October champions, John Rix and Richard Haynes.
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John Rix and Richard Haynes |
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Peter Bates and Jo Jewson |
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Ed Barter and Judith Dingle |
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Winners of free plays for any games played during November are Jo Jewson and Christine Walls. Their names were drawn in our monthly prize drawing based on attendance which took place at our afternoon game on Thursday, 2nd November.
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| Bournemouth Mini Break 2024 (Copy) |
**Stop Press** -- only 3 rooms remaining!
We are pleased to announce that In 2024 West Sussex Bridge Club is again joining forces with Horsham Bridge Club to organise a winter bridge break at the beautiful Hotel Miramar in Bournemouth. The Miramar is wonderfully situated near the beach on the East Cliff with excellent food and superb service. The bridge will be run by Graham and Rose Walker and will include two afternoon sessions and three evening sessions with standbys available. Non-playing partners are most welcome. Please click here for more details including pricing and how to book.
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| East Grinstead Basic Bridge Pairs |
This relaxed and fun annual event run by Sussex County Contract Bridge Association is coming up on Saturday 25th November at East Grinstead Rugby Football Club. The cost is £26 per pair, a light lunch is included, and closing date for entries is 22nd November. Download an entry form or apply online here. Questions can be sent to the organiser, Helen Kent, at helenkent@hotmail.com.
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| Children in Need Charity Game |
On Thursday, 9th November, WSBC will be participating in the Children in Need Simultaneous Pairs event which takes place in the evening. The cost is £5 in cash please and additional donations are welcome. All table money goes to the charity. There is no need to sign up in advance, just show up for the usual Thursday evening game that starts at 7.15 pm!
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| September Winners |
Meet our September competition winners! On Tuesday evening, winners were awarded prizes for handicapped results based on their best three sessions played during the month. Please join us in congratulating our September champion, Norman Hardy.
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Norman Hardy |
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Brian Kirkdale |
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Bridget Keates |
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Our monthly prize drawing based on attendance, which awards free plays for an entire month, will take place at our evening game on Tuesday, 3rd October.
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| Learning Opportunity -- *Sign Up Now!* |
Starting on 4th October WSBC, in conjunction with Andy Ryder Bridge, is offering a 10-week online course for less experienced players and past students. Not only will it be fun and packed with ways to improve your game, but WSBC is making a special offer to split the cost with members. Instead of the usual £100 for 10 lessons, the cost to you is only £50! Full support will be provided for anyone unsure about using the online platform. Please contact Neil Watts at wattsneil@outlook.com if you are interested or know someone who might be.
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| **8th Annual Pairs League - Step Up, Step Up!** |
We are still looking for several more pairs to join us for the 2023 Pairs League competition that begins on Monday, 2nd October. If you're thinking about it but are still undecided, read what Bill Nicolle has to say about it:
"This monthly competition has been running online since Covid. It is unique in its concept and its scoring. It is competitive (promotion and relegation) which gives it its edge, but above all it is fun! Linda and I have played in it from the outset. Each year we look forward to it starting. Can we therefore recommend anyone wavering about joining, especially new members, to give it a go too!"
The league will run over five months, at 7.15 pm on the first Monday of each month October-February, The event will be played online at BBO using team matches and scoring. Participants are placed into divisions each with four tables, with the intent of grouping players of a similar skill level.
This competition is free to enter with no associated BBO cost either. Participants are asked to commit to playing in all five matches, although individual or pair substitutes are allowed as needed.
If you are interested in participating, please reply as soon as possible to Neil Watts at competitions@westsussexbc.co.uk.
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| August Winners |
Meet our August competition winners! On Tuesday evening, winners were awarded prizes for handicapped results based on their best three sessions played during the month. Please join us in congratulating our August champions, Sue and Steve Smith.
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Sue and Steve Smith |
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Norman Hardy and Mary Rimmer |
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Peter Berry and David Young |
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Our monthly prize drawing based on attendance, which awards free plays for an entire month, will take place at our evening game on Tuesday, 5th September.
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| Details of Competitions - superseded |
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP and PLATE
Known prior to 2016 as the Taylor Trophy, this competition consists of a qualifying heat plus a final. After the qualifying heat, the top half of the field play for the Cup and the lower half of the field play for the Plate.
Competition not held in 2021. Current Cup holders are Bill Nicolle and Linda Gardiner, and current Plate holders are Mary Rimmer and Maureen Topley.
PAIRS LEAGUE
Created in Coventry by George Cuthbertson and John Pyner, the competition is run in divisions of four tables where, over a period of five months, each pair plays two eight-board matches against every other pair in their division. After each match, the E/W pairs score up as teams with the other N/S pairs in their division. The final scores for each match are converted from imps to VP’s.
Scoreboards of the results are displayed during the evening after each match is completed and cumulative scoresheets are put up on the website and at the club after each session has been completed. Master points are awarded at the end of each series. There is promotion and relegation at the end of each series plus a free entry for the next series to the winners of each division.
Not only is the event very social but over the series, the teams scoring reduces the randomness that is often associated with pairs events. It is important to bid close games and slams and NOT to go for big penalties!
Attendance and Substitutes:
Full attendance is required for this competition so as to avoid an eight-board sit out. However substitutes are allowed (either individuals or pairs). Any substitute or substitute pair can play more than once and for different people. Their score will be allocated to the original entrants. It is the responsibility of the original entrants to arrange their substitutes.
In 2022-23 the winners of Division 1 were Chris Jepson and Neil Watts with runners-up Brian Kirkdale and Suzy Gray. Division 2 winners were Robert Hirst and Peter Berry with runners-up Colin Mallows and David Williams.
THE BRADLEY-CROUCH CUP
This competition (including the non-expert section) is played on each Thursday evening in January to March. A player's three best results are counted, one in each month. Partners must be club members. "NGS Stratification" is used and the non-expert trophy is awarded to the highest scoring player with an EBU National Grading Scheme (NGS) grading of 6 or below (i.e. <47%). Stratification is based on members’ EBU NGS ranking on 1st January.
Competition not held in 2021. Current Cup holders are David Young and Chris Hook and the winners of the Non-Expert were Suzanne and Malcolm McKenzie.
NON-EXPERT TROPHY
This trophy is awarded to the non-expert (fewer than 5,000 master points as at 1st April) who attains the most master points at club sessions in the following year.
The winner in 2020 was Rob Jenner.
MIXED PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP
Known prior to 2016 as the Eric Valentine Reeves Memorial Prize, this competition is played on the closest Tuesday to Valentine's Day. There is a prize for the leading pair plus a Flitch prize for the leading married couple.
The winners of the Mixed Pairs Championship in 2022 were Jill Hassan and Ken Ford, with the Flitch prize going to Sue and Brian Cutler.
ANNUAL CLUB INDIVIDUAL and PAIRS CHAMPIONS
A competition for the best individual and best pair in the club with the highest average score from 1st April to 31st March with a minimum of 6 sessions played for pairs and 10 sessions for individuals.
The Individual winner for Club year 2021-22 was Philip Hunt and the Pairs winners were Neil Watts and Philip Hunt.
WSBC LADIES’ & MEN’S PAIRS
This is a one-session event where a prize is given to the leading Ladies’ and Men’s pairs.
If there is a sufficient entry the event is run in separate divisions for ladies and men with both sections playing the same boards.
However, with fewer than 10 pairs in each division, the competition is run in a single section with all the Ladies’ pairs sitting North/South and all the Men’s pairs sitting East/West.
Competition not held in 2021. The current holders of the Men’s Pairs are Ian Sanderson and Brian Kirkdale, and the current holders of the Ladies’ Pairs are Lindsay Geddes and Sally Bugden.
THE THOMASON TROPHY
This competition is held on Thursday evenings through the year, and is restricted to members who have less than 5,000 registered master points as at 1st April. The winner is the member who attains the most master points during the bridge year.
Competition not held in 2021. The current holder is Rob Jenner.
JACKIE CLINTON VENTURE PAIRS
Competition not held in 2021. Current holders are Eric Jenner & Chris Gray.
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| July Winners |
Meet our July competition winners! On Tuesday evening, winners were awarded prizes for handicapped results based on their best three sessions played during the month. Please join us in congratulating our July champion, Colin Mallows.
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Colin Mallows |
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Mary Guy-Jones |
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Norman Hardy |
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In our monthly prize drawing based on attendance, free plays for the entire month of August go to lucky winners Sue Cutler and Richard Markwick.
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| June Winners |
Meet our June competition winners! On Tuesday evening, winners were awarded prizes for handicapped results based on their best three sessions played during the month. Please join us in congratulating our June champion, Stuart Thornton.
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Stuart Thornton |
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Bill Nicolle |
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Suzy Gray |
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In our monthly prize drawing based on attendance, free plays for the entire month of July go to lucky winners Peter Berry and David Young.
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| Your Club Needs YOU! |
Committee: Two members decided to stand down from the Committee at the AGM after many years’ service, and we are pleased Colin Mallows and Mark Darby have agreed to replace them. However we still have two vacancies and as the Club can only function efficiently with volunteers to undertake the various tasks, please consider putting your name forward to be co-opted. Please contact Chris Jago at secretary@westsussexbc.co.uk if you would like more information on what is involved.
Directors and Directors’ Assistants: Now that we regularly run three sessions a week, we need to increase the number of Directors so please consider volunteering. Full training will be given (and you get to play free for the sessions you direct!). More urgently, Robert Hirst, who normally directs on the 2nd Tuesday and the 1st & 5th Thursday afternoons, is in need of assistance with equipment and table setup at The Old School. Please contact secretary@westsussexbc.co.uk if you can help.
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| Bournemouth Mini Break 2024 |
We are pleased to announce that In 2024 West Sussex Bridge Club is again joining forces with Horsham Bridge Club to organise a winter bridge break at the beautiful Hotel Miramar in Bournemouth. The Miramar is wonderfully situated near the beach on the East Cliff with excellent food and superb service. The bridge will be run by Graham and Rose Walker and will include two afternoon sessions and three evening sessions with standbys available. Non-playing partners are most welcome. Please click here for more details including pricing and how to book.
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| May Winners |
Meet our May competition and prize draw winners! On Tuesday evening, winners were awarded prizes for handicapped results based on their best three sessions played during the month. Please join us in congratulating our May winners, Brian Kirkdale and Christine Walls.
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Brian Kirkdale and Christine Walls |
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Bill Nicolle |
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Richard Markwick and Bridget Keates |
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In our monthly prize drawing based on attendance, free plays for the entire month of June go to lucky winners Adrian Alexander and Mark Darby.
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We have received a couple of reports that the left-side menu is sometimes not appearing on the Home page. If this happens to you, please contact Jane Lawrence at webmaster@westsussexbc.co.uk.
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| **Time to Renew Your Membership** |
Annual membership for 2023-24 renews on 1st April (new members click here to apply). We look forward to welcoming members back to West Sussex Bridge Club for another year. You may now renew online -- click here or on the Membership Application/Renewal option in the main menu. The renewal fee is held at £15 for 2023-24, discounted to £12.50 if paid before the end of May.
Please note that, if you do not renew by the end of May, you will no longer be able to play online at our joint sessions with Avenue and Lewes Bridge Clubs, nor be able to use vouchers at our sessions.
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| April Competition Winner |
Meet our April competition winner! As previously announced, beginning 1st April we introduced a new way to award prizes by rewarding attendance through the month. However, we are continuing to recognise best performance in the handicapped category on Tuesday evenings, based on the best three sessions played during the month. Please join us in congratulating our April winner, Suzy Gray.
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Suzy Gray |
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Ed Barter and Judith Dingle |
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Brian and Sue Cutler |
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| Your Club Needs YOU! |
Committee: With two members having decided to stand down from the Committee at the AGM after many years’ service, and with two current vacancies, we are looking to fill four places. The Club can only function efficiently with volunteers to undertake the various tasks so please consider putting your name forward to join. Please contact Chris Jago at secretary@westsussexbc.co.uk if you would like more information on what is involved.
Directors and Directors’ Assistants: Now that we regularly run three sessions a week, we need to increase the number of Directors so please consider volunteering. Full training will be given (and you get to play free for the sessions you direct!). More urgently, Robert Hirst, who normally directs on the 2nd Tuesday and the 1st & 5th Thursday afternoons, is in need of assistance with equipment and table setup at The Old School. Please contact secretary@westsussexbc.co.uk if you can help.
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| Bournemouth Success! |
On the last night at Bournemouth West Sussex Bridge Club challenged Horsham Bridge Club to a return match. Congratulations to team ‘West Sussex’ for avenging our heavy defeat last year! Well played everyone.
At the same time, we would like to extend a huge thank you to all Horsham members that came to this winter break. Your participation enabled us to fill the hotel completely, and greatly contributed to the success of the event.
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| March Competition Winners |
Meet our March competition winners! On Tuesday evening, winners were awarded prizes for best performances in open and handicapped categories based on the best three sessions played during March. Please join us in congratulating Norman Hardy, winner in both the handicapped and open categories.
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Handicapped |
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Open |
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Norman Hardy
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Norman Hardy
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Sue and Steve Smith |
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Peter Berry and David Young |
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Suzy Gray |
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Suzy Gray |
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Congratulations also to John Rix and Richard Haynes, winners of our Thursday evening competition. This competition awards prizes for the best performance by a Class C player or players over the best three sessions during the month.
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| New Competitions |
In June we began monthly competitions on Tuesday and Thursday evenings as incentives to boost attendance. Happily that goal has been met, but we are pleased to continue to offer both competitions to members:
- Tuesday evening sessions will have adjusted handicapped results based on NGS rankings in tandem with the regular results, and a monthly prize of a bottle of wine given for the best performances over any three weeks in each section.
- There will be a monthly prize of a bottle of wine to the Class C member or members with the aggregate best three results on Thursday evenings in the month based on master points after stratification.
On both Tuesday and Thursday evenings, you can play with the same or different partners. To check Tuesday's handicapped results, go to the Results page and click on the Information tab that is shown there.
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| Thursday Afternoon Sessions |
It has been very pleasing to see that Thursday afternoon sessions are becoming more popular. As a result we have decided to open on every Thursday afternoon in January, February and March. However from January we will be reintroducing our standard charges for these sessions - £3 cash or by voucher available for members with a book of 11 vouchers costing £25 (a bargain £2.27 each!) which will be available to purchase at each session.
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| Mixed Pairs Champions |
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Congratulations to Jill Hassan and Ken Ford who are the 2023 WSBC Mixed Pairs Champions. Known prior to 2016 as the Eric Valentine Reeves Memorial Prize, the Mixed Pairs Championship is played on the closest Tuesday to Valentine's Day; this year the event fell on ♥Valentine's Day♥ itself. In addition to the overall winners, a Flitch prize is awarded to the leading married couple, and our 2023 winners are Brian and Sue Cutler. |
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| February Competition Winners |
Meet our February competition winners! On Tuesday evening, winners were awarded prizes for best performances in open and handicapped categories based on the best three sessions played during February. Please join us in congratulating Norman Hardy, winner in the handicapped category, whose lead of just 0.29% over second-place pair Brian Kirkdale and Christine Walls earned him the Gold medal position. Peter Berry and David Young were our winners in the open.
| Congratulations also to Bridget Keates and Richard Markwick, winners of our Thursday evening competition. This competition awards prizes for the best performance by a Class C player or players over the best three sessions during the month. |
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| January Competition Winners |
Meet our January competition winners! On Tuesday evening, winners were awarded prizes for best performances in open and handicapped categories based on the best three sessions played during January. Please join us in congratulating Ed Barter, winner in the handicapped category, and Peter Berry and David Young, winners in the open.
Congratulations also to Sue and Steve Smith, winners of our Thursday evening competition. This competition awards prizes for the best performance by a Class C player or players over the best three sessions during the month.
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| Garden Cities Trophy |
SCCBA is holding a heat for this teams-of-8 competition at 11 am on Sunday 12th March at Eastbourne Bridge Club. If you are interested in representing WSBC in this competition, please contact Chris Jago via secretary@westsussexbc.co.uk by Friday 24th February. The Club will pay the entrance fee.
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| Tuesday 7th February - No Game |
Please note that on Tuesday 7th February the Club will be closed for the 7.15 pm session as all our equipment - and many regular Tuesday players - will be at our Mini-Break in Bournemouth. We hope to see you the following Tuesday, Valentine's Day, for the Mixed Pairs Championship (see below).
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