Bulletin

The Friday evening duplicate is cancelled on 13 December but will be held at the club in the Main Hall as usual on the day before—on Thursday 12 December.

Please allow extra time travelling to or from the club from the Richmond direction if using public transport at the weekend, 5 & 6 September. There is no service on the District line between Turnham Green and Richmond at the weekend.

There’s still time to give yourself a chance of a £500 prize by signing up and playing in our Half Marathon on Saturday 27 July—details in the poster.

due to some very last‑minute dropouts which make the session unviable on this occasion.

Come along on Wednesday 21 August for a lighthearted evening duplicate with complimentary nibbles and no NGS. Everyone is welcome. Nibbles from 7.00pm; duplicate starts at 7.30pm.

Unfortuanetely, we have cancelled the Wednesday duplicate, scheduled this week for 21 August. due to too few registrations.

It is not too late to enter the Mixed Pairs this coming Sunday 19 May. And we are delighted to say that the leading pairs in this event will be eligible to win one of four fantastic prizes being offered by the organisers of the International Deauville Bridge Festival in July.

Any last‑minute entries to the 2024 YCKO accepted until Wednesday 31 January.

The club is closed as usual over Easter, so there are no Friday morning and no Friday evening duplicates on 29 March.

The regular Super Wednesday Duplicate is suspended on 20 March this week due to too few registrations.

New Friday morning games start this week.

The Friday evening duplicate this week on 31 May is upstairs in the Warwick Room.

The first scheduled date for our Autumn 2024 Super League matches is 28 AugustWednesday this week.

Members are welcome to attend the club AGM to be held this year just before the regular duplicate on Friday 20 October.

From Thursday 26 to Sunday 29 October, there will be no District line service between Earl’s Court and Ealing Broadway/Kensington (Olympia)/Richmond. This means Ravenscourt Park, the closest station to the club, will not be in use. Hammersmith, a ten‑minute walk or short bus ride away, is the closest station served by other lines.

Current standings in the Women’s Swiss Teams held this year over the weekend 18 & 19 November.

Play your match
at the Young Chelsea in the London MindSports Centre.

at the London MindSports Centre.

As Monday 8 May is a bank holiday, the weekly evening supervised game will not take place that day.

Please would you register your pair for any Monday evening duplicate in which you plan to play.

Our March ladder is now under way. Play on at least one Monday during the month to maximize your chances!

Help Ukraine Emergency Appeal

The club has raised  £7,628.

For any information

Contact the Management Team

manager@ycbc.co.uk

07713 322420

Find us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Registered Charity Number 1158813

Release 2.19r
Come and play your match at our premises     

Live ranking

 
What’s happening this week
 
 

Young Chelsea Bridge Club

Week starting 9 December 2024

     

Monday

7.30pm

Beginners Lesson—Contact club

Monday

7.30pm

Practice Play Session — Beginners/Improvers

Tuesday

11.00am

Goldhawks Duplicate—Everyone welcome

 

11.00am

Introduction to Bridge Seminar—For juniors aged approximately 9–19

 

7.00pm

HCC Bridge Taster Session — Contact club

 

7.15pm

New Chiswick Duplicate — Everyone welcome

Wednesday

7.00pm

Improvers Lesson—Contact club

 

7.30pm

Next Step Lesson—Contact club

 

2.00pm

Online Supervised Play — Beginners/Improvers

Wednesday

7.15pm

YC Super League Division Two—Pre‑entry required

 

7.30pm

YC Super League Division One—Pre‑entry required

Wednesday

7.00pm

Matchpoint Pairs Duplicate, Complimentary Nibbles, no NGS—Cancelled due to too few registrationsEveryone welcome, registration advised

 

7.30pm

Next Step Lesson — Contact club

Wednesday

7.30pm

Next Step Course — Contact club

Thursday

2.00pm

Seminar: Pre‑emptive bidding—Registration advised

Thursday

3.30pm

Open Day — Student recruitment

Thursday

1.00pm

Beginners Course — Contact club

supesday

1.30pm

Beginners Course — Contact club

Thursday

1.00pm

Thursday daytime games are cancelled in favour of new Friday morning games starting next week—YC Thursday Daytime Duplicate—Everyone welcome, registration advised

Thursday

7.00pm

LMBA Garden Cities Heat—Pre‑entry required

Thursday

2.00pm

Seminar: How Good is my Hand?—Registration advised

 

3.00pm

Bob Rowlands Memorial—All welcome

 

4.00pm

Kids’ Bridge—Contact club

 

7.00pm

Supervised Duplicate—Beginners/Improvers

 

7.30pm

YC Thursday Evening Duplicate (replacing Friday Evening this week only)—Everyone welcome

 

7.30pm

Next Step Lesson—Contact club

Thursday

7.00pm

Supervised Play Session — Beginners/Improvers

Friday

10.00am

YC Friday Morning Relaxed Duplicate—Everyone welcome

 

6.30pm

YC AGM—All members welcome

 

7.30pm

YC Friday Evening Duplicate—Everyone welcome

Saturday

10.00am

BGB Gold Cup Semifinals—Spectators welcome

Saturday

10.45am

EBU Premier League Divs Three & Four—Pre‑entry required

Saturday

11.30am

LMBA London Congress Swiss Pairs—Contact LMBA

Saturday

11.00am

James Jones Cup (Swiss Pairs) — Cancelled

Saturday

11.00am

Junior Auction Pairs—Registration advised

Saturday

10.30am

YC Half Marathon—Everyone welcome, registration required

Saturday

10.30am

Learn Bridge in a Weekend—Contact Ned Paul

Saturday

10.30am

YC Women’s Teams—Pre‑entry required

Saturday

4.00pm

YC Christmas Party — Everyone welcome

Sunday

10.00am

BGB Gold Cup Finals—Spectators welcome

Sunday

10.45am

EBU Premier League Divs Three & Four—Pre‑entry required

Sunday

11.30am

Franklin To Championship Pairs—Everyone welcome, registration advised

Sunday

1.00pm

YC Mixed Pairs — Everyone welcome

Sunday

10.30am

Learn Bridge in a Weekend—Contact Ned Paul

Sunday

3.30pm

YC Christmas Party — Everyone welcome

Sunday

10.00am

YC Women’s Teams—Pre‑entry required

Sunday

11.00am

Improvers Lesson — Contact club

 

3.30pm

All‑YC NICKO Final, Thrower vs Robinson — Spectators welcome

Sunday

11.30am

LMBA London Congress Swiss Teams—Contact LMBA

Sunday

2.00pm

LMBA Mixed Pairs—Contact LMBA

Sunday

2.00pm

LMBA Palmer Bayer Pairs—Contact LMBA

Sunday

3.30pm

Keith Loveys Individual—Registration advised

 

7.00pm

Summer Party Buffet and Quiz—Registration advised

 

11.30am

LMBA London Championship Pairs — Contact LMBA

 

11.30am

LMBA Ian Gardiner Teams of Four championship qualifier — Contact LMBA

FOR YOUR DIARY
Final on Saturday 13 January.
Two-session matchpoint duplicate at 11.30am on Sunday 28 January, registration advised.
London has cancelled this event in its current form due to insufficient entries. Should a suitable date be found, it will run online instead. Two-session green‑pointed pairs at 11.30am on Sunday 17 March, registration advised.
Inter-club teams‑of‑eight qualifier at 7.00pm on Thursday 21 March, pre‑entry required.
Sunday 28 July (running behind schedule).
Two-session matchpoint duplicate at 1.00pm on Sunday 19 May, registration advised.
For juniors aged approximately 9–19, Tuesday 28 May at 11am.
Individual for the Keith Loveys tankard at 3.30pm then dinner and general festivities from 7.00pm on Sunday 9 June, registration advised (reduced price for those skipping the Bridge Individual).
Two-session matchpoint duplicate, in support of England Junior bridge at 11.00am on Saturday 15 June, registration advised.
Saturday & Sunday 6 & 7 July, pre‑entry required—brochure.
Twelve hours of Cross-IMPed “pairs” (threesomes allowed) with minimum £500 prize for the winners on Saturday 27 July, registration required—poster.
Matchpoint duplicate (complimentary nibbles, no NGS) on 21 August, registration advised.
Single extended-session, mixed pairs at 2.00pm on Sunday 15 September, registration advised.
Weekend 5 & 6 October, spectators wlecome.
Women’s Teams over the weekend 12 & 13 October (Sunday-only entries half price) , registration advised—poster.
Friday 18 October at 6.30pm (before the regular duplicate).
Third weekend, 23 & 24 November, of three of the Premier League, pre-entry required.
No fear pairs Sunday 1 December, 2.00pm.
From 2.00pm until 5.00pm on Thursday 12 December, registration required.
Thursday 12 December at 3.00pm.
Wednesday 18 December.
Saturday 21 December—bridge 4.00pm, dinner 7.30pm and quiz 8.30pm, registration advised.
Two‑session teams qualifier Saturday 25 January, 11.30pm.
 

LATEST

Friday 13 December Duplicates—Important Changes

The club will be hosting the Junior Channel Trophy on behalf of the EBU over the weekend 13—15 December, when the club will be full of junior players of all ages from England, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. We will be providing food for all the players as well as hosting the bridge, so there will be no room for anyone else after they arrive.

The Friday morning relaxed duplicate will take place at the club as usual, but will be held upstairs in the T Mark Hall Room to allow the main hall to be set up as a refectory for the junior players.

The Friday evening duplicate is cancelled on that day but will be held at the club in the Main Hall as usual on the day before—on Thursday 12 December. We do hope that you will be able to make that date—there will be a free glass of festive mulled wine for everyone who comes then, as a thank you for the inconvenience.

 

Item posted 7 December 2024

Bob Rowlands Memorial

You may have heard of the passing of Bob Rowlands at the end of September. A brief obituary detailing his achievements in bridge appears on the EBU website.

From 3.00pm to 5.00pm on Thursday 12 December the YC is hosting a memorial at the club to celebrate the life of the late great player. All who are interested are welcome to attend.

 

Item posted 4 December 2024

LMBA Palmer Bayer Pairs 2024—Report

 
LMBA Palmer Bayer 2024 winners Pete Challis and Sam Oestreicher
LMBA Palmer Bayer 2024 winners Pete Challis and Sam Oestreicher
 

The club hosted the LMBA’s Palmer Bayer pairs, a “no fear” event with methods restricted to simple systems, on Sunday 1 December. Six tables played 27 deals at a relaxed pace in the main hall. Afterwards the prizegiving took place in the bar, with complimentary drinks for the competitors and a hand discussion led by bridge luminaries Ian Payn and David Burn

Congratulations to Pete Challis and Sam Oestreicher who won with a score of 62.52%. This was Pete’s first win, but Sam has turned out for this event over many years and has previously won with a variety of partners.

 

 
LMBA Palmer Bayer 2024 club Chair Chris Duckworth and new young player Bianca Baratta
LMBA Palmer Bayer 2024 club Chair Chris Duckworth and new young player Bianca Baratta
 

The youngest player in the field, taking part in her very first competitive duplicate, was Bianca Baratta. Club Chair Chris Duckworth presented her with a special award to mark the occasion.

 

See the LMBA website for full results.

Item posted 2 December 2024

EBU Gold Award for Ian Payn

 
Ian Payn receiving the EBU Gold Award from Gordon Rainsford
Ian Payn receiving the EBU Gold Award from Gordon Rainsford
 

Club member Ian Payn was the recipient of the 2024 EBU Gold Award. Here he is pictured at the Young Chelsea just prior to the duplicate on 29 November 2024 being presented with the his award by EBU Chief Executive Gordon Rainsford (also a club member).

The following encomium comes from the EBU website:

Ian Payn has been involved in bridge administration for two decades: at local level when he was the Chair of the Young Chelsea Bridge Club who oversaw the transition of the club from a proprietary club to a members club; at county level when he was Chair of the LCCBA for many years; at national level as an EBU board member, as Chair of the then Tournaments Committee, as Vice‑Chair and then Chair of the EBU board, steering the organisation through the difficult period of Covid and responding to the online cheating issues that ensued; and finally at international level as the EBU’s representative on Bridge Great Britain and then as a member of the Executive of the European Bridge League, for which he is now the Secretary. The Board is delighted to recognise this outstanding and long‑term contribution to bridge by awarding Ian its highest honour, the Gold Award.

 

Item posted 30 November 2024

Time to Sign up for the 2024 Christmas Party

Poster

Our annual Christmas Party will be on Saturday 21 December. There will be a bridge duplicate starting at 4.00pm, followed by a festive buffet supper at 7.30. Then there will be a fun general knowledge quiz starting at around 8.30, with more socialising and more bridge on offer later for the die‑hard bridge addicts! All are welcome—the cost is £25 for club members which includes a free drink voucher as well as all the activities and the supper. Please pre‑register to say you will be coming.

 

Item posted 22 November 2024

EBU October 2024 Promotions of YC Members

Congratulations to the YC member listed below who attained a promotion in EBU rank during October!

  • Angus Marshall
Local Master

Item posted 12 November 2024

YC Award for Rosie White

 
Rosie White accepting the award from club Chair Chris Duckworth
Rosie White accepting the award from club Chair Chris Duckworth
 
Detail of the Young Chelsea award to Rosie
Detail of the Young Chelsea award to Rosie
 

At the recent Young Chelsea AGM, Rosie White stepped down from her roles as company director and committee member, positions which she has held for the last several years. The club marked the occasion by giving her honourary membership and presenting her with a specially comissioned award.

The inscription reads; 

“With thanks for all your dedication and hard work for the Young Chelsea Bridge Club”.

It isn’t an exaggeration to say that without Rosie’s selfless involvement, very much after the model of Cincinnatus, the club wouldn’t be the thriving bridge venue that it is today. Indeed, the club might not even have still existed.

In her quiet future as a simple competitor, unburdened by organisational responsibilities, we wish Rosie every success and happiness.

 

Item posted 2 November 2024

Stuart Hood RIP

 
Stuart Hood
Stuart Hood
 

The YC is sad to announce the passing of Stuart Hood. Along with his wife Sian he was a regular at the club in the 1990s, serving on the Management Committee for a while. He had been living in Hessle, near Hull, for the last few years.

 

Item posted 29 October 2024

Young Chelsea Annual General Meeting—18 October 2024

The next Annual General Meeting of the Young Chelsea Bridge Club will be held at the club on Friday 18 October 2024 at 6.30pm, prior to the regular duplicate. Here are the Agenda for the meeting and a form which may be used to nominate a club member as a director of the company.

>You can also read the Chairman’s Report to the AGM.

All Full, Honorary, Life, Country, Student and Junior Members over 16 years of age are eligible to attend and vote, and those unable to attend in person may appoint a proxy to attend and vote on their behalf.

All members able to attend are urged to do so. Remember—the Young Chelsea is a members’ club, entirely owned and managed by the membership. Each of you has a vested interest in the future of the club, and this is your opportunity to have your say.

Members may put forward resolutions to be added to the Agenda by sending them to the club by 4 October 2024 at the latest. Resolutions must be signed and supported by at least five members.

It is important that the AGM is quorate, so if you are unable to attend in person, please ensure that you send your proxy. All that is required is to send an email to the club in the format shown below—note that you can, if you wish, change the name of the person to act as your proxy to that of any other member who will be attending in person.

                                                          PROXY 
                                                          I, ..................................., 
                                                          hereby appoint Chris Duckworth 
                                                          (YC Management Committee Chair) 
                                                          to act as my proxy at the Annual General 
                                                          Meeting of the Association to be held 
                                                          on Friday 18 October 2024, giving her 
                                                          full authority to vote on my behalf. 
                                                          Signed:                    Date: 
 

Item updated 2 October 2024

Young Chelsea Half Marathon July 2024—Report

 
Winners of the YC Half Marathon July 2024, Eryk Gozdowski & Kostas Kousis
Winners of the YC Half Marathon July 2024, Eryk Gozdowski & Kostas Kousis
 

The Young Chelsea held a 12‑hour Half Marathon on Saturday 27 July, the previous such event having taken place in July 2023. As last time, the scoring was by cross‑IMPs , this time over three sessions of 30 deals each (so a total of 90 deals). Six pairs entered, barely enough, but those who took part enjoyed themselves, with all playing all in five 6‑deal rounds per session.

The winners jumped out to a lead of about 40 IMPs in the first session and subsequently staved off all challenges. Congratulations to Eryk Gozdowski & Kostas Kousis who finished on 54.50 IMPs and picked up the £500 first prize.

Detailed scores are available via the Young Chelsea BridgeWebs Results page. [See more…]

 

Item posted 28 July 2024

London Congress 2024 at the YC—Report

 
London Congress 2024 Pairs Winners Matt Brown and Steve Raine
London Congress 2024 Pairs Winners Matt Brown and Steve Raine
 

The Young Chelsea is affiliated to the LMBA which, as last year, ran the London Congress at the club. This year’s event took place over the weekend of 7 & 8 July. On the Saturday, 38 pairs played a seven‑round Swiss Pairs event.

Congratulation to the winners on 109 VPs Matt Brown and Steve Raine. As well as being a fine player Steve also makes videos on the game which you can find on his You Tube channel Bridge with Steve (@bridgewithsteve).

Results

 

 
London Congress 2024 Teams Winners Gordon Clark, Niall Igoe, Jonathan Clark and Kripa Panchagnula
London Congress 2024 Teams Winners Gordon Clark, Niall Igoe, Jonathan Clark and Kripa Panchagnula
 

On the Sunday 20 teams played a six‑round Swiss Teams event.

Congratulations to the winning team on 84.15 VPs: Gordon Clark, Niall Igoe, Jonathan Clark and Kripa Panchagnula.

Results

 

Item posted 9 July 2024

New Friday Morning Relaxed Duplicates

New Friday Morning Relaxed Duplicates

Starting on Friday 15 March, we will be running a new Friday morning duplicate game aimed at our less‑expert members. It will be an 18‑board pairs duplicate from 10.00am until 12.30pm, hosted by either Gitte Hecht‑Johansen or Shelley Shieff. All abilities will be welcome, but we expect most to be at or below a jack on the NGS scheme. Table money will be £8 a head and we hope it will prove popular with those who can make a daytime  game.

Item posted 4 March 2024

Young Chelsea Knockout 2024

YCKO 2024

Seventeen teams have entered this year’s competition. The club will contact those teams which entered last year and have not yet done so this year.

After seeding the teams by NGS, the draw (updated regularly with match results) has been made. The competition is now under way and teams should contact their opponents to arrange a match date. Once the teams have a date agreed they should book the match in with the club at bookings@ycbc.co.uk. The tournament is running late as the notional play‑by date for the Round Four matches was 9 June. Teams whose next‑round opponents are known have all been informed of their opponents and should play their matches as soon as practicable, please.

The club made a draw on Monday 21 August to decide the Quarter‑final matches (from possibilities that prevent teams which have already met from facing each other again):

  • Brock v Phoenix
winner: Brock
  • Entente Cordiale v Muller
winner: Muller

The one semifinal match is:

The final match is:

  • Brock v Muller
winner: Brock

Once your match has been played, please notify the result to the club at manager@ycbc.co.uk, stating the names of the players in both teams as well as the outcome. Team captains will be notified of their opponents for their next match as soon as the team to be played is known.

The Young Chelsea Knockout (YCKO) is the club’s annual teams event that runs on “double elimination” lines—every team has to lose two matches before it is knocked out. Teams may consist of up to six players, all of whom must be YC members.

For 2024, the event will be played as a face‑to‑face competition with matches held at the club. Table money (inclusive of refreshments) per match will be £12.50 per player, all of whom must be paid‑up club members before taking part in a match. (Anyone who needs to may subscribe via the payments page.) Should the club exceptionally allow you to play a match online, the charge per match (debited from the captain’s/organizer’s YC account) will be the same as if played face to face. No other entry fee will be charged. Prize money will be £800 for the winning team, £300 for the runners‑up.

The winning team will hold the YCKO Trophy for the following year and will be eligible for a play‑off match against the team winning the LMBA London Championship Teams‑of‑four to decide which team will represent London in the 2024 Lederer invitation tournament.

Please enter by January on the registration page of the website. or by emailing the club manager at manager@ycbc.co.uk. (Entries are now closed.)

Team Rosters

1 Brock Sally Brock, Barry Myers, Frances Hinden, Graham Osborne, Richard Fedrick, Mike Scoltock
2 Tommasini Stefano Tommasini, Sebastian Atisen, John Atthey, Neil Rosen, Peter Taylor
3 Leslie Mike Bell, Tim Leslie, Ollie Burgess, Phil King, Sarah Bell
4 Binkie Brian Callaghan, David Burn, Heather Dhondy, Joe Fawcett, Richard Granville, Ian Payn
5 Muller David Muller, Trevor Mathews, Gordon Rainsford, Brian McGuire
6 Robbo’s Rabble Claire Robinson, Paul Barden, David Willis, Cameron Small, Jon Cox
7 Harris Steve Root, Jonathan Harris, Niall Igoe, Eduard Malhasyan
8 Verran Tony Verran, Ryan Stephenson, Andy Clery, Andy Conway
9 Entente Cordiale François Picard, Nicolas Leprovost, Gad Chadha, Steve Lee
10 Jupiter Boris Nedev, Christophe Grosset, Andrew Bannock, John Dagnall
11 Sushi Katharine Stynes, Debbie Sandford, Nathalie Shashou, Nick Sandqvist, Guy Hart
12 Lawrenzo Patrick Lawrence, Oliver Lawrence, Charlie Bucknell, Christopher Kemp
13 Duckworth Chris Duckworth, Mike Graham, Graham Sadie, Ben Payne
1 Phoenix Liam Sanderson, Ali Ahmed, Croz Croswell, Jon Thoresen
14 Boland Fergal Boland, John Dean, John Pemberton, Stephen Popham
15 Newman David Newman, Alistair Brown, Clive Freedman, Martin S Taylor, Dick Jordan, Simon Prager
16 Mad Men Jonathan Davis, John Wilson, tba, tba
17 Panda James Thrower, Helen Rose, Matthew Brown, Croz Croswell, Magnus Spence Jones, Ravi Athwal

[See more…]

Page last updated 5 December 2024

Help Ukraine Emergency Appeal—Report

 
Young Chelsea Appeal 2022—Ukrainian Staff
Young Chelsea Appeal 2022—Ukrainian Staff
 

We are delighted to announce that we have raised the grand total of £5,521.21 for the Help Ukraine Emergency Appeal. The club organised a special fundraising duplicate on 6 March and our Ukrainian staff rallied round baking cakes and donating Ukrainian goods for sale. The event attracted a great mix of club members and others, all of whom gave very generously and the funds rolled in. We are very grateful to all, and every penny will go to the Ukrainian people. [See more…]

Item posted 9 March, updated 19 March 2022

Results
Tuesday Pairs
Director: Chris
Friday Morning Relaxed Duplicate
Director: Shelley
Friday Evening Cross‑IMP Duplicate
Director: Gitte
YC Super League Div2
Director: Gitte
YC Super League Div1
Director: Gitte
Tuesday Pairs
Director: Chris
 
MindSports Image
 
 

The London MindSports Centre, home of the Young Chelsea Bridge Club here in Hammersmith, is one of the best venues in the country to host your events.

For more information contact the centre manager: mindsports@ycbc.co.uk.

07564 947406

Young Chelsea BC
Young Chelsea BC

♠  ♠ 

The Young Chelsea Bridge Club prides itself on its warm and friendly atmosphere, where beginners, intermediates and advanced players have opportunities to learn and compete. It is truly the club with a heart and especially encourages and mentors its newer members.

Founded 1968, YCBC is one the oldest and probably the best bridge club in the UK. We are a member‑owned club, whose board of directors is committed to enhancing the learning and playing experience of all its members.

Our club features:

  • Comfortable, well equipped facilities with free Wifi

  • Duplicate sessions for all levels ranging from novices to world‑class players

  • EBU affiliated

  • Experienced EBU directors

  • Master points and NGS points awarded

  • Hosts available for most sessions—please come early if you need a partner

  • Licenced bar and refreshments available

  • Lessons for all levels

  • Mentoring program

  • Special tournaments

  • Registered charity

Don’t be misled by the name. Although the Young Chelsea is particularly welcoming to young players, we have many older members, some of whom have belonged since the start of the club back in 1968. There is no upper age limit—you are never too late to learn and play at YCBC (or YC as it is popularly known). Our original home was in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea; now we can be found in Hammersmith.