Winners
2015 Winner: Sarah O'Connor
Sarah O'Connor was announced as the winner of the John Armstrong Award at the Summer Meeting in Brighton in August.
Sarah was coordinator and coach of the newly established England Under 15 team. She set up the squad, and organised training weekends, helping to develop them from being inexperienced players in to a team which finished 4th in the European Championships in Norway less than six months later. This was alongside her 'proper job' as a teacher at St Paul's Girls' School, where she has also established a bridge club.
2014 Winner: No award
2013 Winner: David Wing
At the Brighton Congress, it was announced that David Wing is this year’s winner of the John Armstrong Award. The award is given to those players who play in the spirit of John Armstrong.
David has recently successfully visited 51 English cities and seen either their city cathedral or famous church plus an EBU affiliated bridge club. All of his endeavours have been to raise money for the Alzheimers Society. At each bridge club, a city cup event took place and a cup presented (as a gift from David) to the club. Each cup was engraved with the name of the city plus the winners names.
An ash has now been planted for David Wing and an oak in memory of John. Anyone wishing to pay tribute to the late John Armstrong can visit Heritage Wood, near Ashbourne, Derbyshire, where trees and bulbs are planted yearly in his memory as well as a bench placed in his name.
2012 Winner: No award
2011 Winners: Sue Evans and Dennis Loynes
"The 2011 winners are Sue Evans and Dennis Loynes from Worcestershire for the sportsmanship demonstrated at the Hubert Phillips match where they provided a fourth to their opposing team instead of claiming the match as they were to entitled to by the rules; their virtue was all the greater as they then lost the match!"
English Bridge, October 2011
2010 Winner: Bob Rowlands
by Michelle Brunner
Bob Rowlands is this year’s winner of the John Armstrong Award. A man of great stature and often referred to as a gentle giant, Bob’s humour at the bridge table as well as his good nature and impeccable ethics set him apart as a true gentleman of the game. Just like John used to be.
Bob first represented Great Britain in 1966 and has won about every major British tournament – Gold Cup, Crockfords, Spring Fours, Hubert Phillips, National Pairs, Grand Masters (to name just a few), many in partnership with his friend and long-term partner – Peter Lee. Bob has given up much of his time to promote bridge amongst the younger fraternity by coaching promising juniors and he has been incredibly hospitable in allowing them to take over his London home, rent-free, when playing in London tournaments. For many years he was an EBU selector and would kibitz trialists in order to make informed decisions at selection meetings. Bob will receive a memento as a reminder of his marvellous attitude to opponents and fellow players.
Anyone wishing to pay tribute to the late John Armstrong can visit Heritage Wood, near Ashbourne, Derbyshire, where trees and bulbs are planted yearly in his memory as well as a bench placed in his name.
Brighton Focus, Issue 9, 2010
2009 Winner: Bob Blackmore
Bob Blackmore was announced as the winner of the first award by the EBU’s Chairman, Sally Bugden at the Brighton Congress.
Two trees will be planted at Heritage Wood, Derbyshire: one in memory of John and the other in Bob’s name.
Helen Foster writes, “Much of Exeter Bridge Club’s success is attributed to Bob. A Grand Master, he partners players of any standard on a club evening and will encourage partner throughout, never failing to point out his own mistakes. His services to Devon are much appreciated, and the club bridge room was named after him.”