Diamond Award

The Diamond Award is given to players in recognition of excellence and success over a sustained period for England's international teams.

2020 Winners

Gunnar Hallberg

Gunnar enjoyed tremendous success in his native Sweden, winning the Swedish National Championship six times, and earning a Silver Medal at the European Championships. He moved to England in 1995 and soon established himself as a formidable opponent in both the tournament world and at the rubber bridge table, a reputation that still stands a quarter of a century later. A losing semi-finalist for England in the 2000 World Olympiad, he has won the Cavendish (teams), the Australian championships and North America's prestigious Vanderbilt trophy, the first British player to do so.

Nevena Senior

Originally from Bulgaria, Nevena Senior has long lived in England with her husband, Brian Senior. She first represented these shores before devolution, playing for the United Kingdom. She has been a consistent presence in the England Women’s Team ever since.

The list of her medals in European and World championships is endless. She has won the European Women’s teams twice for England, in 2012 and 2014, and the World Women’s Olympiad twice in 2008 and 2012. Domestically, she has won the Spring Foursomes, Crockfords and the National Swiss Teams, and represented England in not only the Lady Milne but also in the Camrose Trophy.

2019 Winners

John Holland

John Holland was born in 1950 in Burnley, Lancashire. He is a bridge professional and WBF Senior Grand Master. In 2017 he was a member of the inaugural class of the European Bridge League's Hall of Fame. In 1981, John won his first national title winning the Portland Pairs, the National Mixed Pairs, and then represented Great Britain in the Mixed Teams at the European Common Market Championships. At county level he has won virtually every event in the Manchester area and is a member of the Manchester Bridge Club. He recently won the 2011 Keri Klinger Memorial Award - the pressure play award with Michelle Brunner.

 

Robert Sheehan

Robert won the mixed Pairs Gold in the Olympics in 2000, was 3 times silver medallist at the European Championships (1971, 81, 87), was second in the Bermuda Bowl in Ocho Rios in 1987, won bronze in the Olympics in Monaco in 1976. He was one of the best players English of the last part of last century and has many times been part of the national team.

 

 

2018 Winners

Heather Dhondy

Heather Dhondy has been an integral part of the England Women’s team for over twenty years. During a consistently successful international career she has:

  • Made 28 appearances for England and Great Britain in major international events Been 5-time European Champion
  • Twice World Olympiad champion
  • Winner of the World Mixed Teams, the European Open Mixed Teams, and numerous silver and bronze medals
  • Made 17 Lady Milne trophy appearances, winning on an unchallenged 13 times
  • And represented England in the Camrose Trophy

She will be representing England in the forthcoming Venice Cup. Quite apart from this she is a member of the EBU Board, and is currently Chairman of the Tournament Directors Development Group and the Laws and Ethics Committee, having formerly been Chairman of the Selection Committee. Heather's biography

Andrew Robson

Andrew Robson has been a key part of the England (and before this Great Britain) Open team for many years. During a successful international career he:

  • Made 12 appearances for England and Great Britain in major international events
  • Was a winner of 1991 European Championships
  • Made 3 appearances for Great Britain in major junior international events
  • Was a winner of 1989 World Youth Team Championships
  • Made 5 appearances in the European Champions Cup
  • Made 12 appearances in the Camrose Trophy
  • Made 3 appearances in the Junior Camrose winning on all occasions

Has had:

  • 7 Gold Cup victories
  • 6 Premier League victories
  • 5 Spring Foursomes victories
  • 2 Crockfords Cup victories

Was twice joint winner of the Player of the Year Championship And received an OBE for his services to bridge and charity in 2013. Andrew's biography

2017 winners

Sally Brock

Sally played in her first Lady Milne in 1976 and played in her first European Championship in 1979, with Sandra Landy, which they won. Since then she has been almost ever present in the British, and then English, Women's team - except for a break from international bridge to have children. She has appeared in major World and European competitions for Great Britain and England on 27 occasions, winning nine gold medals and numerous silver and bronze medals. She has also frequently represented England in the Camrose Trophy, Lady Milne, and Teltscher Trophy. Her domestic successes include three victories in the Gold Cup and four in the Crockfords Cup. Sally has recently taken over the leadership of the Under 26 Women's squad, and captained the team for its medal winning campaign in the 2017 European Championships. Sally's biography

Colin Simpson

Colin is a Senior World and European Champion, having won those events in 2009 and 2014 respectively. These were among his eight appearances for England's Senior team in major competitions, and he had played for the Open team in five major championships in the early part of the millennium. He has also represented England numerous times in the Camrose and Teltscher Trophy competitions. Colin's biography

Pat Davies

Pat is a three-time European Champion and two-time World Champion for Great Britain's Women's team. These are among 19 appearances for Great Britain and England in major competitions. She has also made nine appearances for England in the Lady Milne competition. Pat's biography

 

Bob Rowlands

Bob played for the Great Britain open team in the European Championships in 1966 and earned numerous Camrose caps in the 1970s. His long contribution to the junior international set-up was also recognised by the Selection Committee, as Bob had over the years been a part of the programme which helped train them, played with them, and offered them accommodation when they came to London for trials etc. In addition Bob was awarded with the John Armstrong Award, an award for those who play bridge in the best spirit. He received the award in 2010. Bob's biography

2016 winners

David Burn

David has represented England with distinction on a number of occasions. He has been a successful coach of England Teams for nearly thirty years. He coached Great Britain to the Bermuda Bowl silver medal (1987) and victory in the European championships (1991), has coached the highly successful England Women's team over recent years, and aided the Senior team in their victory in the 2014 European Championships. He has also acted as NPC for many Camrose teams. David's biography David received his award at the 2015 AGM.

 

Sandra Landy

Sandra represented Great Britain with distinction for more than three decades winning five European Championships and two World Championships. She has also represented England successfully in both the Camrose and Lady Milne. Sandra's biography Sandra received her award from former EBU Chairman, Sally Bugden, at Patcham Bridge Club on Sunday January 3rd.

2015 winners

Nicola Smith

Nicola has been one of the top Women's players in the world since the 1970s and has won an unparalleled number of medals at World and European level in that time. Nicola's biography Nicola received her award at the 2015 Lederer Trophy event.

 

 

Tony Forrester

Tony has been one of our leading players in the open game since the early 1980s. He has won a silver medal in the Bermuda Bowl, a Gold Medal in the 1991 European Championships and recently a Bronze medal in the 2014 European Championship. He has also won the BGB Gold Cup more times than any other player and represented England successfully in the Camrose on many occasions. Tony's biography Tony received his award at the 2015 Lederer Trophy event.