Ben Norton

I was born in Nottingham in 1997, and after moving about for a bit in my childhood, I settled in Loughborough, where I studied at Loughborough Grammar School. Whilst not at the bridge table, be it real (my distinct preference) or virtual, I write up bridge hands.

I first became interested in cards when I started playing whist with my grandparents (although after I made the progression to bridge, they wouldn’t follow suit, so I’m the only one in my family who plays). I learnt how to play in my first and second years at LGS, and then developed at Loughborough Bridge Club, in various county events, at school during lunchtimes, and by reading lots of books.

After regularly playing at my club, I was lucky enough to be invited to several training weekends with the England U21 team, before being selected to make my debut in the Peggy Bayer in 2013. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of representing my country twenty-three times in junior events for the U21s and U26s, and now twice for the open team partnering Mike Bell, with the Bermuda Bowl to come after we qualified from the online Europeans in August 2021.

In my spare time, I like to unwind by watching films and some television shows. Of course, bridge takes up the majority of my waking (and sometimes sleeping) hours.

Last updated: September 2021

Major International Selections

Junior European Championships: 2015, 2017 and 2019
Junior World Championships: 2016 and 2018
World Youth Team Championships: 2018
Junior Camrose Selections: 2018 and 2019
Peggy Bayer Trophy Selections: 2013 2014 2015 2016 & 2017
Junior Channel Trophy: 2019
White House Junior Teams: 2019
Camrose Trophy Selections: 2020
Open European Championship selections: 2022
Bermuda Bowl selections: 2022

Summer Meeting Four Star Teams: 2021

Crockfords Cup: 2022 and 2023

Hubert Phillips Bowl: 2023

Summer Meeting Pairs, Harold Poster Cup: 2023

Awards:

Young Player of the Year awards: 2016 and 2019
Young Pair of the Year awards: 2015 and 2018