Every time I look down on this timeless town
Whether blue or grey be her skies.
Whether loud be her cheers or soft be her tears,
More and more do I realize:
I love Harrogate in the Springtime!
For the first time since Covid struck, the Spring Congress is back live in Harrogate over the weekend of February 10-12. This beautiful town holds so much beauty and history whether it be the famous baths, a wander through the beautiful Valley Gardens or the iconic Bettys, Harrogate really is the perfect place to visit in the spring.
This year, for the first time, in order to accommodate as many players as possible, there will be an option of when you wish to play your 1st session of the Swiss Pairs. You can either play on Friday afternoon and then go out for the evening – there are special drinks offers in place with some of the local restaurants and there will be recommendations in my next blog.
Alternatively, if you are coming from further afield you can travel during the day to the venue and play your first session in the evening or even come a day earlier and spend your Friday looking at all that Harrogate has to offer. It may be shopping in one of the many boutique clothes stores or relaxing with a cup of tea and a world famous Bettys Fat Rascal. Both sessions will run.
On top of all that Harrogate has to offer and the slight adaptation to the program, we also have a more modern venue this year, having moved to the Crowne Plaza hotel which is attached to the conference centre so is very central. Tea/Coffee and refreshments as well as a proper meal are included in the entry prices for both the Saturday of the pairs and the Sunday teams. This should make for a more relaxing experience for players who don’t need to worry about going to find a restaurant in the break and then rushing back for the next session!
Harrogate really is a fantastic place and has for years been a staple on the EBU calendar. It would be great to have the congress back with the numbers that such a beautiful location deserves.
Oliver Cowan
Visit the Harrogate Spring Congress webpage for more information