On a chilly January afternoon online bridge proved its worth again when the counties of Essex, Wiltshire and Somerset combined to run a 24 table Blue-pointed Swiss Pairs. The entries came from further afield in England than just those three counties and also from players in Indonesia, Italy and Spain.
The eventual winners were Ashley Sawyer and Gary Waller from Essex with a fine score of 106 from 7 matches.
Hi, I’m Thomas. I’m a new member of the U21 squad having recently ‘graduated’ from the U16s. Since lockdown I have been playing lots of congresses and other events online which has helped me improve my game and given me a chance to play in events I wouldn’t have had time to travel to. It also provided a useful respite from the monotony of the strict lockdowns a year or two ago.
In the first of a new series of blog posts, EBU Chief Executive/Chief TD Gordon Rainsford describes his typical work day:
The following reminiscences come from games in my virtual travels around the UK and overseas. Not football, not the national sides but an element of penalty shoot-out.
It is hard to find a silver lining in the dark cloud that has been the pandemic afflicting the world over the past two years. However, there is a small one: the proliferation of on-line bridge. Not only have the established platforms and several new ones been a blessing to clubs in our local areas but they have also enabled players to visit clubs in other parts of the UK and abroad.
A pack of playing cards is a perfect STOCKING FILLER especially for children.
For a fun selection try:
At the AGM on Tuesday, the EBU recognised various members' contributions to bridge in England. The meeting was held via Zoom, so unfortunately we were unable to present the awards in person. The awards have been posted out and some presentations have been made locally at clubs.
As clubs are getting back to face to face play, now is the time of year when party planning is in full swing. Last week we looked at ways for clubs to liven up party's with more social games of bridge. Two clubs that are preparing for their Year End celebrations are the National Liberal Club in London and Oliver Cowan Bridge Club, which started online last year but is planning face to face events for the first time.
Christmas is a time of year when most bridge clubs hold a special event to celebrate and perhaps enjoy a more light-hearted game of bridge than usual. This may mean no more than just savouring some mince pies and a glass of wine with the usual evening's duplicate, or it could involve some more serious fun. Even if your club is not yet meeting in person, you may still choose to hold and online video party.
Next spring, the EBU will hold our first ever river cruise. Join us aboard the MS Arena for a journey through Holland and Belgium, taking in the world's ultimate flower show, which only takes place once every ten years, along the way.