Below is your monthly update from the EBU. Please note there are a lot of important topics covered this month. All previous updates are available on the EBU Updates page.
This poster shows the upcoming EBU events. Please consider adding this to your club/county website and encourage your members to enter online via My EBU.
Masters Pairs and National Pairs
The Masters Pairs will take place later this month, 25th February. The clubs hosting heats are Cheltenham Bridge Club, First Class Bridge Academy, Liskeard Bridge Club, Scunthorpe Bridge Club, Sutton Coldfield Bridge Club, Wakefield Bridge Club, West Midlands Bridge Club, Wimbledon Bridge Club and York Bridge Club. Please encourage your players to take part.
The first two weeks in February is the qualifying period for the National Pairs. Please let your members know and encourage them to participate in this great event.
County TD Course
Entries are coming in steadily for the upcoming County TD Course (18th-19th May 2024 at Yarnfield Park Training and Conference Centre), if you would like to attend, please book in plenty of time to ensure there is enough space.
The course will be run by EBU National Tournament Directors Sarah Amos and Phil Godfrey. The course fee of £245 for residential delegates includes dinner, bed and breakfast at the centre for one night, and a light lunch on Saturday and Sunday, plus course materials. The course is a mixture of table simulations, lectures and written assessment. Further details available on the Advanced TD Training webpage, or contact comps (01296 317203 or comps@ebu.co.uk).
Club Membership Fees 2024/25
The counties have now finalised their county membership fees for the 2024/25 year, see the full membership fee list for EBU and Counites.
Please note, the Clubs Terms of Affiliation have been updated for the 2024/25 year. Two new changes have been made as follows:
4. Clubs undertake to pay an annual affiliation fee to the EBU (and if required, also to their county). This will be invoiced early in each financial year. For the financial year 2024/25 the EBU club affiliation fee will be £29 which is inclusive of VAT.
7. Club affiliation is for a full year (i.e. 1st April to 31th March). Club affiliation is automatically renewed annually unless the club informs the EBU. We require 3 months’ notice from an affiliated bridge club that it wishes to resign from the EBU.
Club Members' Details
As a reminder for clubs, please let us know when a member is deceased by emailing Amanda@ebu.co.uk. We need to know so we can close their records and to prevent us sending emails to their spouses/families causing upset.
Club and County Directory Details
In addition to your member's details, please check your club details in the Club Directory and submit our online club details form if any changes are needed. Please log in to check ALL your clubs details are still correct. More information is available via the help link on the club directory page.
Counties, please also check your county officials' details online, county details form.
Diary "Opt In" - Check with New Members
Please check with any new club members that they are aware of the EBU diary and that they will need to "opt in" to receive their copy in September. Members can do this by either logging in to My EBU or calling us on 01296 317200.
9-High Corwen - Counties Survey
The EBU has run successful online NGS 9-High events at its congresses over the last few years. Some counties (and clubs) currently offer NGS-limited games. The Competitions Working Group is considering introducing a national online competition for 9-High players, a sort of 9-High Corwen.
To hold such a competition we would need the support of the counties and we know county volunteers have many demands on their time. Therefore, we would ask for feedback from Counties by completing this short survey by 23rd February, to see if counties will be willing to join the EBU in providing such a competition for this group of players.
Bridge - It's a Big Deal!
The Bridge - It's a Big Deal! festival of bridge section of the website is now live! You will find lots of information about how to get involved, further details about the types of events you may like to host and resources to help you on the Festival pages of the EBU website. We hope to involve as many people as possible.
We are inviting all clubs to one of two zoom meetings (6th March at 7.30pm and 7th March at 9.30am) where we will discuss the resources we have available to help. If you would like to attend the meeting(s), please email sam@ebu.co.uk.
We currently have five events on our Map of Events and are excited to see this filled with many more. Please send details of your events to festival@ebu.co.uk.
Bridge Warehouse
Did you know that any surplus from sales in The Bridge Warehouse is reinvested by the EBU in activities and services for its members and clubs?
In the unlikely event you find the same products we sell cheaper elsewhere, we do a ‘price match’ where possible! Please check with us before you order elsewhere and support the future of bridge in England by shopping at The Bridge Warehouse.
Visit the Bridge Warehouse website for all the latest offers and newest items in stock.
Advertise your Congress Online with the EBU
The EBU home page is a great place to promote your next congress or for clubs/counties to publicise there next big events.
Could your event benefit from last minute advertising to bring in extra players? Well the best place to do this is the Home page of the EBU website.
The advert could be live today!
An advert on the Carousel at the top of the EBU home page is as little as £75 per month for CBA’s and Clubs. Want to give your event a boost, contact Danby Advertising on 01603 898678 or email adsales@ebu.co.uk.
EBUScore and Bridgemates Course
EBED are running a new Face-2-Face course on EBUScore and Bridgemates at South Bucks Bridge Centre on February 15th 2024.
This is a brand new course designed to cover the use of these two platforms (which are used together by many bridge clubs) will look at their operation and what to do when things go wrong.
Book through My EBU via this link: EBUScore and Bridgemates booking link.
Club Teacher Training
EBED offers Club Teacher Training Courses on the following dates:
- Liverpool: 10th-11th February (booking link Liverpool)
- York: 23rd-24th March (booking link York)
- Horsham Sussex: 27th-28th April (booking link Horsham)
For any queries, please contact Clive on 01296 317212 (clive@ebedcio.org.uk). All our current dates are listed on the Club Teacher Training Calendar. To book please click the above links or call Lisa on 01296 317217.
Directing Courses
EBED offers training to help you become a club director. See the director training calendar for details. For more about these courses visit the EBED website or contact clive@ebedcio.org.uk.
- How to run Club Duplicate: delivered Online, 7th - 8th March (booking link online)
- Advanced Tournament Director Training: Sutton Coldfield, 3rd March (booking link Sutton Coldfield)
All our current dates, including additional online courses are listed on the TD Course Calendar. To book please use the links above or call Lisa on 01296 317217.
Picture Competition
The EBU are looking for new and exciting images to promote the wonderful game of bridge. Can you or your members produce a photograph, painting or drawing that conveys the fun, drama and excitement of the game of bridge?
Please encourage your members to enter this competitions. The artist with the winning picture will win not only honour and prestige (and our gratitude) but also some cash towards their next camera lens, smartphone, or bridge congress!
Further details and how to enter.
Calling clubs and county associations – tell us your news!
We are featuring club and county news in our blog. If you have any news to share please do let us know, preferably with a picture or two to go with it! Contact sam@ebu.co.uk.
Club directory – please update your club details
A reminder for clubs, please check your club details in the Club Directory and submit our online club details form. Please log in to check ALL your clubs details are still correct. More information is available via the help link on the club directory page.
Counties, please also update your county officials' details online, county details form.
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