25th - 27th May 2024, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Reading
Spring Bank Holiday Congress
- featuring the Two Star Pairs!
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Reading, 25th - 27th May 2024
The Spring Bank Holiday Congress will be held over the Spring Bank Holiday
TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR IN CHARGE: Rob Sassoon
Following the success of last year’s congress, this event is again being run by Oliver Cowan on behalf of the EBU.
This 3 day event features the prestigious Two Star Pairs and we have additional space this year meaning that each event will have it’s own playing area and the playing room we had this year will be less cramped!
The red-brick Crowne Plaza Reading is perfectly nestled amongst the trees on the bank of the River Thames. For those travelling by car, there will be free parking all weekend at the venue and for those coming by train, the hotel is just a 15 minute walk from the station. The hotel boasts a large playing room with lots of natural light provided by the multiple floor to ceiling windows with a view of the River.
The Saturday will see the traditional Swiss Pairs format qualifying event with the Two Star Final and a consolation Swiss Pairs on the Sunday for both the non-qualifiers from Saturday and those who do not want to play in the main event. Finally on the Bank Holiday Monday, there will be a Swiss Teams. For those who want a more relaxed event, there will also be a ‘Jack High’ Swiss Pairs event which will be 2 sessions of 18 boards on the Saturday and ALL events on the weekend will have green points awarded.
Free parking, Tea, coffee & biscuits are all included throughout the bridge as well, of course, as the pick n mix sweets! For the main events each day, there will be an ample break to allow players to take the short walk into town for a meal. There will also be food available for purchase at the hotel and order forms will be available at the start of each day in order that food will be ready for the break.
If you will be late arriving to the venue, please call 07946 393033. Please do not send a text message as this will not be forwarded.
Kent Contract Bridge Association may run an Improvers NGS 9-High event on BBO on Monday 27th to raise funds for junior bridge.
9 High Improvers Pairs Online - will be held on BBO and run by Kent CBA. It will be open to players who are NGS 9 & below on Monday 27th May. This event is aimed at club players who are interested in taking the first steps into congress bridge but who may have found it daunting to jump straight into a major congress event.
The format will be two 18 board sessions with a break between the sessions. Players can play in either or both sessions. 10% of entry fees will be given as prizes in BBO$ and all proceeds will go to support junior bridge. Enter with Kent CBA.
To enter
This event is being run by Oliver Cowan on behalf of the EBU, entries should be made directly with Oliver.
Completed entry forms should be sent to ocbridgecomps@gmail.com and entries close on Friday 17th May.
There is also an early booking discount in place and to take advantage of that, please register and pay by the end of February.
To pay using EBU credit, please contact the accounts department in the EBU office who can arrange this.
Holders
2023
Two-Star Pairs - David Gold & Catherine Seale
Swiss Teams - Simon Cope, Diana Nettleton, Andrew McIntosh & Sara Moran
Swiss Pairs - Simon Hult & Gunnar Hallberg
Jack-High Swiss Pairs - Billie MacCarthy & Sara Chiappara
9-High Improvers Pairs - Alan Oliver & Sue Oliver
| Day | Start Time | End Time | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT 25 | 13:00 | 16:00 | TWO STAR PAIRS QUALIFIER Session 1 (6 x 4 boards Swiss) |
| 17:00 | 20:00 | TWO STAR PAIRS QUALIFIER Session 2 (6 x 4 boards Swiss) | |
| 13:30 | 16:00 | JACK HIGH SWISS PAIRS Session 1 (Matches 1-3) | |
| 16:45 | 19:15 | JACK HIGH SWISS PAIRS Session 2 (Matches 4-6) | |
| SUN 26 | 11:00 | 14:00 | TWO STAR FINAL Session 1 (8 x 3 boards) |
| 15:00 | 18:30 | TWO STAR FINAL Session 2 (9 x 3 boards) | |
| 11:00 | 14:00 | SWISS PAIRS (Matches 1-3) | |
| 15:00 | 19:00 | SWISS PAIRS (Matches 4-7) | |
| MON 27 | 11:00 | 14:00 | SWISS TEAMS (Matches 1-3) |
| 11:00 | 13:15 | IMPROVERS PAIRS Session 1 | |
| 15:00 | 19:00 | SWISS TEAMS (Matches 4-7) | |
| 14:30 | 16:45 | IMPROVERS PAIRS Session 2 |
| Code | Event | Price |
|---|---|---|
| A | Two Star Pairs & Swiss Teams | £142 (Early booking £136 if paid by 28th February) |
| B | Two Star Pairs | £98 (Early Booking £93 if paid by 28th February) |
| C | Jack High Swiss Pairs | £30 |
| D | Swiss Pairs | £51 players not qualifying for Two Star Final receive free entry |
| E | Swiss Teams | £51 |
| F | Swiss Pairs & Swiss Teams | £96 (£92 if paid by 28th February) |
| G | Jack High Swiss Pairs & Swiss Team | £75 |
| H | Improvers Pairs | BBO$5 per session paid via BBO on the day |
Entry fees are per player and should be made in advance.
Master Points
All events are Green Pointed.
Agreements
Level 4 agreements are permitted in all events.
Improvers Pairs are Blue Pointed at Regional scale.
Venue and Tariff
The venue for 2024 will be the same as 2023. We will return to the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Caversham Bridge, Richfield Ave, Reading RG1 8BD
Rooms at the hotel are priced at £145 for single occupancy and £155 for double/twin. To book your room, either contact the hotel direct and quote reference “FP9”, or if you prefer, when you send you entry form, put a note on the email requesting how many rooms you would like and for how many nights, add the appropriate amount when paying your entry, and the reservation will be made for you.
Bedrooms are limited and these prices are only guaranteed until 26th April.
There are other hotel options in the area should you wish to stay elsewhere.
Previous Winners
2023 - results
2022 - results
2021 - results
2020 - event not held
2019 results
2018 results
2017 results
2016 results
2015 results
2014 results
2013 results
2012 results
2011 results
2010 results
2009 results
2008 results
2007 results
2006 results
Spring Bank Holiday Pairs - the history
Spring Bank Holiday Teams - the history
Find a partner/team mates
If you are looking for a partner or team mates for this competition, please use the Partnership forum