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.
Competitions Working Group
The Working Group has been looking favourably at the ability of self-announcing and screens on RealBridge to improve Full Disclosure and both lessen the issues around Unauthorised Information and to allow more opportunities to chat at the table. Many club players have never experienced these options and lack of familiarity is discouragement to some for entering national competitions, so we are arranging for free trial sessions to allow club players to try out this combination and see how it feels. If your club is interested to try this, feel free to ask for help.
National Handicap Pairs Championship
The National Handicap Pairs Championship will take place on Sunday 10th September. This is an opportunity for your members to compete on equal terms with players across the country for the title of National Handicap Pairs Champions 2023.
If your club (or county) is interested in taking part, you can find information on the National Handicap Pairs Championship webpage, or please contact sam@ebu.co.uk for further information.
Nominations for Awards
There is still time to make nominations for both the Silver Award and a Dimmie Fleming Award. The Silver Award is given for outstanding contribution and recognition of long service as a volunteer at national and/or County level. The Dimmie Fleming Award recognises those who have made a significant contribution to county bridge through voluntary work over a long period.
All members can put forward suitable candidates, however the nominations should be submitted to the EBU by a County official, to confirm that it has the approval of the County Committee. Nominations should be made using Dimmie Fleming Form or Silver Award Form by Friday 25th August. Further details can be found on the EBU awards page.
Dimmie Fleming Award - previous winners
Silver Award - previous winners
Marketing Expertise?
We are looking for an injection of Marketing Expertise to support the effective promotion of our game.
Help us ensure the future of Bridge and the pleasure of playing and other benefits that it can bring to people of all ages. You would be joining a small team of enthusiasts. We come from various professional backgrounds but plainly need to add senior marketing experience.
If you might be able to volunteer part time and wish to learn more about this please contact Tony Russ (tonyruss@icloud.com)
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.
Bridge Warehouse Club Offer
Personal Scorecards plus Conventions (EBU0021B) – Box of 3000 NOW £66.00 (were £76.00)
Don’t forget the free postage over £100 for affiliated clubs also ends on the 31st August! Why not save £17.99 by buying a box of cards and claiming the free postage. Use code AFFILIATED online and put your club name under Company on the address details.
Save on postage and pick up your order from Eastbourne during the Summer Meeting (10-13 August), please contact Sue on 01296 397851 and place your order by 2pm Tuesday 8th August.
Marketing Materials
There are still some marketing packs available to order from the Bridge Warehouse. If you would like to save on postage and pick up marketing materials from Eastbourne, please contact Sue on 01296 397851 by 2pm Tuesday 8th August.
Book now for our free club seminar on running Gentle Duplicate sessions
On September 5th at 10.00am we will be running an online seminar on the topic of how to make a success of gentle duplicate sessions and why they are important. The background is that new bridge players need a session they can join that is particularly friendly and perhaps shorter than typical club sessions, partly as a transition to sessions of a higher standard, and partly because they may be looking for a game that is more social. We look at questions such as how to set this up, what to do when space is limited, online vs face to face, how to handle NGS and master points, whether to open it up to all club members, and more. Reserve your spot by contacting sam@ebu.co.uk.
If your clubs runs gentle duplicate and you would be willing perhaps to share your experiences, please contact tim@ebu.co.uk.
New EBED staff Member
Clive Turner has been appointed Education and Development Manager for EBED. Clive will primarily be responsible for managing EBED’s club director and teaching training courses. Clive is an experienced bridge player and bridge teacher. Clive Joins EBED after a long and successful career in the insurance industry.
Club Director Training – new dates for autumn
EBED offers training to help you become a club director. New courses this autumn are scheduled in Manchester, Sutton Coldfield and Canterbury. See the director training calendar for details. For more about these courses visit the EBED website or contact clive@ebedcio.org.uk (01296 317212).
Directing Courses – delivered online
For those wishing to gain an introduction to face-to-face directing at their club EBED is offering the “How to run a club duplicate” session delivered over Zoom, 21/22 September.
Also, you can be trained to use the EBUScore scoring program via an online session on 29 September details of EBUScore Training.
For any queries related to director training courses, please contact Clive on 01296 317212 (clive@ebedcio.org.uk). All our current dates are listed on the TD Course Calendar and are bookable through My EBU, or by phone (call Lisa on 01296 317217).
Test your directing knowledge – Free Online Quiz
Test your knowledge of common situations facing a Club Director by taking EBED’s new club director training quiz.
This free quiz is ideal for those wanting to prepare for an assessment as part of the EBED’s club director training programme, or for existing directors wanting to refresh their knowledge.
Train to become a bridge teacher
Have you or any of your club members ever thought about becoming a bridge teacher? Why not join one of the upcoming Club Teacher Training courses run by English Bridge Education & Development (EBED). For 2023 the course dates are:
- Exeter: 16-17 September
- Aylesbury: 5-6 October
New autumn dates will be available soon.
The 2-day courses give aspiring bridge teachers the skills to teach bridge effectively. As an EBU affiliated club, you are eligible for discounts or concessionary places. If you are interested, please contact Clive on 01296 317212 (clive@ebedcio.org.uk).
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.
Join us on social media:
EBU Facebook; 
EBU Twitter; 
EBU LinkedIn; 
EBU Instagram