Youth

Bridge is a fantastic sport for people of all ages - particularly young people. It offers a combination of competition, socialisation, mental exercise, and fun which cannot be matched by other activities.

The EBU works with the charity English Bridge Education and Development (EBED) to organise and coordinate youth activities.

These include the Junior Teach-In, the Young Bridge Challenge, Under-21 & Under-26 Championships, and numerous other competitions and opportunities to learn, organised at a national, county, or club level. County Youth Officers coordinate junior activities in many counties.

Information and equipment for those wishing to teach bridge in schools, or to youth groups, is available from EBED. They also administer the Junior Award Scheme, which offers a series of graded attainment levels which the young player can achieve as they learn to play. Those completing a level in the Junior Award Scheme will receive membership of the EBU.

We are always seeking volunteers to assist in teaching and/or promoting bridge in their area. If you are able to help please contact David Emerson at EBED or your local County Youth Officer.

Bridge is a great way to compete, socialise and maybe travel the world. Watch this video from the European Bridge League - you could have this much fun if you take up bridge:

News

News from the EBU is below. The World Bridge Federation also collates news for young bridge players from around the world on their WBF Youth Bridge Site and social media accounts:

10 Sep 2018

Clark & Panchagnula win U26 Pairs

Jonathan Clark & Kripa Panchagnula have won the Under 26 Championship Pairs, which took place in London this weekend.

They finished on +140 IMPs, with Ian Robson & Eshan Singhal in second on +118.2. Under-21 pair Sam Anoyrkatis & Elizabeth Gahan were third. The leading under-16 pair was Jamie Fegarty & Liam Fegarty who finished in ninth.

20 Aug 2018 | Education

Deb Casey receives Alec Salisbury Award

We are delighted to have presented the Alec Salisbury Award to Deb Casey of Claremont Fan Court School, in Surrey. The Alec Salisbury Award is awarded jointly by the EBU and English Bridge Education & Development to a serving school teacher who has made a significant contribution to schools bridge.

She is pictured receiving the award from EBU Vice Chairman, Ian Payn.

17 Aug 2018 | Internationals

Despite good performances, all junior teams knocked out of World Youth Team Championships

Despite some excellent performances at times, all four England teams at the World Youth Team Championships in China have missed out on qualifying for the knockout stages. The U16s narrowly missed out, finishing just outside the top eight in 9th place. The U26s and U26 Women both finished in 12th, and the U21s finished in 16th.

That all four England teams qualified for the competition exceed all expectations, so their performances in competing among the elite of world junior bridge, against countries where bridge is given far more importance in the national curriculum, is a credit to the players and their coaches. Whilst there will be a sense of disappointment in the squad that none of the teams progressed to the quarter finals, we can all be proud of their efforts, and be confident that England has a bright future in international junior bridge. Only a few of those in China will be too old to play in the 2020 WYTC, so the squads will be looking to use this event as a springboard to compete for medals at future events.

The NPCs have been writing blogs whilst in China, and these give an insight in to the highs and lows they experienced at the event - read them here.

Consolation events: The U16s led in the early stages of their consolation event, but with little to lose the other teams got more and more wild, and England slipped out of the top places. So they may not leave with any honours, but as Giorgio writes in his final blog, it has been "an amazing experience" for the team, and he gives his sincere thanks to all the supporters, particularly their sponsors Tetragon and No Fear Bridge, for making it possible.
In the Transnational BAM (point-a-board) competition, the England U20 Lions finished 10th and the Ingerland team (the U26s) in 11th.

The teams were:
Under 16: Jasmine Bakhshi & Henry Rose; Jamie Fegarty & Liam Fegarty; Oscar Selby & Andy Cope; NPC: Giorgio Provenza; coach: Laura Porro (picture)
Under 21: Sam Anoyrkatis & Theo Anoyrkatis; Harry Madden & Kripa Panchagnula; Liam Sanderson & Daniel Winter; NPC: Michael Byrne; coach: Alex Roberts (picture)
Under 26: Michael Alishaw & Stephen Kennedy; Kyle Lam & Toby Nonnenmacher; Shahzaad Natt & Ben Norton; NPC: Paul Barden; coach: Graham Osborne (picture)
Under 26 Women: Yvonne Wiseman & Liz Gahan; Olivia Bailey & Ewa Wieczorek; Laura Covill & Siyu Ren; NPC: Sally Brock; coach: David Burn (picture)
We would again like to thank everyone who has contributed to the fundraising. The response has been fantastic – not only because it has provided financial support but also because it has emphasized the importance that the membership places on junior bridge, giving a boost to all of those involved in knowing that they are appreciated. If you intend making a donation, but haven't yet had chance to do so, please note that the donation page on the EBED website will be closed at the end of August. You could still donate by other means, but if you want to ensure gift aid is included, please use that donation page before the end of the month.

6 Aug 2018 | Internationals

Kripa Panchagnula wins Young Player of the Year

Kripa Panchagnula was presented with the 2017 Young Player of the Year award at the Summer Festival yesterday. Congratulations to Kripa for a great year in which he was a key member of the U21 team which earned a bronze medal at the European Championships, won the Peggy Bayer Trophy, and finished second in the Channel Trophy competition. He is pictured receiving the award from EBU Chairman, Jeremy Dhondy.

Other awards - including the Young Pair of the Year - will be announced and presented later in the year.