Congratulations to all the players who represented Yorkshire in the C Division of the Northern Bridge League in 2022. Yorkshire won each of the four rounds and finished 79 victory points ahead of second placed Lancashire in the league table. There were also strong performances by the other Yorkshire teams. Both Yorkshire B and Yorkshire A finished in second place in their respective divisions, both of which were won by Manchester.
Tollemache Cup 2022
4th December 2022
The Tollemache is the EBU’s teams of eight competition for teams representing county associations. A qualifying round is played in November and the leading eight teams proceed to the final the following February. Yorkshire has not had much success in this competition in recent years, and the pattern continued this year, as we finished in eighth place out of 15 in our group. This was nine victory points short of a qualifying spot
At the YCBA, we are well aware that there is a real mix of players with some preferring online and some preferring face to face. As has become tradition in the last couple of years, the first event of 2023 will again be the YCBA New Year Bonanza. The event will be played on BBO and will feature 2 days of blue pointed events with pairs on the 1st January and teams on the 2nd January. The nature of a Swiss style event means it is suitable for all players as you will play against people who are doing as well (or badly!) as you are on the day.
There is a flyer attached with more details but if you are part of a pair who require team mates then please let me know by reply and I can try to pair you up.
For those of you are playing face to face, I should like to remind you about the Harrogate Spring Congress which is taking place at a new venue this year, the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Harrogate. Full details on this event and lots of others taking place both online and face to face for clubs across the County can be found on the YCBA website.
Best regards,
Oliver Cowan (Online Tournament Administrator)
Harrogate Spring Congress 2023 Really Easy Section
The Really Easy Pairs will have a talk from Jim Edwards about Swiss Pairs and then playing a 25 board session with high tea being served in the break..
There is free parking in the hotel car park for all events as well as tea and coffee being available free of charge for all sessions.
After an enforced break from being live over the last couple of years, the YCBA are bringing the Harrogate Spring Congress back Face to Face with a bang at a new, exciting venue in the centre of the town, The Crowne Plaza Hotel. The event will have a ‘Really Easy’ Pairs session on the Friday afternoon aimed at players who want a more relaxed experience or have perhaps not played in a congress before while the main Swiss Pairs event is back to it’s traditional 3 session format and the Swiss Teams will run as normal on the Sunday.
The Really Easy Pairs will have a talk from Jim Edwards about Swiss Pairs and then playing a 25 board sesson with high tea being served in the break..
The main Swiss Pairs event this year will see players given an option on the Friday as to whether they wish to play their 1st session on the Friday afternoon or the Friday evening. Both sessions will run parallel with one another and then all players will be together for sessions 2 & 3 on the Saturday. Saturday will have a marginally earlier start than previous years allowing local players to get home at a sensible time and also allowing those who are staying to go out and eat in Harrogate.
The Sunday Swiss Teams will run the same format as it has in previous years.
There is free parking in the hotel car park for all events as well as tea and coffee being available free of charge for all sessions. On Saturday and Sunday there will be 2 course meal in the hotel restaurant including in the entry price, negating the traditional rush to find a restaurant and have to rush your meal, often getting wet in the process! For those who wish to stay at the venue, there are discounted rates in place for bedrooms and this information is on the attached flyers as well as information on how to enter the Congress.
If you want to play in the teams but need teammates then please get in touch and I can try to arrange something for you. There will also be offers in place ar local restaurants on the Friday and Saturday evening for those who want to eat after bridge and more information will be made availabe nearer the time.
Hope to see you in Harrogate!
Oliver Cowan (Tournament Host)
YCBA Club TD Training Courses
28th October 2022
Hi, everyone,
The second series of YCBA Club TD Training Courses for this year has at last been arranged for next month. I had communications with each of you a few months ago around the time of the first series which took place at Huddersfield. Because of Covid concerns, I did put a limit of 12 delegates then but most of you were not available for at least one of the days of the courses anyway.
As anticipated, this second series will take place at the new premises of the York Bridge Club, which is even more conveniently off the A64 than the old premises.. The dates are the following Saturdays:
5 November
12 November
26 November
Each day will start at 10.30 am and finish at 5.30 pm. York BC will provide tea and coffee but we need to bring our own lunch box.
The series of courses is heavily sponsored by the YCBA with no charge to attendees.
I will again be running the courses. I’m an EBU TD and have been running these courses for several years. I am also Chief TD for both Sheffield BC and the online club Bridge Club Live.
Please would you let me know if you would like to sign up or if you would like to know more. My e-mail is brpartrid@aol.com and my phone number is 01629 58 4567
The courses will be promulgated on the YCBA site very soon, but you might like to let your club officials know of these courses anyway.
Best wishes,
Barrie Partridge
Great Northern Swiss Pairs 2022 – Winners
7th October 2022
Winners of the GNSP 2022 are Alec Smalley (left) & Michael Byrne (right).
Winners of the “Really Easy” Improvers section are Brian Lawrence & Mike Dunne.
Accompanied by The Lady Mayoress Mrs Lynda Carr The Sheriff Mrs Suzie Mercer Also attending York City Councillors: Councillor Simon Daubeney Councillor Sue Hunter Councillor Darryl Smalley Councillor Andrew Waller