WARWICKSHIRE ASSOCIATION

Chairman’s Corner ‐ December 2013

I would like to begin by congratulating Susan Stockdale and her teammates, Fiona Brown, Sally Brock, Heather Dhondy, Nevena Senior and , on winning Silver Medals in both the World Championships in Bali and the Beijing Hua Yuan Cup.

Congratulations go to Cock O’ the County winners, Joe Fagan & Anja Townrow, No Fear Pairs winners, Marijke Rodrigo & Geraldine Draysey, Challenge winners, Ryan & Enid and Kira & Darren, Cafe Bridge winners, Kevin New & Mike Sallis, Chick O’ the County winners, Jackie and Mark Nixon and Seniors’ Pairs winners, Dennis Heighway & Denis Gough.

The Mentored Novice Pivot Teams event, held at Coventry and North Warwickshire Bridge Club, continues to be a popular event. Seventeen teams competed, with mentors guiding and supporting new players through the pivot teams event. Our congratulations to the winners, Andy Moir, Helen Thompson, Peter Williams, and Carolyn Fisher (Mentor).

A new Non‐Expert Teams competition at West Midlands Bridge Club will commence on Wednesday 4 December 2013, at 6.45pm. This competition is open to players with less than ten years bridge playing experience and who have very little or no experience of teams bridge. Hosts are available, so if you would like to take part and do not have a partner, or teammates, that will not be a problem.

Our Tollemache team (Roger Bryant, John Collin, George Cuthbertson, Steve Green, Ian Handley, David Kenward, David Jones, Mike Leese, Malcolm Oliver, Garry Watson and Steve Wood) sadly did not qualify for this year’s final. Our thanks to them all for representing us in a very challenging weekend of bridge.

Qualifying heats for the Championship and Mixed pairs are now well underway, with some pairs having already qualified. I do hope that those of you who have not previously competed in a County event will, if successful in qualifying, take your place in the respective finals. If you have any questions about either of these events please do not hesitate to contact Elayne ([email protected]) or myself.

Coventry & West Midlands Bridge Clubs are holding heats of the National Pairs in the New Year. I do hope as many of you as possible will play and, if successful, will take your places in the regional finals.

At the ’s Annual General Meeting in October, Jeremy Dhondy was elected Chairman. I am sure you would all like to join me in wishing him well in his new role. We must also say a huge thank you to Sally Budgen for her work as Chairman. The EBU has been transformed under Sally’s Chairmanship, and we are pleased that she will

remain on the and lead the new Education and Development Charity when it is launched in 2014.

A series of One Day EBU Club Tournament Director Training Courses will be held at West Midlands Bridge Club in the New Year (12 February, 12 March, 9 April and 11 June). Affiliated Clubs may send delegates on the basis of two for the price of one. Details are available from the EBU. Individual Members are also welcome to book on to the course. Warwickshire is keen to support Club Tournament Directors who would like to further their directing experience up to County level. If you feel that you would like to follow this path please do not hesitate to contact me.

We look forward to the Midland Counties Congress to be held in January, and hope it will be supported by as many of you as possible. The hotel has undergone extensive refurbishment, including the playing area. The head Chef has produced a menu which he claims will be better than local alternatives. Do try to eat in the hotel on at least one of the evenings, and please let me know what you think.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

Darren Evetts Chairman [email protected]

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