April 2010
So, how many members does Suffolk have now?
Spring – and Universal Membership
They have been a while coming but the English Bridge Union changes that effect us all – counties, clubs and individuals – are here. All club members will be, in some part, members of the EBU and members of the county from April 1st. You can read what it means to you on our web pages devoted to UM and Pay-to-Play (the new way the EBU raises funds).
Suffolk, with its relatively small number of subscription members, will grow. How big? Well, no-one knows exactly so what we're having a small…
Competition
We're giving away a bottle of 2000 Bordeaux to the person who most closely estimates the number of Suffolk members on Thursday 1st July, three months after the start of UM. And this isn't just ordinary Bordeaux, this is Margaux and Chateau Siran Bordeaux. (Checkout the rather eccentric labels or the Wine Spectator: "A lovely wine from this chateau. Aromas of crushed blackberries and raspberries. Full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a long refreshing finish. Very racy. Best after 2009".)
How could you possibly guess how many members there will be? Well, the reports back from clubs (as well as other helpful stuff) are all on those Universal Membership pages. Of course, it wouldn't be a competition without some terms and conditions:
- Entries by email to with SCBA Bordeaux Competition in the subject line.
- The estimate closest to the number of Suffolk members on 1-July-2010 will win the Bordeaux; the committee reserve the right to drum up some consolation prizes for near-misses but these are not guaranteed.
- Entries close midnight 30-April-2010.
- Anyone who is a Suffolk member on the date of reckoning, 1-July-2010 (when things should have sorted themselves out), is eligible.
- In the event of a tie, the earliest submission will win.
Bridge in the Cupboard
'Monsieur Le Blanc'; not a Le Blanc and not a Monsieur either. Pit your wits against Sophie Germain, the eight of spades.
Learn more about the woman who made the first impressions into Fermat's Last Theorem and wrote to Napoleon to ensure the safety of the great Gauss.
Forthcoming Events
Norfolk Congress 2010
Friday 9th April to Sunday 11th, at the Hotel Elizabeth, Duke's Head, King's Lynn. Pairs Friday afternoon followed by a self-contained teams event, Saturday is the Championship Pairs and Sunday the congress Swiss Teams. Both the Championship Pairs and the Swiss Teams are Green-Pointed.
The full congress costs £44.00 but entry is also possible for separate events. You can download an Entry Form [PDF] which also has pricings of individual events. The programme [PDF] has all the timings.
Suffolk Championship Pairs Final
Sunday 25th April 2010, 2:00pm at Stoke by Nayland. Qualifiers will have been contacted by who oversees the championship pairs. If you have any doubts as to whether you qualified or if you are unable to make the final, contact Joan.
The results of the semi-finals are on the website, the first 24 pairs qualified.
Clare Swiss Pairs
Sunday 9th May 2010, 2:00pm at Lavenham Village Hall. The 14th Clare Swiss Pairs on Sunday 9 May will be staged in a new venue – Lavenham village hall. The cost is £11.00 per player (including tea) and there is a £100 first prize.
You can download an entry form and (01206 263209) is coordinating entries.
AGM & AGM Pairs
Sunday 16th May 2010, 3:00pm at Stoke by Nayland. At the close of the 30th Suffolk Annual General Meeting there will be a one session pairs event. There are refreshments for those playing the pairs, entry for which is £6.00 per person.
Results
National Pairs
Congratulations to Ralph Parish and Paul Whetton who battled through the regional semi-final in Peterborough (after the club stage) to be part of the 25-table National Pairs Final – good luck to them in two weeks' time (17/18-April).
The full scores from the semi-final are on the EBU website.
Club Teams of Four
Ipswich & Kesgrave narrowly held off Bury and another team from their own club to claim the Thornaway Cup.
| 1. | Ipswich & Kesgrave (Peter Sutcliffe & Peter Gemmell, Debby Sutcliffe & Maria Allnutt) | +48 IMPs |
| 2. | Bury (Mike O'Reilly & Doc Lacey, John Ede & Norma Shannahan) | +43 |
| 3. | Ipswich & Kesgrave (Barbara Barker & Elaine Green, Peter Markwell & Colin Bamberger) | +41 |
11 teams took part, full results on the Suffolk website.
Pivot Teams
The Stokes quartet, Claude Stokes & Din Gudka, David Morran & Julian Lang, accumulated a fine score to take the Ida Frost Bowl.
| Team | Sto | Fli | Mal | O'R | May | Wat | Bar | Mor | Ric | IMPs |
| Stokes | ** | 0 | -5 | 2 | 10 | 39 | 11 | 30 | 46 | +133 |
| Flin | 0 | ** | 6 | 18 | 3 | 10 | 16 | 6 | 34 | +93 |
| Malinowska | 5 | -6 | ** | 8 | 25 | 11 | -20 | 14 | 20 | +57 |
| O'Reilly | -2 | -18 | -8 | ** | 7 | 5 | 9 | 30 | 17 | +40 |
| Mayhew | -10 | -3 | -25 | -7 | ** | 16 | 31 | -5 | -4 | -7 |
| Waters | -39 | -10 | -11 | -5 | -16 | ** | 21 | -5 | 12 | -53 |
| Barton | -11 | -16 | 20 | -9 | -31 | -21 | ** | 7 | 6 | -55 |
| Morley | -30 | -6 | -14 | -30 | 5 | 5 | -7 | ** | -10 | -87 |
| Rickard | -46 | -34 | -20 | -17 | 4 | -12 | -6 | 10 | ** | -121 |
9 teams took part, full results on the Suffolk website.