This a a great new event for 2012 and, if successful, will become a regular part of our calendar (possibly issuing the new EBU blue points (which come into effect next season).

We will be running a Duplicate Pairs event, but the final result will be handicapped using the newly launched EBU National Grading System, so all players have a good chance of doing well if they play well for their given handicap. It will be at Bristol BC and start at 3pm (not an ideal start time but some roads are closed in Bristol for a "Fun Run" during the early part of the day), and finish around 7.15pm.

Entry is completely FREE and we are offering cash prizes for the top four places (£40, £30, £20, £10) and a £10 consolation prize for last place. And if that is not enough to tempt you, during the break for the AGM (5.15pm - 6.00pm) we will be providing strawberries/scones & cream and Pimms/orange juice, again completely free of charge!

For the inaugural event, Eric Page has kindly donated a set of tickets to the Mens' Wimbledon Championship (ticket restrictions apply). Anyone playing in the event and who attends the AGM will be put into a random draw.

Pre-entry is necessary, because we need to know how many people to cater for. To enter this exciting event, either sign-up on the competition entry form (which will be sent to affiliated clubs), or send an email to .

Our AGM will be held at Bristol Bridge Club on Sunday 20th May at 5.15pm. It will take place during the break of the ACBA "Wimbledon" Handicapped Pairs. Anyone wishing to stand for the next ACBA Committee should put themselves forward for nomination by signing up on the nomination form that has been sent to our affiliated clubs.

The minutes of the 2011 AGM can be read by clicking here. The agenda for the 2012 AGM is as follows:

  1. Minutes of the 2011 AGM and matters arising
  2. Chairman's Report (Eric Page)
  3. Treasurer's Report (Mary McKenzie)
  4. Secretary's Report (Sue O'Hara)
  5. Youth Officer's Report (Stuart King)
  6. Tournament Secretary's Report (Robert Glass)
  7. Western League Organiser's Report (Margaret Harris)
  8. Motions to be discussed:
	
     a) ACBA Vision Statement. The ACBA Committee have written the following vision statement and wish
        to discuss the idea and how it may be achieved at the AGM:

     "The Avon Contract Bridge Association would like to achieve the following in order to provide
      bridge to its members:
		      
        'To have the flexibility to run any ACBA bridge event it wishes on any day (or evening)
         of the week as it sees fit, at whatever cost it sees fit. It would like (if possible)
         not to have to rely on a third party to help it achieve this. Examples of this include a
         "county night", a Western League match, or an ACBA qualifier/final.'"

     b) Teas at ACBA Sunday Events. The cost of providing tea at ACBA Sunday Events will increase by 40%
        (Bristol BC have raised the cost of tea per person from £5 to £7). The ACBA Committee
        wish to discuss whether to continue providing tea in future or whether to just provide a break
        (and free biscuits) and significantly reduce the table money for playing in these events (players buy
        their own drinks).
        
     c) Disciplinary procedure in our Constitution. We would like to change the section
        "Schedule of Disciplinary Procedures" in our Constitution to simply say that
        "The ACBA will follow the latest procedure as laid down by the English Bridge Union".
        This is because we adopt the EBU procedure and as the EBU may amend this from time-to-time,
        it currently requires an EGM or AGM to update it.

     d) Membership Secretary Post. The ACBA propose that this post is removed as an officer of
        the committee and the constitution amended appropriately. Following the implementation
        of Universal Membership by the EBU there is no requirement for this role at a county level
        as all membership is handled via the Affiliated Clubs.

  9. Election of Officers and other Committee members
 10. Presentation of Trophies
 11. Thank-yous
 12. Any other business

These competitions have now finished.

In League I the SMITH team have won, ending their season on a score of 161 VPs after 12 matches. Congratulations to Andy, Cathy & Ralph Smith & Steve Tomlinson on successfully defending their title, their third victory in five years! Runners-up were the COVILL team (Robert Covill, Robert Glass, Jeremy Rickard & Aidan Schofield) on 144 VPs.

League II has been won by the DAVIES team. Well done to Tim Brierley, Mike Davies, Mike Elliott, Paul Keightley, Peter Sampson & Jack Terry, who have scored 159 after 10 matches. Runners-up were the STEPHENS team (Cathy Davies, Mike Huggins, Sue O'Hara, Irene Robinson & Nelson Stephens) on 117 VPs.

League III has been won by the LIHOU team. Congratulations to John Brandon-Joyce, Carol Gregg, Marguerite Lihou, Oli Noel, Vanessa O'Callaghan & Deb Ogilvie, who finished on 157 VPs after 10 matches. Runners-up were the O'BRIEN team (Margaret Alner, Bill Crymble, Sue Lowe, Bill Maddox & Mike O'Brien) on 121 VPs.

In the No Fear League the RANDELL team won this event with a score of 102 VPs after 7 matches. Congratulations to Peter Owens, David Gregory, Margaret Randell & Peter Randell. Runners-up were the KING team (Deborah Durbin, Mungo Jackson, Stuart King, Max Robinson & Ian Smorfitt) on 99 VPs.

In the Knockout, congratulations to the COVILL team (Robert Covill, Robert Glass, Jeremy Rickard & Aidan Schofield) on winning this competition. Runners-up were the OLIVER team (Tony Gammon, Brian Goalby, Mike & Tony Letts, Huw Oliver & Andrew Urbanski).

In the Knockout Plate, congratulations to the WIBBERLEY team (Phil Channack, Brian Dyde, Peter Sherry & Brian Wibberley) on winning this event. Runners-up were the BIRT team (Mike Best, David Birt, Geoff Evans, Phil Felman, Simon Richards & Trevor Towers).

Congratulations to the following Avon players (in bold type) who have done well in external competitions during the last 3 months (top 10% of field, qualification for later heats or later stages of knockout competitions):

EBU Portland Bowl

Katy Lee, currently studying at Southampton University, was part of a team that won the EBU Portland Bowl, beating Oxford University A in the final (round 4). Please click here for their route to success.

Devon Bridge Association Congress (13th-15th April 2012)

In the Swiss Pairs, Mike Huggins & Irene Robinson came 7th= and Aidan Schofield (with Sally Cairns) and Sue O'Hara & Nelson Stephens came 10th=, in a field of 114 pairs.

In the Swiss Teams, Colin Cheek, Bob Curtis & Aidan Schofield (with Jenny Gray) came 6th in a field of 64 teams.

EBU National Pairs Final (14th-15th April 2012)

David Jones (with Miles Cowling) came 3rd in the A Final, in a field of 49 pairs. Please click here for the full results.

York Easter Festival (6th-9th March 2012)

Suzy Lawson (with Andy Jarvis) won the Mixed Pairs, in a field of 32 pairs. Please click here for the full results.

BGB Gold Cup

The teams of Gareth Evans, Marc Lee, Tony Letts & Andrew Urbanski and Mike Best, Simon Richard, Trevor Towers (and Mark Roderick) have reached the fourth round of the BGB Gold Cup.

EBU NICKO

The team of Phil Channack, Brian Dyde, Peter Sherry & Brian Wibberley have reached the fifth round of the EBU NICKO (last 32).

EBU Crockfords Cup

The team of David Jones, Rob Lawy and Trevor Ward (along with Patrick Jourdain, Tony Ratcliff and Andrew Thompson) have reached the final round of the EBU Crockfords Cup (last 8).

Portland Pairs (25th March 2012)

Andy & Cathy Smith won the Portland Pairs (EBU Mixed Pairs Championship) in a field of 389 pairs. Please click here for the full results.

EBU National Pairs Regional Final - Bristol Heat (18th March 2012)

A number of Avon players did well in this competition. Names have been omitted because it is confusing who has qualified for what (A or B final, or neither as there are certain restrictions for the B final). Please click here for the full results.

Avon/Wilts/EBU Green-point weekend (10th-11th March 2012)

In the Swiss Pairs on the Saturday, David Jones & Rob Lawy came 1st, Brian Dyde & Peter Sherry came 3rd and Robert Covill (with Matthew Covill) came 4th, in a field of 94 pairs.

In the Swiss Teams on the Sunday, Roger Sweet (with Bob Baker, Jacque Baker & Michael Whittaker) came 1st, Alan Jones, David Jones, Rob Lawy & Trevor Ward came 4th, Robert Covill, Gareth Evans, Mike Short & Steve Tomlinson came 5th, and Tony Gammon, Robert Glass, Huw Oliver & Jeremy Rickard came 6th, in a field of 59 teams.

EBU Grand Masters Pairs (3rd-4th March 2012)

Andy & Ralph Smith were runners-up in a field of 33 pairs. Please click here for the full results.

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Done well in an external competition ? Then let me know and I will post it on the website. Send an email to

This section is dedicated to any (suitable) personal adverts that our members wish to make which may be of interest to the general membership (and are not necessarily bridge-related). If you are a member and would like to place a small advert in this section, then please send an email to .

Want catering for your knockout matches?

Catering for home matches can be a chore and an afterthought. Julie Lee (Marc's wife) just loves making sandwiches, quiches, cakes and the like, and will perform your catering on request. This is for pleasure, not profit, so the cost is about as low as it can be.

Speciality Cakes

She cooks excellent cakes, her speciality being chocolate, lemon, and coffee & walnut. They serve between 12 and 16 people, ideal for barbeques, birthdays or parties, and come highly recommended. Only £8 each. Please phone her on 0117 2399251 to place an order.

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