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HEATON IN THE 50'S - 'LEGENDS OF THE EBOR
STREET GANG'
 If
you lived in or around Newcastle in the 50's
you may be interested in this new novel by
local writer John Rothwell.
Michael Bailey is an
intelligent and perceptive ‘almost twelve’
year old living in the terraced streets of railway
houses in post war Britain. These Legends,
written from his perspective and
delightfully embellished by the author, give
an unashamedly nostalgic insight into the
nineteen fifties.They portray relationships
within families, loyal and lasting
friendships and the working class ethics of
the time.The novel evokes memories of an era
that will soon be forgotten and is
sensitively written with great humour and
pathos.
Copies can be purchased directly from the
author at £7.95. Ring
John on 01325 262573 |
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ENGLISH BRIDGE JUNE 2008
 The
cover design of the June 2008 issue of
English Bridge advertises the forthcoming
Brighton Congress and features the work of
the NEBA webmaster!
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MORPETH BRIDGE CLUB'S 40TH BIRTHDAY
In 2008 the Morpeth Bridge Club celebrates
40 years since it was founded. A party will
be held at Embleton Hall on Sunday 1st
June 2008
All current and past members of the club
are most welcome.Tickets £15 Reserve your
place now with Moyra |
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REVENGE
The
Durham University team of James Ewington,
Tom Dessain, Dominic Maloney and Robin
Zigmond have today won the EBU
inter-university cup, the Portland Bowl.
They beat Edinburgh 147-125 in the
semi-final, then led the strong Oxford A
team throughout in the
final, winning 143 - 96. Fitting revenge for
last year, when they lost to the Oxford A in
the final. |
GERALD FAULKNER SALVER
The
National Seniors Knock Out is played
annually for the Gerald Faulkner Salver.
This year a team captained by Clive Owen has
reached the final . The team which includes
three North West players in John Holland
Bill Hirst and John Hassett beat a
Hampshire team captained by Jeremy Baker in
the semi finals. |
It is with regret that we have to report
that Norman Dykes passed away suddenly on
Wednesday 5th March 2008. Norman was both a
driving force and a leading player at
Stockton Bridge Club for over 30 years and
will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
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EBU SILVER PLATE SUCCESS
The team of
Clive Owen, Julian Gibson, Bill March and
Val Gibson won the final of the Silver Plate
by 23imps over 48 boards.
The Silver Plate
is played by teams who were knocked out in
the first or second round of the Gold Cup .
In the final played at Derby against a
London team captained by Adam Humphreys they
led from start to finish.
To get to the final they won 6 previous
rounds against teams from Scotland, London,
Berks and Bucks, Lancashire ,Yorkshire and
the North East. Their closest match came in
the first round when they narrowly beat a
Durham University side captained by Tom
Dessain after being 30 imps behind going
into the last 8 boards.
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FUTURE CHAMPIONS
The February cover of
English Bridge features a photograph
taken at the 2007 NEBA
Congress and the magazine includes an article about the very
encouraging youth
events that took place on the Saturday morning of the congress.
As reported earlier thirteen tables of youngsters took part and
Yarm School won
the
Sinclair Trophy and Polam 'A' won the Mini Bridge event. |
£10,000 FOR LOCAL BRIDGE CLUB
 The
committee and members of Whitley Bay Bridge Club
were delighted to have been informed by
Awards for All (part of the National
Lottery) that they have been awarded a grant
of £10,000.
celebrated its Diamond Jubilee in 2005, has
occupied the same premises on Whitley Road for
over 40 years.
It is acknowledged as having some of the best
playing facilities in the region and this grant
will enable work to commence on bringing the
rest of the premises to a similarly high
standard.
The club which offers both lessons and playing
sessions on most days of the week has in excess
of one hundred and sixty members and is always
pleased to accommodate visitors and new members.
The premises are also used each week by both
Tynemouth and the YMCA Bridge Clubs and
throughout the season Whitley Bay Bridge Club
hosts regional competitions.
Awards for All
is the small grants scheme administered by the
Big Lottery Fund on behalf of Lottery good cause
funders, Arts Council England, Big Lottery
Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund and Sport
England. The scheme makes awards of between
£300 and £10,000 to grass-roots community groups
and voluntary organisations.
Pam Gladwin - Secretary of Whitley
Bay Bridge Club
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THE FUTURE OF BRIDGE !
 A
little late, but this montage shows some of the
participants at the 2007 NEBA congress and
offers some hope for our game!
Thirteen tables of youngsters aged between 6 and
15 played in the NEBA congress on November 10th
2007.
Yarm School won the Sinclair Trophy and Polam
'A' won the Mini Bridge event. Well done to
children, teachers and parents!
Watch out for the February issue of English
Bridge! |
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SILVER PLATE SUCCESS
The team of
Clive Owen Julian Gibson Val Gibson and Bill
March have reached the final of the Silver
Plate, a competition open to teams knocked out
in rounds 1 or 2 of the Gold Cup.
The final will
be played in February against a London/ Oxford
team captained by ARC Humphrey. |
ENGLAND SELECTION FOR CHRIS
Chris Owen
has been selected to play for England under 25
in the Channel Trophy against France Holland
and Belgium in Utrecht on the 23/24
December. His partner will be John Atthey
from Gloucestershire. This will be their 3rd
outing in this event. They won the Junior
Channel Trophy in Coventry 3 years ago and
finished last in the Channel Trophy 2 years
ago.
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WOW !
Julian Gibson and Phil (King) have won
the Young Chelsea Marathon. The event was
played over 24 hours non stop, starting at 2.00
pm 17th and finishing at 2.00 pm 18th November.
They played 156 boards. First prize was £3000
between them. Full details can be found at
www.ycbc.co.uk.
- BRILLIANT!! |
WELL DONE JOHN AND ERIC!
John Wooton &
Eric Brown of Wearside were 3rd of 1482 pairs
with 72.6% in the David Boston Sims |
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2007 TOLLEMACHE
The NEBA
team finished 3rd out of 10 in what
was undoubtedly the strongest of the four sections
of the Tollemache Trophy last weekend.
For those who do not know, the Tollemache is a
team of 8 competition for all counties in
England and Wales.
The NEBA team consisted of: Clive Owen, Chris
Owen, Steve Ray, Georgia Ray, Dave Roberts, Liz
Muir, Damien Hassan,
Bill March, Dave Broadhead, Martin Kane.
In fact it was probably the North East's best
performance for many years as, with one round to
play, a draw or win against
what was in effect the Welsh National
Team would have ensured qualification for the
Final. Unfortunately, we lost 12-8. There is
no doubt we have found a team that can compete
against the best counties in the country and
hope to improve on this result next year. |
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NEBA's 1ST PREMIER GRAND MASTER
Hearty
congratulations go to Clive Owen,
who has recently become the 1st Premier Grand
Master in the North East of England.
'Premier Grand Master' is England's highest rank
in bridge requiring
1,500 Green Points. |
BRIGHTON SUCCESS
Clive Owen,
playing with John Holland, Bill Hirst and
Patrick
Jourdain. won the Senior Teams at Brighton. |
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NEW
EBU WEB FOR BEGINNERS
The EBU 4th "Really
Easy Congress" took place in Brighton this
week (13th - 15th August). Steve Kitching
and Ann Liddell won the Victor Ludorum prize
with 64.74%, Steve plays at Whitley Bay Bridge
Club.
This information is from a new EBU web
site devoted to bridge students and newcomers.
Check it out at
www.reallyeasybridge.com. |
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A WELCOME IN THE ISLANDS
 While
still young and responsive, I taught all of my
children to play bridge so that I should never
be without a four on holiday.
When I started to play “properly” at Cramlington
Bridge Club, as young adults they agitated to
come along but were daunted by the level of
knowledge involved, the prospect of bidding
boxes and so on.
This summer on Arran we decided the time had
come to take the plunge into competitive bridge.
Adam and I consulted the “Arran Banner” and on
Monday night we spruced ourselves up to go to
Brodick Bridge Club, only to find when we got
there that it was closed! We consulted the Arran
Banner again to find that “Summer Bridge” took
place at a home in Lamlash on Thursdays. Fancy
getting spruced up twice on holiday!
When we arrived there was some consternation.
The club took place in someone’s home and they
always knew beforehand exactly how many pairs
there would be. Our arrival would result in four
and a half tables, and a half-table would have
meant half hour sit-outs for pairs. That was
clearly not attractive.
Never mind, with wonderful hospitality and
determination that we should not be disappointed
they accommodated us. We played five tables with
a phantom bidder summoned from any available
dummy to bid each hand for the two “solo pairs”.
Twenty hands were played in good time and we
were made to feel very welcome.
It would be good to say that this resulted in a
young club member in the making, but I’m not so
sure. He found it hard work and commented at the
end that his brain ached. What the experience
certainly was, however, was a lesson to any
bridge club in how to welcome strangers and new
players.- Owen Temple |
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