NEWS 2008  Updated on 07 May 2008
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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 r
ailway 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

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!

 

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

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.  

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.

   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

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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