JOHN ATTHEY - GRAND MASTER

At the tender bridge age of 26 John Atthey has recently become the youngest Grandmaster in the country. His record of successes is quite outstanding and surpasses what most bridge players achieve in a lifetime.  His international record is extremely impressive, representing England in 4 European Championships, twice with Chris Owen when they were the top UK pair on the Butlers  and also 3  times in the Channel trophy 5 times in the Junior Channel 3 times in the Junior Camrose 5 times in the Peggy Bayer possibly the highest number of caps ever won by a junior.

His record in National competitions is also breath taking.

He has and this list is far from compete won the Tollemache which is probably the most difficult competition besides the Gold Cup to win for both Gloucestershire and the North East, the Brighton Swiss pairs the largest pairs event in the country, the Pachabo Cup  a teams event for county champions, the Great Northern Swiss pairs, the championship teams and pairs at the annual Scottish Congress.

Away from the bridge table he is a qualified Chartered Accountant.

Perhaps what is even more impressive is his conduct at the bridge table where his table manners are impeccable and a lesson to us all.

A top Scottish bridge player said to me after losing a Gold Cup match that although he might have played a better junior player( Rosenburg ) was the player he had in mind he had never played against a junior pair with better presence and table manners.

We are indeed fortunate to have such a player in our County. - Clive Owen
 

NEBA CONGRESS SUCCESS

Well done to the NEBA Congress Swiss Teams winners, John Halliwell, Ian Rankin, Peter Mollart, Mike Stanbury

The 2011 December Issue of 'English Bridge was another cover design by your webmaster. The first invitation to design these covers was after someone submitted a simple photograph taken at the NEBA congress of a young girl in a hat. You may remember it.
 

2011 KEMPSON PLATE WINNERS

Norman McTaggart, Mary Page, Brian Lumsden, and Kathy Pike comprehensively won the Kempson Plate Final, played at Darlington in a very friendly spirit against Ian Rankin's team.




2011 KEMPSON CUP WINNERS

The team of Clive Owen Bill March Dave Broadhead Martin Kane and Damian Hassan beat Chris Owen John Atthey Tom Dessain and Dom Maloney in the final of the Kempson Cup. This was a repeat of last years final. Malcolm Oliver had also played for the winning team in earlier rounds. This is the 19th time Bill March has been in the winning team. A remarkable record.