July 2018

EBED receives charity donation from EBU members

EBED greatly appreciates the donation which has been made by the EBU's members to assist its work. This donation comes from the reduced licence fees which are paid when clubs hold a charity event - thank you to all EBU members and clubs who have taken part in the events from which have these fees have been collated.

Fun, friendship and the many other reasons why people play bridge

Because it's challenging, a great way to meet people, and endlessly enjoyable - these are just some of the reasons why people play bridge.

As part of EBED's ongoing work research work, a survey was circulated in 2016 in which respondents were invited to answer the question 'why do you play bridge?'. Researchers at Stirling University, with whom EBED are collaborating, have finished analysing replies from over 6,000 players explaining why they keep returning to the table.

Prof. Sam Punch gives the following summary of what the answers revealed: "Bridge is a fascinating, competitive, engaging and exciting leisure activity that is an ever-changing puzzle. It impacts positively on player’s lives in many ways that transcends mental exercise, including friendship, socialising, travel and fun".

This blog from Sam and her colleague, Elizabeth Graham, gives further thoughts on the reasons people play, and the many benefits of playing bridge at any age.

The full report on the study is available here.

This work is just a part of the research with which EBED is involved. See here for more information on other projects.

EBED welcomes new Trustees

We are pleased to welcome two new Trustees, who will be joining the charity from the 1st August.

Andy Margetts is former Chairman of Woking Bridge Club, and now plays at Ascot and South Bucks bridge clubs. He spent his working career as a corporate financier in the City.

Dom Wilson is an active bridge teacher, an EBU trained Tournament Director and associated with many bridge clubs in the Shropshire area. He is ex-professor of Strategic Management and Dean of the Business School at Wolverhampton University.

Southern Counties Junior Bridge Camp Beats the Heat!

More photos on our facebook page!

The hottest days of the year didn’t stop 63 juniors aged 7 to 21 from playing bridge almost non-stop at the Southern Counties Junior Bridge Camp at Ardingly College on 7th and 8th July. The Chapel made an impressive venue for the competitions - have we found a new use for redundant church buildings?

Highlights included a 3 way tie for first place in the Priday Cup, won by Oscar Selby and Andy Cope from Jamie and Liam Fegarty on the result of the boards played against each other, and the master-class on high level competitive bidding by Espen and Helen Erichsen. Dominic Cooke and William Clennell won the NS Saturday evening pairs, and Henry Rose and Jasmine Bakhshi the EW. The Ratnesan family made a clean sweep of the novice competitions, with Radha winning on Saturday together with Eliska Whitney, and Rajeiv and Ranesh on Sunday.

Three juniors were awarded their EBED Junior Award Scheme MiniBridge Level, six their Bronze Level, one Gold and four Platinum.

Four brave girls opted to play rounders in 30 degrees of heat, but most juniors and adults opted either to use the swimming pool or (after a rapid programme alteration) to watch the World Cup football. We wish the England U-16 team, who used the event as their final training, the best of luck at their World Cup in August, and for the final of the World Online Championships!

To experience some of the same kind of fun we had at Ardingly, come to EBED's Junior Teach-In, from the 31st August to the 2nd September at Phasels Wood Activity Centre in Hertfordshire.

100 juniors play in Stamford inter-schools event

Exactly 100 excited young people have taken part in Stamford Youth Bridge Academy’s 2nd inter-schools event.

10 schools competed in three categories of competition, and prizes were presented by Gordon Rainsford of the EBU to:

Seniors - joint winners - Bourne Academy and Catmose College.
Juniors - winners - Oundle Primary; 2nd - Baston CE; and 3rd - Oakdale.
Starter bridge - winners - Westfield; runners-up Morton

Nick Boles MP (Grantham and Stamford) was also a guest at the event, and presented awards to the participating schools:

Pre-school - The Children's Garden Day Nursery and Montessori Pre-School, Stamford
Juniors - Baston, Copthill, English Martyrs, Morton, Nettleham, Oakdale, Oundle and Westfield
Seniors - Bourne Academy and Catmose College

The event was also attended by Alan Shillitoe, an England Junior Coach, and two current junior internationals, Kripa Panchagnula and Johno Clarke.

The event was oversubscribed - testament to the great work which Stamford Youth Bridge Academy is doing to promote bridge in the area. As well as the work it does with schools, it will soon be starting a Youth Bridge Club on Sundays (3 to 5 p.m.) beginning on 23rd September.

Photos from the event are available here, via Stamford BC.