Overview

The National Schools Championship is EBED's flagship schools competition and the largest national bridge event for school-age players in England. Held each spring, it brings together players of all ages and experience levels for a friendly, competitive and inclusive day of bridge. The event is free to enter and welcomes complete beginners alongside more experienced junior players.

Who can enter?

• School-age bridge players of any experience level
• Teams from primary and secondary schools
• Individual players and pairs are also welcome and can be matched with teammates where required
• Schools, teachers, parents and junior bridge clubs are all encouraged to take part

Format

The Championship is designed to cater for a wide range of experience levels.

Recent events have included:

• Schools Cup for teams representing a single school
• Schools Plate for less experienced school teams
• Harry Scully Trophy for mixed teams
• Novice competitions for newer players

Players compete in teams of four, although individual and pair entries are welcomed.

When and where?

The National Schools Championship takes place annually in the spring.

The event is hosted at Loughborough Grammar School and typically runs from lunchtime through to early evening, with refreshments and a hot meal provided.

Recent winners

2026

• Schools Cup: Habs A
• Schools Plate: Watford Boys
• Harry Scully Trophy: Grand Slam Girls

A full archive of results is available online.

Find out more

• Competition website
• Results archive
• Information for schools and teachers
• Registration details

Overview

The Portland Bowl is the national university teams championship for bridge in Great Britain. Administered by the English Bridge Union on behalf of the Portland Club in London, it brings together student teams from universities and higher education institutions across the country in a season-long knockout competition.

Who can enter?

• Teams representing universities and higher education institutions in Great Britain
• All players must be full-time students at the institution they represent
• Universities may enter multiple teams
• Collegiate universities may enter at university or college level

Format

• Teams of four to six players
• Knockout competition played throughout the academic year
• Early rounds are regionalised where possible to reduce travel
• Matches may be played online if both teams agree
• Teams losing their first match can opt into the Portland Bowl Plate, providing additional opportunities for newer university players to gain experience of knockout bridge

When and where?

The competition begins in the autumn term and runs throughout the academic year.

The semi-finals and final are held each spring at the world-famous Portland Club in London, providing a fitting conclusion to the university bridge season.

Recent winners

The Portland Bowl has a long and distinguished history, with leading university bridge clubs from across the UK regularly competing for the title. Recent finalists and results are available through the EBU results archive.

Find out more

• Competition information
• Current draw and results
• Entry details
• University bridge opportunities

Overview

The EBED Sunday Next Generation Pairs is a friendly online duplicate session designed for young and developing bridge players. Played on RealBridge, it provides a welcoming environment in which players can gain experience, improve their skills and enjoy competitive bridge with others from across the country.

Who can enter?

• Junior players aged under 21
• Newer duplicate players looking to gain experience
• Partnerships of any standard
• Pairs where at least one player is under 21

Players who are learning bridge through schools, youth clubs or EBED activities are especially encouraged to take part.

Format

• Duplicate pairs event
• Played online using RealBridge
• Friendly and supportive atmosphere
• Suitable for players making the transition from lessons and supervised play into competitive duplicate bridge
• Regular opportunities to play against young people from across England

When and where?

The event is held online on selected Sundays throughout the year.

Because it is played on RealBridge, players can take part from home while still enjoying the experience of playing face-to-face online with opponents and friends.

Why take part?

The Sunday Next Generation Pairs offers a stepping stone between learning bridge and playing in larger competitions. Players can:

• Build confidence in duplicate bridge
• Meet other young bridge players
• Practise bidding and card play in a competitive setting
• Prepare for schools, county and national competitions

Find out more

• Upcoming dates
• Booking information
• RealBridge joining instructions
• Other youth bridge opportunities

Alongside national competitions, several counties organise their own schools bridge events. These competitions provide a friendly and accessible introduction to competitive bridge and are open to schools both within and beyond the host county.

While each event has its own character, they share a common structure:

• A main Cup competition for teams representing a single school
• In some cases, a second flight for less experienced school teams
• A separate trophy for mixed-school teams
• Beginner and MiniBridge sections where numbers permit

These events are ideal for schools looking to take their first steps into competitive bridge, as well as for more established school clubs seeking regular competition throughout the year.

Surrey Schools Cup

Organised by Surrey Contract Bridge Association and EBED, the Surrey Schools Cup is held annually at a Surrey school and welcomes entries from schools across the region.

When and where?

Annual event, usually held during the spring term at a host school in Surrey.

Hertfordshire Schools Cup

Hosted by Haberdashers' Boys' School and organised in partnership with Hertfordshire bridge volunteers, the Hertfordshire Schools Cup attracts schools from Hertfordshire and neighbouring counties.

When and where?

Annual event, typically held during the autumn term at Haberdashers' Boys' School.

Yorkshire Schools Cup

Organised by the Yorkshire Contract Bridge Association, the Yorkshire Schools Cup brings together young bridge players from across Yorkshire and beyond for a day of friendly competition.

When and where?

Annual event held at a host venue in Yorkshire.

The Inter-Schools Bridge League is a teams competition between school bridge clubs and is sponsored by the House of Lords.

It was started in 2021 with 14 teams divided into divisions. Each school may enter multiple teams if they have enough enthusiastic players.

Matches are played online as teams-of-4 on Real Bridge and each team will play against the other teams in their division with the top teams going up and the bottom teams going down at the end of the season. There are two seasons per academic year.

Teams can join the league in at the start of the autumn term or at Christmas.

Any school wishing to enter a team should contact please contact EBED's National Youth Coordinator Joan Bennett (joan@ebedcio.org.uk).

The standings in the league are shown on the EBU's Leagues page (search for "school")

Overview

The Junior Camrose series is the premier international competition for junior bridge players in the Home Nations and the Republic of Ireland. Young players have the opportunity to represent their country and compete against the strongest junior players from across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Competitions

• Junior Camrose – the main international teams competition for junior players.
• Peggy Bayer Trophy – the Under-16 international competition, contested by the same nations.

Who can enter?

• Junior players selected to represent their country
• Members of national junior squads
• Young players progressing through the representative bridge pathway

Why take part?

• Represent your country in international competition
• Compete against the strongest junior players in the Home Nations
• Develop teamwork, partnership skills and competitive experience
• Take the next step towards European and World Championships

When and where?

Both competitions are held annually, with hosting responsibilities rotating between the participating nations.

Overview

European and World Youth Championships represent the highest levels of junior bridge competition. England regularly selects teams and pairs to compete against the strongest young players from across Europe and around the world in Under 16, Under 21 and Under 26 categories. These events provide the opportunity to represent your country and experience international competition at the highest level.

Competitions

European Youth Championships are held under the auspices of the European Bridge League and include both face-to-face and online events. World Youth Championships, organised by the World Bridge Federation, bring together leading junior players from every continent.

How do players qualify?

Selection is made through the England junior squad system. Players are identified through junior competitions, representative events and squad training activities, with the Junior Camrose and Peggy Bayer Trophy forming important stepping stones towards international selection. Players may also be invited to attend England training weekends and development camps.

Recent and upcoming events

• 2025 European Youth Pairs Championships – Salsomaggiore Terme, Italy.
• European Youth Online Championships – annual international online competition using RealBridge.
• World Youth Teams Championships – biennial event with England represented across multiple age groups.

Why take part?

These events offer the chance to represent England, compete against the strongest young players in Europe and beyond, develop partnership and leadership skills, and build lifelong friendships through the international bridge community.

When and where?

European and World Youth Championships are held at venues across Europe and the wider world. Alongside traditional face-to-face championships, the European Bridge League also organises online youth championships, allowing players to compete internationally from home.

Overview

The Youth Bridge Grand Prix is a season-long competition for young bridge players. Participants earn points across six designated events, combining online and face-to-face bridge throughout the year.

Who can enter?

• Junior players of all standards
• Players participating in youth bridge events across England
• Individuals seeking regular competitive opportunities

Format

• Six qualifying events across the season
• Combination of online and face-to-face competitions
• Grand Prix points awarded based on performance
• Season-long rankings maintained throughout the year

When and where?

Events take place throughout the year at selected youth bridge competitions and online events.

Overview

The Inter-University Friendly is an annual online match bringing together student bridge players from university clubs across Great Britain. The event provides an opportunity for students to represent their university, meet players from other institutions and enjoy competitive bridge in a friendly environment.

Who can enter?

• University bridge clubs
• Students from participating higher education institutions
• Players of a range of standards and experience levels

Format

• Annual inter-university teams match
• Played online using RealBridge
• Universities compete as teams representing their institution
• Friendly but competitive atmosphere

Why take part?

• Represent your university
• Meet students from other bridge clubs
• Develop team and match-play skills
• Strengthen links between university bridge communities

When and where?

The match is held annually online, allowing students from across the country to take part without travelling. Click here if you are interested in participating. 

Overview

The BGB Online Junior Pairs is an annual national championship for young bridge players from across Great Britain. Organised by Bridge Great Britain and played online using RealBridge, it provides an accessible opportunity for juniors to compete against their peers from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Who can enter?

• Junior players under 26
• Players from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Partnerships of all standards and experience levels

Format

• Annual duplicate pairs competition
• Played online using RealBridge
• National championship field
• Trophies awarded in U16, U21 and U26 categories

Why take part?

• Compete against juniors from across Great Britain
• Gain experience of national-level competition
• Play high-quality bridge without travelling
• Challenge yourself against a wide range of opponents

When and where?

The competition is held annually online, allowing players from across Great Britain to participate from home.

Overview

The Students National Simultaneous Pairs is open to all bona fide bridge students who are currently having lessons through EBTA or another recognised teaching scheme.

It is also open to schools.

These events give students the opportunity of playing in one of their first National events, competing against all the other students entering from throughout the country. They are fun to play in, with just the right amount of challenge to make it exciting and interesting!

Entries are made by bridge teachers or school bridge club organised on behalf of their group. A minimum of one table is all that is needed. There is no entry fee.

Full details can be found on the EBU's event pages at EBU SIM Pairs.