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Manchester
County Bridge Association |
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Latest News and Upcoming Events
Deal of the WeekSid TraversWe are sorry to report the death of Sid Travers on Sunday 26th November at the age of 92. He had competed in the Manchester area for over 70 years, winning his first county trophy, the Manchester Teams, in 1955 and his final one, the Mixed Pairs with Eve Lighthill, in 2007. In between he also won the league once and the Higson Cup twice as well as two further wins in the Mixed Pairs with Eve and a win in the Manchester Pairs again with Eve. Nationally he won the Life Master Pairs with Tracy Sherman in 2000. He represented Manchester in many county matches especially in the Northern League and won a National B title in 2010. He was a regular competitor at the Manchester and Altrincham clubs for many years. He was a graduate of Manchester University and was a solicitor by profession. Our condolences to his widow Marice, sons Harry and Max and family. The funeral will be at 15.00 on Thursday 30th November at the Yeshurun Cemetery Cheadle SK8 2PN with prayers in the evening at 20.00 Fall NationalsThe ACBL Fall Nationals are taking place in Atlanta Georgia from Nov 23rd to Dec 3rd. Michael Byrne is playing in the Knottenbelt team with Maggie Knottenbelt, Zia Mahmood, David Gold, Stefano Tommasini and Ben Norton. In the Soloway Knockout Teams they qualified easily in the Swiss and then narrowly won in the round of 32, but then lost in the last 16. Results can be found here. Ben FranksThe Ben Franks Trophy, Manchester's premier pairs event will be held on Sunday 3rd December starting at 11 am at Manchester Bridge Club. This will be a two session event with a break for lunch. The competition qualifies the top four pairs to play in the Corwen Trophy. The Corwen Trophy is the annual county representative event run by the EBU for pairs from all over England to be held June 1st-2nd 2024. Please join us for a great event. Many different pairs have won this over the years and everyone has a good time. Registration is now open on the Manchester Events site (click on registrations, Ben Franks). Do sign up to make sure you support your county for this fantastic event. Lancashire CongressCongratulations to Stephen Ward and Paul Morrell who won the Swiss Pairs at Preston on Saturday 18th November. There were many Manchester pairs competing, Andrew Woodcock/Catherine Draper and Alec Smalley/Tom Slater were fourth equal. In the Swiss Teams on Sunday John Holland, Jackie Pye, Jeff Smith and Rhona Goldenfield were second. Full results are on the Lancashire web site. Goldstone UpsetWell done to Phillip Taylor's Silver and Black Team who beat Inverted Minors, last year's league winners in the round of 16. Tollemache - Manchester QualifyThe inter county teams of eight qualifier took place on Nov 11-12th online on RealBridge. The Manchester team of Alec Smalley/Michael Byrne, John Holland/John Hassett, Catherine Draper/Andrew Woodcock, Gary Hyett/Rodney Lighton won their group. After a moderate start on Saturday, leaving them placed sixth, the team won all their matches on Sunday and just headed their group with Surrey, London and Kent also qualifying. In the other group Middlesex, Berks & Bucks, Gloucester and Cambs & Hunts also qualified. All four pairs contributed a plus score on the cross imps. The final will be face to face in February. Results are on the EBU web site. League, Higson Cup and Goldstone 2023-24All these competitions are under way. In the league only a handful of matches have been played in each of the four divisions. In the Higson Cup only three of the twelve first round matches have been played so far with no great upsets. More progress has been made in the Goldstone where all but one of the round of 32 matches have been played, again with no great surprises. Premier LeagueThe EBU's Premier League continued with its final weekend on 4th-5th November. Michael Byrne playing in the Knottenbelt team finished fourth, John Holland and Alan Mould in the Senior team were eighth. In the second division Andrew Woodcock and John Hassett in the Hackett team did well and moved into top position. Results are on the EBU web site. Manchester CongressThe popular MCBA congress returns as a face to face event on January 6th and 7th 2024 at a new venue, the Cresta Court Hotel in Altrincham. On the Sunday of the congress there will be a single session non-expert event for the Kevin Comrie Cup. Click on the above links for more information and details of how to enter.
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