REPORT #120 – Wales Lady Milne Team

Following the Lady Milne trial this weekend, the following team has been selected to represent Wales in the Lady Milne, to be held online on 16th – 18th April 2021. The event will be played using the Real Bridge platform.

Ceri Pierce & Mia Deschepper
Gilly Clench & Aida Aris
Margaret Lane & Lee Collier

NPC – Tony Disley

We wish them well in the Lady Milne.

Selector’s Report #118 – Scottish Winter Fours for the Scottish BBL Cup

The Scottish Bridge Union Winter Foursomes for the Scottish BBL Cup takes place in March. The SBU have stated that a WBU junior team will receive free entry into this event should Wales enter one or more Open Teams in the event.

This is Scotland’s Premier Online Event for 2021 and comprises:

Weekend 1 – Saturday March 13th & Sunday March 14th 2021
Double elimination matches (with the number of boards being dependent on entry)

Weekend 2 – Saturday March 20th – Pool Matches, Quarter & Semi-finals
Sunday March 21st – Final & Consolation Final (approx. 10 teams)

The event will be held using the RealBridge platform.

Entries or enquiries from Teams of either 4 – 6 by 1st March 2021 to: anne_perkins@blueyonder.co.uk

Cost = £120 per team covering both weekends

On receipt of registration, payment details will be issued by the SBU.

Teams eliminated at the end of Saturday March 20th will receive free entry into the Winter Swiss Teams held on BBO on Sunday 21st March. Everyone is guaranteed four days of top level competition.

There are prizes for the winners, losing finalists and the first and second in the Consolation Final

Selector’s Report #116 – Senior Camrose / Teltscher Trophy Trial


A on-line trial (using the RealBridge platform) will be held over the weekend of 23rd – 24th January 2021, with a view to selecting the Wales team for the Senior Camrose / Teltscher Trophy. The format to be adopted is likely to be a complete Round Robin of 14 board matches scored by cross-IMPs. The winner of this trial, will be guaranteed selection for the Senior Camrose / Teltscher Trophy, with two further pairs then being chosen by the selectors.

Although entries for the trial closed on 15th January, the selectors may consider late entries, in order to avoid a half table, with pairs sitting out.

The Senior Camrose / Teltscher Trophy will be held on-line on 16th – 18th April 2021 using the RealBridge platform.

It should be noted that the Senior Camrose / Teltscher Trophy will be played on the same weekend as the Lady Milne, so players will be unable to play in both events. Eligible players may need to chose between representing Wales in the Senior Camrose / Teltscher Trophy or in the Lady Milne, with that decision being made following the Senior Camrose / Teltscher Trophy trial. This is not an ideal situation but it was a decision that was made by BGB and was beyond the direct control of the WBU.

Once the Senior Camrose / Teltscher Trophy results are known, the Selectors will meet and decide whether holding a trial for the Lady Milne is warranted.

Selector’s Report #114 – CAMROSE WEEKEND #2 on 5th – 7th March

The Selectors have announced unchanged teams for the second Camrose weekend on 5th – 7th March.

The teams are:

WALES

J Pottage & A Ratcliff

A Disley & A Thomas

D Jones & A Dunn

NPC: Simon Richards

WBU

G Davis & S Ingham

M Roderick & P Murphy

A Stephenson & P Kaufman

NPC: L Murphy

This weekend is being hosted by the Welsh Bridge Union on behalf of Bridge Great Britain (BGB).

REPORT #113 – 55th European National Team Championships – June 2021

The European Bridge League (EBL) had originally planned to hold the 55th European National Team Championships in Funchal, Madeira in June 2020, in conjunction with the Portuguese Bridge Federation, but the original event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is now being proposed that the 55th European National Team Championships takes place in Funchal, Madeira from 12th – 22nd June 2021. The 55th European National Team Championships will consist of four Series: Open (over 11 days) and Women’s, Seniors’ and Mixed events (each over a 7 day period). All four Championships will be played as a single complete round robin. The number of boards to be played in each match will be determined and published when the number of participants is known.

The WBU had originally planned to enter a team in the 55th European National Team Championships in June 2020 but one of the pairs that were originally selected for the event in 2020 are now unable to play in the rescheduled 2021 event so the Selectors are looking for “expressions of interest” from any pairs that may be interested in playing in this event. The entry fee for the 55th European National Team Championships will be paid for, with a further contribution being provided towards the expenses for this team. In addition, the WBU had agreed to fund the entry fee for a further team, deemed to be of good standing, that may be interested in playing in one of the Women’s, Seniors’ and Mixed events. Consequently, the Selectors are also looking for “expressions of interest” from any pairs that may be interested in playing in a team in any of these events.

In addition to the 55th European National Team Championships, the 11th Women’s & 9th Seniors’ National Pairs will also be held in Funchal, Madeira from 12-15 June, just prior to the Women’s & Seniors’ National Teams Championships. The 11th European Women’s Pairs Championship and the 9th European Seniors’ Pairs Championship are National Pairs competitions. It is anticipated that each Pairs Championship will consist of two stages: a Qualifying Stage, and a Final Stage (Final A and Final B). However, should the number of participants permit, there will be a one stage all-play-all competition. However, details of the competitions may be changed according to the final registration of participants. The WBU, as the National Bridge Organisation, would support any pair of good standing wishing to play in these events but the WBU will not be offering any financial support to those pairs.