Competitions 2009/2010
LONDON METROPOLITAN BRIDGE ASSOCIATION
Click on competition for conditions of entry, costs and further details
Organizer contact details can be found by clicking here.

Date Event Time Venue Organizer Tel. Notes
  LMBA Ivitational Events          
2-July-09 AGM 7.00 PM YC         
13-Sep-09 Metropolitan Cup 1.00 Ardingly Ian Payn 020 7348 7839 Invitational Event
1-Sept-09 Close date - London Leagues     Sati McKenzie 020 7627 0977  
1-Sept-09 Close date - Home Counties League     Sati McKenzie 020 7627 0977  
1-Sep-09 Close date - London Trophy Teams     Cecil Leighton 020 8500 0700   
20-Sep-09 Mixed Pairs 1:00 PM YC Nigel Freake 020 8801 2884  
4-Oct-09 Champions Cup 1.00 PM YC Sati McKenzie 020 7627 0977  
17/18-Oct 09 Lederer Memorial Trophy 1:00 PM YC Stefanie Rohan 020 8800 9005  Details
17- Oct-09 Lederer - Play with the Stars 2:00 PM At Clubs Paul Lamford 020 8800 9005  
8- Nov-09 Junior Teams 12.00 Noon YC Chris Duckworth 020 7385 3534  
29-Nov-09 U-19 Pairs Championship 12.00 YC Chris Duckworth 020 7385 3534  
2010            
17-Jan-10 London Teams of Four
for the Ian Gardiner Trophy		 11.30 AM YC Sati McKenzie 020 7627 0977 Pachabo Qualifier
31-Jan-10 Simple Systems Pairs - Palmer Bayer 1.00 PM YC Chris Duckworth 020 7385 3534  
21-Feb-10 London Championship Pairs 1.00 PM YC Nigel Freake 020 8801 2884 Corwen Qualifier
13-Mar-10 Green Pointed Pairs 1.00 PM Earls Court Chris Duckworth 020 7385 3534  
14-Mar-10 Green Pointed Teams 11.30 AM Earls Court Chris Duckworth 020 7385 3534  
22-Apr-10 Garden Cities Heat 7:00 PM YC Chris Duckworth 020 7385 3534   
25-Apr-10 Senior Pairs - Fox Shammon 2:00 PM Queens Club Steve Eginton 01628 780862 Details
NA this year Newcomers Day     Chris Duckworth  020 7385 3534    
23-May-10 London Trophy Final 2:00 PM RAC Cecil Leighton 020 8500 0700 Spectator Event
20-June-10 London Trophy Pairs 2.00 PM RAC Cecil Leighton 020 8500 0700  
15-July-10 AGM 7.00 PM YC         
  Metropolitan Cup 1.00 Ardingly     Invitational Event



MIXED PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP
HOLDERS: Ursula Harper & Martin Hoffman

This is a single extended session, match-pointed, mixed pairs event.
Permitted conventions: EBU Level 4.
Membership requirements: All players must be EBU members.
Date and venue: Sunday 20th September 2009 at the Young Chelsea Bridge Club.
Start time: 1.00 pm.
Entry fee: £22.00 per pair.
Entries: Advance entry is not required but a phone call to the Young Chelsea guarantees your entry!
Contact: Nigel Freake or the Young Chelsea Bridge Club for further information.

LONDON LEAGUE
Holders Division 1 Young Chelsea 3 Capt: David Ould
Division 2 London Duplicate : Graham Clay
Division 3 Mad Axeman : David Bryant
The league is for teams of four (although up to eight people may play for a team during the season). It is organised into two or three all-play-all divisions with end of season promotion and relegation.
New teams are always welcome and will be considered for entry at any level, although it would be exceptional for a new team to be put directly into Division 1.
Permitted conventions: Division 1 – Anything (provided reasonable notice is given), lower divisions - EBU Level 4,
Membership requirements: All players must be LMBA members
Entry fee: £16.00 per team
Contact: Entries should be sent to Sati McKenzie, to arrive no later than 1st September 2009.

Guidance to Captains in arranging matches.

LONDON NEWCOMERS LEAGUE

HOLDERS: LSE II - Capt Miu Suan Wong

The league is designed particularly for those who have had little experience of competitive bridge. Teams of four matches are probably the most enjoyable form of bridge you can play, and new players are encouraged to try to get together teams to participate in this. Teams must consist of at least four players, but may include up to eight, any four of whom play in each match. There is no reason why one or more members of the team should not be more experienced, perhaps the captain who is willing to make the match arrangement, but any group of friends, colleagues, associates etc can take part.
Matches may be played in homes, offices, bridge clubs or any convenient location that you choose, and you are unlikely to need to play more than about 1 match every six weeks or so. The league is open to all players – you do not need to be LMBA or EBU members, but teams are restricted to only one player of National Master rank or above.
The winners of this League will be eligible for promotion to the lowest division of the London League.
Permitted conventions: EBU Level 3.
Membership requirements: Anyone, including non-EBU members may play.
Entry fee: £16.00 per team (that’s just £4 per player!)
Contact: Entries should be sent to Sati McKenzie, to arrive no later than 1st September 2009.


HOME COUNTIES LEAGUE
HOLDERS: London Red; John Pemberton, Paul Martin, Steve Popham, Simon Cochemé, Tim Gauld, Helen Erichsen, Fergal Boland, Brian McGuire, Fiona Hutchison, Mark Lehtor

This is an inter-county teams of eight competition for London and the home counties. It is aimed at county second team players who would not normally be expected to represent their counties in events such as the Tollemache. Teams are allowed to field at most two Grand Masters in any one match.
Matches are of 24 boards and are normally played at the Young Chelsea Bridge Club on weekday evenings starting at 7.00 pm. Players must be members of the county that they represent but allegiance is not required. Green points are awarded.

Current participants are Kent, Middlesex, Surrey and London (two teams), so there is room for additional counties to join. Anyone interested should contact Sati McKenzie for more details – the entry fee is just £12 per team. Players interested in representing London should contact Simon Cochemé (London Red) or Stefanie Rohan (London Blue).

Entries close on 1st October 2009 for new teams but individuals may join a team at any stage during the season.



CHAMPIONS CUP
HOLDERS: Surrey - Tony Eastgate & Bob James - Penny Macleod & Richard Currie

This is an extended single session multiple teams event for the 2008/2009 season winners of the highest divisions of leagues organised in London and the home counties. New leagues are always welcome to enter.
Permitted conventions: EBU Level 4.
Membership requirements: Anyone who is a bona fide member of the league that they represent, including non-EBU members, may play.
Date and venue: Sunday 4th October 2009 at the Young Chelsea Bridge Club.
Start time: 1.00 pm.
Entry fee: £32.00 per team.
Entries: Should be sent to Sati McKenzie to arrive no later than end September 2009.
Contact: Sati McKenzie for further information.

JUNIOR TEAMS OF FOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

This is a single extended session teams of four competition for junior players. Subject to numbers, it will be run as two parallel events – one for Under-25s and one for Under-19s.
Entry is open to all junior players – there is no restriction this year for teams to be representing counties.
All players must properly qualify as juniors in 2009/2010, that is, be born on or after 1st January 1984 for the Under-25s and 1st January 1990 for the Under-19s.

Permitted conventions: EBU Level 4
Membership requirements: Anyone, including non-EBU members, may play.
Date and venue: 8th November 2009 at the Young Chelsea Bridge Club
Start time: 12.00 noon (Finish at approximately 6.30 pm).
Entry fee: £20.00 per team.
Entries: Should be sent to Christine Duckworth..
Contact: Christine for further information.



UNDER-19 PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP
HOLDERS: Alex Gauld & Rachel Kellett-Clarke

This is a single session match-pointed pairs competition for juniors born on or after 1st January 1990 and is a qualifying heat of the national Under-19 Pairs Championship . Qualifying pairs will compete in the national final to be held on Saturday 3rd April 2010 in London and will also be offered free entry to the London Easter Festival of Bridge.

Permitted conventions: EBU Level 4.
Membership requirements: Anyone, including non-EBU members, may play.
Date and venue: Sunday 29th November 2009 at the Young Chelsea Bridge Club.
Start time: 12.00 noon (Finish at approximately 4.30 pm).
Entry fee: £2.00 per player.
Contact: Christine Duckworth for further information.


DAILY TELEGRAPH CUP
HOLDERS: Avon- Cathy Smith & Ralph Smith, Andy Smith & Steve Tomlinson

Not scheduled this year.


LONDON CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS OF FOUR for the IAN GARDINER TROPHY
HOLDERS: Liz Clery, Ken Barnett, Ryan Stephenson, Paul Huggins

This is the major county teams championship and is therefore green-pointed. The competition is in the format of a single-day, two-session multiple teams, from which the top two teams with London allegiance will qualify to a head-to-head final match to be arranged at a mutually convenient later date. The winning team will be expected to represent London in the Pachabo Cup on 5th/6th June in Hinkley.
The multiple teams event will be scored using the same method as the Pachabo itself – a combination of IMPs and point-a-board. Green points will be awarded for both stages of the competition as a whole. Please note the early start time which, combined with a short break between the two sessions – approx 30 minutes only, will allow an early finish on Sunday evening.
Permitted conventions: EBU Level 4.
Membership requirements: All players in the multiple teams stage must be LMBA members. In order to qualify for the two-team final stage, all players in a team must have London allegiance.
Date and venue: Sunday 17th January 2010 at the Young Chelsea Bridge Club.
Start time: 11.30 am
Entry fee: £60.00 per team.
Entries: Should be sent to Sati McKenzie to arrive by 3rd January 2009.


LONDON CHAMPIONSHIP PAIRS
HOLDERS: Paul Lamford & Paul Martin

This is the major county pairs championship and is therefore green-pointed. It is also the qualifying event for the Corwen Trophy. The leading four pairs with London as their county of allegiance will be expected to represent the LMBA in the Corwen Trophy on 5th/6th June in Hinkley.

This is a one-day, two session, match-pointed pairs event. The top fourteen pairs from the first session will compete in an all-play-all final with carry forward scores whilst the remainder of the field competes in a consolation final.

Permitted conventions: EBU Level 4.
Membership requirements: All players must be LMBA members but allegiance is only required if representing London in the Corwen Trophy.
Date and venue: Sunday 21st February 2010 at the Young Chelsea Bridge Club.
Start time: 1.00 pm.
Entry fee: £30.00 per pair.
Entries: Advance entry is not required but a phone call to the Young Chelsea guarantees your entry!
Contact: Nigel Freake or the Young Chelsea Bridge Club for further information.



“NO FEAR” PAIRS FOR THE PALMER BAYER TROPHY
HOLDERS: Paul Lamford & Robert Brinig
This single extended session, match-pointed, ‘No Fear’ pairs event is for those who would like to play tournament bridge under more relaxed conditions than often apply in other events and also for those who particularly want to enjoy a social atmosphere when playing.
The principal aim of this event is to have fun. The pace of play is a little more leisurely than usual. A glass (or two!) of wine awaits you at the end of the session and you can discuss the hands that you have just played with an expert who will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.
Improvers and tournament novices are most welcome. More experienced London members may find this the ideal way to introduce family, friends and colleagues to organised bridge (always remembering everyone is there to enjoy themselves).

Permitted conventions: Simple systems only are allowed, but including weak two opening bids and transfers in response to 1NT openings. A fuller description of allowed systems and conventions is published Here (Word Download) and will be made available at the event.
Membership requirements: Anyone, including non-EBU members, may play.
Date and venue: Sunday 31st January 2010 at the Young Chelsea Bridge Club.
Start time: 1.00 pm.
Entry fee: £16.00 per pair.
Entries: Advance entry is not required but a phone call to the Young Chelsea guarantees your entry!
Contact: Chris Duckworth or the Young Chelsea Bridge Club for further information.



INTER-CLUB TEAMS OF EIGHT QUALIFIER FOR THE GARDEN CITIES TROPHY
LONDON HEAT HOLDERS: Young Chelsea Purple
Chris Duckworth, Mike Graham, Michael Ranis, Brian Callaghan,
Margaret James, Martin Nygren, Nick Wilson, Liz Wright

The Garden Cities is the national teams of eight championship for EBU affiliated clubs. The winner of London’s single-session qualifying heat will be eligible to play in the South-East Regional Final on Saturday 22nd May, and, if successful there, in the National Final. Clubs may enter as many teams as they wish subject to space restrictions at the venue (The LMBA reserves the right, if necessary, to restrict the number of teams per club).

Permitted conventions: EBU Level 4.
Membership requirements: Clubs must be members of the LMBA. Players must be members of the EBU and of the club they represent but do not have to be LMBA members. It is not necessary for the same eight players to represent a team at each stage of the competition but no player may play for more than one club.
Date and venue: Thursday 22nd April 2010 at the Young Chelsea Bridge Club.
Start Time: 7.00 pm.
Entry fee: £56.00 per team.
Entries: Should be sent to Chris Duckworth to arrive by 15th April 2010.
Contact: Chris Duckworth or the Young Chelsea Bridge Club for further information.


SENIOR PAIRS FOR THE FOX-SHAMMON TROPHY
HOLDERS: Chris Burley & Steve Gore

This is a single extended session, match-pointed, pairs event for seniors, who must have been born in or before 1952.
Permitted conventions: EBU Level 4.
Membership requirements: All players must be EBU members.
Provisional date and venue: Sunday 18th April 2009 at the Queen’s Club, London, W14.
Start time: 2.00 pm (Finish at 6.30 – 7.00 pm).
Entry fee: £24.00 per pair
Entries: Advance entry is strongly advised and should be sent to Steve Eginton, to arrive no later than 18th April 2009.
Contact: Steve Eginton for further information.

Why not take lunch at the prestigious Queen’s Tennis Club, before playing in the Fox Shammon? What could be nicer on a spring Sunday?


NEWCOMERS’ DAY
HOLDERS: NS: Shelley Evans & Leszek Lubaszewski EW: Mala Lever, Jan Holman & Ian Stewart (2007)

This event will not be held in 2010. New players are recommended instead to play in the Novice Duplicates run by the Young Chelsea Bridge Club on the first Thursday of each month, or to try the Andrew Robson Bridge Club.


LONDON TROPHY & DELLA-PORTA PLATE
Knock-Out Teams Competition for Non-Bridge Clubs
HOLDERS: Cameron McKenna - Chris Larlham & Cicily Nichols, Mark Nichols & David Reueen

A knock-out teams of four competition for sports, social and all other non-bridge clubs
with a knock-out Plate competition for teams eliminated in their first match.
Early rounds are regionalised to minimise travel
Hosted finals on Sunday 23rd May 2010
Extensive prize list for trophy and plate
No team may have more than one player of National Master or above.
Only natural bidding systems are permitted together with Stayman and Blackwood.
Entry Fee: £16 per team
To guarantee entry, please contact Cecil Leighton before 1st September 2010.
(Every effort will be made to accommodate later entries.)
Tournament Organiser: Cecil Leighton, 6 The Bowls, Chigwell, IG7 6NB tel 020 8500 0700

LONDON TROPHY PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP
HOLDERS: Jeff Gill and Peter Jones (2008)

This competition was newly introduced in 2008. It is a one-day pairs competition which is open to pairs from all teams that have won at least one match in either the London Trophy or the Della Porta Plate. Up to two pairs from each team may enter.
Permitted conventions: As for the London Trophy
Date and venue: Sunday 20th June 2010 at the Royal Automobile Club.
Start time: 2.00 pm.
Entry fee: FREE
Entries: Should be sent to Cecil Leighton to arrive no later than 1st June 2019.
Contact: Cecil Leighton for further information.

GREEN POINTED SWISS WEEKEND
HOLDERS: Swiss Pairs: Carrie Eden & Mike Eden
Swiss Teams: Simon Cochemé, Tim Gauld, Espen Erichsen, Helen Erichsen




A fully green-pointed two-day Swiss Weekend will be held jointly with the EBU in March 2010. The weekend will comprise Swiss Pairs on the Saturday and Swiss Teams on the Sunday. Both events will be single flighted with green points and prizes awarded in accordance with EBU regulations.

Permitted conventions: EBU Level 4.
Membership requirements: All players must be EBU members.

Date and time: Swiss Pairs - 13th March 2010 starting at 1.00pm
Swiss Teams - 14th March 2010, starting at 11.30 am.
Venue: Earls Court - Barktson Gardens Hotel and the YC Bridge Club

Entry fee: £45 per pair in Swiss Pairs. £90 per team in Swiss Teams.
Entries: Advance entry is strongly advised and should be sent to Chris Duckworth.

Entry forms will be available towards the end of 2009

INVITATIONAL EVENTS
In addition to the events listed, the LMBA is often invited to send teams or pairs to compete in events run by neighbouring counties. We also send representative teams to the Metropolitan Cup (teams of 12) in Sussex and the Tollemache Trophy (Teams of 8) in Hinckley on 28th/29th November 2009.
Individuals or partnerships interested in representing London in any of these events should contact the following (see contact page):
Tom Townsend (Tollemache), Ian Payn (Metropolitan Cup) or Chris Duckworth (other).