Please click here to open a copy of the Pianola letter sent by Rob today 25 March.  It's regarding teams play, club competitions and the Easter Congress.  Don't forget to make your NGS public before 1st April to be included in some of the club competitions - see below.

Teams of Four - Final Round

Monday 30th March - Evening Session

This is the fifth of the five teams events played on the fifth Mondays and Thursdays from July to March.  The best three of five results will determine which team is the overall winner of the Teams competition for 2025-26.  Teams are welcome to play as many or as few times as they wish and may use up to four HBC members as reserves.

Wednesday 1st April - Teams Event

The evening session on Wednesday 1^st April will be a teams event to give players who don't usually play teams bridge a chance to get some experience. So don't forget to get yourselves a team of 4 together for this event.  If you aren't a member of a team please still turn up and we will do the organising for you.

Dennis Watson

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dennis, our oldest and much-valued member.

He first learned to play bridge while serving in the RAF in the 1950s, beginning a lifelong love of the game.  For many decades he was a dedicated member of Harrogate Bridge Club, where his presence, courtesy and good humour were greatly appreciated.  In fact he played his last game just two months ago despite being in poor health at that time.

Dennis will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

"When on lead in a NT contract, always lead a spade 😉"

Dennis' funeral will be at Stonefall Crematorium on Thursday April 16th at 11.40am and afterwards at the Cedar Court Hotel Harrogate

Margaret Cyster

It is with sadness that the Bridge Club has learned of the death of Margaret Cyster on 13th February.  Margaret had been a member for 18 months, playing in the Gentle Duplicate sessions on Thursday afternoons.

National Grading Scheme & Club Competitions from 1st April 2026

Please note that if you are currently excluded from the 'grade restricted' competitions and want to be included for the next season 2026-2027 starting on April 1st 2026, then you must make your NGS grade public before 31st March 2026.  If you have made your NGS private since 1st April 2025, then you must make it public again to be included. The competitions involved are Monday and Tuesday afternoons, Wednesday's Mayo trophy and Monday/Thursday Marks trophy. 
To make your grade public you will need to log into your My EBU account, then under Account settings (top right) select My Details - NGS Preference - Public Grade and Partnerships.

Competitions 2026-2027

** New format for this year

Monday and Thursday evenings
Eisen Trophy - A pairs event.  The best 15 percentage scores will count for the final result.
Marks Trophy - A pairs event.  The best 15 percentage scores will count for the final result.  Only players graded Jack or below on the NGS on April 1^st 2026 will be eligible.
Kent Trophy - An individual event.  The best 20 percentage scores will count.  Not more than five scores can be with one partner and at least six partners must be used. Only scores with HBC members count.

Wednesday evenings
Wednesday Night Trophy - This is a pairs event open to all players. The best 12 percentage scores will count.
Mayo Trophy - A pairs event. Only players graded 9 or below on the NGS on April 1st 2026 will be eligible. The best 12 percentage scores will count.

Monday afternoons
** Mrs Black's Cup - This is a pairs competition. The best 12 percentage scores will count.  The Trophy will be awarded to the highest placed pair both of whom are graded Queen or below on the NGS on April 1^st 2026.

Tuesday afternoons
** Healey Trophy - The rules are the same as those for Mrs Black's Cup.

Teams Competition
This is a Teams of 4 event and will be played on five designated 5th Mondays and Thursdays with the best three results counting.  Teams may use up to four HBC members as reserves.
Dates: Monday June 29^th , Thursday July 30^th, Thursday October 29^th, Monday November 30^th and Monday March 29^th.

Men's and Ladies' Pairs
Wednesday January 20^th
The Monica Campbell Trophy will be awarded to the winning ladies’ pair and the McKenzie Trophy to the winning men’s pair.

Mixed Pairs
Paton Trophy - Wednesday November 11^th.

Illingworth Rose Bowl
Friday March 12^th.  A mixed pivot teams competition.  All teams will consist of four club members and contain at least one lady and one gentleman.

** Swiss Pairs
Ian and Mary Rodger Trophy.  This is a Swiss Pairs competition.  The best 4 scores out of 6 will count.  The Trophy can be awarded to a pair or to an individual as it is not necessary to play with the same partner each time.
Swiss pairs will be played on Friday afternoons and the dates will be announced later.

** Slam Prize
This will be given to the person who has bid and made the most slams during the year.  3 points will be awarded for a grand slam and 1 for a small slam.  Both members of the bidding pair bidding the slam will be awarded the points.

Janet Latham
8/3/26

Northern Easter Festival Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th April 2026 Crowne Plaza Hotel Harrogate

Hosted by YCBA on behalf of the EBU.

The programme comprises: on the Saturday, open Swiss Pairs (7×7 board matches) and a Nine High Swiss Pairs (5×5 board matches); and on the Sunday, Swiss Teams (7×7 board matches).

For full details and flyers click here to go to the YCBA website.

We are a welcoming and friendly bridge club catering for players of all standards.  We run six pairs sessions per week. Master points are awarded.  We also have classes for beginners and intermediates, and occasional instruction on specific topics.

For the more competitive players we have three teams in the Yorkshire Sunday League.   Many of our players also group together to make teams of four that play in the Harrogate and District Bridge League against more local opposition.

Harrogate Bridge Club is located in the centre of this beautiful spa town.  The club has its own private licensed premises and is well established with over 250 members. 

Visiting pairs are always made welcome.

Congratulations to the following members who have recently earned Master Point promotions.

* Denotes first time promotion

We are running 3 teams of 4 pairs in the Yorkshire League this season, playing against other Yorkshire teams, with home and away fixtures.  The matches are played on a Sunday afternoon against players of roughly the same standard.  There are 7 divisions.

The full YCBA league tables and results can be found by clicking here

Upcoming Events

YCBA
For details on all YCBA events click here.

For EBU events click here.

Schedule

From 7th August 2023

The EBU has introduced some new alerting, announcing and bidding rules.
 

• *** New Announcing and Alerting Summary 2023***
• Reasons for and details of the Blue Book changes
• Blue Book list of changes
• White Book list of changes
• Blue Book Aug 2023 (with change marks)
• White Book Aug 2023
• Announcements and Alerting Table 2022

The content of these books applies to all events held on or after 7th August 2023. Please be tolerant of players who don’t get all the updated procedures exactly right straight away – it’s meant to be an exercise in informing your opponents of your methods, not an excuse for trying to get one over on them!

The committee would like to take this opportunity to remind players that 'Best Behaviour at Bridge' must be adhered to at all times.  This is essential to ensure that all our members enjoy their games of bridge.  Please take the time to read the new 'Best Behaviour at Bridge' statement from the EBU.  Click here to go to the tab.

Rob Cave
Chairman

 The club uses air purifiers with HEPA filters to provide clean air in playing rooms.