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Until the end of 1999, there was a single British team playing in the
European and world events. So International Bridge for Wales meant the
Camrose, the Lady Milne, and the Junior Camrose, effectively the Home
International trophies for the Open, Ladies & Junior Teams respectively.
Brief history
here
On 1st January 2000 the World Bridge Federation and European Bridge League
agreed that Wales, England and Scotland could join Ireland in being eligible
to send teams to many European and world events. (As a consequence of
the WBU, EBU and SBU's new National Bridge Organisation status, the British
Bridge League was disbanded and superseded by Bridge Great Britain, the
body that now runs the Home Internationals and the Gold Cup.)
So, whilst the home international competitions are still important to
us, we have now widened our horizons with enthusiasm to take in Europe
and the World, and many more Welsh players are benefiting from a wider
range of opponents. The teams that have represented Wales, and their results,
can be seen in this table
of international results.
Before 2000, the British Bridge League funded itself by running a number
of events, including a number of well-supported simultaneous pairs; the
BBLs main expenditure was the support of British teams. After 2000,
Bridge Great Britain
continued to run quarterly simultaneous pairs, sharing most of the income
between Wales, England and Scotland to meet the extra costs of National
Bridge Organisation status, notably the support of Welsh, Scottish and
English teams in European and world events. In 2012 the EBU took over
running the now-entitled British Sims. In 2014 the WBU's share of this
income will fall sharply. A new series of Celtic Sims is being mounted
to raise funds.
Using this very welcome income, the Welsh Bridge Union has supported
its teams in European and world events without drawing on members
funds. In practice the funds available only allow partial support,
and not for all events, so our representatives meet much of the costs
themselves.
In 2008, a new home international event was introduced - the Seniors
Camrose.
Trials for our international teams take place each autumn. Open and Ladies'
pairs who would like to be considered for selection should contact the
Chief Executive by the designated closing date. Juniors should make contact
with the WBU's Junior Coordinator (see Youth page).
Players' Responsibilities
The selectors have finalised a policy on the responsibilities that we
expect players representing Wales to observe. Read
it here.
European Bridge
Various reports, pictures etc from the 2010 European Championships in
Ostend can be found here. The European
Bridge League has introduced a European Masterpoints system covering performances
in European and World events. Read about
it, and see Welsh players rankings.
Selection Matters
The current selectors are Paul Denning (Chairman), Linda Greenland, Julian
Pottage, Alan Screen, Alan Stephenson and Adrian Thomas.
The selectors have prepared their terms
of reference. They have been approved by the WBU Management Committee.
Training Events
Training events have been held in the Autumn for a few years. In 2014 they were held on 18-19 October (More
information. Training
materials) and
on 13 December (for Camrose players).
International Event
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Nature
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Recent tournaments and results
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Trials results, selected teams
etc.
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Camrose |
The home internationals for open teams.
First held in 1936, the Camrose is the most-played international bridge
series in the world. |
The 2007 Camrose started in Oxford in January and was completed
in Aberdeen in March. Wales finished third overall. See reports
by Patrick Shields, on the first
and second weekends.
The first weekend of the 2008 Camrose was held on 11-13 January
in Belfast. Wales were third, well in contention. See here
for the detailed results. In the second and final weekend the
Welsh team again had a very creditable time. Our weekend total of
84 VP, the same as the first weekend, was second highest, leaving
us third overall, only 8 behind England, and 30 ahead of the fourth-placed
Scots. The overall
results. See reports by Patrick Shields, on the first
and second weekends.2007
Trials 2008 Teams.
Wales hosted the first half of the 2009 Camrose Trophy on 9-11
January, in Cardiff. The event was superbly organised by Margaret
Lane, the Match Manager, and her great team. The Welsh team did
well, only losing one of their five matches, and memorably beating
the holders, the Republic of Ireland, 22-8. Wales lies second after
this weekend, only 3 VPs behind the leaders, well poised to challenge
for the trophy in the second weekend - March 6-8 in Oxford. More
information with detailed scores is available
here, including pictures.
Patrick Shields has written a fascinating report, which you can
read here. The Welsh
team were Tim Rees and Filip Kurbalija, Gary Jones and Dafydd Jones,
Paul Denning and Patrick Shields, with Mike Tedd as NPC. The selectors
have announced an unchanged team for the second weekend to be held
in Oxford on 6th to 8th March. In the second weekend Wales were
still in contention as the last match started, but a small victory
over England while the EBU (English second team) trounced Scotland
meant that we finished third yet again. Captain's
log. Patrick Shields
excellent report
In 2010, the Welsh
team in both weekends was Paul Denning & Patrick Shields, Filip
Kurbalija & Tim Rees, and Gary Jones & Dafydd Jones, with
John Salisbury and then Mike Tedd as NPCs. After the first weekend
in Edinburgh, we lay third. Read Patrick
Shields report of that weekend. The
second weekend was held on March 5-7 in Belfast.
We beat the Republic of Ireland and trounced Northern Ireland, but
lost to Scotland in the first match. We played England on the Sunday
morning, led convincingly at half time, but then fell away to lose
narrowly 14-16. In the last match we beat the NI second team 21-9.
So although this was the best weekend we have had in the new format,
we still finished third yet again. England took the Camrose Trophy
when Ireland lost to Northern Ireland in their last match. Full
results. Read Patrick
Shields report.
In 2011, the first weekend was in
Dublin on 7-9 January. For information
and scores see here. And more
here. And read Patrick Shields's
interesting report on the weekend. The first round saw the two
Welsh teams playing each other. The WBU side beat the main Welsh
team by 18-12 in VPs. This was revenge for the Spring 4s, but not
an ideal result for Wales's Camrose chances. Wales recovered with
a good win over England 19-11, then beat NI and Scotland each 16-14,
and finished by trouncing the strong Republic team 25-5. WBU beat
Northern Ireland 25-5 but lost to the Republic 9-21 and to England
by the same score, then drew with Scotland. Meanwhile This all left
Wales second just 4 points behind England, Ireland third and WBU
in a creditable fourth, still above average (just). The second
weekend was 4-6 March in Llandrindod Wells, with everything
to play for. It was an exciting weekend! Wales finally managed to
win the Camrose Trophy
after about 70 years of trying! Read
more here.
As well as winning the Camrose and Seniors Camrose, our international
players enjoyed more successes
in major events of 2011 - a great year for Welsh bridge.
In 2012, after the first of the two Camrose
(home internationals) weekends Wales, defending the trophy, lay
third. Full
scores etc. Read Patrick
Shields's report. The second and final weekend was in
Scotland on 2-4 March. Wales had their best ever Camrose weekend,
winning four matches with a narrow loss to England. Unfortunately
England, the leaders after the first weekend, didn't flag, so Wales
finished second, well ahead of the other countries. . The SBU have
an impressive Camrose website
for information and scores. Read Patrick
Shields excellent report on the weekend. And some nice photos
The 2013 Camrose Trophy was in Ireland
(N then S). The Welsh team of Peter Goodman & Mike Pownall,
Filip Kurbalija & Patrick Shields, Gary Jones & Tim Rees
and NPC Alan Stephenson finished 4th, ahead of Scotland and the
CBAI team, but behind England Ireland and Northern Ireland. 1st
weekend information, scores etc. Read Patrick
Shields's report on the 1st weekend. 2nd
weekend scores etc. Read Patrick
Shields's report on the 2nd weekend. Trial
details. Results.
2013 Camrose Trials for 2014 team: Results
Invitation
Call
Training
weekend Training weekend
materials. The 2014 campaign was even more disappointing. Report
here
This year's Camrose home internationals had a sad ending. Wales led the table after the first weekend and were still 12 VPs ahead going into the very last match against Scotland. Sadly we lost that match 4-16 and so came second overall. Report with photos here
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Trials in 2009
for 2010 teams
Trials in
2010 for 2011 teams
Trials in 2011 for
teams in 2012
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Lady
Milne |
The home internationals for ladies' teams.
First held in 1950. |
The 2007 Lady Milne
was held in Newport Gwent on 13-17 April. Wales finished third overall.
Team.
The 2008 event was held in Dundee in Scotland on 11-13 April. It
was a disappointing weekend for Wales; we won only 1 of our 8 matches,
finishing in last place. Team
The 2009 event was in Ireland on 17-19 April 2009. In an exciting
finish, Scotland pipped Northern Ireland by a single VP. Wales were
last.
The 2010 event in Manchester again saw Wales finish in the wooden
spoon position, although we did manage a creditable draw with the
strong England team. Results.
The 2011 event was in Northern Ireland. Wales started well with
a draw against England and a win in their first two matches, but
lost their third and fourth matches. Then in the last match against
the strong Scottish team Wales were down 30+ Imps but staged a great
recovery to lose just 13-17 which meant that Scotland and England
tied overall and share the trophy. A creditable performance by Wales!
Results etc appear
here. And read
Zia's Guardian article about the very last hand.
In 2012 Wales hosted the Lady Milne
in the Metropole superbly organised by Jean
Cufley. The main Welsh team finished a close second to the strong
Scots, a full match ahead of Ireland and England. Full details
at Neville's website
for information and results. Photos
of the leading teams.
2013 Lady Milne: Trial
details. Arrangements,
Results.
The Welsh team of Aida Aris & Linda Greenland, Diane Kurbalija
& Liz Commins and Sue Ingham & Laura Woodruff, with NPC
Paul Denning, came 5th, ahead of Northern Ireland. More
information
2014 Lady Milne in Gormanstown, Ireland. The team was Laura Woodruff
& Susan Ingham, Liz Commins & Diane Kurbalija and Beth Wennell
& Sheila Shea, with NPC Alan Screen. After a tough start, Wales
recovered well to finish third behind Scotland and Ireland, a highly
creditable result. Full details.
Team photo
The 2015 womens' home internationals, the Lady Milne,
was in Birmingham. The Welsh team for the event was Aida Aris & Sue Ingham,
Gilly Clench & Maggie Pierce, and Liz Commins & Diane Kurbalija, with
NPC Linda Greenland. The Welsh team lay third after the penultimate match,
then beat the leaders, Scotland, also overtaking Northern Ireland and holding
off the late challenge from England. WELL DONE!! Picture etc. Full results
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Trials in 2008 for
2009 team
Trials in 2009 for
2010 teams
Trials
for 2012 teams
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Seniors Camrose
The Teltscher Trophy
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The home internationals for senior teams.
First held in 2008. |
Wales finished third equal in the inaugural Seniors
Camrose held in Oxford from 30 May to 1 June 2008. More
details. And some great
photos. 2008 Team
The 2009 event was held in Oxford on 29-31 May. Wales came 4th,
ahead of both Irish teams, but behind the Patron's team, Scotland
just 1VP behind, and England. Welsh
team. Table
of results. Paul Scannell's great
photos.
In 2010 it was on May 28-30 in Glasgow. Wales was represented by
Patrick Jourdain & Gary Jones, Peter & Jean Hand, and Sheila
Shea & Wyn Williams with NPC Alan Screen. It was a disappointing
weekend - Wales lost 9 of 10 matches, and finished bottom of the
table. Detailed
results. Paul Scannell's great
photos
2011 saw Wales win the Seniors Camrose as well as the Camrose itself.
The victorious Welsh team was Liam Sheridan & Gwyneth Dew, Tony
Disley & Roger Penton, Mike Hirst & Jim Luck, with NPC Mike
Tedd. Read more here.
In 2012 in Ayr the Wales team of Mike Baker & Steve Jarvis,
Mike Best & David Birt and Gary Jones (playing captain) &
Patrick Jourdain had a disappointing weekend, finishing 5th of the
6 teams. Scores
here.
Wales hosted the 2013 eevent in Cardiff on 17-19 May 2013. Six
teams played, including many world and European champions. The Welsh
team was Liz Atkinson & Chris Rochelle, Geoff Evans & Philip
Felman, Patrick Jourdain & Gary Jones with John Salisbury as
NPC. After 7 of the 10 matches Wales were lying second, but then
it was steeply downhill. Scotland overtook Northern Ireland right
at the end to take the trophy. The
event website. Results.
Trial results.
The Seniors home internationals for the Teltscher
Trophy in 2014 were in Belfast on 16-18 May. Ireland won
the trophy for the first time in a very close finish. The Welsh
team was Mike Tedd & John Salisbury, Patrick Jourdain &
Patrick Shields and Mike Hirst & Philip Felman with Ann Hirst
as NPC. Wales finished 4th, having been second after 6 of the 10
matches. Full results.
Read Pat Shields's
report. More
The 2015 Teltscher Trophy was Gormanstown Ireland. The Welsh team was Tony Disley & Roger Penton,
Patrick Jourdain & Patrick Shields,
Mike Tedd & John Salisbury with Ann Hirst as NPC. Trials results
With two matches against each other country we beat England (twice), Northern Ireland (twice) and Scotland (once). Starting the last match against Ireland, the leaders, it was all pretty close and a big Welsh win could have secured the trophy, but it was not to be - Ireland played too well - and Wales finished 4th, just behind England. Results etc. Read Patrick Shields's report
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Trials and
teams for 2010
Trials for 2011
Trials and teams for 2012
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Junior
Camrose |
The home internationals for under 25s. First held in
1971. |
The 2008 events were held in Manchester on 16-17 February 2008
. Our Peggy Bayer team achieved a very creditable third place. Teams.
Full results.
The 2009 events were held in Belfast, Northern Ireland on 20th-22nd
February 2009. Both Welsh teams acquitted themselves respectably:
in the Junior Camrose we were fourth, with only 13 VPs spanning
2nd to 5th; in the Peggy Bayer we were third. England won both trophies.Teams
Detailed
results. Team photos.
And we had a write-up
in the New York Times. Captains' reports: Junior
Camrose, Peggy Bayer
Wales hosted these junior home internationals from February 19-21
at the Rest Hotel in Porthcawl. Our match managers were Margaret
Lane and Val Kennewell; many thanks to them and the volunteers who
helped over the weekend. In the Peggy Bayer event (under 19) Wales
won 5 of their 8 matches and finished a creditable 3rd. In the Junior
Camrose (under 25) Wales lost 7 out of 8 and trailed in last. Congratulations
to Scotland who won both events. Captains' reports: Peggy
Bayer Junior
Camrose.
The Junior Camrose 2011 was in Ayr
19-20 February. The Welsh team was: Chris Owen & James Boulton,
Becky Watkins & Horia Maior, James Harris & Jonathan Richards,
with NPC Alan Jones. After a very poor start the team rallied and
rose above the bottom spot with one round to go, but this didn't
last so we won the wooden spoon again. Captain's
Report.
Wales hosted the Junior Camrose and Peggy Bayer events on
20-22 February 2015 at the Seabank Hotel at Porthcawl. Our two teams acquitted themselves well. Report with photos
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The Welsh teams
for 2010 |
Peggy
Bayer |
The home internationals for under 20's.
First held in 1990. |
European Teams Championships |
These are currently held in even numbered years. European
countries send Open, Ladies and Senior teams. The format is usually
all-play-all 20 or 16 board matches over a two-week period. The top
few teams in each category qualify for the Bermuda Bowl world championships
in the following year |
Wales has been represented in Tenerife
(2001), in Salsomaggiore
(2002), in Malmö
(2004) and in Warsaw
(2006).
At the European Championships, held
in Pau, France, 14-28 June, our Open team came 14th of 19 in its
group. The Ladies team finished 23rd of 25, and the Seniors 20th
of 20. Some photos of the teams
etc. All the results
and bulletins on the EBL website. You can access
here Patrick Shields's reports on the progress of the Welsh
teams in Pau as it happened.
In the 2012 Championships in Dublin, Wales teams were: Open
Paul Denning & Patrick Shields, Peter Goodman &
Mike Pownall, Dafydd & Gary Jones, npc Alan Jones; Seniors
Mike Tedd & John Salisbury, Roger Penton & Tony
Disley, Jim Luck & Mike Hirst, npc Alan Screen. After a very
promising start, the Open team had a bad match against the eventual
winners "Monaco" (who are Italian and Norwegian world
champions). Poor results after that meant that they failed to qualify
for the next stage. The Seniors finished 18th, a disappointing performance.
More information
and results. Pat Shields reports here
See here for Croatia in 2014
Table of results
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2008 Teams |
World Team Olympiad |
These are held in the years divisible by 4. In 2004, the format
in the Open and Womens events had 4 and 2 sections respectively
of all-play-all matches, with the top 16 teams playing long knockout
matches to decide the overall winners. The Seniors was an all-play-all
event.
In October 2008 the bridge Olympiad formed part of the World Mind
Sports Games in Beijing.
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Wales has been represented in Maastricht
(2000), and in Istanbul
(2004). The Welsh Senior team in Istanbul finished 7th of 29
countries, our best result so far in World and European championships.
Table of results
Although Wales did not have an Open team or a Womens team in Beijing,
we sent a Junior team and a Senior team. The Welsh Juniors finished
49th out of 74, a good result for a small country. The Seniors finished
15th out of 16 in their group.
Patrick Shields' short report on our progress in Beijing can be
read
here. More information, results and bulletins can be found on
the WBF
Beijing website.
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2008 Teams |
Commonwealth Nations Bridge Championship |
This tournament, for Open teams representing Commonwealth
countries, was held for the first time alongside the 2002 games in
Manchester. |
Wales played in Manchester
(2002) , Melbourne
(2006), New
Delhi (2010) and Glasgow
(2014)
In Manchester, Wales won the silver medals, losing to Canada in
the medal final. A very major achievement!
In Delhi, (team)
after a poor start Wales improved and were still in with a chance
of a medal playing the last match of the round-robin. But this was
lost by a big margin to Scotland who squeaked into the playoffs
where they took the gold medal. Wales finished 9th overall, 5th
of the National teams. More
here.
In 2014, Wales won the Gold Medals in Glasgow. More
about this triumph
Table of results
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European Youth Teams Championships |
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Wales sent a team to these championships in held in Tromso, Norway 18-25 July 2015. Wales was represented by Sarah Greener, Alice Smart, Jonathon Richards and Benjamin Barrett. It was a tough experience - Wales won the wooden spoon. Picture. Full details |
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