May 2018

First Ever Junior Award Scheme Diamond Level Presented

David presenting award to Megan

On Monday the 14th of May, David Emerson, EBED's Education & Youth Officer, presented Megan Jones with her certificate as the first ever recipient of the Junior Award Scheme's highest award, the Diamond Level. The certificate was presented in a special ceremony at Stratford-upon-Avon Bridge Club, where Megan plays and directs regularly.

The award requires knowledge of advanced bidding and cardplay techniques, as well as requirements for participating in an International Squad Training Camp and for etiquette and behaviour at the bridge table.

Megan is a member of the Under-21 England squad, and was a member of the Under-16 team that finished 8th in the World Junior Championships in 2016. Her achievements in the Junior Award Scheme will be further recognised at the EBU's Spring Bank Holiday Congress this coming weekend.

For more information on the Junior Award Scheme and how to become a part of it, click here.

More photos of the presentation are on EBED's facebook page.

EBED Spring Sim Pairs raises funds to support bridge development

The EBED Spring Sim Pairs took place earlier this month, and the results have been finalised.

The profits from the event all go to EBED, and helps to support our work in promoting and developing bridge in England. Many thanks to all those who took part.

The next EBED Sim Pairs will be held in September, and each of the five heats is open to all clubs in the UK.

Congratulations to the winners, who were:

Monday 30th April Steve Auchterlonie & Mark Benson Folkestone Duplicate Bridge Club
Tuesday 1st May Robert Miller & John Walshaw Kettering Bridge Club
Wednesday 2nd May Mike Rounds & Sue Dyball Worthing Bridge Club
Thursday 3rd May Les Hoy & Mike Tomlinson Poulton Bridge Club


The full results are available via the specific day above.

EBED supports bridge PhD; candidate wanted

EBED are excited to have partnered with University of Stirling, and British and Irish Bridge Unions, to provide funding for a 3 year PhD Studentship (fees plus living expenses) for the first ever PhD in the Sociology of Bridge - Bridging the Gap: An Exploration of Transitions in Play through the Lifecourse.

A suitable PhD candidate is sought. They would ideally have a masters, or an excellent undergraduate degree, preferably within the social sciences or a related discipline. No knowledge of bridge is required.

Bridge is one of the world’s most widely played, stimulating and challenging card games that requires skill, concentration and practice. Understanding what drives individuals to take up bridge and what keeps people playing across the lifecourse is at the heart of this PhD studentship. Bridge provides a contemporary example to understand the role of a mind sport in developing social capital and well-being through community participation at different ages.

For more information please click here, or see here for full details and to apply.

Queries about the position should be sent to Prof. Samantha Punch - s.v.punch@stir.ac.uk

Stamford School Children Love Starter Bridge!

Stamford Youth Bridge Academy's latest Starter Bridge Taster Sessions took place at Malcolm Sargent Junior School. The pupils had a great time and were delighted with their certificates, and their teacher tells us, 'many have shown their folks how to play too!'

If you would like to have a Starter Bridge Taster Session at the school where you teach, or where your children attend, contact us and we can put you in touch with people who might be able to help in your area.