Monday 28 February 2011

Jane Preddy

31st January 1928 – 24th February 2011

Jane Preddy started playing bridge at the age of 11, when her grandmother taught her the rudiments of the game in the air raid shelters during the Blitz. In the 1940s she played much Canasta with Terence Reese and her first, late husband, William Preddy, as well as bridge with many of the big names of the time including “Skid” Simon.

Having enjoyed a string of successes on the national bridge scene in the late 1940s, Jane stopped playing in order to raise a family of five – four daughters, including former bridge international Kay, and a son. However, she returned to bridge in the 1980s, when she revitalised her international career; among other successes, she represented Great Britain in the World Championships in Japan in 1991. It was in the early 1980s that Jane made her most significant contribution to bridge, when she founded the West of England Bridge Club in Bristol, a club that attracted many future internationals such as Andrew Robson, Marc Smith and David Carlisle, with whom Jane lived for the last thirty years and married in 2003. The star of the club was undoubtedly Jane herself, an exceptional teacher who attracted a very devoted following.

Jane retired from Bristol to Kent, where she took up golf, in the late 1980s but soon after she moved again. First she briefly co-managed the Acol Club in London together with Andrew Robson, then she followed David Carlisle first to Aberystwyth, where he gained a PhD, and later to Essex, where he became a school teacher.

Jane Preddy loved life and was much loved by all her family and friends. She leaves her second husband, four daughters and a son. She had thirteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Jane Preddy - Funeral Arrangements

Jane Preddy’s funeral is at 12pm on Friday 11th March 2011 at Parndon Wood Crematorium & Cemetery, Parndon Wood Road, Harlow, Essex CM19 4SF. The family requests no flowers but donations to either the Harlow RGT (Retired Greyhound Trust) – Jane adored her dogs – or the NSPCC. Cheques made payable to either and sent c/o Daniel Robinson and Son, 79/81 South Street, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 3AL. Cheques can also be given to the funeral directors on the day. If any of her friends are coming can you please let David Carlisle know via email at dacarlisle@btinternet.com

Sunday 27 February 2011

Appeal Focus

The second edition of Appeal Focus is now available. It's aimed at Appeal chairmen, other players who have regularly served on appeal committees, referees and tournament directors.

Monday 21 February 2011

England win Junior Camrose & Peggy Bayer Trophies

The England teams were victorious in Ayr at the weekend. The Peggy Bayer team won comfortably and finished a massive 63 VPs ahead of Scotland. The Junior Camrose team had a closer run, but eventually were 9 VPs ahead of second-placed Scotland. Congratulations to both teams!

Wednesday 16 February 2011

NEC Cup - Japan

Congratulations to the Dutch/English NEDUK team (David Gold, David Bakhshi, Louk Verhees and Ricco van Prooijen) who have won the NEC Cup in Yokohama. The Hackett team (Paul Hackett, Justin Hackett, Tom Hanlon and Hugh McGann) went out in the semi finals.

Also, congratulations to the England Ladies: Heather Dhondy, Nevena Senior, Fiona Brown, Susan Stockdale who won the B Division of the Swiss Teams. And to Justin Hackett who came second in the ASUKA CUP with partner, Masaru Naniwada.

Official website

Tuesday 15 February 2011

Matthew Hoskins - Obituary

MATTHEW HOSKINS of Sussex who died on the 1st February 2011 at the age of 51 of a heart attack had been an ever present and well known figure in the Bridge world for over 25 years. Bridge had been a significant part of his life from his days at Whitgift School onwards.
Matthew was a Premier Grand Master and prolific master point winner and won the Annual Master Point Award when sponsored by Macallan. He had numerous domestic tournament successes in Sussex where he won the Spring Congress twice, the County Pairs three times and the County Teams on five occasions in addition to representing the County in the Tollemache. His successes on the tournament circuit included the BBL Isle of Man Teams, a number of EBU One Day Events, the Scarborough Pairs with his wife Liz, the Porthcawl Congress Pairs and Teams, Autumn Congress Satellite Pairs and the National Swiss Teams.

He and Liz were also third in the Portland Pairs. In knockout events he was twice a Crockfords finalist, once being runner up and less than a month before his death he was on the Horsham Team which won the 2009-10 National Inter-Club Knockout claiming a number of significant scalps along the way.

At Brighton he won the Mid-week Knockout teams several times, the Mixed Pairs with his wife Liz, twice the Mixed Pivot Teams, had frequent appearances in both A & B Teams Finals and finished third in the Main Pairs in 2010.

In tournaments abroad he had reached the knockout stages of the Rosenblum in 1998 in Lille losing to the eventual bronze medallists. In 2003 in the European Open in Menton he was on a team reaching the last sixteen of the knockout phase before losing to Sabine Auken.

Always courteous at the bridge table, he was one of the nominees for the inaugural John Armstrong Award in 2009.He would always make sure of welcoming players to the table and of encouraging newcomers to the tournament world.

Away from the bridge table he had a keen interest in horse racing and was proud to have been in the Winners Enclosure after the 2009 Grand National won by Vida Bingham's horse Mon Mome.

Whilst Matthew loved teams play especially knockout events Matthew was also a careful Pairs player and in one season had second places in the Easter Guardian Pairs and the National Pairs in addition to the Crockfords second place. He often joked about exchanging those seconds for a win!

On a personal note Matthew has been my good friend for nearly 25 years at and away from the bridge table. It seems hard to believe I won't again have the 'phone call on a Monday morning to chat about the weekend's bridge. I was fortunate to have played bridge with him for many years and in his last event, the National Swiss Teams, where the team finished 4th, the weekend before his death.

Matthew was a popular figure through his competitive but fair attitude to the game allied to a fine if occasionally cutting sense of humour and a keen eye for a practical joke. Matthew lived in Shoreham and is survived by his wife Liz. He will be very sorely missed.

(Andrew Southwell, printed on the Sussex website)

Thursday 10 February 2011

Tollemache Final 2011

Congratulations to the North East team (Bill March, Val Gibson, Christopher Owen, John Atthey, Martin Kane, Malcolm Oliver, Julian Gibson, Damien Hassan, Clive Owen) who won the Tollemache Final. This was the first time the North East has won this prestigious event. The Tollemache Cup is the inter-county championships for teams of eight.

Wednesday 9 February 2011

Matthew Hoskins

The EBU is extremely sad to announce the death of Matthew Hoskins (Sussex) who was recently a member of Horsham 'A' which won the 2009/10 National Inter Club Knockout competition, beating Cambridge 'A' in the final. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family at this time.

Funeral arrangements for Matthew Hoskins

The funeral will be at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Kings Walk, Shoreham by Sea, West Sussex BN 43 5LF at 11am on Tuesday 22 February 2011, followed by the committal at 12 noon at Mill Lane cemetery, Mill Lane, Shoreham.

Lunch will follow at the Ardington Hotel, Steyne Gardens, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 3DZ. Parking in the immediate vicinity of the hotel can be difficult, but there is an NCP car park close by.

Everyone is very welcome at the service, at the cemetery and at lunch.

For catering purposes it would help if I could have some idea of numbers. If you are proposing to attend, please let Matthew’s brother Toby know at tobyhoskins@hotmail.co.uk

Flowers or donations are welcome. Donations in Matthew's memory for the RNLI (Shoreham Harbour Lifeboat Station) or the EBU Youth and Education Trust would be gratefully accepted, and may be left in church or sent to Caring Lady Funeral Director, 68 High Street, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex BN43 5DB.

Tuesday 1 February 2011

Annual Master Point Reports

The 2010 Master Point reports are now ready. Congratulations to Ed Scerri for winning the Sunday Telegraph Salver for the most points earned during the year. He was ahead of Frank and Janet Springett. In the Gold Point list, David Bakhshi is once again top of the table, followed by John Holland in second and Michael Byrne in third.

The Club Champions have also been announced. These are the players who earned the most local master points at each club from April - December. The club winners were entered into the Annual Prize Draw, so congratulations to the following prize winners:

Steve Lee and Chrys Poole - Hazlemere - £400 (£200 each)
Ray Foulds - Worcester - £200
Graham Boutell and Ann Grant - Stratford St. Mary - £100 (£50 each)