History
TheCommittees
Tournament Committee
The tournament committee is responsible for all aspects of the EBU's programme of tournaments, other competitions and the master points scheme. The Tournament committee was abolished as a standing committee at the AGM 2016 and became instead a panel to advise the Chief Tournament Director.Laws and Ethics Committee
The Laws and Ethics committee is the national authority for the game of duplicate contract bridge in England, when played under the auspices of the EBU. It has three principal functions: it is the final EBU appeal body for appeals arising under the laws of the game; it is the principal disciplinary body of the EBU, hearing complaints against members; and it organises publication of the Blue Book, which contains regulations for the conventions and agreements permitted in different classes of competition, and other directives which supplement the laws of the game, and the White Book which handles technical matters of the game.Selection Committee
The EBU selection committee is responsible for all aspects of England's international representation. It determines the format of trial matches to assist in choosing teams for major international championships such as the European Championship competed for bi-annually and for the annual home international series involving England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Éire. The home internationals are known as the Camrose Trophy (Open) and the Lady Milne (Women). England currently selects for the Camrose Trophy using its flagship event the "Premier League" which has two divisions of eight teams playing long matches against all other teams. The winners of Division 1 are guaranteed Camrose Selection.Education
EBTA (formerly The EBU Teachers' Association/EBUTA) was established by the EBU and is now run by the charity English Bridge Education and Development. EBTA exists to promote and support effective bridge teaching. Its aims are to increase the extent and improve the standard of bridge teaching across England; so as to increase the number of people who play and enjoy bridge. These aims are achieved through the encouragement of EBTA membership and the provision, to its members, of information, advice and training related to all aspects of bridge teaching at all levels.Juniors
The English Bridge Union believes strongly in supporting and encouraging young bridge players, as the future of the game. They have regional Youth Officers to further service the needs of junior bridge. Junior international teams have squad managers. England are represented at under-16, under-21 and under-26 age groups, and in some competitions by a 'Girls' team (for women under 26 years old). International events include the European and World Championships, the Channel Trophy (against France, Belgium and the Netherlands) and the Junior Camrose Trophy (Under 26) and Peggy Bayer Trophy (Under 21) against the other Home Unions. The age groups were previously referred to by some countries, including England, as under-15, under-20 and under-25. The nomenclature was changed in 2015 as a standardised naming system was sought, but the age requirements were not adjusted. A complete list of winning countries and players in the Junior Camrose and Peggy Bayer Home International series can be found at http://www.bridgegreatbritain.org/ The EBU Selection Committee selects the junior international teams. The EBU organises a residential bridge teaching weekend – the Junior Teach In – usually held at Loughborough University each August.Master Points and National Grading Scheme
Master Points
The EBU Master Point scheme is a means of recognising individual lifetime achievement in EBU organised competitions at club, county and national level. It began in September 1956. Points are awarded to the top one third of competitors and the higher the level of competition the greater the number of points awarded. Since 1 January 2013 there have been three main types of Master Point. Green points are won in events of national standing and are necessary for the acquisition of certain senior ranks. The value of a Green Point is 100 Master Points. Blue points are awarded in the next level of competition. The value of a Blue Point is 100 Master Points and all Master Points ranks will allow up to 50 Green points to be replaced by Blue Points in the ratio of 3 Blues = 1 Green. Local Points are won in any event where Green and/or Blue Points are not awarded, and sometimes in addition to Green and/or Blue Points. The Master Point scheme is believed by some to be imperfect as it rewards the persistent player ("the more you play the more points you earn"). The rankings, however, require Green Points to be won before a player can achieve some of the higher rankings, so such ranked players must have achieved success in national tournaments. A Gold Point scheme is also in place, rewarding those who finished highly in the National Tournaments. This recognises the more elite players, and as these points decay at a rate of 20% per annum they are an indicator of recent success, rather than lifetime achievement. The highest rank which can be achieved in the EBU Master Point scheme is Premier Grand Master.National Grading Scheme
The National Grading Scheme (NGS) was introduced in April 2010 and aims to provides a fair and trustworthy measure of an individual players current performance when playing duplicate bridge. The NGS indicates an individual’s current playing ability based on the last 80 or so playing sessions at whatever level they play. The NGS calculates a current grade and a grade band for each EBU member, which is updated whenever new results for that player are received. The value of the grade is the scheme’s estimate of the percentage score that a player would have achieved on average if partnering another player with the same current grade at Match Pointed Pairs in a field of nationally average strength. EBU grades have been divided into 13 playing card bands, ranging from ‘Ace’ at the top to ‘Two’ at the beginners’ end. Each band covers a 2% range of grade values, with ‘Eight’ having a range of 49‐51%. The scheme is complementary to the Master Point Scheme, and the two schemes are independent.Player of the Year Championship
The most prestigious events in the EBU calendar, including the Gold Cup, contribute to the Player of the Year Championship. Points are accumulated from 1 October until 30 September with a prize of £1,000 to the winner. Since its introduction in 2014/15, there have been five different winners of the competition:Universal Membership
The EBU launched its "Pay to Play" scheme on 1 April 2010 to create Universal Membership, replacing its previous method of financing. A small payment (36 pence from April 2016 to March 2017) is charged each time a player plays at an EBU affiliated club. Payment of this Universal Membership fee means that all members of clubs which are affiliated to the EBU become player members of the EBU. Direct membership of the EBU – for those who play at unaffiliated clubs, or live outside England – is also available.Magazines
''The Contract Bridge Journal'' was the "official organ of the English Bridge Union" after World War II, being inaugurated in 1946 under editor Maurice Harrison-Gray. It announced its last edition in the December 1955 edition stating that "the firm of Thomas De La Rue & Co. Ltd. has acquired the goodwill of the C.B.J. and will sponsor the publication from next month of a new magazine: ''The British Bridge World'' edited by Terence Reese" The new magazine characterized itself on its covers as the "Medium of English Bridge Union News" and the "Successor to the Contract Bridge Journal." It ceased publication in December 1964. No major magazines were published under or for the English Bridge Union banner in 1965. The ''English Bridge Union Quarterly'' was inaugurated in April 1966 and, in contrast to its predecessors, was the first EBU 'in-house' magazine. In turn, the ''English Bridge Union Quarterly'' was replaced by ''English Bridge'' in August 1984 which is still produced four times a year and distributed free of charge to eligible EBU members; electronic copies are available at the EBU website. It is currently edited by Lou Hobhouse.75th Anniversary
On 23 May 2011, the English Bridge Union celebrated its 75th Anniversary. It organised a number of events to celebrate the occasion: *75th Anniversary Mixed Pivot Teams Championships in Brighton at the EBU Brighton Summer Meeting in August. *Journalists' day in London in September. Primary school children will introduce the game they love to journalists over lunch. *Special match between primary school children and members of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Development of Bridge will take place at the Houses of Parliament in November. *75th Anniversary House of Lords v House of Commons bridge match with many bridge-playing parliamentarians from the past taking part in the event. *75th anniversary edition of the members' magazine. *Awareness days across England to promote the many benefits of bridge for children and adults, with an opportunity to try the game. *Club parties and events throughout the year.English Bridge Education and Development
English Bridge Education and Development (EBED) is a charitable incorporated organisation established under the Charities Act 2011, Registered Charity No. 1153543, and is the national charity for the promotion and development of bridge. It is independent from the English Bridge Union, though does work with the EBU on some projects and receives funding from the EBU for some of its activities. It has two stated objectives in its constitution: the advancement of amateur sport by promoting the game of duplicate bridge for the public benefit; the advancement of the education of young persons in full-time education in the playing of duplicate bridge.See also
*References
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