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Camrose Trophy

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The Camrose Trophy

The Camrose Trophy or "The Camrose" is an annual bridge competition among open teams representing the home nations of Great Britain and Ireland: England (EBU), Northern Ireland (NIBU), Republic of Ireland (CBAI), Scotland (SBU) and Wales (WBU). As such it is the open teams-of-four component of the "Home Internationals" organised by Bridge Great Britain.[1]

The competition was first held in 1937, but it did not become the Camrose until the following year, when Lord Camrose, owner of The Daily Telegraph, donated the trophy.[2] The original trophy has been lost and replaced. Because of World War II the series was interrupted mid-way in 1939 and not resumed until 1946, yet the Camrose is the world's most-played international bridge series.[1]

Beside "The Camrose" (Open flight), the Home Bridge Internationals include annual series for Women from 1950 (the Lady Milne Trophy), Juniors from 1971, Under-19 from 1990 (the Peggy Bayer Trophy), and Seniors (the Teltscher Trophy) from 2008.[1]

Structure

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Since 2007 there have been six rather than five teams in the competition, to avoid having one team sit out each round. From 2007 to 2009 the sixth team was the defending champion, so there were two teams from the previous year's winning nation. England's second team won in 2009, when it was the final-round host by coincidence.[1] Since then by design the sixth team is a second team from the final-round host nation, which follows a five-year cycle from Northern Ireland in 2010 to England in 2014. That second representative is named for the national bridge federation; thus "Wales" and "Welsh Bridge Union" both entered in 2011.[1]

Since 2005 a double round-robin is scheduled on two weekends.[1] With six teams, each weekend comprises five rounds of three head-to-head matches, a single round-robin. A match is now 32 deals scored at IMPs and converted to victory points (VP).[3] So every team plays 320 deals in the entire event, 64 against each of its rivals. Before 2005, the teams played head-to-head matches over five weekends.

Before 2007 there were simply five national teams, or four during the 48-year absence by the Republic of Ireland from 1951 to 1998.[1]

Results

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England won both of the completed pre-war and the first 15 post-war contests, through 1960. Only England and Scotland were winners in the 56 renditions before year 2000, including England–Scotland ties in 1961, 1972 and 1973. Ireland first won in 2000 and won four straight beginning 2005.[4] Wales won its first Camrose in 2011, but England are again dominant, winning the six most recent contests and twelve times in the last fifteen years.

Winners by nation

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The competition has been completed 80 times up to 2023.[4] There was an outright winner on each occasion except for 1961, 1972 and 1973, when England and Scotland tied for first place. England's count includes wins in 2009 and in 2019 by its second team, "English Bridge Union".[4]

Nation Outright wins Tied wins
England 57 3
Scotland 12 3
Republic of Ireland 7 0
Wales 1 0
Northern Ireland 0 0

Winners by year

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Four times in the 21st century (*), the winners have been one of two entries from their countries, namely "Ireland" 2008, "EBU" 2009 and 2019 (English Bridge Union), and "Wales" 2011. They were the defending champion team, the England "B" teams, and the Wales "A" team respectively. Their compatriots were "Hosts Ireland", "England", and "WBU" (Welsh Bridge Union).[1][5]

Year Winners
2023 England
2022 England
2021 England
2020 England
2019 * England
2018 England
2017 Republic of Ireland
2016 England
2015 Republic of Ireland
2014 England
2013 England
2012 England
2011 * Wales
2010 England
2009 * England
2008 * Republic of Ireland
2007 Republic of Ireland
2006 Republic of Ireland
2005 Republic of Ireland
2004 England
2003 England
2002 England
2001 England
2000 Republic of Ireland
1999 England
1998 Scotland
1997 England
1996 Scotland
1995 England
1994 England
1993 England
1992 England
1991 England
1990 England
1989 Scotland
1988 England
1987 England
1986 England
1985 England
1984 England
1983 England
1982 England
1981 England
1980 England
1979 Scotland
1978 England
1977 Scotland
1976 Scotland
1975 England
1974 Scotland
1973 Scotland and England (tie)
1972 Scotland and England (tie)
1971 Scotland
1970 Scotland
1969 England
1968 England
1967 Scotland
1966 England
1965 Scotland
1964 Scotland
1963 England
1962 England
1961 Scotland and England (tie)
1960 England
1959 England
1958 England
1957 England
1956 England
1955 England
1954 England
1953 England
1952 England
1951 England
1950 England
1949 England
1948 England
1947 England
1946 England
1945 Not Contested
1944 Not Contested
1943 Not Contested
1942 Not Contested
1941 Not Contested
1940 Not Contested
1939 Contest incomplete
1938 England
1937 England

The 1939 contest was not completed and the next six did not take place because of World War II.[1]

Players

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Teams competition in bridge requires a minimum of four players on each team; up to two additional players may be added as alternates. Two tables are in play at the same time with the North–South pair at one table and East–West pair at the other table being teammates.

Camrose matches comprise two sets of 16 deals with player substitutions permitted between sets.[3] Since 2007 the annual event comprises ten matches for each national team; previously there were eight or six matches. All 2011 participants played in 80 to 144 of 160 deals on the second weekend, or five to nine of ten sets (five matches), led by Rex Anderson and David Greenwood who played nine sets for Northern Ireland.[3] Anderson is the career leader with 114 matches played (through 2023).

Career Leaders by Nation
Nation Player Matches up to 2023 Northern Ireland Rex Anderson 114
Wales Patrick Jourdain 77 (also 2 for Scotland in 1977)
Scotland Les Steel 59
England John Armstrong 41
Republic of Ireland Tom Hanlon 48

Totals taken from the BGB website and exclude any matches as non-playing captain.

Trophies

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Trophies are awarded for each match, in addition to the overall trophy.

Trophies for Individual matches
Trophy Name Match
Pat Cotter Trophy England v Scotland
Billy Kelso Trophy England v Northern Ireland
Joe Moran Trophy England v Republic of Ireland
Alan Pierce Trophy England v Wales
Ken Baxter Salver Scotland v Northern Ireland
Cupa Cairdeas Scotland v Republic of Ireland
Patrick Jourdain Trophy Scotland v Wales
Col. Walshe Trophy Republic of Ireland v Northern Ireland
Cyfeillion Beiriste Trophy Republic of Ireland v Wales
Causeway Trophy Wales v Northern Ireland

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Home Internationals: a brief history". By Patrick Jourdain. Bridge Great Britain. Retrieved 17 December 2013. "The Camrose" is the open teams event.
  2. ^ "Bridge Hand: longest-running show", Tom Townsend, The Daily Telegraph, page 28, 8 March 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Camrose Trophy 2011". Bridge Great Britain. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  4. ^ a b c "Archives: Camrose Trophy Winners". Bridge Great Britain. Retrieved 17 December 2013. See also sibling pages.
  5. ^ "Past Results: Camrose Results 2010". Bridge Great Britain. Retrieved 17 December 2013. Sibling pages give 2003 to 2009 and 2011 to 2013 scores and more.
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