Leeds BC Swiss Pairs 2026 Winners
18th May 2026
1st: Steve Raine and Lisa Massey
2nd: Angus Orde and Helen Inns
3rd: Gillian Emerson and Carrie Babington
Yorkshire Contract Bridge Association
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18th May 2026
1st: Steve Raine and Lisa Massey
2nd: Angus Orde and Helen Inns
3rd: Gillian Emerson and Carrie Babington
14th May 2026
1946-2026
Obituary by Brian Senior:
Sandra Penfold (1946-2026)
Though originally from Paignton in Devon, Sandra Penfold lived most of her adult life in Yorkshire, having had the good sense to marry a Yorkshireman, Martin Penfold. Together they built Swift Research, a highly successful market research company, based in Wetherby, North Yorkshire, and lived in the countryside a few miles south-west of Tadcaster.
Sandra was a teacher until it was time to have a family – one girl and two boys – and it was only then that she took up bridge. She took to it like the proverbial fish to water and had her first taste of international ladies’ bridge partnering Rita Oldroyd in the Lady Milne in 1982 and 1983 – England winning on both occasions.
She had a number of other partners whilst representing England or Great Britain in ladies European or World championships, as well as many more Lady Milne outings, more often than not successful ones. She won several bronze and silver medals in European and World championships, including a silver in the 2017 Venice Cup partnering Nevena Senior, and has also represented England in Senior competition on a number of occasions.
Domestically, Sandra has won Crockfords Cup, Spring Foursomes, Faulkner Salver, and had several appearances in finals of the major team events.
She was a tough competitor, one who could rebound from disaster on one deal by playing the next as though it had not happened, something which even many strong players struggle to achieve. She made the most of her talent at the bridge table, and that is all we can ask of anyone.
Unfortunately, in her last few years Sandra seemed to stumble from one health issue to the next, impacting both on her ability to play at the level she would have desired and on her enjoyment, but she loved the game and was willing to put up with a lot from some of her more demanding partners, myself in particular. She was a popular figure in the British bridge scene, and will be sadly missed.
Major International Appearances
Women’s European Championships: 1989 1991 1993 and 2002
Venice Cup: 1991 1995 2003 and 2017
Women’s World Olympiad: 1988 1992 and 2000
Senior European Championships: 2016
Senior World Olympiad: 2016
Lady Milne selections: 1982 1983 1988 1994 1997 1999 and 2010(EBU team)
Teltscher Trophy selections: 2018
Spring Foursomes winner: 2011
Crockfords Cup winner: 2015
10th May 2026
York won the Garden Cities Regional Final today, and have qualified for the National Final on 6th June.
Although classed as ‘regional’, the opposition were the Champion clubs from Cheshire, Nottinghamshire, Norfolk, Hants and IOW, Dorset, and Devon.
York finished on 87VP’s, 11 VP’s ahead of the second place.
The team representing York was Frank Dixon, David Waxman, Robert Ross, Tom Cohen, Tim Prior, Paul Brereton, David Beck and Keith Joules.
10th May 2026
1st: Alan Jarvis & Georgina Wooler
2nd=: Geoff Kenyon & Gill Copeland
2nd=: Athena Chow & Tom Copeland
7th May 2026
1st: Team Bridgemates! N Cockerill-Smith, G Copeland, C Thompson, L Bridson
2nd=: Team Keighley C Sienkiewicz, H Walton, F Wilkinson, I Boothman
2nd=: Team Olicana T Hopkins, J Farrar, R Fraser, C Powne
Left to right: Nichola, Lesley, Gill, Catherine.
7th May 2026
YCBA AGM 2026
Please make a note in your diaries that our AGM will be held at 10:00 on Saturday 13th June, in the Cairn Hotel, Harrogate. It will precede the start of the Yorkshire Festival of Bridge. We are keen to see as many of you as possible, either face to face or via the Zoom link found on the AGM entry on the Events+ page.
This occasion allows members to make their thoughts known. Please make the most of this opportunity. Attendance has declined in recent years, and we are keen to reverse this trend. Note should be made that any nominations for positions on the Main Board, or any Special Resolutions potentially affecting the constitution, need to be made in writing to the Secretary by 23rd May. Nominations for Main Board positions will require a proposer and seconder, whilst special resolutions will require the support of another member.
3rd May 2026
Congratulations to the Winter team (Winter, Kenyon, Mcniff, Senior, Penfold) who narrowly beat Brereton (Brereton, Dixon, Pike, Waxman) in the Waddington shield final by 4 imps.
In the photo (left to right Geoff Kenyon, Richard Winter, Tony McNiff & Brian Senior).
Sandra Penfold played in an earlier round of the competition.
29th April 2026
1st: Bradford: S Davies, G Bak, G Copeland, S Blackburn
2nd: Harrogate: C Thompson, J Latham, R Cave, M Dalton
3rd: York 1: M Waller, I Crockatt, J Sanders, J Kotek
This year the event was held at Huddersfield Bridge Club.
6th April 2026
1st: S Woodcock, N Kenyon, S Fjortoft, N Woodcock
2nd: C Child, H Toshev, M Ott, T Read
3rd: N Cockerill-Smith, R Pike, G Copeland, S Blackburn
Copyright 2026. All Rights Reserved
