North Devon Congress 2025
The Devon Bridge Association and Brend Hotels invite you to the 30th annual North Devon Congress to be held at the Barnstaple Hotel, North Devon, EX31 1LE on the weekend of Friday 28th February - Sunday 2nd March 2025.
The three-day programme includes a ten-match Swiss Pairs competition on the Friday and Saturday followed by a seven-match blue-pointed Swiss Teams competition on the Sunday.
Entries are now closed. If you would like to be on the reserve list, please call Jacqui Munns on 07734 219859.
Download the brochure with full details or see below for the weekend programme.
The Hotel and Surroundings
The Barnstaple Hotel has been the home of the popular North Devon Congress since 2003. It is just a short stroll from the centre of Barnstaple and only a ten-minute drive from the beautiful North Devon coast.
The hotel offers all the facilities needed for a short break including a heated indoor pool and sauna, fitness room and solarium. There is ample free parking for residents and non-residents.
Why not take advantage of our great rates and stay for an extra night either before or after the congress.
Accessibility Please note that the majority of the rooms are located on the first-floor level and there is no lift. The remainder of the rooms are on the ground floor with bedroom doors opening directly to open air. If you need more information before booking, see the hotel's accessibility guide, or call Jacqui Munns on 07734 219859 to discuss your requirements.
Prices for Residents
A full weekend of Bridge including two nights dinner, bed & breakfast, Friday evening reception, and a sandwich lunch with tea/coffee on Saturday and Sunday
- £260 per person sharing a room
- £320 per person single occupancy
- £185 non-Bridge playing partner sharing a room - lunches not included
Why not stay an extra night and explore North Devon - dinner, bed & breakfast on Thursday and/or Sunday - £55pppn sharing a room and £90pppn single occupancy.
Prices for Non-Residents
- Full Congress Bridge - Swiss Pairs (Friday & Saturday) and Blue-pointed Swiss Teams (Sunday) for £60 per person to include sandwich lunch with tea/coffee on Saturday & Sunday.
- Swiss Pairs only (Friday & Saturday) for £36 per person to include sandwich lunch with tea/coffee on Saturday.
- Blue-pointed Swiss Teams only (Sunday) for £32 per person to include sandwich lunch with tea/coffee.
Non-residents are also welcome to join us for a three-course dinner on Friday and/or Saturday subject to availability, price is £35 per person.
Concessions
Non-resident registered youth players, defined as those players aged 26 or under whose date of birth is registered with the EBU, are are eligible for a 50% discount on Bridge entry fees.
Non-resident players who are current members of any North Devon club and have not previously attended the congress are eligible for a 30% discount on Bridge entry fees, such that entry fees per player will be; £42 for the entire weekend, £25 for the pairs event, and £22 for the teams event.
Prizes
There will be cash prizes for the top three pairs and teams and also for those highest placed in the following categories - 'non-expert', resident, and local. There will also be wine prizes for the pairs and teams with the highest scores in each round.
The committee reserve the right to change the format and/or value of prizes as necessary.
Tournament Director
We are delighted to welcome back Jeremy Child as our TD for the weekend.
The 2025 Programme
| Day | Times | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Friday February 28 | 6pm | Residents’ Reception - Join the hosts for a glass of wine |
| 6.30pm | Dinner | |
| 8pm | Swiss Pairs (Three 7-board matches) | |
| Saturday March 1 | 11.00am | Swiss Pairs (Three 7-board matches) |
| 1.45pm | Break for complimentary sandwiches & coffee | |
| 2.15pm | Swiss Pairs (Four 7-board matches) | |
| 7.30pm | Dinner followed by a Quiz in the bar | |
| Sunday March 2 | 11am | Swiss Teams (Three 8-board matches) |
| 2.15pm | Break for complimentary sandwiches & coffee followed by presentation of Pairs prizes |
|
| 3pm | Swiss Teams (Three 8-board matches) | |
| 6pm | Presentation of Teams prizes |
The Holders 2024
2024 Swiss Pairs winners: Graham Horscroft, Mike Bull.
2024 Swiss Teams winners: Dave Smith, Chris Wormleighton, Sue Ingham, Gwynn Davis.
How to Enter
This event is licensed by the EBU for EBU members and Level 4 systems may be used.
Fill out the form below and then click on the Residents or non-Residents link as appropriate.
If you have any questions, please contact Jacqui Munns on 07734 219859 before booking.
Entries
Please note that these lists are not automatic - they include paper entries and were last updated on 23 February 2025).
| Players | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Betty Golding, Margaret Mardlin |
| 2 | Roger Raynor Gowland, Stephen Rafferty |
| 3 | Deborah Richards, Simon Richards |
| 4 | Sally Stuttard, Terry Stuttard |
| 5 | Alan Biggs, Robert Mabley |
| 6 | Karen Murphy, Susan Gregory |
| 7 | Peter Smith, Jane Ritchie |
| 8 | Liz Whittaker, Graham Kidson |
| 9 | Gillian Toogood, Barbara Biggin |
| 10 | Sheila Ferguson, Eva Ferguson |
| 11 | Pip Duncan, Glenda Shave |
| 12 | Pat Watson, Carolyn Fisher |
| 13 | Sue Gudgeon, Nora Mallett |
| 14 | Irene Robinson, Michael Huggins |
| 15 | Carrie Eden, Mike Eden |
| 16 | Roger Andrews, Wynne Gifford |
| 17 | Steve Munns, Jean Judson |
| 18 | Paul Hide, Les Ellis |
| 19 | Linda Rafferty, Neil Marsden |
| 20 | David S Jones, Jan Duncan |
| 22 | Brent Wormald, David Southcombe |
| 22 | Rob Irish, Bob Bennett |
| 23 | Chantal Girardin, Andrew Clery |
| 24 | Ian Fearon, Clare Fearon |
| 25 | Liz Perry, Sheila Norman |
| 26 | David Stone, Valerie Pitman |
| 27 | Adrian Knight, Prue Knight |
| 28 | Carol Ritzen, Richard Carter |
| 29 | Martin Strawbridge, Martin Baker |
| 30 | Stefanie Rohan, Paul Lamford |
| 31 | Richard Lingham, Viv Mably |
| 32 | Graham Horscroft, Mike Bull |
| 33 | Mike Fletcher, Mike Walsh |
| 34 | Ruth Edmondson, Brigid McElroy |
| 35 | Lorna Vestey, Mary Anne St Clair-Ford |
| 36 | Doug Dunn, Colin Sanders |
| 37 | Alison Pollok, Ann Slee |
| 38 | Nigel Richardson, Kathy Richardson |
| 39 | Barbara Rennie, Dena Sells |
| 40 | Alan Patel, Mariam Gilbert |
| 41 | Sarah Jones, Graham Cope |
| 42 | Stuart Fox, Aine Fox |
| 43 | Simon Gottschalk, Miriam Handren |
| 44 | Richard Watkins, Sam McKibbin |
| 45 | Harry Anoyrkatis, Sam Anoyrkatis |
| Players | |
|---|---|
| No entries yet | |
| 1 | Betty Golding, Margaret Mardlin, David Strawbridge, Martin Baker |
| 2 | Roger Raynor Gowland, Stephen Rafferty, Sheila Ferguson, Eva Ferguson |
| 3 | Deborah Richards, Simon Richards, David S Jones, Jan Duncan |
| 4 | Ann Hill, Hilary Jenner, Clive Richardson, Anna Cowley |
| 5 | Sally Stuttard, Terry Stuttard, Chris Thomas, John Dick |
| 6 | Alan Biggs, Robert Mabley, Richard Lingham, Viv Mably |
| 7 | Karen Murphy, Susan Gregory, Richard Watkins, Sam McKibbin |
| 8 | Peter Smith, Jane Ritchie, Liz Whittaker, Graham Kidson |
| 9 | Gillian Toogood, Barbara Biggin, Sue Gudgeon, Nora Mallett |
| 10 | Pip Duncan, Glenda Shave, Roger Andrews, Wynne Gifford |
| 11 | Pat Watson, Carolyn Fisher, Adrian Knight, Prue Knight |
| 12 | Irene Robinson, Mike Huggins, Mike Eden, Carrie Eden |
| 13 | Paul Hide, Les Ellis, Brent Wormald, David Southcombe |
| 14 | Linda Rafferty, Neil Marsden, Alan White, Colin Richards |
| 15 | Chantal Girardin, Andrew Clery, Stefanie Rohan, Paul Lamford |
| 16 | Ian Fearon, Clare Fearon, Nigel Richardson, Kathy Richardson |
| 17 | Liz Perry, Sheila Norman, David Stone, Valerie Pitman |
| 18 | Carol Ritzen, Richard Carter, Carole Reid, Marjorie Higgins |
| 19 | Graham Horscroft, Mike Fletcher, Mike Bull, Mike Walsh |
| 20 | Ruth Edmondson, Brigid McElroy, Alison Pollok, Ann Slee |
| 21 | Lorna Vestey, Mary Anne St Clair-Ford, Simon Gottschalk, Miriam Handren |
| 22 | Paul Guppy, Tony Hards, Liz Timbrell, Lin Waddington |
| 23 | Barbara Rennie, Dena Sells, Steve Munns, Jean Judson |
| 24 | Alan Patel, Mariam Gilbert, Sarah Jones, Graham Cope |
| 25 | Harry Anoyrkatis, Sam Anoyrkatis, Sally Anoyrkatis, Jim Grant |