Rules of the Club Pairs Championship for the Waller Bowl
1. Only clubs affiliated to the Berks and Bucks County Bridge Association may hold a heat of this event. Clubs intending to hold a heat must inform the Chairman by 30 November 2009.
2. No player may attempt to qualify in more than one heat, except that should one member of a qualified pair be prevented from playing in the final, his partner may compete in another heat with the permission of the Event Coordinator.
3. The arrangements for the heat are at the discretion of the clubs, in particular whether conventions with Level 4 Licences are allowed. Heats may be held in an ordinary club session combined with the usual weekly event. Any pairs playing in that session and not entering the competition must state this before play begins. (See also rule 11)
4. Clubs who regularly run separate sessions during the week may hold separate heats in those sessions. Each heat will have its own qualifiers in accordance with 6 below
5. Clubs may choose whether their heats are to be open or closed. In closed heats, clubs may refuse entry to players who are not members of the clubs concerned. Clubs who are running closed heats must advertise that fact at least a month in advance either on their notice board or in any other club publication. It is the responsibility of non members to make sure that the heat is open to all. Open heats will be advertised on the BBCBA web site.
6. The numbers that qualify will be in accordance with the following scale.
Number of Competing Pairs Number of Qualifying Pairs 5 to 8
2
9 to 12
3
13 to 16 4 17 to 20
5 21 to 24
6 25 to 28
7 29 to 32
8 33 to 36
9 and so on
7. There must be a minimum of five competing pairs in each heat. If two or more pairs tie for the last qualifying place, then all tied pairs qualify
8. Where not all pairs are competing a one winner movement should be used, this means there will be no problems if there is an odd number of qualifiers or one of the qualifiers drops out.
9. Clubs are responsible for informing players who have qualified and determining who will play in the final. This should be done as soon as possible after the heat.
10. A copy of the full results sheet must reach the Event Coordinator by 22 March 2010. This is important as master points in the final are calculated on the number of pairs who have played in the Club Heats
11. The qualifiers and reserves must be clearly marked. Names of those who played and did not compete must be marked NC.
12. The club must send the total table money (£7.50 per player, £4 per junior) for all qualifiers who intend to play in the final to the Event Coordinator to arrive by 22 March 2010.
13. Note: Please send a single cheque, payable to Berks & Bucks CBA and drawn on the club account, as soon as the number of qualifying pairs is known, then recover the money from these players.
14. If any qualifying pair declares themselves unavailable for the final, competing pairs from the same heat who finished next in ranking order may play in their place, provided that advance notification of the change is given to the Event Coordinator.
15. Substitutes are not allowed but it is permitted to combine players from two separate qualified pairs from the same heat to form a single pair to play in the final. The Event Coordinator must be informed of this arrangement.
16. When a qualified pair are unable to play in the final and cannot be replaced by a reserve pair from the club heat in which they qualified, then the Event Coordinator must be informed. Table money will be refunded providing such notice has been received.
17. Heats which breach any of the above regulations may, at the discretion of the Event Coordinator, be declared invalid.
18. Heats may be run in all affiliated clubs in the district. The County Association will make no charge to players in the heats, nor need players be members of B&BCBA.
19. Master points in club heats should be awarded according to the district scale. This is 1.5 times the club scale.
20. The Event Coordinator is Nigel Thompson. Contact details can be found in the Handbook and on the web site.
21. The final will comprise approximately 36 boards, played in two sessions. Players are asked to be seated by 1.20 p.m. so that play can start promptly at 1.30 p.m. Play is expected to finish about 7.00 p.m. Only conventions with a Level 3 Licence will be allowed.
The Final is on 28th March 2010 at Windsor.