Wessex League
The OBC aims to field as many teams as can be comfortably maintained in the Oxfordshire County Bridge Association’s (OBA) prestigious Wessex League Competition. This is a league for teams of eight, run in several divisions. The winners of Division One are eligible to represent the OBA in the Garden Cities Trophy.
The OBC aims to maintain a presence in the league in as high a position as is possible for current members. In this current season (2010-2011) we field seven teams in Divisions 1, 2, 4 and 5. You can read about Wessex League progress in the Captains’ blogs (see right hand column).
Entry to the Wessex League is made by the Match Secretary and paid for by the OBC. Captains are appointed by the Match Secretary in consultation with the Chairman, Secretary and captains themselves. Captains are then assigned to teams according to ability. Eligible players (full members who do not play for another club) are assigned to one of the teams, according to ability, normally as a partnership. Team selection normally occurs at a meeting of captains, the Match Secretary, Chairman and Secretary some time in the early summer with the aim that team selection is complete by the end of July. However, any player who is interested in playing can approach the Match Secretary or one of the captains at any time.
Assignment of players to teams is made in as objective a way as possible, taking into consideration: performance in recent Wessex League matches; Butler scores for teams nights; IMP scores for teams nights; performance in the duplicate pairs as may be indicated by the ladders; performance in external events. Captains are encouraged to record scores for all matches and obtain cross-imping and Butlers, as an assessment of player performance.
An effort is made to accommodate all willing participants in a suitable team squad, such team to be in accordance with the individual’s standard. It is intended that the number of teams fielded is sufficient to provide playing opportunities for all willing players at all levels.
News Update
News on the progress of each team provided by the team captain can be found as follows:
Click here to find links to the site of the organisers of the Wessex league where the current league tables can be found.
The club bylaws document how the participation in Wessex League Teams is organised.
For overall information see: OBC Inter-Club Teams Journal