NORTHERN IRELAND BRIDGE UNION

General Purposes Committee

A meeting was held at Kelvin & Malone on Thursday 3 May 2007 at 7.30.

Present: R Johnston (Chairperson), I Orr (Vice Chair),I Hamilton (President), L Scott (Secretary), A Anderson (Competitions Sec), R Burns (Masterpoint Sec), A Hassan (Congress Organiser), D Cannell (Hon Magazine Editor), I Lindsay (Imm Past Pres),A Hill (K&M), T Sproule (K&M), A Lever (Imm Past Chair), S Millership (Int Match Manager), J Millership (Brunswick).

1              Apologies

 N Irwin.

2              Minutes

                The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday  22 February 2007 were passed on a proposal by R Burns, seconded by D Cannell, and signed by the Chair.

3              Matters Arising

                Item 5 – re bridge Teaching.  Before we can put a link on the NIBU website,  S Millership to check the teaching programme with D&D Greenwood as the committee is unsure of what exactly is being offered.

Report of Chair/Vice Chair – R Johnston/I Orr

R Johnston welcomed everyone to the GP meeting and congratulated A Hassan and A Anderson on the success of the Spring Congress at Armagh City Hotel.  He went on to say that the facilities were excellent.  He also added that although the accounts had not yet been finalised, he expected a satisfactory report from the Hon Treasurer.  I Orr (Vice Chair) apologised for her non attendance at Congress but said that she had to attend a family wedding.  I Orr proposed that K Hinds be recommended as Vice Chair for the year 2007/2008 and this was unanimously agreed. 

5              Secretary’s Report – L Scott

            The secretary reported that she had received, from Kelvin & Malone, a Sports Recognition form applying to the Sports Council for recognition as Bridge as a sport.  The NIBU as the Governing body had some parts to fill in.  L Scott said she had forwarded the form to all officers of the Union and that I Hamilton (President) had done all the filling in but there were still a few things we had to clarify.  The Secretary will ask the Hon Treasurer for a copy of our Insurance details and she will  contact S McCaughan for advice on Child Protection legislation all of  which is required by the Sports Council.  L Scott had also received a letter from S McCaughan requesting clarification of the ‘Officials Team Selection’ for the NIBU/CBAI match.  This selection was normally done by the Chairperson and had usually comprised those persons who represented the NIBU on the IBU Committee.  This year it appears that most of the IBU representatives had already been selected for other teams.  There followed some discussion and A Hill and I Lindsay agreed that they would speak to S McCaughan who is a member of the Selection Committee.  The Secretary then read out a letter from J Millership requesting clarification of the League Rules which allow for matches to be rearranged to another date. He felt that there were far too many rearranged matches and this was unacceptable.  The Competitions Secretary the read out the rules relative to this and after debate it was suggested and agreed that representatives from Premier 1 and Premier 2 Leagues, along with the top Senior League arrange a meeting to stress the importance of playing their matches on the appropriate night.  All boards for League matches are pre dealt and when a match has been rearranged pre dealt boards are no longer available and this produces an unfair result.  A suggestion was made and agreed to by the Competitions Secretary that substitutes should be available on all League nights to fill in as required.  The Secretary also said that she had sent a sympathy card from the President, Chair and members to the Hon Treasurer on the death of her mother and had received a thank you letter from the Hon Treasurer which she read out.

6.             Competitions Secretary’s Report – A Anderson

                A Anderson reminded all present that the Senior/Inter ‘A’ Competition was to be held on the 16 May and he urged all Seniors present to link up with and Inter ‘A’ and play in the competition.  He suggested that this would perhaps encourage more people to play in competitions.  He also reminded us of the Helm Cup Competition to be held on 20 May in the Park Avenue Hotel.  He has arranged that S Jones would direct this competition.  A Anderson informed the meeting that he had received only one entry for the Allan Mixed Teams competition this year and as the competition had not been supported last year either he suggested that this competition be removed from the NIBU calendar.  A vote ensued and it was agreed by 6 votes to 3 with 2 abstentions to remove this competition from the calendar. 

7              Treasurer’s Report – N Irwin

                As the Treasurer was unable to attend the meeting no report was given.

8              Master Points Secretary’s Report – R Burns

                 R Burns asked the Hon Secretary to remind all Clubs that their Masterpoint returns were due and to suggest to them that if there was a member of their club whom they considered should be re-graded to send the name(s) to him for consideration.  

9              Schools Bridge Report

                 There was no report.

10           Congress Organiser’s Report – A Hassan

                A Hassan reported that the Spring Congress had been successful but that a date for next year had not yet been arranged as the Armagh City Hotel was only available on the 9 May 2008 and it was thought this might coincide with a CBAI Congress.  She said she would liaise with the Secretary of the CBAI re dates. 

11           Report of the Sister Unions

                IBU – A Hill reported that the IBU were endeavouring to raise money to send the Silver Medalists to the Bermuda Bowl in Shanghai.  He said that sponsorship had been offered  for €20,000 but that the IBU had to raise that amount and to that end they were selling the book ‘Silver for Ireland’ at a cost of £10 and endeavouring to raise the €20,000 by other means also.

                BGB – S Millership read out a comprehensive report from the BGB meeting of 24 April.  As it was now compulsory to use screens at these matches and as standard tables didn’t allow for these screens, she proposed that the NIBU buy some tables.  This was unanimously agreed.  The Lady Milne team had been overcharged at this competition and S Millership gave the Secretary a cheque to be divided between the competitors.  A ‘Seniors’ Camrose would be introduced next season, providing sponsorship from Bernard Teltcher was still available.

12           Report of Sub-Committees/Newsletter Editor

D Cannell said that the Newsletter was due to be printed soon and asked for all contributions to be forwarded to him as soon as possible.

13           AOB

                S Millership (International Match Manager) had a problem with the location of the NIBU/CBAI match.  She had hoped to schedule the match to be played in Armagh but there was a problem with accommodation.  R Burns proposed and T Sproule seconded that Kelvin & Malone would be suitable.  S Millership suggested there would be a problem with accommodation and catering. A Hill proposed and I Lindsay seconded that an outside venue should be arranged.  A vote was taken on both proposals.  The proposal by R Burns was defeated by 4 votes to 5; the proposal by A Hill was accepted by 5 votes to 1, both having one abstention. S Millership to further research a potential venue.

                The subject of Bridgemates was raised. These had been borrowed for both the autumn and Spring Congresses and were a great success.  The meeting agreed that the NIBU should consider buying these at an approximate cost of £900 for 6 tables including the server, additional bridgemates would cost £100 plus vat per table. J Millership proposed that the Secretary contact each club as enquire as to whether they would wish to purchase some for their clubs as this may inevitably bring the price down.

                I Hamilton suggested that the Kelvin Cup rules needed to be revised and I Lindsay agreed to provide revised rules. 

                The GP Committee agreed the recommendation that A Hill become President and K Hinds Vice Chairperson.

There was no further business.

14            Date of the next meeting was confirmed as Wednesday 20 June 2007 at 7.30pm at Kelvin & Malone.

                Signed _____________________________________  Dated   ______________________

NIBU Alerting and Systems Policy

Alerting
As from 16th September 2004 the Alerting policy of the NIBU has changed. The new policy is as set out in the diary. Your attention is drawn to the following excerpts

At the start of every round each pair must inform their opponents of their basic system (e.g. forcing club, strength of no trump opening, 4 or 5 card majors) and their carding methods and in particular any unusual openings for which opponents may need to prepare.

During the bidding no call above the level of 3NT is to be alerted unless it occurs on the first round of the bidding. Calls above the level of 3NT after the first round of the auction are to be alerted at the end of the bidding. The dummy or declarer alerts the defenders before the opening lead. The defenders alert after the opening lead has been made but before it is faced.

Alertable calls

The following bids are considered natural and do not require an alert:

Any offer to play in a suit for the first time, which shows
•  Three or more cards in a minor suit
•  Four or more cards in a major suit
And says nothing about any other suit

The following conventional bids in common use need not be alerted:

Stayman 2 club response to 1NT (provided it guarantees a 4 card major)

Strong Acol 2 club opening bid

Doubles

Any double of a one level suit opening or response at the one level by an opponent is deemed to be a TAKE OUT DOUBLE. All other doubles are deemed to be PENALTY DOUBLES. Any variation from this rule must be alerted.

Systems

The NIBU has adopted the English Bridge Union Orange Book as far as Systems and conventions approval is concerned. Copies of this can be downloaded from the EBU website at www.ebu.co.uk on the Internet. The following levels apply to NIBU events:

Open non-handicap NIBU competitions Level 4

Junior, Intermediate and Handicap competitions Level 3

Any system may be played in the Premier League 1 and the Kelvin cup, provided 1 weeks notice in writing has been given to the opposing Captain, of any systems not allowable at level 4 with full description and a suitable defence. The opposing team shall have sole seating rights whenever such systems are played and may consult a written defence during bidding.

It is the duty of each player to check whether the system/convention they are using is allowed in the competition in which they are participating.

If Clubs wish to adopt the Orange Book the NIBU recommends that they use Level 3. This allows all the usual conventions while protecting club players by banning odd bids with the exception of Multi.

EBU Permitted Conventions Broad Descriptions

What follows is merely a broad guide and should not be relied upon.

Level 1

System Old fashioned simple Acol

Conventions Only Stayman, Baron, Blackwood, Gerber, 5NT Grand Slam Force

No sputnik double

Level 2

System Natural systems, Strong Club, Canapé

Conventions Snap, Support bids, Bergen raises, fit jumps, Complete freedom to FG from strength, and following a FG bid and from openers rebid. Two suited overcalls if 1 specified. Texas . 2NT may be a weak minor two-suiter 5 Hcp range. All continuations after a 1NT opening.

Two in a suit openings may not mix weak and strong options

Three in a suit must be natural or pre-emptive.

Level 3

Systems

Conventions Except for a slightly restricted Multi 2 ¨ two in suit openings may not mix weak and strong options. 3 level opening bids must have 4 in bid suit. Transfer overcalls.

Level 4

Systems

Conventions Light opening bids. Transfer and Relay responses. Wide variety of opening two bids but if a weak variety then at least 1 suit specified.

Variety of 3 level bids. 2NT may be weak 1 of 2 suits.

Level 5 Details to be decided by sponsoring organisation

Systems

Conventions

Note on levels 1-4

Multi is illegal at level 2, slightly restricted at level 3

In practice odd 3 level bids are only permitted at level 4

2 ¨ 0-11 and 2 unspecified 5 cards suits are not permitted

2NT both minors is permitted at level s 2 and 3 with a 5 point range, unrestricted at 4

2NT one unspecified minor is only permitted at level 4

HUM (e.g. forcing pass) systems are not permitted at any level