The CBAI’s International Committee (IC) has arranged a special new trial this season, which is aimed at players that are close to, but do not quite meet, the required masterpoint criteria for the general trials. These trials will be held on 24/25 September, in the Bridge Centre in Templeogue, subject to a minimum entry of 12 pairs, and entry is open to any CBAI member with 50 National Points or more, or who has acquired 25 National Points or more within the past three seasons
The intent behind these new trials is to encourage new blood in the trials system, to allow promising pairs to make themselves known to the Committee, to give players who have not previously played in trials experience of trials conditions, including the use of screens, and to facilitate pairs to join up and form teams, and we would like as big an entry as possible.
These trials will be organised on an IMP Pairs basis, over three sessions, and, depending on placing and gender, four pairs will potentially be invited to play as teams in the subsequent Camrose or Lady Milne trials. If it transpires that, due to a shortage of suitable entrants, only one pair is eligible for the Lady Milne trials, then there will be no pre-qualifying team for that event. Normal trials conditions, including the award of the relevant masterpoints, will apply to these Pre-Qualifier trials.
You are therefore cordially invited to enter these trials, as a pair with a chosen partner. The closing date for entries is 12 August 2022. If you have already made an entry with us, you do not need to do so again. The entry fee is €70 per person (which will be collected later), and any pairs that qualify to play in further trials will be given credit for those fees against the fees for the second trials.
We have received some enquiries from pairs hoping to qualify via the Pre-Qualifier trials to team up with another pair or pairs who have already entered the trials proper. The IC has given this careful consideration, but has come to the conclusion that the logistics of the qualification process do not allow for that. So all qualifying pairs will therefore be teamed with another qualifying pair for the subsequent full trials.
The IC, and the CBAI, see these trials as an important step in broadening the base of our potential international representatives, and we are hoping for a large entry. So why not sign up to give it a go and see what it is like to play in trials conditions with a potential qualification spot on the line!