News
2-September-2025
The AGM is tomorrow, Wednesday 3rd September, 6pm online via Zoom. Captains and representatives have been reminded of the details which were sent earlier when entries were acknowledged. The link and codes are the same as last year.
The agenda is unchanged from the draft, presented earlier.
25-August-2025
Online Summer Handicap & 2024-25 Honours
Congratulations to Livesey (Paul Goldsmith, Naseem Bhatti, Pru Bland, Amanda Sjodin) who defeated Buttons 'B' (Bill Linton, Nigel Stuttard, Tim Pelling, Naomi Cohen) in the OSH final, 49-15.
That brings to a close the 2024-25 season:
- Division 1
- Buttons 'B'
- Division 2
- Habeas Corpus
- Division 3
- Lavender Blue
- Division 4
- Balliol Alumni
- Leslie Dodds Cup
- London Underground
- Gainsborough
- Buttons 'A'
- SURDOC Trophy
- Stock Exchange
24-August-2025
Knockout Draw
The draw for the first round of the Leslie Dodds Cup (and Gainsborough Plate) has now been made. This is slightly provisional as one team who played last year is still to register. There are 16 teams in the event and therefore fewer rounds – and, if the last team confirms, no byes.
In order to make a good start, the play-by is unchanged, 7th November, nine whole weeks from the Friday after the AGM. A reminder that online play remains the default for knockout matches.
14-August-2025
Invitations to play in the 2025-26 season and the 2025 SURDOC have now been sent to captains. As a a consequence of the League restructuring, the enter-by date, Wednesday 27th August, is quite soon and your prompt attention is appreciated.
11-August-2025
Details of the 2025-26 Season are available left. We diverge from past editions of the League in that we will have four divisions, One, Two, Three Red and Three Black. Matches will be arranged under an online-default in all but Three Black which where matches default to face-to-face play. We emphasise that these are defaults; captains are free to agree to play online or F2F in any division.
The two Division Threes are formed from last year's Three and Four. Using the results submissions from last year, it was clear there was a marked preference for F2F play in the lower divisions. Of 117 matches in the 2024-25 League season, 30 were played F2F. Of those, none were in Divisions One and Two, 7 (of 30) were in Three, 23 (of 27) were in Four. Nevertheless, the new structure follows consultation with the affected teams.
AGM Wednesday 3rd September, 6pm online via Zoom
Agenda
- Apologies for absence
- Approval of the minutes of 2024 AGM
- Matters arising from 2024 AGM
- Report by Chair
- Treasurer's report
- Election of officers and committee
- Chair: Mark Hutton
- Secretary & Vice Chair: Andrew Kisiel
- Treasurer: Peter Cogliatti
- Committee Members: Laura Birnhak, Chris Chambers, Alex German, Bill Linton, Jim O'Donoghue
- Appointment of auditor
- Honour Roll for 2024-25 season
- Any other business
Supporting documents
- Minutes of 2024 AGM [PDF]
30-July-2025
Online Summer Handicap – Knockout Stage
Congratulations to the four teams through to the Knockout Stage of the OSH; Buttons 'B', Livesey, White Rabbits and Civil Service.
Buttons 'B' [1] play White Rabbits [1]
Civil Service [1] play Livesey [4]
Draw and results submission is linked from the menu.
6-May-2025
Well done!
…those teams completing their League fixtures by the end of April. As announced at last year's AGM, they will benefit from a 50% discount on next season's League dues (worth £12.50). Well done,
- Buttons 'A'
- Buttons 'B'
- Canary Wharf
- Civil Service
- Lavender Blue
- Livesey
- Polex
- RAC Rolls Royce
- RAC Spitfire
- Roehampton Diamonds
- Roehampton Hearts
- Wanderers
4-May-2025
Online Summer Handicap
This year's OSH has five teams and there is an all-play-all 'Group Phase' (linked from the menu-item left). On completion of that, there will be a knockout for four of the teams.
1-May-2025
Selfridges Pairs – Event Cancelled
We very much regret that for the second successive year there have been insufficient entries to make the Selfridges Pairs viable and the event has been cancelled. Those few who entered have been informed.
9-April-2025
Online Summer Handicap
We again intend to hold an Online Summer Handicap Teams.
This will be a friendly event, with shorter matches, no Masterpoints, against teams from different divisions, people whom you might well not have played previously. The event will be run by Mark Hutton, there is no fee to enter but first prize is free entry to the 2025-26 League!
If you would like to take part please submit your entry by Wednesday 30th April 2025 to . Fixtures will be released shortly after for teams to arrange matches.
Please note the Committee may refuse entry to teams who have not completed their LBHCBA 24/25 league matches.
Format of the event
- Each team will play approximately four matches. Opponents will be randomly drawn across all divisions. The precise format will depend on numbers participating.
- All matches will be on BBO with no home/away distinction. Each match will be 16 boards (2 x 8, exchanging opponents). Current LBH rules for matches on BBO to apply.
- There will be a handicap of 6 IMPs per division difference between the teams (2024-25 League). Results will be submitted via the website in the normal way.
- A knockout will then be played between the teams with the highest VP scores (including relevant handicap) to determine the winner.
2-March-2025
Selfridges Pairs
The annual Selfridges Pairs will be held on Wednesday 7th May at 18.30, either on BBO or RealBridge depending on the majority view.
For those pairs that enter before March 31st there will be half price entry of £5 per pair. Payment will only be due when it is confirmed that we have sufficient entries.
Entries by email to . Please indicate platform preference with entry. He will acknowledge and confirm once the format is established.
23-November-2024
Leslie Dodds Cup & Gainsborough Plate
[Updated 27-Nov] The second-round draws of both Cup and Plate have been made. It's a little different from usual… There were 20 teams in Round One but there's one R1 match which hasn't been arranged and is now demoted to a R2 Plate fixture.
So there are nine teams in the Cup and 11 in the Plate. Those nine in the Leslie Dodds mean there is only one R2 fixture, White Rabbits v Buttons 'B'. The remaining seven teams are in the quarter finals, all but one of those fixtures can be arranged immediately.
In the Plate, R2 is more familiar but as five teams receive byes to the Quarters; there are only three R2 matches proper:
| Habeas Corpus v RAC Spitfire |
| Home Office v Bye |
| Canary Wharf v Livesey |
One quarter-final fixture can be arranged immediately, Balliol Alumni v Wanderers.
Both draws are available in full, from the links, left.
25-September-2024
SURDOC
Congratulations to Stock Exchange (Robin Griffiths & Neil Gayner, John Clarke & Peter Cogliatti) winners of the 2024 SURDOC.
| Team | STO | CIV | LAV | BUT | ROE | CAN | IMPs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Exchange | +6 | -1 | -3 | +5 | +28 | +35 | ||
| Civil Service | -6 | +15 | +5 | -7 | +26 | +33 | ||
| Lavender Blue | +1 | -15 | +21 | -10 | +17 | +14 | ||
| Buttons | +3 | -5 | -21 | +11 | -5 | -17 | ||
| Roehampton | -5 | +7 | +10 | -11 | -30 | -29 | ||
| Canary Wharf | -28 | -26 | -17 | +5 | +30 | -36 |
IMP scores link to match details (BBO Vugraph display); hover over team name for players' names.
Results are also available on RealBridge.