The Camrose Trophy or "The Camrose" is an annual bridge competition among open teams representing the home nations of Great Britain and Ireland: England (EBU), Northern Ireland (NIBU), Republic of Ireland (CBAI), Scotland (SBU) and Wales (WBU). As such it is the open teams-of-four component of the "Home Internationals" organised by Bridge Great Britain."Home Internationals: a brief history". By Patrick Jourdain. Bridge Great Britain. Retrieved 17 December 2013. "The Camrose" is the open teams event.

The competition was first held in 1937, but it did not become the Camrose until the following year, when Lord Camrose, owner of The Daily Telegraph, donated the trophy."Bridge Hand: longest-running show", Tom Townsend, The Daily Telegraph, page 28, 8 March 2023. The original trophy has been lost and replaced. Because of World War II the series was interrupted mid-way in 1939 and not resumed until 1946, yet the Camrose is the world's most-played international bridge series.

Beside "The Camrose" (Open flight), the Home Bridge Internationals include annual series for Women from 1950 (the Lady Milne Trophy), Juniors from 1971, Under-19 from 1990 (the Peggy Bayer Trophy), and Seniors (the Teltscher Trophy) from 2008.

Structure Since 2007 there have been six rather than five teams in the competition, to avoid having one team sit out each round. From 2007 to 2009 the sixth team was the defending champion, so there were two teams from the previous year's winning nation. England's second team won in 2009, when it was the final-round host by coincidence. Since then by design the sixth team is a second team from the final-round host nation, which follows a five-year cycle from Northern Ireland in 2010 to England in 2014. That second representative is named for the national bridge federation; thus "Wales" and "Welsh Bridge Union" both entered in 2011.

Since 2005 a double round-robin is scheduled on two weekends. With six teams, each weekend comprises five rounds of three head-to-head matches, a single round-robin. A match is now 32 scored at IMPs and converted to ."Camrose Trophy 2011". Bridge Great Britain. Retrieved 17 December 2013. So every team plays 320 deals in the entire event, 64 against each of its rivals. Before 2005, the teams played head-to-head matches over five weekends.

Before 2007 there were simply five national teams, or four during the 48-year absence by the Republic of Ireland from 1951 to 1998.

Results England won both of the completed pre-war and the first 15 post-war contests, through 1960. Only England and Scotland were winners in the 56 renditions before year 2000, including England–Scotland ties in 1961, 1972 and 1973. Ireland first won in 2000 and won four straight beginning 2005."Archives: Camrose Trophy Winners". Bridge Great Britain. Retrieved 17 December 2013. See also sibling pages. Wales won its first Camrose in 2011, but England are again dominant, winning the six most recent contests and twelve times in the last fifteen years.

Winners by nation The competition has been completed 80 times up to 2023. There was an outright winner on each occasion except for 1961, 1972 and 1973, when England and Scotland tied for first place. England's count includes wins in 2009 and in 2019 by its second team, "English Bridge Union".

Nation Outright wins Tied wins England573 Scotland123 Republic of Ireland70 Wales10 Northern Ireland00

Winners by year Four times in the 21st century (*), the winners have been one of two entries from their countries, namely "Ireland" 2008, "EBU" 2009 and 2019 (English Bridge Union), and "Wales" 2011. They were the defending champion team, the England "B" teams, and the Wales "A" team respectively. Their compatriots were "Hosts Ireland", "England", and "WBU" (Welsh Bridge Union)."Past Results: Camrose Results 2010". Bridge Great Britain. Retrieved 17 December 2013. Sibling pages give 2003 to 2009 and 2011 to 2013 scores and more.

Year Winners 2023 England 2022 England 2021 England 2020 England 2019 * England 2018 England 2017 Republic of Ireland 2016 England 2015 Republic of Ireland 2014 England 2013 England 2012 England 2011 * Wales 2010 England 2009 * England 2008 * Republic of Ireland 2007 Republic of Ireland 2006 Republic of Ireland 2005 Republic of Ireland 2004 England 2003 England 2002 England 2001 England 2000 Republic of Ireland 1999 England 1998 Scotland 1997 England 1996 Scotland 1995 England 1994 England 1993 England 1992 England 1991 England 1990 England 1989 Scotland 1988 England 1987 England 1986 England 1985 England 1984 England 1983 England 1982 England 1981 England 1980 England 1979 Scotland 1978 England 1977 Scotland 1976 Scotland 1975 England 1974 Scotland 1973 Scotland and England (tie) 1972 Scotland and England (tie) 1971 Scotland 1970 Scotland 1969 England 1968 England 1967 Scotland 1966 England 1965 Scotland 1964 Scotland 1963 England 1962 England 1961 Scotland and England (tie) 1960 England 1959 England 1958 England 1957 England 1956 England 1955 England 1954 England 1953 England 1952 England 1951 England 1950 England 1949 England 1948 England 1947 England 1946 England 1945 Not Contested 1944 Not Contested 1943 Not Contested 1942 Not Contested 1941 Not Contested 1940 Not Contested 1939 Contest incomplete 1938 England 1937 England

The 1939 contest was not completed and the next six did not take place because of World War II.

Players competition in bridge requires a minimum of four players on each team; up to two additional players may be added as alternates. Two tables are in play at the same time with the North–South pair at one table and East–West pair at the other table being teammates.

Camrose matches comprise two sets of 16 deals with player substitutions permitted between sets. Since 2007 the annual event comprises ten matches for each national team; previously there were eight or six matches. All 2011 participants played in 80 to 144 of 160 deals on the second weekend, or five to nine of ten sets (five matches), led by Rex Anderson and David Greenwood who played nine sets for Northern Ireland. Anderson is the career leader with 114 matches played (through 2023).

+ Career Leaders by Nation Nation Player Matches up to 2023 Northern Ireland Rex Anderson114 Wales Patrick Jourdain * 77 (also 2 for Scotland in 1977) Scotland Les Steel59 England John Armstrong41 Republic of Ireland Tom Hanlon48 Totals taken from the BGB website and exclude any matches as non-playing captain.

Trophies Trophies are awarded for each match, in addition to the overall trophy.

+ Trophies for Individual matches Trophy Name Match Pat Cotter Trophy England v Scotland Billy Kelso Trophy England v Northern Ireland Joe Moran Trophy England v Republic of Ireland Alan Pierce Trophy England v Wales Ken Baxter Salver Scotland v Northern Ireland Cupa Cairdeas Scotland v Republic of Ireland Patrick Jourdain Trophy Scotland v Wales Col. Walshe Trophy Republic of Ireland v Northern Ireland Cyfeillion Beiriste Trophy Republic of Ireland v Wales Causeway Trophy Wales v Northern Ireland

References

External links Bridge Great Britain (BGB) Contract Bridge Association of Ireland (CBAI) English Bridge Union (EBU) Northern Ireland Bridge Union (NIBU) Scottish Bridge Union (SBU) Welsh Bridge Union (WBU)