The International Bridge Press Association, referred to as the IBPA, this is a worldwide organization of bridge writers, mostly professional, and whose reports, series and articles appear in newspapers and magazines and other publications around the world, where bridge tournaments and bridge events occur. This group also includes authors, radio hosts and even television hosts. In order to become a part of this prestigious organization, membership is required.
The European Bridge Press, or the EBP, founded in 1958 at the Oslo 1958 European Championships by the jounalists, was created first to represent these goals of reporting bridge events and eventually evolved into the Internation Bridge Press Association. At the first Olympiad, played in 1960 in Turin, Italy, so many journalists from around the world joined in the cause and thus the organization was renamed.
The International Bridge Press Association (IBPA) is a world-wide web group. IBPA has more than 300 members in all corners of the world. Its main objective is to assist bridge journalists in their bridge-related professional activities.
IBPA liaises with the World Bridge Federation, its zonal organizations, national contract bridge organizations, and other bodies, in order to achieve good working conditions for members. Bridge writers can apply for full membership, others can join as an associate member.
The attempt has been made to collect as much data as possible about the time and effort of these bridge players and professionals, who bring the news to all other bridge players around the world for their information and enjoyment. In some years the awards are not presented for all the categories.
The previous Presidents of the International Bridge Press Association are listed below:
| Year |
|
IBPA President |
| 1958-1959 |
|
Guy Ramsey |
| 1960-1964 |
|
Ranik Halle |
| 1964-1970 |
|
Jack Kelly |
| 1970-1981 |
|
Richard Frey |
| 1981-1986 |
|
Alan Truscott |
| 1986-1991 |
|
Rene Ducheyne |
| 1991-1996 |
|
Tommy Sandsmark |
| 1996-2003 |
|
Henry Francis |
| 2003 - present |
|
Patrick Joudain |
Main Features of the IBPA
The main features of the International Bridge Press Association include many of the following items, but are not restricted to only those listed.
| 1. |
Negotiations with tournament organizers to improve working conditions and accessibility of information to the bridge press and press in general. |
| 2. |
Establishing closer cooperation with national and international bridge organizations. |
| 3. |
Publication of hand collections such as Bridge Writer's Choice, Bols Tips, and Fit For A King. |
| 4. |
The establishment and presentation of annual awards for accomplishments in various fields of bridge. |
| 5. |
The dissemination of news bulletins to members and associate members via the written word and computers. |
| 6. |
The sponsorship of bridge promotions. |
Note: The attempt has been made to include the winners of the various awards presented by the International Bridge Press Association. As the organization evolves new Awards are added if deemed pertinent. Many of the Awards are sponsored by companies, individuals, and involved persons.
Best Bid Hand of the Year - The George Rosenkranz Romex Award - The Romex Award for Best Auction
The Romex Award is donated annually by Mr. George Rosenkranz of Mexico, who is the author of the Romex System of bidding.
The Winning Journalist is listed from the year 1987.
Sponsored by George Rosenkranz (Mexico)
| Year |
|
Persons Awarded |
|
|
|
|
Winning Journalists |
| 1975/1976 |
|
Matt Granovetter and Ron Rubin (USA) |
|
|
|
|
|
| 1976/1977 |
|
Gabino Cintra and Christiano Fonseca (Brazil) |
|
|
|
|
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| 1977/1978 |
|
Eric Kokish and Peter Nagy (Canada) |
|
|
|
|
|
| 1978/1979 |
|
Chip Martel and Lew Stansby (USA) |
|
|
|
|
|
| 1979/1980 |
|
Kyle Larsen and Ron von der Porten (USA) |
|
|
|
|
|
| 1980/1981 |
|
Knud-Aage Boesgaard and Peter Schaltz (Denmark) |
|
|
|
|
|
| 1981/1982 |
|
The Award was not presented in this year |
|
|
|
|
|
| 1982/1983 |
|
Zia Mahmoud and Masood Salim (Pakistan) |
|
|
|
|
|
| 1983/1984 |
|
Benito Garozzo and Giorgio Belladonna (Italy) |
|
|
|
|
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| 1984/1985 |
|
Steve Cooper and Wayne Timms |
|
|
|
|
|
| 1985/1986 |
|
Hugh Ross and Peter Pender (USA) |
|
|
|
|
|
| 1986/1987 |
|
Zia Mahmoud (Pakistan) |
|
|
|
|
Winning Journalist |
| 1987/1988 |
|
Allan Graves and George Mittleman (Canada) |
|
|
|
|
Sue Emery (USA) |
| 1988/1989 |
|
Sven-Akke Bjerregard and Anders Morath (Sweden) |
|
|
|
|
Sven-Olov Flodquist (Sweden) |
| 1989/1990 |
|
Andy Robson and John Pottage (Great Britain) |
|
|
|
|
Patrick Jourdain (Great Britain) |
| 1990/1991 |
|
Edgar Kaplan and Brian Glubok (USA) |
|
|
|
|
Allan Falk (USA) |
| 1991/1992 |
|
Jorma Valta and Jouni Juuri-Oja (Finland) |
|
|
|
|
Patrick Jourdain (Great Britain) |
| 1992/1993 |
|
Tom Sanders and Bill Pollack (USA) |
|
|
|
|
Dick Kaplan (USA) |
| 1993/1994 |
|
Shakiat and Pobsit (Thailand) |
|
|
|
|
Amran Zamzami (Indonesia) |
| 1994/1995 |
|
Larry Cohen and David Berkowitz (USA) |
|
|
|
|
Alfred Sheinwold (USA) |
| 1995/1996 |
|
Derek Patterson and Pat Collins (Great Britain) |
|
|
|
|
Brian Callaghan (Great Britain) |
| 1996/1997 |
|
Chip Martel and Lew Stansby (USA) |
|
|
|
|
Brent Manley (USA) |
| 1997/1998 |
|
Sylvie Willard and Gerard Tissot (France) |
|
|
|
|
Philippe Cronier (France) |
| 1998/1999 |
|
Geir Helgemo and Tor Helness (Norway) |
|
|
|
|
Patrick Jourdain (Great Britain) |
| 1999/2000 |
|
Larry Cohen and David Berkowitz (USA) |
|
|
|
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Paul Linxwiler (USA) |
| 2001/2002 |
|
Anton Maas and Bep Vriend (The Netherlands) |
|
|
|
|
|
| 2003/2004 |
|
Bart Bramley and Sidney Lazard (USA) |
|
|
|
|
|
| 2005/2006 |
|
Paul Hackett |
|
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| 2007/2008 |
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Personality of the Year
This Award is presented annually by the International Bridge Press Association and was known as The Charles H. Goren Award until 1989. Beginning in the year 1990, the award has been strictly an award presented by the International Bridge Press Association.
| Year |
|
Person |
|
|
|
|
| 1973/1974 |
|
André Lemaitre (Belgium) |
|
1974/1975 |
|
Julius L Rosenblum (USA) |
| 1975/1976 |
|
Rixi Markus (Great Britain) |
|
1976/1977 |
|
Herman Filarski (Netherlands) |
| 1977/1978 |
|
Jaime Ortiz-Patino (Switzerland) |
|
1978/1979 |
|
Edgar Kaplan (USA) |
| 1979/1980 |
|
Amalya L. Kearse (USA) |
|
1980/1981 |
|
Deng Xiaoping (China) |
| 1981/1982 |
|
Albert Dormer (Great Britain) |
|
1982/1983 |
|
Oswald Jacoby (USA) |
| 1983/1984 |
|
Easley Blackwood (USA) |
|
1984/1985 |
|
Barry Crane (USA) Awarded Posthumously |
| 1985/1986 |
|
José Damiani (France) |
|
1986/1987 |
|
Kathie Wei (USA) |
| 1987/1988 |
|
Helene Lemaitre (Belgium) |
|
1988/1989 |
|
No Award was presented |
| 1989/1990 |
|
Eloene Griggs (USA) |
|
1990/1991 |
|
André Boekhorst (Netherlands) |
| 1991/1992 |
|
Evelyn Senn-Gorter (Netherlands) |
|
1992/1993 |
|
Hugh W Kelsey (Great Britain) |
| 1993/1994 |
|
Ernesto d'Orsi (Brazil) |
|
1994/1995 |
|
Panos Gerontopoulos (Greece) |
| 1995/1996 |
|
Geir Helgemo (Norway) |
|
1996/1997 |
|
Matthew Clegg (USA) |
| 1997/1998 |
|
Paul Chemla (France) |
|
1998/1999 |
|
Marc Hodler (Switzerland) |
| 1999/2000 |
|
Anna Gudge (Great Britain) |
|
|
|
|
| 2001/2002 |
|
|
|
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|
|
| 2003/2004 |
|
|
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|
|
| 2005/2006 |
|
Fred Gitelman |
|
|
|
|
| 2006/2007 |
|
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|
|
Best Article or Series on a System or Convention - The Precision Award
The Precision Award was donated by C.C. Wei and after his death continued to be donated by his widow, Kathie Wei, presently Kathie Wei-Sender.
| Year |
|
Person Awarded |
|
Winning Journalist |
| 1973/1974 |
|
Charles H. Goren (USA) |
|
|
| 1974/1975 |
|
Eric Kokish (Canada) |
|
|
| 1975/1976 |
|
George Rosenkranz (Mexico) |
|
|
| 1976/1977 |
|
Jeff Rubens (USA) |
|
|
| 1977/1978 |
|
Kit Woolsey (USA) |
|
|
| 1978/1979 |
|
Jeff Rubens (USA) |
|
|
| 1979/1980 |
|
Ed Mansfield and Kenneth Lebensold (USA) |
|
|
| 1980/1981 |
|
Eddie Kantar (USA) |
|
|
| 1981/1982 |
|
Jeff Rubens (USA) |
|
|
| 1982/1983 |
|
Ed Manfield (USA) |
|
|
| 1983/1984 |
|
Bruce Neill (New Zealand) |
|
|
| 1984/1985 |
|
Sven-Olov flodquist and Anders Morath (Sweden |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
The Wei-Sender Award
The Precision Award was renamed in the year 1985 to the Wei-Sender
Award and was presented to honor the best Defensive Play of the Year.
Kathie Wei-Sender renamed the award in honor of her husband,
Mr. Henry Sender of Nashville, Tennessee. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| 1985/1986 |
|
Bob Hamman (USA) |
|
|
| 1986/1987 |
|
Michel Lebel (France) |
|
Winning Journalist |
| 1987/1988 |
|
Primo Levi (Italy) |
|
Paolo Frendo (Italy) |
| 1988/1989 |
|
Dung Duong (Switzerland) |
|
Jean-Paul Meyer (France) |
| 1989/1990 |
|
Vladis Plenieks (Latvia) |
|
Uno Viignad (Estonia) |
| 1990/1991 |
|
Geir Helgemo (Norway) |
|
Tommy Sandsmark (Norway) |
| 1991/1992 |
|
Mike Passell (USA) |
|
Phillip Alder (USA) |
| 1992/1993 |
|
Bob Hamman (USA) |
|
Brent Manley (USA) |
| 1993/1994 |
|
Gabriel Chagas (Brazil) |
|
Alan Truscott (USA) |
| 1994/1995 |
|
Zia Mahmood (USA) |
|
Alan Truscott (USA) |
| 1995/1996 |
|
Larry Cohen and David Berkowitz (USA) |
|
Jan van Cleeff (Netherlands) |
| 1996/1997 |
|
Gunnar Hallberg (Sweden) |
|
Robert Sheehan (Great Britain) |
| 1997/1998 |
|
Geir Helgemo (Norway) |
|
Patrick Jourdain (Great Britain) |
| 1998/1999 |
|
Andrew Robson (Great Britain) |
|
Philip King (Great Britain) |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Carey Limousine Award
Mr. George Jacobs, representing the Carey Limousine Corporation,
assumed the sponsorship of the Best Defense of the Year Award
in the year 2000. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| 1999/2000 |
|
Roger Lie and Terje Lie (Sweden) |
|
Anders Brunzell (Sweden) |
| 2001/2002 |
|
|
|
|
| 2003/2004 |
|
Eric Greco and Geoff Hampson (USA) |
|
Authors: Larry Cohen and Alan Truscott |
The Fr. Joseph Hahn and Arthur Kong Award for Best Defense
Sponsored by Rita Shugart (USA)
| Year |
|
Winners |
| 2002 |
|
Tony Forrester (England) |
The okBridge Award for a Junior
| Year |
|
Winners |
| 2002 |
|
Mikhail Krasnosselski (Russia) |
The Levendaal Award for Best Play by a Junior
| Year |
|
Winners |
| 1997 |
|
Morten Lund Madsen (Denmark) |
Sportsman of the Year - Also known as Sporting Award
This award is known as the John E. Simon Award. This award has been suspended and is temporarily inactive. Mr. John E. Simon, of St. Louis, Missouri, was born in 1897 and died in 1993. He was named an ACBL Honorary Member and was Life Master #641. He donated this award for presenting the best sportsmanship at the bridge table.
| Year |
|
Person Awarded |
| 1973 |
|
Omar Sharif, France |
| 1974 |
|
Alan Sontag, USA |
| 1975 |
|
George Rosenkranz, Mexico |
| 1976 |
|
Lord Glenkinglas, Sir timothy Kitson, Rt Hon. Jarold Lever MP, Great Britain |
| 1977 |
|
Maurits Caransa, Netherlands |
| 1978 |
|
No Award was presented |
| 1979 |
|
Steve Landen, USA |
| 1985 |
|
Irving Litvack and Joey Silver, Canada |
| 1997 |
|
Lynn Deas - Source: Bulletin 3, Fall NABC. Presented by Henry Francis. |
Best Defended Hand of the Year- The ITES Best Defended Hand of the Year
| Year |
|
Winners |
| 2005 |
|
Donna Compton, IBPA Bulletin No 486. Page 14 |
The Alan Truscott Memorial Award for Special Achievement
2005: 37th World Team Championships, Bulletin 13, Friday, November 4, 2005, Page 4, IBPA ANNUAL AWARDS 2005
IBPA has announced a new award this year, to be awarded periodically to a person who has made a significant contribution to bridge and bridge journalists.
| Year |
|
Winners |
| 2005 |
|
Bill Bailey, USA |
The IBPA Honour Member of the Year
| Year |
|
Honour Member of the Year |
| 2005 |
|
George Rosenkranz, Mexico |
The Digital Fountain Hand of the Year
Sponsored by Digital Fountain. The Chief Executive Officer and President is Mr. Cliff Meltzer, the husband of Rose Meltzer, who in Paris, 2001, became the first woman to win the Bermuda Bowl.
| Year |
|
Person Awarded |
|
Journalist Reporting |
| 2002 |
|
Sebastian Kristensen (Denmark) |
|
Otto Charles Pedersen (Denmark) |