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Expert: Chris and Linda Benneworth Chris and Linda Benneworth

EBU Venetian Congress

First for Bridge are proud to sponsor the English Bridge Union Overseas Congresses.

The highly anticipated event takes place this October. Accompanied by experienced EBU directors, the bridge programme features a variety of sessions including Swiss Pairs, Open Pairs and Swiss Teams. Our setting is the Villa Pace Park Hotel Bolognese, a historic 19th century villa that has been resorted into a beautiful, 4-star hotel. Sitting in 10,000m² of rich parkland, the hotel boasts an elegant lounge, fantastic leisure facilities and a superb restaurant, with terraces overlooking the gardens. The hotelier, Signora Angelica Semenzato, is a keen bridge player and is very much looking forward to hosting the EBU Venetian Congress at her charming property. With an included excursion to the beautiful city of Bassano del Grappa and its array of historic gems and cultural delights, this holiday has something for everyone.

To participate in this prestigious Green and Blue Pointed Overseas Congress, you must be an EBU member. Visit the EBU website to join.

Discover more about the 2023 Venetian Congress

Read about your EBU Tournament Director, Chris Benneworth

Your Tour Includes

  • 7 nights half-board accommodation at the 4-star superior Villa Pace Park Hotel Bolognese
  • Drinks package with dinner
  • Included excursion to Bassano Del Grappa, and a distillery visit with a tasting
  • Return airport transfers from Venice Marco Polo (On the 15th and 22nd Oct ONLY)
  • All EBU fees for bridge sessions
  • Green Points for Swiss Pairs and Swiss Teams events
Experts
Chris and Linda Benneworth

Chris and Linda Benneworth

Linda and Chris have been married since 1971, having met while they were teaching at the same high school.

Following successful careers in education, they retired in the late nineties and started directing together, working at first in local and more recently in overseas congresses. They ran the North Eastern Bridge Association Congress for a number of years in Otterburn, Consett and Gateshead, an event with a deserved reputation for friendliness. Since 2019, they have worked as hosts and director at EBU overseas congresses in Athens, Sicily and Rome. They even play together occasionally to ensure there are full tables. Chris is an EBU national director who also teaches others the art of directing and Linda is a qualified county director.

They both believe that bridge is a great game which is meant to be enjoyed, and a holiday is the perfect way of doing that.

More from Chris and Linda Benneworth Read more
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Itinerary

Please choose your preferred 8 day itinerary

On arrival at the Venice Marco Polo Airport you will be transferred to your hotel. Settle in and relax before joining us for the Pre-Congress Pairs this evening, which commences at 8:45pm and will be 18 boards.

Bridge Sessions

8:45pm - 11:15pm – Pre-Congress Pairs

After a leisurely breakfast, join us for our welcome meeting – the perfect opportunity to get to know your fellow bridge players. The Swiss Pairs sessions 1 and 2 take place this afternoon.

Bridge Sessions

10:45am – Welcome Meeting
2:30pm - 4:45pm – Swiss Pairs Session 1 (2 matches)
8:00pm - 11:15pm – Swiss Pairs Session 2 (3 matches)

Includes Breakfast

Includes Dinner

Enjoy a morning at leisure. Relax by the swimming pool, socialise with other guests at the bar, or why not take the local bus into the centre of Venice? This magnificent city is bursting with shopping opportunities, delightful cafés, and historic sights such as Doge’s Palace, St Mark’s Basilica and Rialto Bridge.

Bridge Sessions

2:30pm - 4:45pm – Swiss Pairs Session 3 (2 matches)
8:00pm - 11:15pm – Swiss Pairs Session 4 (3 matches)

Includes Breakfast

Includes Dinner

Join us on an included excursion, travelling through the Venetian countryside to delightful Bassano del Grappa. Known for its 13th century Ponte Vecchio bridge which spans the River Brenta, this town boasts plenty of historic treasures and architectural delights. View the frescos on the walls of the Bonaguro Palace, and amble through the Palladian-style arcades where you can buy the famous local pottery. Of course, we must make a stop at the Grappa Museum and have a tasting!

Bridge Sessions

8:00pm - 11:15pm – Pivot Teams (Single Pivot)

Includes Breakfast

Includes Dinner

Bassano Del Grappa

Included Highlights

Bassano Del Grappa

Enjoy a relaxing morning at leisure. You could hop aboard the local bus for a ten-minute journey to the beautiful city of Treviso, where you will find fantastic shopping opportunities and a wonderful choice of traditional Italian restaurants – be sure to treat yourself to a glass of the local prosecco!

Bridge Sessions

2:00pm - 5:15pm – Open Pairs
8:00pm - 11:15pm – IMPs Pairs

Includes Breakfast

Includes Dinner

Free morning to enjoy more of the majestic sights of Venice. Or why not take a boat trip around the islands of the lagoon or down the Grand Canal. Visit St Mark’s Basilica and Doges Palace: indulge in a gondola ride through this incredible city built on water.

Bridge Sessions

2:00pm - 5:15pm – Swiss Teams Sessions 1 (3 matches)
8:00pm - 11:15pm – Swiss Teams Sessions 2 (3 matches)

Includes Breakfast

Includes Dinner

Spend the morning at leisure. Why not take advantage of the hotel’s relaxation area, which includes a Turkish bath and sauna? Alternatively, you could head into Treviso and enjoy a stroll around the old city walls or idyllic canals. After this afternoon’s bridge sessions, there will be a sponsor’s drink reception, prizegiving, and dinner.

Bridge Sessions

1:00pm - 3:00pm – Swiss Teams Sessions 3 (2 matches)
3:30pm - 5:30pm – Swiss Teams Sessions 4 (2 matches)

Includes Breakfast

Includes Dinner

After breakfast, we transfer to the Venice Marco Polo Airport for our return journey home.

Includes Breakfast

Guests can extend their stay and book up to 2 nights pre and post the event. Call the reservations team on 01473 357 031 for further details.

Accommodation

You will stay for 7 nights at the 4-star superior Hotel Villa Pace Park Bolognese.

Executive rooms are available at a £75 per person supplement. These spacious rooms offer modern and elegant furnishings, and tea and coffee making facilities. Sole occupancy rooms have a French bed and most have a bath with shower attachment. Double occupancy rooms have a bath and walk-in shower.

Junior Suites are available at a £175 per person supplement. These rooms are 35m squared and offer classical furnishings, parquet floors, and en-suite bathrooms with a separate bath and shower – some have hydromassage showers. All rooms have tea and coffee making facilities, and slippers provided.

There is a tourist tax of 1.8 euro per person per day payable locally.

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